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Pot of Gold Festival more than satisfies

Pot of Gold Festival
The Rawhide Center
Chandler, AZ
March 16-18, 2018
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band

Review and photos by Frances Sealy

The fourth Pot of Gold Festival offered a multi-genre musical extravaganza for Phoenix fans to explore and enjoy. There were two stages for fans to rotate between. One was located indoors and the largest stage was outside. It was a bonus that the distance was short between the two stages and there was no sound bleed. The weather was perfect for the weekend with mild temperatures. The food was typical carnival fare. The entertainment regardless of the genre was stellar. Here are some of the highlights.

Friday was dedicated to hip-hop and rap day. Russ was the headliner with a multitude of artists. Fans lined up early in the day for these artists. Russ cut his first song short when a fan passed out near the front of the stage. His team threw out water bottles to the crowd to get them hydrated. However, someone in the crowd threw a water bottle at Russ and hit him in the abdomen. Not a cool thing.

The St. Patrick's Day headliner was Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band. Phil Lesh recently celebrated his 70th birthday. Phil also celebrates more than 50 years of Grateful Dead music. Phil and family played two and half hours of jamming deliciousness and added an encore. The sets were predominantly songs from the Grateful Dead catalogue. However, they did a searing cover of CSNY's "Ohio." The encore was Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With."

The Terrapin Family Band consists of Phil's son Grahame Lesh on vocals and guitar, Elliott Peck on vocals, Ross James on guitar and vocals, Jason Crosby on keyboards and Alex Koford on drums and vocals. Each band member has a strong connection to the Grateful Dead and is dedicated to keeping the legacy alive. Phil had been fighting the flu the week before the show so he didn't do much vocal work.

Earlier in the day, Grahame Lesh's band, Midnight North, gave a rocking set at the festival. Elliott Peck is also a member of the band delivering vocals and playing guitar and keyboards. Alex Jordan plays guitar, organ, and vocals while Connor O'Sullivan plays bass and mandolin for the band. It was a rocking set with songs from their 2017 album release Under the Lights.

The Infamous Stringdusters delivered a tight set that proved why they are one of the best string bands in the country today. These five musicians jam hard and it pays off royally. Each of the five members of the band had ample opportunity to show off his skills and the fans reaped the benefit of their musical gifts.

Cody Jinks brought his honky-tonk country music set to the indoor stage filled with country fans. The beat was a familiar Waylon Jennings beat. The Texas crooner delivered a song from his upcoming album "Can't Quit Enough" and "Hippies and Cowboys" from his most recent album Less Wise.

G. Love and Special Sauce stole the show on Sunday early in the set. Donovan Frankenreiter sat in with the band that was a special treat. G. Love's rendition of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was given the "Special" treatment with a wild harmonica solo that had the joint jumping.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones' set started slow but took on a revival attitude midway when Janeway kicked his shoes off the stage and got down with the music. He released his earth shaking gospel roar to the delight of the fans.

Rappers Felly and Dirty Heads gave hip-hop fans their fill on Sunday. Felly is very charismatic with his fans. They had just arrived from performing at the South By Southwest Festival and were still in the mood to roar.

Dirty Heads are riding high from their string of recent hit records "Dance All Night," "Lay Me Down," "Stand Tall," "Driftin'" and many more. The fans knew all the words and were ready to dance all night with the band. The energizing set was on fire!

Related articles:

Pot of Gold Music Festival 2017 - Festival review - Chandler, AZ - March 17-18, 2017

Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band
Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band
Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Tauk
Tauk
Tauk
Tauk
Tauk
Tauk
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
O.T. Genasis
O.T. Genasis
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love And Special Sauce
Midnight North
Midnight North
Midnight North
Midnight North
Midnight North
Midnight North
Donavon Frankenreiter
Donavon Frankenreiter
Donavon Frankenreiter
Donavon Frankenreiter
Donavon Frankenreiter
Donavon Frankenreiter
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Infamous Stringdusters
Felly
Felly
Felly
Felly
Felly
Felly
Dirty Heads
Dirty Heads
Dirty Heads
Dirty Heads

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