Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

Borderland Festival returned to Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, N.Y., this past weekend, offering three days of music and art exposure on the outskirts of The All-American City, Buffalo. During the sixth annual occasion, headliners The Black Crowes, Caamp, Marcus King, and many others livened the experience with memorable music moments, including a regional special from Dark Star Orchestra and 75 minutes of high-energy entertainment a la Cory Wong.

Beginning on Friday, Sept. 13, The Black Crowes provided the event’s initial headlining frame, which included an unruly take on “Bedside Manner” off their latest LP, Happiness Bastards, followed by classics and a striking cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Oh, Sweet Nuthin’” sung by Rich Robinson, atop another borrowed tune, Otis Reddings’ “Hard to Handle.”

To follow, on Saturday, Borderland Festival hosted headliners Caamp–taking part in their only Northeastern appearance this year. During their stand, the folk act opened their frame with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” followed by a cascade of originals, including a debut of a new number, “Let Things Go,” and a take on Dr. Dog’s “Jackie Wants a Black Eye.” Separately, King joined New Orleans big band, The Rumble, for a surprise sit-in.

Holding the final headliner slot, King. The musician also used his time in the region to partner with Gibson Guitars, Borderland Festival, and his own Curfew Fellowship Foundation to give away an autographed axe at Borderland’s Sober Space–presented by The Phoenix and Divided Sky Foundation. 

Furthermore, Dark Star Orchestra paid homage to regional concerts past by recreating the Grateful Dead’s May 9, 1977, Buffalo Aud concert, notably the subsequent follow-up to the San Francisco jamband’s referred Cornell ‘77 stand. 

Also of note, a pair of historical instruments—Jerry Garcia’s “Pretzel Guitar” and “Peanut Guitar”—and other memorabilia from the guitarist’s collection of gear were on location. Daniel Donato, Sierra Hull, and Grateful Dead photographer Jay Blakesberg even tried out the instruments. 

Photographers Blakesberg and Jesse Faatz were on location and shared photos from the festival weekend. View below.