Photos by Stefan Eberhard
The first Slow Water Music Festival, organized by Betsy Franck, brought together local Athens bands in support of the nonprofit organization Nuci’s Space. This upstart festival had everything you could want: a lawn next to the river, a rustic campfire smell, lawn chairs scattered intermittently throughout and the light chatter of friends and new acquaintances bonding through a shared love of music.
With only a single wooden stage, this nuance made each performance more personable, since there was only one going on at a time. The acts ranged from Michael Guthrie’s toned down solo set, where he showcased his guitar prowess, to the much younger jam-band sound from the Woodgrains. Ike Stubblefield even wheeled his large Hammond B3 to the field to give an authentic performance that left the crowd in awe.
The most beautiful aspect of the Slow Water Festival was the wide range of ages allowed to perform. New performers held their own right next to more seasoned performers and each act gave a unique spin to the night.
As a light chill crept into the fall air, friends huddled together on blankets, enjoying the company and the music. The nighttime acts provided the perfect mix of uptempo dance music and reserved easy listening. I can’t wait to see what Franck has in store for next year’s festival.
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