For serious music fans, festivals are equivalent to the clichéd “candy shop.” That’s why I was overjoyed when the generous folks with Boise’s Treefort Music Fest offered me and a pair of Idaho State University students the opportunity to attend the four-day music masterpiece.
Though classes and obligations in Pocatello meant missing the first two days of Treefort, I arrived on Saturday, March 23, with a determination to make the most of the remaining two days of the festival.
A bit overwhelming at first, Treefort’s 13-venue layout was easily explained in their handy “Trail Guide” including illustrated maps, band descriptions and performance schedules. The venues, located within roughly six city blocks of one another, included everything from China Blue’s downtown bar scene to the low-key atmosphere of The Crux coffee shop and the Main Stage, located at 11th Street’s Idaho Power parking lots.
Making the short trips between venues was a breeze. Getting into them with an under-21 festival companion was not. If I had to make one criticism of the festival, it would be that over half of their sponsoring locations excluded everyone under the legal drinking age. While understandable, it cut off a considerable amount of attendees from some really worthwhile shows.
The performances I did attend were phenomenal. While largely Pacific Northwest-based, Treefort brought performers from dozens of cities across the United States, and just about every style you could imagine. Big names like Boise’s own Built to Spill drew massive crowds but even smaller local outfits had full rooms to play to.
One of the things I loved about Treefort was the amount of exposure it offered for talented locals. As much as I enjoyed bigger sets and out-of-town performers like The Walkmen, it was exciting to see performers from the area showcase their talents, especially to such sizeable and enthusiastic crowds.
In addition, Treefort brought together a variety of musical types. Of course, there was no shortage of the folksy, grassroots-type bands I expected to see, but the festival also featured punk bands, rappers, DJs and even groups which include classical instruments, among other genres.
To my surprise, my favorite performance of the festival was political rapper Brother Ali. His Sunday night performance at The Reef was one of the capstone sets of the festival, and the packed bar was flooded with messages of equality and tolerance.
I’m not one to spend a lot of time listening to rap, but Ali’s lyrics were both intelligent and relatable, and his stage presence was powerful. I would consider his performance not only a highlight of Treefort, but one of the better shows I’ve been to in my life.
Though I wasn’t able to attend last year’s inaugural Treefort Music Fest, I’m already looking forward to next year’s festival. I’m amazed and excited by the possibility that this event could continue to grow in the future, making Boise a hot-bed for musical growth and live performances in years to come.