After kicking off with sets by Goose, Twiddle, Thumpasaurus, and more on Thursday, The Peach Music Festival rolled on on Friday with sets from Ween, Umphrey’s McGee, Ripe, Trouble No More, TAUK featuring Kanika Moore, Dogs In A Pile, Daniel Donato, LP Giobbi’s Dead House, and more.
Daniel Donato pulled double duty, handling guitar with official Allman Brothers Band tribute Trouble No More before leading a late-night set dubbed Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Peach. The Tennessee guitarist did a spectacular job honoring the spirit of the Duane Allman and his ABB predecessors—a particularly important duty at the Allman Brothers-founded festival—but it was his wild late-night that made fans of the unfamiliar.
Texas blues rocker Ally Venable made a splash with her early-afternoon set on the Peach Stage. The 24-year-old bandleader, who just finished a stint opening for blues legend Buddy Guy, blew audiences away with her powerful vocals, impressive guitar skills, and captivating stage presence as she delivered a heartfelt and emotionally charged performance.
A set by the cleverly named all-femail Kanika Moore Presents The Broadband was another highlight of Friday’s bill. Grounded by the grooves of drummer Nikki Glaspie, who also bolstered the rhythm section for Trouble No More, the collaborative unit honored iconic women in music with covers of artists including Pat Benatar, Gwen Stefani, and Tina Turner.
Kanika Moore Presents The Broadband – “Control” (Janet Jackson) – 6/30/23
NJ jam upstarts Dogs In A Pile returned to Montage Mountain af ready to throw down an incendiary set after making a splash in their Peach debut last year. The fresh-faced five-piece treated a massive crowd at the Mushroom Stage to a high-octane set featuring a fiery cover of the Grateful Dead‘s “Jack Straw”, which festivalgoers were able to enjoy while floating in the wave pool.
Dogs In A Pile – “Jack Straw” (Grateful Dead) – 6/30/23 [Clip]
[Video: Ike Richman]
If headlining sets from Ween and Umphrey’s McGee were the meat, Ripe’s vibrant blend of funk, rock, and pop was the potatoes. The Boston-based band injected a dose of soul to the jam-heavy fest, creating a lively and danceable atmosphere with catchy melodies, tight grooves, powerful horn arrangements, and lively instrumental solos.
After Ween and UM brought it home on the Peach Stage, a grease fire at a food vendor booth caused the main pathway between the Peach and Mushroom stages to be temporarily closed. The fire was swiftly subdued, and no one was injured.
Click below to check out fan-shot videos and photo galleries from photographers David Gray and A.J. Kinney. The Peach Music Festival continues today, Saturday, July 1st with sets by Friends of Jaimoe, Circles Around The Sun, Karina Rykman, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Mike Gordon, My Morning Jacket, and more.
Umphrey’s McGee – “Hurt Bird Bath”, “Remind Me” – 6/30/23
