There will be no hits on Night One of Wilco's Solid Sound Festival

If you go to see Wilco in North Adams, Massachusetts on June 28, don't expect to hear “Impossible Germany.” In fact, it's probably best not to get your hopes up for any of Wilco's long-awaited gigs on the first night of their semi-annual Solid Sound festival, when they will debut a deep cut ensemble. “I'm willing to make that commitment right now,” says Jeff Tweedy, who adds that he categorically rules out “Jesus, etc.” and “Via Chicago,” too.

Night One of the band's three-day music festivals in western Massachusetts always comes with a twist. Previous editions have seen an all-covers set (2013), an acoustic set (2015), a karaoke set with guest singers (2019) and the live debut of a new double album (2022), among other surprises and tricks. Hence the idea of ​​deep cuts. “It's a bit scary at the moment,” Tweedy admits. “We're still in the weeds.” Lately they've been hard at work rehearsing some of their less played songs, while also engaging in some philosophical discussions.

“The question is, what qualifies as a deep cut to die-hard fans?” he continues. “I don't know — is 'Casino Queen' a deep cut at this point? Because we don't play it very often, even though it was probably one of the most popular songs on the record.” (This rolling riverboat-themed rocker from Wilco's 1995 debut isn't a deep cut, in this writer's opinion; it is, however, a highlight of every Wilco set in which it appears.)

So, good. Deep incisions, the exact definition of which remains to be determined, in Night One. A simpler but still awesome Wilco set on Night Two. and one more set from Jeff Tweedy and Friends to close out the third day of the festival. Anything else fans should look forward to that weekend? Oh! Yes.

For starters, a brand new Wilco EP will be released on the festival's opening day, June 28. Hot Sun Cool Shroud features six summer-ready songs that showcase the band's range, from the punky thrash of “Livid” to the bright guitar pop of “Annihilation” to the Beatles-tinged “Say You Love Me.” All the songs have their origins in the studio sessions last fall Cousin, after which Tweedy returned and completed them. festival attendees will have the opportunity to design their own cover for the EP using stamps and stickers.

Fans can also plan to catch the rest of the lineup of Solid Sound, a group of more than 30 Wilco side projects, Wilco's friends and other acts hand-picked by the band, all performing on stages in and around the stunning modern art collection Mass Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The eclectic nature of the bill – featuring Brooklyn avant-pop duo Water From Your Eyes, Ethiopian keyboard legend Hailu Mergia, Baltimore art-rock band Horse Lords, West African desert blues act Etran de l 'Aïr and more – it's very deliberate, Tweedy says: “That's something we're looking for.”

He's looking forward to seeing Chicago's own Horsegirl, who opened for Wilco on tour last year. “They're involved in things that I really liked when I was a kid,” he says of the trio, whose members are about 21 years old. “It's really exciting to see this kind of post-punk guitar music being redefined as something that speaks to a different generation.”

He's also thrilled that Philly hardcore band Soul Glo was on hand to play Solid Sound. “I was a hardcore punk rock fan growing up, and [they have] an energy you don't see a lot these days — a positive anger, a liberating anger as opposed to a destructive anger,” he says. “They seem like a band that builds a community around themselves and expresses themselves with an intensity that I love being around.”

Elsewhere on the Mass MoCA campus, you'll find more established acts that Wilco admires, such as Nick Lowe and Iris DeMent. “Nick Lowe is a hero,” says Tweedy. “It's a really cool example of someone who has aged gracefully, and as a growing band, it's always exciting for us to see someone carve out a career unlike anyone else.”

Since launching in 2010, Solid Sound has become a reliable highlight of the festival circuit, with a wide range of cool sounds and a low-key, welcoming feel. “It's a festival on a human scale,” says Tweedy. “I think it's pretty unique that the festival itself has developed fans who come back no matter who's playing. Maybe even regardless of us game.”

In addition to Wilco's new EP, the ever-prolific songwriter has several other projects in the works. He reports that he is working with his sons, Spencer and Sammy, on a follow-up to his 2020 solo album Love is king, with additional vocals by Finom's Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart. “It's built around the idea of ​​the ensemble song,” he says, adding that he aims to release it in 2025. “So it's exciting.”

Speaking of Spencer Tweedy, the 28-year-old drummer was recently featured on Waxahatchee's indie album of the year. Tigers Blood, and just wrapped up a string of US shows with that band. After Solid Sound, Spencer will hit the road for more dates with Waxahatchee in Europe and North America this summer. “He's having a great time,” says his father. “I am very proud”.