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NMF 2012: Waking Up With The Early Bird

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Is there a better way to start a day than with some early morning mandolin antics from Andrew Bird?

Starting around 10 a.m. this morning, Bird took to the stage on his lonesome in front of a groggy crowd, whipping through a series of originals and playful covers.

Dressed like a true rockstar–sleeves, long pants AND a scarf–Bird goofed around with the sound technicians while perfecting his whistling (and apparently there is a specific microphone for said whistling) and singing Kermit the Frog's (or was it Van Morrison's?) "Bein' Green" and the Handsome Family's "So Much Wine."

Before long, Bird left the stage and took off on his bicycle, presumably to take in sights around Athens County before he hops up on the Main Stage again at 10 p.m.


With a name like Hunnabee & The Sandy Tar Boys, you can probably guess the kind of tunes that were emanating from the Porch Stage a little before noon.

Folky and rootsy, Hunnabee & The Sandy Tar Boys admirably opened the day’s musical performances on day two of the Nelsonville Music Festival.

There are an awful lot of young people playing old music in our region. Some of them don’t do justice to the Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie covers they often favor. Not so with Hunnabee and friends.

In fact, the group was visibly grooving throughout its lush, well-composed performance, despite the sparse crowd with a large contingent of small children.

Smiles and excited stage banter punctuated the set, which did have its Johnny Cash cover ("Folsom Prison Blues") and a shout out to the late, great Woody Guthrie with "I Ain’t Got No Home."

If you missed them, never fear: Hunnabee & The Sandy Tar Boys will be returning to play at the No-Fi cabin around noon tomorrow.