LOCKN’ 2019 is set to take place on August 22nd–25th in Arrington, VA. While the festival has always been a hotbed for collaborations between the biggest names in the live music arena, this year’s lineup sets such crossovers as the festival’s focal point.
Topping LOCKN’s 2019 lineup is an all-in collaboration between two of the most revered guitarists on the planet: Derek Trucks (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Allman Brothers Band) and Trey Anastasio (Phish). On Friday night, August 23rd, Trey Anastasio Band will perform two sets on the festival’s notorious rotating stage—the second of which will include Trucks as a special guest. The following night, Saturday, August 24th, Trey will return the favor when he joins Tedeschi Trucks Band for their second of two headlining sets.
As LOCKN’ approaches, Anastasio and Trucks have been vocal about their mutual respect and admiration as musicians. When asked about his favorite living guitar player by SiriusXM Phish Radio‘s Ari Fink, Anastasio didn’t hesitate.
“I did get a chance to play with Tedeschi Trucks, and we’re going to play together at LOCKN’, I’m really excited. … Derek is, without question, my favorite guitar player—and, I think, the best guitar player on Earth right now,” Trey gushed. “When Derek came along, I saw him first when he was young. I loved his playing so much that, it’s like, I almost wanted to write him a thank you note. He made me believe in the guitar as a serious instrument again, and he affected the way I play. I’m playing better because of Derek Trucks.”
Who’s your favorite living guitar player? @phish‘s @treyanastasio‘s answer is simple: Derek Trucks. Hear more on Phish Radio, Ch. 29. pic.twitter.com/U8Z5g7PY3S
— SiriusXM (@SIRIUSXM) July 30, 2019
Derek also spoke about his excitement for the upcoming LOCKN’ collab with Anastasio in an interview with Quincy, MA’s Patriot Ledger. “It is fun for me, having to work up someone else’s music and see where I might fit in,” said Trucks. “You really have to think about what material will work for us both, and Trey is such a super-unique player, with a whole style he’s kind of started by himself. It’s just fun digging in and trying to find that common ground. That festival is great about that, putting us in with different people you might not usually get to play with. A few years back they did a Mad Dogs and Englishmen tribute with Leon Russell and some of those people, and that was just a magical day. I love the way that festival pushes you like that, with different combinations—you have to work extra hard but it is also really fun.”
The two have collaborated at various points over the last few decades, whether it was Trey sitting in with the Allman Brothers or Derek jamming with Phish. Perhaps the most notable sit-in came during Tedeschi Trucks Band’s annual run at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2017, when Trey jumped in for a pair of songs including an incredible, 33+ minute take on Allman Brothers classic, “Mountain Jam”.
Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Trey Anastasio – “Mountain Jam” [Allman Brothers Band cover] – Beacon Theatre – 10/14/17
[Video: marc millman]
Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Trey Anastasio – “Mountain Jam” [Allman Brothers Band cover, Partial Pro-Shot] – Beacon Theatre – 10/14/17
[Video: TTBFromTheRoad]
While the two have shown glimpses of the magic to come with their previous surprise collaborations, Derek and Trey are making sure that their upcoming connection at LOCKN’ goes deeper than simple off-the-cuff jamming. In a recent Live For Live Music interview with LOCKN’ co-founder Peter Shapiro, the impresario divulged, “I’ll give you some news—I actually just heard that Trey and Derek are getting together to rehearse and prepare for LOCKN’, which is exciting. That combination, that kind of ‘double inverse hidden special’ [laughs] on the Friday/Saurday—Derek’s band featuring Trey and then Trey’s band featuring Derek—we haven’t done that before, I haven’t seen anything like that. They’ve sat in and jammed before, everyone has. But when they really prepare and get together far out like they are now, that usually leads to fireworks.”
Fireworks are sure to abound when Derek Trucks and Trey Anastasio take their collective repertoires and bands to new collaborative heights at LOCKN’ 2019. Don’t miss out on this historic intermingling of talent. Grab your passes to LOCKN’ now.
For more information about LOCKN’ 2019, head to the festival website. You can also enter to win a pair of GA passes and side stage viewing privileges for Saturday’s all-star Oteil Burbridge & Friends set featuring Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Melvin Seals, Eric Krasno, Neal Casal, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, and Jay Lane below.
