Indie-folk kindred spirits find themselves comfortably sharing the tour stage

Synergy filled the air Friday night, as two kindred indie folk acts brought their co-headlining “Robin’s Egg” tour to Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards.

Having recently collaborated on a single, Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine and I’m With Her delivered compelling solo sets before reuniting on stage for a joint performance that made the pair’s musical chemistry undeniably clear.

I’m With Her, the decade-old folk trio of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan, found a warm reception as they took the stage with fans immediately perking up and offering some excited cheers.

Clad in matching denim jumpsuits, with patches on the sleeves, and on the fronts and backs of their tops. I’m With Her seemed ready to put on a remarkable performance.

But their outfits were not just for style as each held a special significance to the band members. Each member has a patch of their state flower, accompanied by the “mother eagle,” which represents one of the tracks on their newest album, Wild and Clear and Blue, entitled “Mother Eagle (Sing Me Alive).”

The song explores themes of motherhood, an important topic to both O’Donovan and Watkins, who each had their own daughters in mind when writing it.

Together, the group can play a wide range of instruments: violin, ukulele, acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin were all seen throughout the set. On top of them all being talented multi-instrumentalists, they each sing and create enchanting harmonies together.

Each of the members distinguished themselves from the group with their distinct talents: Watkins has an impressive soprano register, Jarosz has incredible vocal control, and O’Donovan’s voice has such powerful resonance. 

The performances of their songs were so clean that they sounded nearly identical to studio recordings.

The band also made sure to play crowd pleasers that the audience ate up, like “Sisters of the Night Watch” and “Ryland (Under the Apple Tree),” however, they of course made time for songs from the new album and a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Carey.”

The audience loved their fresh spin on “Carey,” a folk classic, as was evident from all of the dancing that could be seen in the crowd during the song. 

Whenever one of the members had a solo, the crowd was astonished by the masterful command they each had over their instrument, and they showed their appreciation by enthusiastically cheering.

When the set ended, they were met with a roar of applause, and the audience knew that there was no need for an encore because I’m With Her would be back soon to perform alongside Iron & Wine.

As the crowd geared up for Iron & Wine, clouds, subtly tinted a pinkish orange by the setting sun, created the perfect mood for the band to take the stage. The soft beauty of the scene was perfect for the timbre of the band’s unique sound. 

The set was a nice change of pace with the addition of traditional rock instruments. These instruments were accompanied by a cello and violin, and the voice of the lead singer, Sam Beam, which is characterized by its folky twang and soft, whisper-like intensity.

The band opened with “Carousel,” a haunting song with melodic vocals and intricate, layered instrumental breaks. While an older song, the crowd was excited by Beam’s confident stage presence and positive energy.

The band followed up with “Sweet Talk,” a more upbeat song that shows off Beam’s vibrato.

Although Beam’s vocals are not too extravagant, the instrumentation in his songs is rather complex. The orchestral instruments and the rock instruments contrast well with one another, making for a composition that is pleasing to the ear.

When I’m With Her joined Iron & Wine, the audience greeted the trio back to the stage, thrilled to hear the two artists collaborate.

A cover of Waxahatchee’s “Right Back to It” proved to be a calming, gentle duet, however, the standout was their catchy single “Robin’s Egg,” which allows for a playful exchange that complements the artists’ voices.

By this point in the show, the audience was completely captivated by their joint performance; nobody seemed to want to take their eyes off the stage for even a second.

As the night came to a close and the acts left for their tour-ending performance the next day at the Newport Folk Festival, the collaboration between Iron & Wine and I’m With Her left a lasting impression. Their seamless blend of voices and instruments created an atmosphere that felt intimate yet expansive.