Wookiefoot and Nahko & Medicine for the People for “BearFoot” in Minneapolis.
Wookiefoot and Nahko and Medicine for the People for their "BearFoot" weekend in Minneapolis.
“Wookieween” is my Halloween tradition. It never fails to leave me feeling full of happiness and light. The annual event is held at The Cabooze in Minneapolis, Minnesota the last weekend of October. This year it was dubbed “BearFoot” featuring Nahko and Medicine for the People on Friday and Wookiefoot on Saturday. Opening musical performances were from 1000 Fuegos, Christina Holmes, The Limbs, Cosmic Serenity and Satsang.
As my 5th “Wookieween”, I couldn’t be any more excited to attend both nights. Each was abundant with friends and my favorite band.
Night One of BearFoot, 1000 Fuegos brought in an excited crowd to The Cabooze. Followed by a killer vocal-performance by guitarist and lyricist, Christina Holmes, accompanied by eighteen year-old violinist, Richard Vagner, who is now on Trevor Hall’s tour, “The Fruitful Darkness.” Nahko Bear of Medicine for the People came on stage that night wearing a costume teddy bear head in honor of the Halloween spirit, as well. The night was light-hearted, and the crowd sang along as Nahko performed songs from his new album “My Name is Bear” which the set was based around with little teddybears on stage.
The playful festivities continued on Night two of BearFoot, with musical performances from The Limbs, Satsang, Cosmic Serenity, and of course, Wookiefoot. Costumes were encouraged with the theme Wookiefoot announced on their Facebook page as “LOVElution Yellow Submarine Sgt Pepper Wookie Hearts Club.” The crowd came dressed in their favorite Beatles gear, or whatever costume makes them feel their happiest, came to celebrate Halloween that night in full-spirited force with lots of love for the music.
Opening for Wookiefoot played The Limns, a Twin-Cities based reggae-rock band whose motto is: Peace, Love and Harmony. The Limns played their set wearing Halloween-themed costumes which made the crowd roar with enthusiastic laughter.
Next, Satsang played an extended set opening for Wookiefoot with a lively performance of YMCA that made the crowd dance and sing along. Satsang, the band, is a Montana-based trio. Their latest album “Pyramids” is available on Spotify, Deezer and TuneIn.
Wookiefoot brought down the house and played a cover song of The Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” featuring female guest-artist Maya Elena. Their psychedelic day-glow cheered on the night with other Beatles songs including: “Help From My Friends,” “A Day in the Life,” “Within You & Without You” and “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” Wookiefoot performed a few of their crowd favorites such as “Just Visiting,” “The Road,” “Going Through Hell” and “Be Fearless & Play.” Also, during their set, Satang’s lead-singer, Drew McManus, joined Wookiefoot on-stage to perform the song, “Speak Up,” off of Satsang’s newest album, “Pyramids.”
The night was even complete with inflatable octopus legs featured during Wookiefoot cover of The Beatle’s song “Octopus’s Garden,” and a fog-cannon jet pack who blasted the front of the crowd, which gained lots of cheers.
My favorite part of both nights at BearFoot this Halloween was being greeted by so many different smiles and costumes in the crowd. I’m glad I was able to spend the night dancing with friends who were with me at my first Wookiefoot show, and also making new friends who were seeing Wookiefoot perform for their first time! Here are a few of my favorite moments capturing Nahko Bear, and Wookiefoot, as well as some of my crowd favorite costumes from both nights!
Nahko Bear as “Bear”
Story and photos by: Kara Ketcher
