Christopher Nelson

Marymoor Park this past Saturday was the perfect venue — and on a warm and sunny summer day, no less — for the first of what we hope to be a long running series of the No Depression Festival. The rootsy lineup featured both rising and beloved stars of alternative Americana: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Iron & Wine, Patterson Hood and the Screwtopians, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Zee Avi, and the No Depression All Star Revue, which included a rotating cast including Star Anna, Sera Cahoone, Ian Moore, Zoe Muth, Mark Pickerel, Kristen Ward and members of The Maldives and North Twin backed by Jeff Fielder, Ty Bailie, Eric Eagle and Rebecca Young. Phew! And walking around the festival grounds between sets, you’d run into The Dexter Street Stompers and The Tall Boys busking between sets. In all, it was an incredible day for music, and KEXP was on hand with DJ Greg Vandy, host of The Roadhouse, to interview the headliners backstage. Here are a few of them. Look for more this week!

Jesse Sykes:

Patterson Hood:

Sam Beam of Iron & Wine:

more photos by Christopher Nelson:

Between sets, you may have chanced upon the ‘Stompers: