Culture

Third and final day of 2022 Nelsonville Music Festival ends on a contented note

By: Katie Pinter
Posted on: Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) — While the inclement weather persisted, the crowds at the 2022 Nelsonville Music Festival reveled in the rain as they enjoyed the last day of this year’s event.

Day three of the festivities started off with a quiet morning — fitting since indie rock icons Yo La Tengo serenaded attendees the previous night. Their signature shoegaze style relaxed and enraptured Saturday evening’s audience as they sprawled across the hillside at the Snow Fork Event Center’s main stage.

Like many acts at the festival, the low-key nature of the performing bands and the venues are a key factor for many guests that return to the event year after year. Families of all sizes and ages can enjoy the laidback attitude and inclusive activities offered across the venue. In addition to the kooky and colorful decorations by Passion Works, the Vendor Village section of the grounds housed a designated kid’s playground and interactive art.

The favorite of the weekend seemed to be the handpainted wooden cow complete with plastic udders that stood across from Snowville Creamery’s vendor stand. While water was actually dispensed from the fake udders instead of milk, the sheer joy on the kids’ faces was entirely authentic as they played with the boarded bovine.

Families also flourished at the various open outdoor locations. Many parents sat and unfurled blankets in front of the Pond Stage as Adam Remnant, the Assistant Director of Arts Education at Stuart’s Opera House and fixture in the local music scene, introduced OYO for their afternoon performance. While he spoke about helping the six-piece Appalachian roots band track their forthcoming album nearby in Marietta, OH, groups of children playfully chased each other next to the stage as they clutched onto giant sequin-filled balloons.

For some of the smaller babes, noise-canceling headphones sat affixed atop their little heads to block out the raucous music of the Ohio-based band and their twangy tunes. Although they most likely were unaware of it, those kiddos missed out on the amazing synchronicity that OYO displayed with their lush vocal harmonies and lively instrumentals.

As it happens, the group’s connection to the event extends beyond music. OYO’s banjo player Bobby Rosenstock helped create the festival’s hand-printed limited edition poster through JustAJar, his family-operated letterpress and design studio. The poster was one of many incredible designs seen at the merchandising tent.

Clementine-hued baseball hats with cute embroidery sold by Japanese Breakfast were seen doubling in number each day atop festivalgoers’ heads as their popularity from the first night’s performance brought in new fans. The concert staple band t-shirt also got a fresh update from dreamy rock group The Ophelias. Their tee paired the classic elements of a sword-pierced heart with modern gridlines and curvy typography for an eye-catching and timeless design.

As the festival’s final day came to a close, most of the remaining merchandise items were snatched up as a lasting reminder of the three-day event. The tired but smiling faces of the guests on Sunday evening were as ubiquitous as the mud-caked Keen hiking boots seen throughout the weekend. No matter what shows were enjoyed, one thing can be agreed upon by every attendee: Memories may last a long time, but a Neko Case tote bag is forever.