St. Vincent headlines the All Things Go Music Festival on Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Katherine Gaines/ ambienteye.com)
Parklife sent Katherine Gaines to photograph the All Things Go Music Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and she returned with pix of SHAED, Girl in Red, Lauv, and St. Vincent, along with this blog entry about her experience at the festival.
It was a soggy grey day, not much for showing off fun festival attire. The crowd was mostly a sea of raincoats, ponchos and umbrellas. Some folks probably decided not to go, or left when it started raining but everyone who stuck it out wanted to make the most of their long awaited festival.
The pride stage was a hidden gem while it lasted. Off to the side opposite the chrysalis stage, it provided cover from the elements and a chance to escape festival acts you didn’t like. Surprise guests SHAED (local to the area) did a brief set, with their proud parents on the side cheering them on. Both the band and the crowd genuinely enjoyed being in an intimate space amongst a massive festival. The djs also had short sets but kept everyone dancing like crazy.
Watch the official music video for “Once Upon a Time” by SHAED on YouTube:
Girl in Red was the breakout star of the day. Her honest straightforward lyrics make her songs already seem like queer anthems that will stand the test of time. She was full of energy and won over many who had never heard of her. Lauv seemed to have undergone a physical transformation during lockdown, but his fans were more than enthusiastic just to be in his presence.
Watch Lauv perform “I Like Me Better” live for SiriusXM on YouTube:
St. Vincent continues her Bowie-like evolution through various styles. Her meticulous attention to detail and precise choreography are perfectly balanced by her intense charisma and ease on stage. Charli XCX, who declined photography, somehow turned an outdoor stage into an underground warehouse party with massive amounts of fog and bass.
Watch the official music video for “Down” by St. Vincent on YouTube:
It was great to see a women- and queer-focused festival, and hopefully other promoters will take note. It’s possible. It makes money. It’s good music. No more excuses.
Here are some pictures of the All Things Go Music Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Oct. 16, 2021. All photos copyright and courtesy of Katherine Gaines (http://ambienteye.com/).
The crowd
Girl in Red
Lauv
DJs!
SHAED
St. Vincent
