THE MILK CARTON Kids have grown to become perhaps the premier Americana folk guitar-and-vocal duo on the modern landscape, with iconic fans including Robert Plant and the late David Crosby. Now they’re using their position to cultivate a hip folk festival featuring a handpicked lineup of vital artists including Sierra Ferrell, Valerie June, David Garza, Tré Burt, Willie Watson (of the Old Crow Medicine Show), Haley Heynderickx and Waxahatchee.
The Kids have partnered with the L.A. Philharmonic to produce the Los Angeles Folk Festival at the Ford Theater over the first weekend in October. It will also serve as a hometown record release party for their adventurous new album, (Far Cry/Thirty Tigers). Produced by Pattengale, it finds the Kids expanding their tonal palette on a stellar song selection. In addition to their traditional dynamic, where Ryan holds down the fort on a larger instrument while Pattengale colors on a parlor, they utilize a variety from Pattengale’s extensive collection of mostly vintage instruments, as well as new additions. Pattengale adds textures on a David Crosby signature Martin 12-string, and Ryan plays banjo on the hypnotic “One True Love” and the bluegrass romp “When You’re Gone.” Both have also got brand-new Martins, including a 000-15 Pattengale has started playing when Ryan switches to banjo. When they do so, the Milk Carton Kids take a sonic step toward the Avett Brothers. At other times the added textural elements plus lush, melancholy vocals in epic songs such as “Wheels and Levers” and “North Country Ride” bring something more existential to mind, almost like a folky version of
