Photo Credit: Nick Peterson
The Treefort Music Fest packs a full five days (March 21-25) of events into downtown Boise, Idaho. The schedule can be a little overwhelming, and while our most important tip is to wander around the various venues and shows, it’s always good to have a few planned stops in your back pocket. Down below is our personal cheatsheet. Some are acts we’ve seen, some are acts we’ve wanted to see, and a good chunk are acts that sound too awesome to pass up.
Wednesday, March 25
Western Daughter
Wednesday, Crazy Horse, 7:00pm
Part of the fun of Treefort is that the local scene turns out in force. Can’t think of a better way to start the festival than with the first time appearance of a local Boise super-band.
Alynda Lee Segarra
Wednesday, Cathedral of the Rockies, 8:00pm
Hurray for the Riff Raff may be headlining at midnight, but we’re excited to see Alynda Lee Segarra play the Cathedral of the Rockies. This venue feels like it’s the perfect backdrop for her soulful acoustics.
House of Hoi Polloi
Wednesday, El Korah Shrine, 9:15 pm
Okay, enough chilled out contemplation. We’re heading over to the El Korah Shrine for some high energy from House of Hoi Polloi. The Boise act disbanded in 2002 so we’re guessing that this reunion at one of the hippest venues is going to get bouncing.
Divers
Wednesday, Crazy Horse, 9:00pm
Straight up indie pop punk straight out of Portland. Sounds like something we should see.
Geographer
Wednesday, Neurolux, 11:00pm
One of the highlights of Wednesday – the buzzy Bay Area band always puts on a great live show complete with synthesizer and cello.
Thursday, March 25
Buffalo Juggalos – FilmFort
Thursday, 5:30pm
FilmFort has come a long way in a few years with expanded screenings, workshops, and speakers. We’re planning on dropping in to catch this short about the Juggalo subculture in Buffalo, New York.
Viet Cong
Thursday, El Korah Shrine, 10:00pm
Fine Pitchfork, I’ll finally go see these guys. Sheesh.
https://soundcloud.com/jagjaguwar/vietcong-continental-shelf
Omar Souleyman
Thursday, El Korah Shrine, 11:15pm
We’re pretty excited to see Omar Souleyman bring his brand of “Syrian techno” to Boise.
https://soundcloud.com/omar-souleyman/omar-souleyman-warni-warni
The Soft White Sixties
Friday, The Bouquet, 12:30am
Treefort alumni The Soft White Sixties return on Thursday with another solid set of seventies inspired rock. Definitely one of our favorites in the lineup.
Friday, March 26
The Festival Guy
Friday, Hackfort, 9:15am
Our buddy (and yours if you end up talking to him), The Festival Guy, will be on hand promoting and talking about his app – FestEvo – and we’ll be there to see what he’s up to next.
AleFort
Friday, AleFort, 4:00pm
Treefort is so well organized that even their beer garden has a schedule. We’re stopping in as soon as it opens for Firkin Friday which is the simultaneous tapping of ten Firkins. And if you don’t know what a Firkin is, you’re not alone. It’s time we all find out.
Built To Spill
Friday, Main Stage, 8:30pm
It’s a Treefort tradition to have these alt-legendary hometown rockers headline – and ever since our co-founder crowdsurfed her way to the front of the show, it’s been a tradition for the crew to hit up their set.
Super Secret Show
Friday, Camp Modern, 9:00pm
It’s a secret show featuring one or more Treefort artists and there’s nothing this team loves more than a solid mystery.
Hobosexual
Friday, Hannah’s, 11:00pm
Get ready for a dose of pure unadulterated head thrashing from this duo out of Seattle.
BADBADNOTGOOD
Saturday, El Korah Shrine, 1:00am
BADBADNOTGOOD takes a trio of formally trained musicians from Toronto and sets them loose on a genre bending trip across hip-hop, funk, and jazz. Try to get there early – we think this late night show is going to get packed.
Saturday, March 27
YogaFort
Saturday, 10:00am
The Saturday morning edition of YogaFort is described as “stimulate your Soul’s Purpose through pranashakti (creative vital life force) using an alchemy of asanas along with myths and mudras to inspire your dharma” which should be healthier than my usual Saturday morning workout — sleeping in until noon and having a Bloody Mary with a hamburger for breakfast.
Star Wars Abridged
Saturday, Camp Modern, 2:00pm
Two actors. Thirty minutes. Six Episodes of Star Wars. Where do I sign up?
Generationals
Saturday, Main Stage, 5:30pm
I listened to one of their songs while writing this article. Then I listened to the whole album. Now I want to listen to them live.
Amateur Dance Battle w/ Werk Out Palace
Saturday, 6:00pm
You had us at “amateur dance battle.” Watch out, my stimulated Pranashakti from that morning’s YogaFort is going to blow the roof off the place.
!!!
Saturday, Main Stage, 8:45pm
Winter never really came to the north this year and we’re going to guess that March in Boise is going to feel like early summer in Boise. Dance party at the main stage with !!!!
Lyrics Born
Saturday, The Knitting Room, 12:30pm
You would think that with 150 live shows a year, we would have already seen Lyrics Born. That will be rectified Saturday night when we time travel to the past and future on a wave of incredibly smooth beats.
https://soundcloud.com/lyricsborn/06-hands-up-remix
Elephant Revival
Saturday, 12:15am
Schedule conflict! Ever since seeing this folksy group at a bluegrass festival in New England, we’ve been huge fans. This is why we bring a team to Treefort — there’s too much to cover.
Sunday, March 29
Mimosas & Poetry
Sunday, The Linen Building, 12:00pm
We’re hoping that the cool, dark interior of the Linen building combined with soothing poetry and hydrating mimosas will re-energize us for the final day of the fest.
ComedyFort
Sunday, Liquid Laughs, 8:00pm
These comedians will be performing sets all weekend but we’re think the final night of Treefort is when they will really cut loose and we can finally relax from five days of being super-serious festival reporters.
All Your Friend’s Friends
Sunday, The Shredder, 10:00 pm
All Your Friend’s Friends is a compilation album focused on the Northwest underground hip-hop scene. We have no idea how that will translate to a live show, but based on the video below, it’s going to be rad.
Rubblebucket
Sunday, El Korah Shrine, 11:00 pm
Like a solid chunk of acts at Treefort (which is what makes it so fun) Rubblebucket has been called everything from art-pop to indie dance punk. Having performed at a number of festivals, these fest-veterans know how to put on a fully entertaining late night show.
Wooden Indian Burial Ground
Sunday, Crazy Horse, 1:00am
Can’t think of a better way to wrap five days of non-stop action than a twisty psychedelic rock roadtrip with Wooden Indian Burial Ground.