There was a distinctly late-summer feeling at Topaz Farm on August 27. The evening was cool, with a steady breeze moving through the field, and the landscape was beginning to show the first signs that summer is winding down. The crowd was mellow as people settled in for a night that would feature two very different takes on folk music.
Opening the evening was Utah’s The National Parks, an indie folk band known for its cinematic sound, driving rhythms, and songs inspired by the natural world. The timing of the show was particularly fitting: the band was playing on National Parks Day, and the concert came just one day before the release of its new self-titled album, The National Parks.
The band opened with “Forest Shadow” before moving through “Caves,” “Scenic Route,” and “Superbloom.” From the beginning, the set was lively and upbeat, with the band’s layered vocals and energetic arrangements giving the songs a bigger sound than their folk roots might suggest.
Lead singers Brady Parks and Megan Taylor Parks, who are married, brought an easy chemistry to the stage. Their banter between songs was relaxed and often funny, with little stories and conversations that helped create a genuine connection with the audience. The band also made frequent use of call-and-response moments, getting the crowd to sing along and participate in several of the songs.
The set continued with “Ring of Fire,” “Wildflower,” “Sure Thing,” “A Million Lives,” “Angels,” “Monsters,” “Wind and Anchor,” and “Starlight.” One of the more personal moments came when they talked about “Honeybee,” which they had included on the new record for their two kids.
The National Parks finished their set with “8th Wonder,” followed by a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” “Welcome to the Mountains” and “As We Ran” brought the performance to a lively close.
If The National Parks brought the expansive, driving side of indie folk to the farm, Shook Twins offered something more soulful and intimate.
The Portland-based sisters are longtime Topaz Farm favorites, and their return to the farm felt a little like welcoming back old friends. Katelyn and Laurie Shook’s greatest strength remains their voices. Their harmonies are gorgeous, blending so naturally that the two often seem to be singing as one.
They opened with “No Choice” and continued with “Awile,” “Baby,” “2 Big Pics,” “Anna Rosa,” and “Dust.” The mood was initially much more relaxed than the first half of the evening. The Shook Twins’ music has a warmth and soulfulness that invited the audience to settle in and simply listen.
Their version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” took on an added emotional weight that night, serving as a tribute to Parton, who had died earlier in the week. The Shook Twins’ gorgeous harmonies gave the performance a warmth and tenderness that felt like a fitting farewell to one of the most influential voices in country and American music.
But the audience wasn’t content to sit for the entire set.
About halfway through the Shook Twins’ performance, roughly half of the crowd got up from their chairs, and many began dancing in the field. The shift was noticeable. What had started as a quiet, mellow set gradually became a much more active and communal experience, with people moving to the music as the sisters continued through “Potters,” “Safe,” and “Stay Wild.”
A playful cover of “No Diggity” brought another change in energy before the band closed with “Shake.”
There was something particularly special happening in the sky during the Shook Twins’ set as well. A partial lunar eclipse was visible overhead, with the moon appearing through the evening sky as the music continued below. Combined with the cool breeze and the fading light, it gave the second half of the concert an atmosphere that would have been difficult to recreate anywhere other than an outdoor setting.
By the time the final notes of “Shake” faded, the field had taken on a distinctly late-summer feel. The crowd slowly began gathering their things while the breeze continued to move across the farm and the moon hung above the stage.
The National Parks and Shook Twins may have approached folk music from very different directions, but the pairing worked. One brought energy, big melodies, and a strong sense of movement; the other brought soulful performances and extraordinary harmonies. And as the audience eventually found its feet and the moon emerged overhead, the evening became another reminder that at Topaz Farm, the setting can be just as much a part of the concert as the music itself. – Jason Felton