As we wrap up coverage for some of the festival season’s biggest events of 2024, we were reminded by a decidedly smaller yet equally relevant event that curation of community is where some of the best events put their focus. Unique in its approach and informed by its mission, Utah’s Park City Song Summit’s relevance is delivered via a multi-day music and wellness (think mental health) model that equally values intimate conversations and large-scale performances from and by its audience’s favorite artists with a perfect balance of art, conversation, and connection.
photo by Jay Blakesberg
In its third year, the festival took a step forward in defining the clarity of its mission and focusing the spotlight on the things that make it different—naturally, an increased crowd size followed. Before evening shows held at the 4,000-cap amphitheater at The Canyons Resort, and at tiny clubs on famously charming Main Street in Park City, daytime talks (or Song Summit Labs, as they’re called) presented by the fest’s nonprofit arm, the Song Summit Foundation, featured artists paired with professionals from the music, wellness, and philanthropic worlds, engaging in conversations beyond typical, on-cycle interviews about records or tours. Held in a perfect-sized, set-decorated, comfortable room with soft light at the beautiful Pendry Hotel, the ticket-buying audience gets the feeling they’ve snuck into the friends-only afterparty on their favorite artist’s tour.
photo by Mario Alcauter
These lab conversations are carefully curated to be intimate and inspiring. Two years ago, in a packed room of 120 lucky fans, Margo Price spoke solely about the deeply personal new book she’d just written chronicling the challenges of the addiction and bro-ism tainting Nashville. This years highlights included Nathaniel Rateliff sitting with Jay Sweet, Executive Director of the Newport Festivals Foundation, discussing positivity in a dark world; My Morning Jacket’s Jim James sitting with rock photographer Danny Clinch, talking transcendental meditation; and Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman (brass players in Trey Anastasio's band) speaking about breaking barriers for women who play brass—and later performing an amphitheater show with Eric Krasno & Friends with young brass players from Cuba (invited to the festival through efforts of the Song Summit Foundation).
Jim James and Danny Clinch Summit Lab / photo by Erika Goldring
Danny Clinch and Jim James
Beats & Bytes Lab with Larkin Poe, Eric Krasno, Steve Poltz / photo by Erika Goldring
Not to be outdone, the hilariously talented folk-rock stalwart Steve Poltz also did a mash-up lab with acclaimed Grateful Dead photographer Jay Blakesburg for an old-school slide show of 40 years of some of his favorite shots. Blakesburg meanwhile wove a multi-chapter, stream-of-consciousness story that was occasionally and without warning thrown to Poltz for real-time creation of songs hilariously summarizing what the audience had just seen. “My lab with Jay Blakesberg was insane!” Poltz shared. “All that improv in the middle of the day was the best thing ever for my soul. I made up songs on the spot to accompany stories I’d never heard. It was like walking on a tightrope without a net.”
Steve Poltz and Jay Blakesberg Summit Lab / photo by Erika Goldring
The trust required by artists and their teams to risk being placed in vulnerable environments has been earned over the three years by festival founder Ben Anderson. Anderson and his team’s slow and steady demonstration that this event is different and holding the music community to a standard of openness and inclusivity has resonated with artists. “Conference” can be a dirty word for a live music event, but PCSS is evolving into an organic meeting place for music biz professionals, nonprofits, and do-gooders. Walking the hall between labs, one could see impromptu conversations between directors of the Trombone Shorty Foundation, WhyHunger, Stand Together Music, and others talking through ways to leverage efforts for good.
Ben Anderson / photo by Erika Goldring
Make no mistake, the music is what brings everyone up to the beautiful mountain town. The opening night gala featured Mavis Staples performing a very emotional set with vibrant stories about her father Pops between songs, and a version of “Far Celestial Shore” that left zero dry eyes in the invite-only tent. Cimafunk, appearing at PCSS for the second consecutive year and, serving as an ambassador for the Summit Foundation’s efforts to support young musicians in Cuba, put on his typically hyper-energetic set of funk-bending island-rock and soul. Headliners My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats delivered what were essentially world premieres of sets top-loaded with fan-favorites, as each band was prepping hit-heavy nights for their soon-to-launch co-headlining “Eye to Eye” tour. Support each night by Larkin Poe, Eric Krasno & Friends, and Anders Osborne built the vibe on the steep green hill in front of the stage.
Mavis Staples / photo by Jay Blakesberg
photo by Jay Blakesberg
photo by Jay Blakesberg
Nathaniel Rateliff / photo by Brian Lima
Collaboration is a byproduct of the openness and communication at the festival, and from the Trombone Shorty Foundation kids, to the young Cuban musician group Primera Linea, to cameos by the great Ivan Neville, folks were jamming together in almost every set. “I love seeing the reaction of the crowd to the kids’ participation and the talent and flow of the kids, “shared Cimafunk. “I think it inspires follow up conversations with the community.”
Cimafunk / photo by Erika Goldring
Cimafunk / photo by Erika Goldring
photo by Mario Alcauter
DMC / photo by Mario Alcauter
After the crowd cleared from the hill at the amphitheater, many rode the gondola down to the lot and shuttles to head up to Main Street in old town Park City to see returning artist, lab participator, and friend of the festival Darryl DMC McDaniels tear up a set of Run-D.M.C. classics and talk through some of the high points of the weekend at The Cabin, a tiny local haunt. This, too, is a special and distinctly PCSS experience that’s beginning to feel like a tradition.
Park City Song Summit fosters an authentic environment where musicians and fans mingle, share experiences, and collaborate. The approachable setting encourages conversations that matter. With next year’s summit just announced for the weekend of August 14, here’s hoping the growth continues.
phot by Erika Goldring
