Three words that Bear Shadow Music Festival director Casey Reid would describe this past weekend’s festival would be music, mountains and revelry.
With last year’s festival arrangements having to be set apart in pods, a last-minute venue change and weather causing a huge issue, Reid said she couldn’t be happier with the setup this year.
“We had so many challenges against us last year,” Reid said. “We had artists that hadn’t been on the road for two years and even our crew was squeaky because we hadn’t worked. Our industry got hit really hard. There certainly was a lot of joy in that moment getting to come back, but this year, to me, feels truly alive. We allowed people to get out and roam, there’s children throwing the frisbee and I feel like people can feel that sense of joy that things have returned.”
With some other notable festivals going on the same weekend as Bear Shadow, Reid said the difference between them is the feeling of intimacy.
“There are festivals that are going on right now like Shaky Knees and 420 and they are absolutely amazing festivals,” Reid said. “The thing about Bear Shadow is that the size of this crowd and the feeling of intimacy, but still having a great party feel is what we are trying to achieve here in Highlands.”
With Eleven Events also hosting the Highlands Food and Wine Festival, Reid said she hopes the community feels like these are events are important.
“We hope that it is a big economic boost through not only the fans, but our production crew that come into town, stay in rental homes, spend money in restaurants and go shopping,” Reid said. “We really want to highlight the town and people as the truly special place it is. There is really no place like Highlands in the country. That is what all of our artists say and all of the fans.”
On Friday night, SUSTO, Curtis Harding and Band of Horses all performed. On Saturday, 49 Winchester, Wild Rivers and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real performed and on Sunday, the Kitchen Dwellers, Jamestown Revival and Trampled by Turtles performed.
“The artists seemed to have enjoyed it,” Reid said. “Many of them have not ever been to Highlands, but they were saying that this was the most beautiful place they had ever seen. They loved Winfield Farm, the friendly nature of the place and the scenery. We were thrilled to have them. These are headliners at some of the biggest festivals. So, to have them here in this intimate setting is pretty special.”
One big question regarding next year’s event is that the venue, Winfield Farm, is up for sale. Reid said she hopes the new owners will see the potential in the venue and allow them to keep having the event at the farm.
“We remain hopeful,” Reid said. “We remain hopeful that the new owners can see the potential and what joy this event brings and would be open to partnering with us the way the current owners have been. They have been the most incredible partners and they really saved us last year. Whoever decides to purchase it, I hope they will be open to us coming back.”
- By Christopher Lugo