At Fest (2013)

At Fest is more than a folk music documentary. At Fest is an experiential journey making the audience part of one of America's biggest, oldest camping music festivals around. The audience gets to know the campers, the volunteers, and the bands. HogMaw, a progressive bluegrass band, tries for their big break. HogMaw's endearing and talented fiddle-player Ryann also volunteers at the festival, and her musical family camps at the festival, playing music by the campfire late at night. The cast of characters is big, and seamless and interconnected. When the credits roll, the love and community becomes palpable, memorable, and real. Because the setting for At Fest is the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the movie shares a lot of music, but this is not a concert documentary. The acts range from under-appreciated (David Wax Museum, Hoots & Hellmouth, US Rails), unheralded (Philadelphia Jug Band, Brad Hinton), unknown (Emily Drinker, Paul Thiessen, Margaret Garrity), and undeniable (HogMaw), but all burst with talent and enthusiasm. The soundtrack includes folk, roots, Mesoamericana, folk rock, and even "thundergrass". At Fest also shows four generations of Festers (including babies) and even some who have attended for all fifty years. At night, campers release sky lanterns and fears into the night, and fall in love by the campfire. See how Fest-goers deal with a tornado warning and massive storm. With four intimate live performances by up-and-coming bands and lots of amazing music, this unofficial documentary is the first of its kind in the 50 years of this historic American treasure.