Strangefolk Makes Triumphant Return At 2025 Garden Of Eden Festival

After a six-year hiatus, Strangefolk triumphantly returned to the stage this past weekend for their Garden Of Eden festival at Vermont’s Jay Peak Resort. The two-day celebration marked the band’s first performances since 2019, as fans from throughout New England and beyond gathered for the revival of the Burlington-bred quartet’s signature event.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, the original Strangefolk lineup — guitarists Reid Genauer and Jon Trafton, bassist Erik Glocker and drummer Luke Smith — spread cherished favorites across four sets. Garden Of Eden showcased the band’s inventive blend of folk-influenced rock and dynamic improvisation.

“It’s good to see you all, it’s been a little while,” Trafton said as Strangefolk hit the stage on Friday, August 22, after a performance from fellow New England-based outfit the Seth Yacovone Band. The foursome opened with “Two Boys” from their self-titled 1994 debut album.

Strangefolk’s first set of the weekend featured extended takes on “Like You Anyway” and “Paperback Book.” The group looked to their 1995 LP, Lore, to end the frame with “Shift My Step,” “Sometimes,” “…As” and “Lines & Circles.” The first-ever vinyl pressings of both Lore and 1997’s Weightless In Water were on sale at the festival.

Weightless In Water’s “Whatever” was selected to start the second set on Friday. Next, Strangefolk worked “Utterly Addled” into “What You Say” ahead of an adventurous “Chasing Away.” The band then went back to Weightless In Water for the beloved “Westerly,” which was trailed by “Blue And Grey” and “Cabin John” to end the closing stanza. Strangefolk punctuated the night with an encore of “Far From Yourself” and “So Well.”

Tribute act Pink Talking Fish kicked off the action on Saturday, August 23. Fans were treated to a large fireworks display, where Jay Peak used its entire remaining supply, before Strangefolk’s first set.

While thunderstorms threatened to derail the second night of the festival, Strangefolk adjusted the start time and delivered their full show. The quartet began the frame with “Valhalla” and then ran through “Poland” and “I Tell Myself.” From there, “Fishin’,” “Burned Down” and “Neighbor” were given the jam treatment. A pairing of Strangefolk cut “Rachel” and “Walnut” from 2000’s A Great Long While put a bow on the third headlining set of the weekend.

Following intermission, Strangefolk lit into the rollicking Lore cut “Alaska.” The quartet then pulled “Elixir” and “All The Same” from Weightless In Water. The last set moved forward with a run of “Speculator,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Roads” and “Furnace.” The foursome wrapped the frame with “Sinner” and an improv-heavy “Reuben’s Place.” Strangefolk said farewell, for now, by performing a cover of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” and fan favorite “Songs We Sing” as their encore.

Setlists, Video & Audio (Taped by Mark Van Blunk)

Friday, August 22

Set One: Two Boys, Stout Hearted, Like You Anyway, Paperback Book, Shift My Step, Sometimes, …As, Lines & Circles

Set Two: Whatever, Utterly Addled > What Say You, Chasing Away, Westerly, Blue and Grey, Cabin John

Encore: Far From Yourself, So Well

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Saturday, August 23

Set One: Valhalla, Poland, I Tell Myself, Fishin, Burned Down, Neighbor, Rachel, Walnut

Set Two: Alaska, Elixir, All The Same, Speculator, Take It Easy On Me, Roads, Furnace, Sinner, Reuben’s Place

Encore: Angel From Montgomery, Songs We Sing