Watch Steep Canyon Rangers Avoid Thunderstorm At Festival With Indoor Robbie Robertson Tribute

A severe rainstorm complete with thunder and lightning tore through Goshen, Connecticut on Saturday during the third day of the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival. Headliners Steep Canyon Rangers and festival organizers made lemonade and out of the weather-induced lemons by having the string band perform inside within the hospitality suite at Goshen Fair Grounds.

Steep Canyon Rangers loaded in the intimate space where they were surrounded by festivalgoers. The Asheville, North Carolina-based sextet included a tribute to the late Robbie Robertson just days after The Band guitarist/composer's death within their set. Both band and crowd joined voices in singing “The Weight” to honor Robertson.

“The Weight” was written by Robbie Robertson. The Band released the song as a single and on their debut album, 1968’s Music From Big Pink. Backed by “I Shall Be Released,” “The Weight” marked the first single put out by the group under The Band moniker. The song became one of the group’s best-known songs with a who’s who of artists covering “The Weight” over the past 55 years.

Steep Canyon Rangers went acoustic and utilized a stripped-down setup at Podunk Bluegrass on Saturday. Check out fan-shot footage of “The Weight” played as thunderstorms passed outside: