A BERKSHIRE-BASED MUSICIAN FINDS MAGIC EVERY TIME HE PLAYS AT FRESHGRASS
FALL 2024
By Andy Wrba
It was an unusually hot September evening as I was about to make my debut performance at FreshGrass Festival. I had been touring with the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow for a few years, and we were scheduled to play the late-night set on the “FreshRoots” stage. With seven members in the band, we were accustomed to fitting into tight spaces. The actual stage was just big enough for the drummer, leaving the rest of us at ground level, overflowing into the audience area. After a brief sound check, we waited for our cue to start. What happened next was beyond what anyone could have predicted.
As the performance in the nearby courtyard ended, we started playing. What appeared to be a simple stage with minimal production turned into a collective experience that is still talked about today. The energetic crowd seemed to never stop growing. The divide between musicians and audience evaporated as everyone shared the space, the energy, the music, and the magic. And this magic continues to emerge year after year at FreshGrass. That’s the beauty and brilliance of combining creative musicians in an inspiring space with a receptive and encouraging audience. Anything can happen—oftentimes it feels like magic—and you never know when you’ll find it.
Since 2017, I’ve played at every FreshGrass Festival at MASS MoCA, largely under the radar as a bassist in several different bands. In addition to the Whiskey Treaty, I’ve also performed with House of Songs, Johnny Irion, Darrow Music Collective, and have recently led my own projects as Andy Wrba + Friends. Even during Covid in 2020, I performed at MASS MoCA on the second-floor cutout stage with socially distanced squares painted in the courtyard. One way or another, I’ve been a regular part of the experience—and I always rediscover the magic each year.
As a musician, performing at FreshGrass is certainly unique. Most audience members only see the final product after many hours of hard work and unpredictable moments that lead to a performance. This process is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. In 2019, I played with Irion, and we performed a set of his original music. What many people don’t know is that I had only met the drummer Darren Jessee of Ben Folds Five a couple of hours before the show, and we were reviewing parts up to the minute before we hit the stage. In 2021, I brought a group of my music students to perform, and our bass player actually forgot his instrument! I spent the hours before that performance looking for a bass on site and calling every local musician I knew until I connected with a production crew member who had one to lend. Ultimately, these shows went on without a hitch. On a lighter note, I was backstage with the Whiskey Treaty in 2018, and there were two barbers who invited us to sit down for a trim before our set, noting “a fresh haircut gives you a leg up when you perform.” Tory Hanna and I took their advice and went on stage, ready to rock and looking freshly coiffed.
Located within the museum, the backstage has a sense of equality and camaraderie as every musician shares the same space behind the scenes. I’ve crossed paths with Taj Mahal, Sierra Hull, Aoife O’Donovan, Rhiannon Giddens, members of Dispatch, and plenty of others. Meals are spread out for musicians in one corner, vocal warm-ups are in the other, and reconnections are made while arranging pop-up guest appearances on stage. It feels like one big FreshGrass family reunion. And none of this happens by accident. Every member of the MASS MoCA and FreshGrass team brings a beautiful energy and intentional design to make these experiences possible.
FreshGrass is a nationally renowned festival, and I carry a sense of responsibility as a local musician performing there each year. I feel a duty to represent our community and to contribute to the festival’s success and prestige. I perform with a wide range of musicians and generally change the lineup depending on my artistic vision for the project or performance. With something like FreshGrass, there are several variables to consider when crafting a band and set: time of day for the performance, inside vs. outside, other styles represented that day, and more. It’s a chance to showcase the musical heritage of our region and to inspire the next generation of musicians—perhaps a representation of the Berkshire music vernacular. I am very intentional with whom I call to perform and craft a careful setlist based on the makeup of the band and the direction I hope to take the music. With that, I’m thankful to MASS MoCA and FreshGrass for the trust they have in me as a bandleader. They have never once questioned my musical direction and have simply offered the space to create.
There is a lot to be excited about for FreshGrass 2024. You can be sure to find me at the two Béla Fleck performances. Friday night, he will premiere his FreshGrass Concerto, a commissioned work that will be heard for the first time ever. On Saturday, he will join Edmar Castañeda and the Antonio Sanchez Trio for something which is sure to be magical. As for my music, expect the unexpected as I will be joined by Matt Cusson, Wanda Houston, Ryan Hommel, Ed Moran, Benny Kohn, and Conor Meehan for the first set of the day on Saturday, September 21.
FreshGrass North Adams is a family-friendly three-day bluegrass and roots music festival happening at MASS MoCA from September 20 to 22. There will be world premieres, emerging artist competitions, farmfresh food, local brews, pop-up jam sessions—and Andy Wrba with all of his friends.