By guest blogger, writer and photographer C. Alan Crandall
Colorado’s Leftover Salmon headlined the final day of the 13th Annual NedFest, Sunday, Aug. 28. The day was filled with music from many bands including Whitewater Ramble, Head for the Hills, Keith Moseley and friends and ALO. The weather was a mix of sunshine with a bit of clouds and rain thrown in and after a day of great music it was time for the main act.
The Leftover Salmon set was one of their finest ever. By the time the band took the stage the rain had gave way to a beautiful mountain evening in Nederland.
“Michigan” Mike announced as the band staged that instead of two sets, due to rain delays, Leftover Salmon would play only one set, and what a set it was. I overheard several comments from the audience that the band was “killing it.” Leftover Salmon invited Bill Nershi to join in on the knee slapping, heel stomping good time, and before the night was up Salmon’s Vince Herman’s son, Silas played with the band. Anytime I see the Hermans performing together I consider it a big treat. Silas can play mandolin with the best of them and Sunday’s performance at NedFest was proof.
The crowd was swinging, dancing and swaying to the fast paced jam-grass that Leftover Salmon was laying down. Then, if that were not enough, Jeff Austin entered the stage and ripped the mandolin through a rousing version of “Pasta on the Mountain,” that had the crowd singing the lyrics along with the band.
The 13th annual NedFest was three days of great fun with some of the best Colorado musicians teamed up with national touring acts to form almost 30 bands with almost non-stop entertainment.
The music played well into the night, after festival ground curfew, at various locations around Nederland. The festival was hot, rainy, windy, sunny and filled with beautiful mountain music and beautiful mountain folk. I am already planning for next year’s festival.