Sweetwater 420 Fest – 2024: Saturday Photos

Beautiful weather and a new host site for Sweetwater Brewing’s annual rite of Spring brought Atlanta crowds to Pullman Yards.  For a $10 donation to Waterkeeper.org, fans got general admission access to a stellar lineup including headliner Gov’t Mule, recent Grammy award-winning duo Larkin Poe, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Andy Frasco and the U.N. and relative newcomer Connor Clark & Blue Rhythm Revival.

Kudos to Sweetwater for not only sponsoring the event, but curating the line-up, getting it rolling in mere months, extensive branding on-site, and, of course, the beer!  And Caren West PR, whose experience with festivals and the Pullman Yards facility shown.

Gov't Mule

Southern blues rock, with bits of jazz if you listen for it.  Great solos and a superbly tight performance, for an audience who already knew what they were going to get.  Who could ask for anything more?  None better than Gov’t Mule!

Setlist:

  • Hammer and Nails (The Staple Singers cover)
  • Mule
  • Thorazine Shuffle
  • Blue Sky / Mountain Jam / In Memory of Elizabeth Reed – excerpts (The Allman Brothers Band cover
  • Trane / Rumble / Sex Machine / St. Stephen Jam
  • Take Me to the River (Al Green cover) – with Grace Potter
  • I’m a Ram / Reblow Your Mind / I’m a Ram
  • Soulshine (The Allman Brothers Band cover)

Grace Potter

Grace Potter has a high-energy, electrifying stage presence, never content to just sing at the mic.  She has a great range from husky rock tones to smooth, melodic notes. She has a certain charisma in a way that her eyes may not be on you, but all eyes are on hers – very expressive.  Great mix of songs and presentation, as always!

 

Setlist:

  • Lady Vagabond
  • Medicine
  • Ah Mary
  • Empty Heart
  • Mother Road
  • Ready Set Go
  • Good Time
  • Nothing but the Water (I)
  • Nothing but the Water (II)
  • The Lion the Beast the Beat
  • Paris (Ooh La La)
  • Stars

Saturday Scenes at 420

St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Leadman Paul Janeway has a rich and dynamic voice, soulful and contemporary, that got the crowd swaying up front and dancing at the rear.

Setlist:

  • Opening – Marvin Jam
  • Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like)
  • Call Me
  • Wolf in Rabbit Clothes
  • Minotaur
  • Grass is Greener
  • The Sad Chicken
  • Like a Mighty River
  • GotItBad
  • Sanctify
  • Apollo
  • Broken Bones & Pocket Change

Larkin Poe

Infectious.  Sisters Rebecca and Megan play off each other, one on electric guitar and the other on electric lap steel guitar.  Great blues rock songs, but their enthusiasm for playing live and affection for each other and their audience is rarely seen.  Headlining or a supporting act, don’t skip them when they come nearby.  Phenomenal. 

Setlist:

  • Summertime Sunset / Jessica
  • Bad Spell
  • Strike Gold
  • Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues
  • Might as Well Be Me
  • Kick the Blues
  • Wanted Woman – AC/DC
  • Bolt Cutters & The Family Name

Andy Frasco & the UN

You may think the party has already started, and Andy Frasco & the UN make you realize what a party is.  Their live performance is energetic, with nobody but the drummer stuck in place.  Guitarist Shawn Eckels, though… it’s like he’s been deprived of stage time and has been waiting for just this moment for a release.  Great fun!

The band played some new songs which didn’t have the usual ebb in a crowd’s excitement, and come on, pouring liquor into your guitarist’s mouth while he’s playing?  Andy entering the crowd and forming a circle around him?  What a show!

Setlist:

  • Ugly on You
  • Mature as Fuck
  • The Walk
  • Love, Come Down
  • Try Not to Die
  • What We Used to Be is Not Who We Are
  • It’s Been a Struggle
  • Main the Box (Alice in Chains cover)
  • What More Can I Say
  • Dancin’ Around My Grave

Connor Clark & Blue Rhythm Revival

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *