Wild Child

Fort York, Toronto ON, September 18

Photo: Shane Parent

BY Stuart HendersonPublished Sep 19, 2016

7
One of the most celebrated acts working in Austin, Texas — a town rich in celebrated acts — Wild Child arrived at TURF to fairly outsized expectations. Already three records into their career, for most of the audience, this was their first chance to check out this NPR-approved band.
 
And to the late afternoon crowd's delight, the eclectic seven-piece Americana act's careful and pleasant set went over exceedingly well. Though greeted by a sea of mellow concertgoers, perhaps overheated and drained on the third day of the festival, by the time they left the stage they had generated the best dance party of the entire weekend. As far as gauges of success, this was pretty impressive.
 
Led by velvet-voiced Kelsey Wiggins (vocals and fiddle) and Alexander Beggins (vocals and baritone ukulele), Wild Child pulls from folk, jazz, showtune and country traditions, but is capable of carrying their influences into progressive spaces. Backed by a remarkable rhythm section — on drums, Tom Myers is a study in stability and restraint — the somewhat similar midtempo songs remained full of life in this concert setting. This is a band to watch, for sure.

 

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