by daniela shella
Treefort Music Fest, held annually in Boise, Idaho, continues to shine as a vibrant celebration of indie music, art, and culture. This year's festival once again delivered an incredibly diverse lineup, mixing established local and global acts with emerging talent across all kinds of genres. The intimate atmosphere of Treefort allows for close connections between artists and attendees, making for a unique festival experience. Treefort showcases 400 bands across several venues and spans nearly a week of music and events.
This year was my first Treefort Music fest, and I was welcomed with absolute open arms! Unclear Mag was boots on the ground running around covering the best acts of the festival.
Here are 5 top acts that made the biggest waves that week, and my review on their sets.
1. Obvious and goes without saying was Remi Wolf
As the Friday of TMF started, all everyone could talk about was making it to the Main Stage for the big show, Remi Wolf. All day the energy was buzzing and everyone you’d run into would be making plans to see Remi, and then hit some other iconic late night shows. But it was a can’t miss set of the weekend.
When Remi took the stage, the photo pit was maybe the fullest I’ve ever personally experienced. The barricades shook with excitement from the front row, and the energy transcended all the way to the back of Julia Davis Park. I was able to catch her before the show and snap a few photographs of her in one of her iconic layered outfits.
From the second she took the stage, she was keeping things so high-energy and slipping in quirky anecdotes, always keeping it centered around her unique blend of pop, funk, and indie vibes. With her signature playful style and infectious charisma, Remi had the crowd dancing and singing along from the very first note. By the time her set wrapped up, fans were eager for more, and I could hear the chatter around buzzing with, “Wow I need to see her again.” Remi’s tour continues with dates all over the US, check them out HERE.
2. Gelli Haha was on our radar earlier this year but am recently converted into a die-hard fan
Gelli Haha, where do I begin! Angel, Gelli Haha’s frontwoman, was so lovely to meet and I had no idea the energy they’d bring. I was able to meet up with them for a quick portrait session, and then later caught their electric late night show. On stage, Gelli blends smooth melodies with an edge of experimental sound, trampolines and bubbles guns, dramatics and choreographed theatrics. The crowd was fully immersed in the mix of chill tunes and punchy beats, and Gelli’s cool stage presence kept the vibe going strong even up until the last note. Their new album is set to release this June!
3. Durand Bernarr
Durand was a TRUE professional performer. He engaged with the crowd so much, and the whole set was a soulful, captivating experience. I love that Durand is Grammy nominated and didn’t fail to mention that huge accomplishment on stage. I could see heads bobbing turning to hips swaying very quickly. With his smooth vocals and magnetic stage presence, he effortlessly blended R&B, funk, and soul, drawing the crowd in from the start. I’m excited to see more from Durand this year.
4. Annie DiRusso, an indie leader
Fresh off releasing her new album, Super Pedestrian, Annie took the stage and played crowd favorites like “Wet” and “Coming Soon,” which she mentioned on the mic, is about how she “thought she was going to flunk out of college.” I thought it was a beautiful moment to draw the crowd in and extremely cool to see her making art of something that was a struggle, now only paying off tenfold on stage. Annie’s band was killing every song, their stage presence was so laid back and effortless. Annie was able to blend raw emotion and catchy alt-pop tunes to draw the crowd in, making it clear she’s a rising star to watch.
5. Sofi Tukker
Can’t mention Treefort without mentioning Sofi Tukker’s incredible DJ set. From catching the flying drone in the air (check out that footage HERE) to turning the whole stage into a giant party, they brought the fun. I was able to snap a few photos of them right when they got to Boise, and they were excited to bring the party to Idaho. Fans were stopping them in the streets for photos and they were so kind and caring.
During their DJ set, it became an absolute party! The duo brought their classic blend of house beats, high-energy, and global rhythms that had the whole crowd dancing from start to finish. They sprinkled original songs and remixes with an electric vibe and killer track choices. Sofi Tukker never fails to bring a huge burst of joy and excitement, and it was so evident by the smiles on the crowd’s faces.
Check out more photos below!
