Overflowing trash cans and abandoned plastic water bottles are familiar sights at many large music events. One Easthampton gathering, however, wants to show that it’s possible for a big concert series to be as good for the earth as it is to the ear.
Arcadia Folk Festival will return for its eighth year on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton. The lineup will include Allison Russell, The Milk Carton Kids, John Craigie, Fantastic Cat, Caitlin Canty, Lisa Bastoni with Sean Staples, Little Roots, The Hubby Jenkins Trio, Lexi Weege and The Hilltown Ham Hocks.
The event places a special focus on sustainability, generating all of its power through on-site solar panels. Vendors are required to use reusable or compostable utensils and dishware while serving plant-based food and upcycled, environmentally-friendly art. To minimize waste, guests are asked to pack out any trash they bring, and those who cycle to the venue will be entered into a prize drawing. The gathering will also feature nature-themed educational activities for kids.
“It’s very easy for festivals of any size to become part of the problem — it’s crucial to show folks that it does not have to be that way,” said Allison Russell in an emailed statement. “This is the only living planet that we know of in the universe. We are all dependent on our Mother Earth. We have a responsibility to learn sustainable practices and reduce the harm of our species’ exploitative, extractive bad habits. I love that Arcadia is leading by example.”
Anthony D’Amato of Fantastic Cat echoed the sentiment. One big part of being in a touring band, he pointed out, is driving and flying from tour stop to tour stop, where venues often provide lots of disposable water bottles.
“To have somebody put a spotlight on [sustainability] and show that there is a way to not just practice a festival in a way that is environmentally sustainable, but also to help put a spotlight on that for everybody else, even if you’re not at the festival — I just thought that’s a really important thing to do,” he said.
This festival will also be something of a family reunion within the folk scene. Canty will be celebrating her first year performing at Arcadia, but she used to tour with The Milk Carton Kids. She also used to live in “the same little corner” of Nashville as Russell, she said, and though she and Craigie have not yet played together, they’ve been on the same lineups before and both took part in a conversation about Maya De Vitry’s new record in July.
“It’s a good lineup,” Canty said. “[I’m] excited to catch as much as I can.”
Fantastic Cat also played with The Milk Carton Kids at a folk festival in Canada.
“These folk festivals are great because, in some ways, it’s a small world out there, so you start running into the same people over and over again. It’s fun to reconnect with everybody, especially when it’s bands where you really love their music, so you get to see them play besides just [catching] up,” D’Amato said.
When asked what she hoped people would take away from the festival, Canty recalled hearing the idea that joy is earned: “Everyone’s gone through grief and sorrow, and joy is the fruit of your labor.”
“I really liked that idea, that we have to make sure we honor these moments of joy and really dig into them and eat up while we can. … That’s what I love about a sweet end-of-summer festival like this: it should be a joy fest, so I hope that’s what people feel like when they walk away.”
Advance tickets to Arcadia Folk Festival are $84.99, not including fees, at aftontickets.com/ArcadiaFolkFestival. Teen tickets are sold out, but there is a waitlist. Kids age 10 and under are free.
Songbird passes, a new ticket tier this year, are $199 via massaudubon.org/programs/arcadia and include priority check-in, a reserved seating area, a signed poster, a tote bag, a free beverage and admission to a free adult education program at Arcadia between September and December.
The festival will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit arcadiafolkfest.com.
