WENDELL — Saturday was a normal day throughout most of Wendell, and hardly a soul could be seen while driving down the winding, wooded roads hugging Plympton Brook and Swift River.
Until, upon approaching the top of the hill that marks the center of town, the sound of music began to creep through the trees, and more and more cars could be seen parked along the forest streets.
When the Deja Brew Cafe & Pub finally appeared, so did nearly a hundred people — they were dancing, singing, drinking and laughing, eating, smoking and enjoying the concert and festival that sprang up in this tiny town over the weekend.
It was the first-ever “Virgo Vibe” event, featuring art and food vendors, 11 bands and a midnight DJ dance party.
According to organizer Jason Moses, who plays the keyboard for Shokazoba, one of the closing acts, the concert came together “organically.” Many of the musicians already knew each other as friends, and Moses started making calls a few weeks ago after Wendell’s Reggae Fest at the same location.
The musicians agreed, and all of a sudden Moses had organized a concert with a local flair.
“It’s about the local musicians,” Moses said.
Bands the Wendell Swamp Sisters, Rufus Haikufus & The Magic Carpet Band, Josh LeVangie and The Pistoleros, The Equalites, The Quaboag Vibe, Mamma’s Marmalade, Deep C Divers, Snowhaus, Outer Stylie and Shokazoba also played, offering a variety of music, from funk to rock to reggae to country.
All money raised from ticket sales for the event went to the local musicians, Moses said, and vendors paid no fees to join the festival, keeping what they made Saturday. Local bands are often hard-pressed to find good venues, with bigger, out-of-town names being favored over them, Moses said, but the “family feel” in Wendell makes it an ideal place for local artists to play.
“Everybody is having a great time, the music is great and the vibes are here,” Moses said.
Moses said the enthusiasm he saw from the participants, as well as attendants, has him “going back and forth” about organizing it next year, and seeing the number of people who came out to support local acts like Ch’Chunk, dancing to the band’s guitar and banjo-driven swing, was impressive to Moses.
“It’s all nothing but good here, baby,” said a particularly enthusiastic dancer who went by Wolf. “It’s the fresh air, it’s removed, it’s ethereal.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.