Back in May, AJ Lee & Blue Summit hosted the very first Sierragrass festival at Sierra Meadows Resort in Ahwahnee, California tucked into the shadow of the Sierra Nevada just across the Central Valley from Blue Summit’s home turf of Santa Cruz. Over the summer and now into fall, we’ve been sharing our Sierragrass Sessions, a series of performance videos by bands and artists on the lineup shot at the festival by our incredibly talented friends at I Know We Should. We’ve now enjoyed intimate and gorgeously shot sessions from AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Hannah Mayree, Yoseff Tucker & the Bow Ties, Ismay, and Viv & Riley.
Though we’re saddened to reach the final installment of our Sierragrass Sessions, it’s certainly an excellent one on which to go out. To close us out, Sweet Sally – an excellent band of talented, young up-and-comers that first convened in Oakland – perform an energetic original song, “Anchor,” written by guitarist Lucy Khadder. (Watch above.) Joined by bandmates Sophia Sparks on mandolin and Clare O’Grady on bass poolside at twilight, Khadder kicks off the song with a quick flatpicking intro before launching into the lonesome and longing lyric. The three-part harmonies on the chorus are quite lovely and the refrain’s engaging chord progression is perhaps the best part of the entire number.
As the small gathered audience of festival attendees and crew applaud Sweet Sally, the young women of the band can be heard laughing to each other, “I was so nervous!” “Me too!” “I know, I always overthink every little note.” But that’s not the impression given by their rendition of “Anchor” at all. For such a young group, their resumés collectively and as individual musicians are impressive – a fact that comes as no surprise given the skill, talent, and confidence on display in their Sierragrass Session performance.
BGS would like to thank AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Sierragrass, I Know We Should, and all of the bands, musicians, and artists who made this series a smashing success. Here’s to many more years of Sierragrass and many more excellent musical moments. Watch all of our Sierragrass Sessions here.
Video Credit: I Know We Should, Brad Wagner, Juan Soria, Charlie Peterson, and Luis Scampamorte.
