Boogiedown Music Fest Hits Its Stride at Driftless Music Gardens

Daniel Donato | Boogiedown Music Fest | photos by Tony Mueller

The sixth annual Boogiedown Music Fest returned to Driftless Music Gardens on September 11 and 12, and it may have been the best version of the festival yet. After five years of growing and finding its identity, this year’s Boogiedown felt like it had really hit the mark. The festival went from three days to two this year, but honestly, I didn’t mind it at all. The lineup was stacked from top to bottom, with plenty of familiar names and Armchair Boogie-affiliated acts, but the two headliners, Daniel Donato and Trampled by Turtles, brought the festival to another level.

You could tell before the gates even opened that this was going to be a big weekend. Trampled by Turtles brings a huge crowd wherever they go, and the fans definitely showed up Friday night. With two full days of great music ahead, Boogiedown was already shaping up to be one of the best weekends of the summer.

Friday started with a smooth setup and some early-day hangs with the Boogie family. Everybody eventually made their way over to the tent for the first show of the afternoon, where Augie of Armchair Boogie and Billy Bronsted kicked things off with their duo performance. The two recently released an album together, filled with great stories, good songs and plenty of fun. It was the perfect way to ease into the weekend.

Next up was the main stage and some of Boogie’s best friends, Chicken Wire Empire. I got to catch up with the band backstage and grab some candid shots before they hit the stage. The sun was shining, the crowd was feeling good, and there were smiles everywhere during their set. I was just happy to be there shooting for some real good homies.

After a quick pizza break from one of the best festival pizza stands I’ve ever had, it was time for Armchair Boogie to take the main stage for their first set of the weekend. This set was strategically planned, knowing that a lot of people would be leaving after Trampled by Turtles that night. So Boogie packed the bowl early and played a killer late-afternoon sunset set.

We got classics, newer tunes and even some fun covers. You could also see the giant “BOOGIE” sign in the distance behind the stage, something Driftless Music Gardens always puts up for the festival. At some point during the set, someone decided that “Boogie” needed a little adjustment and changed it to “Booger.” I didn’t even see it happen, but I watched the transformation unfold through the photos I was taking. Honestly, I couldn’t have planned that any better.

After a quick break back at the campsite, it was time for Trampled by Turtles. The concert bowl was packed. This may have been the biggest show Driftless Music Gardens had all year, and the crowd was ready for it. Trampled played all the songs people came to hear, along with some covers, and had the entire place singing and screaming along. They even brought out fellow Minnesotans Salty Dog for a special moment, which was a pretty cool surprise.

The band eventually played a bone-chilling encore that went long after the set was supposed to end, but the crowd wasn’t letting them leave. I hadn’t seen Trampled by Turtles in years, and seeing them in a setting like Driftless was a great reminder of just how good this band is live.

If you thought that was going to be the end of the night, you clearly haven’t spent enough time at Driftless. As all the one-day ticket holders started making their way out of the grounds, the owners of the venue, People Brothers Band, were getting ready to take over the tent for the closing set. What followed was a PBB set that lasted more than two hours and went late into the night. It was the perfect way to keep the party going after the main stage had wrapped up.

After some late-night shenanigans and a little sleep, I was ready for day two. Saturday was jam-packed with bands I was excited to see, starting with Connor Lyle and the Mother Guys. Their funky country set featured three of the four members of Armchair Boogie, and it was a fun way to get the second day rolling.

After some lunch and a little time to relax, I made my way back to the tent for one of my favorite acts, Maygen and the Birdwatcher. These guys are just so much fun, and if you haven’t seen them yet, you really need to catch them when you get the chance.

Then came the part of the weekend I had really been waiting for. Daniel Donato and Cosmic Country were ready to take over the stage for not one, but two sets. And what a pair of sets they were.

It seems like that guy just never stops jamming. Daniel has this ability to bridge the gap between country music and the jam-band world without it ever feeling forced. For two full sets, it was Daniel Donato shredding with Cosmic Country and doing what they do best. It was one of those performances where you could just stand there and watch the whole thing unfold. But, of course, the night was far from over.

Salty Dog came up next for a fun, funky set before Armchair Boogie took the main stage for the festival-closing performance. This was a freaking party. Boogie brought out special guests throughout the set, including Daniel Donato, members of Salty Dog and members of People Brothers Band. There were hat exchanges, jam exchanges and plenty of moments that felt like exactly what Boogiedown is supposed to be. It was the perfect way to close out the weekend.

I love capturing these shows, and it really is an honor to be a part of this festival every year. Boogiedown has become one of those weekends that feels less like a job and more like getting together with a bunch of friends who happen to make really good music. It ended way too quickly, but I think that’s usually a sign that the most fun was had.

I also got to be a part of the late-night festivities around the bonfire, where a classic Driftless Music Gardens party was happening well into the night. It was a pretty perfect way to send the weekend off. And just like that, my festival season is over.

My heart is full, and I’m also completely exhausted from the summer. If you’ve been following along with me over the past few months, you know I’ve been pretty busy. Between all the festivals, shows, photography and writing, this summer has absolutely flown by. Now it’s finally time to slow down a little, think about the holidays and get ready for another Wisconsin winter. Photography and writing may seem like my favorite pastimes, but once the snow starts falling, I’ll be strapping my boots into my snowboard as much as possible and soaking up whatever powder I can find.

Looking back, this was such a great summer. I feel like I’ve learned a ton, grown a lot as a photographer and taken some pretty big steps forward in this career. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has given me opportunities, trusted me with their shows and festivals, and supported what I’m doing. I’m already excited to see what next year brings.

If you’ve been following along with me this year—reading the articles, checking out the photos, coming out to shows or just giving me a little love along the way—thank you. I really appreciate it more than you probably know.

So…that’s all I’ve got. See you next summer, and thanks for reading!