Twisted Pine, including Chris Sartoni, Kathleen Parks, Dan Bui, and Anh Phung performing at the festival (Photo credit Jewel Farrin)
by Ella Rogerson
Over 60 bands took to the stage throughout various venues in Lowell this past weekend, for the annual The Town and The City Festival.
Starting in 2018, the city of Lowell began hosting this festival, which this year took place Thursday April 24th through Saturday April 26th and featured an ample variety of genres, performances, and venues.
The performer selection and organization process is conducted by Chris Porter, who is a part of Porter Productions, and the Executive Producer of the event. Porte says the process of organizing this popular event is extensive and starts months in advance.
“It kind of starts with making a lot of different plans, what venues we can utilize for it because this is a multi-venue festival. We have to make sure that we have certain venues involved. Then probably around the same time we’re dealing with the booking,” said Porter.
Maya Devitry and Joel Timmons performing at Christ Church United during the festival (Photo credit Jewel Farrin)
Working alongside Porter is Nathan Richer, who performs in a band called “Burke,” that was booked for the event.
Richer and Porter worked together to secure the twelve venues and over sixty performers, ranging in genres from bluegrass to rock n’ roll. The duo seek out artists by requiring an audition tape, and other performers reach out personally or through a booking agent.
A large part of the decision process comes down to budget and genre balance.
“The venues are anywhere from 40 capacity to 350 capacity. Meaning that, from a production standpoint, we can’t accommodate a large production and a very expensive band… I get a lot of bands pitching themselves,” said Porter.
In addition to Richer, Porter has the opportunity to work with a festival management and media team. Year after year, these teams ensure everything runs smoothly and that the festival is marketed online.
Part of the management process includes handling grants and donations. In addition to business sponsors, the festival works with two non-profits, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau and Jack Kerouac Foundation, that serve as co-presenters. Through these partnerships, grants are earned to support the festival’s budget.
The festival’s goal is to bring people together as a celebration of art and music in Lowell. This message is embodied in the name itself, which originates from Jack Kerouac, the famous writer from Lowell.
Inspired by his book, “The Town and The City” written about Lowell, the festival serves to celebrate Kerouac and the culture of the city while pushing the local artist initiative.
“Twisted Pine” is a progressive bluegrass band that started in the Boston area. The four members, Chris Sartoni, Kathleen Parks, Dan Bui, and Anh Phung bring together a passionate mix of the mandolin, fiddle, flute, and upright bass.
The band started touring roughly five years ago, and had played this festival previously. When asked to perform again, the band was excited for the opportunity.
Twisted Pine, including Chris Sartoni, Kathleen Parks, Dan Bui, and Anh Phung performing at the festival Photo credit Jewel Farrin
“Well since we’re Boston based, Lowell to us feels like a hub of Boston so it feels really nice to be playing a part of our hometown…It’s just connecting us to our community and our music scene here which is really special to us,” said Parks.
While this festival encourages local engagement, artists and visitors attend from outside Lowell, and even outside of Massachusetts.
Singer Maya Devitry lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is currently on a Spring Tour, visiting various states with multiple locations in Massachusetts.
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Devitry was surrounded by live music. She started learning when she was young and began professionally at age 21.
Devitry had never heard of the festival but had booked it through her agent. Despite this, Devitry wanted to capitalize on the opportunity.
“For me, playing a festival means I get a chance to play for like an especially open minded and curious bunch of people which is really cool… or maybe there’s somebody who’s been waiting a long time and had this on their calendar and we get to kind of make their night. That’s also exciting,” said Devitry.
In addition to drawing people in, Sartoni said the festival strengthens community bonds.
“We really appreciate when festivals engage the community that they take place in and I think this one in particular is very much emphasizing the fact it’s Lowell and that sort of connection to the place is nourishing for musicians,” said Sartoni.
Ella Rogerson is a student studying journalism at Endicott College.
