Brett Barest
It has been well over a year since I have been able to write the following words: Let us talk about a music festival. That’s right, after a year of canceled shows and touring bands coming off the road as the world quarantined and socially distanced, we are finally reaching a new state of normality where music festivals can begin to carefully exist again. The festival in question for this conversation is, of course, The Albino Skunk Music Festival.
The self-proclaimed “Greatest Show On Dirt” naturally postponed its customary spring and fall Skunk Fests in 2020 as well as Winter Skunk at the Spinning Jenny and what was going to be an inaugural summer Skunk event. Instead, a couple of “garden parties” kept the music alive late last year, albeit for just a few hundred guests at a time – hardly a crowd on the vast acreage of the Skunk Farm. Finally, next weekend sees the return of Spring Skunk Thursday, May 13th through Saturday, May 15th for what looks to be a carefully modified version of the festival we know and love.
A First-Timers Guide to Albino Skunk Music Festival – iOnGreenville: Your Guide to Greenville South Carolina
To be clear, Skunk Fest is not returning to the packed to the gills festivals of the pre-pandemic era but, rather, will be operating a reduced capacity to allow for safe distancing wherever you are on the property. Masks will be required in public areas and general common sense is appreciated. Still, we are back to a full three days of some of the best music you will find in one place, pandemic times or otherwise.
“The lineup is way better than I planned,” jokes festival organizer and music lover Glynn Zeigler. Always one to assemble a stellar lineup of talent under any circumstances, Zeigler found more artists both available and motivated to get back to performing than he would typically expect in normal times. The result is one of the most talented Skunk Fest lineups in recent memory and the show that we have all been waiting for after so much time in virtual captivity.
Preview the Spring Skunk Lineup
At a typical Skunk Fest, names like The War and Treaty, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, and Dylan LeBlanc might be the big name closing the weekend out on Saturday evening. This year, however, they are each the closers for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night respectively. Add talent like former Band of Horses’ guitarist/songwriter Tyler Ramsey, “Appalachian Rock” masters Big Daddy Love, and the absolutely riveting Sierra Ferrell and you a veritable Murderers Row of talent taking a turn on stage over the festival’s three days. These are just some of the festival’s 20-plus artists appearing at Spring Skunk and the perfect recipe to help get over the absolute strangest year of most of our lifetimes.
The Skunk Farm is a magical place and there is great allure in both the setting itself and sense of community in attendance. The music, though, is the main draw and Zeigler doubled down on that big time this year. With reduced capacity being an issue at hand, I implore you to get your tickets before it is too late. Three day, two day, and single day tickets are all still available but for how long, Zeigler cannot say. Whichever pass you snag, I assure you that you are in for a treat.
