Paste Studio “On The Road” set up shop at the 2025 Sleepy Hollow Music Festival, settling along the banks of the Hudson River in the historically mythic town made famous by Washington Irving. The festival brings together indie artists, rock mainstays, and everything in between for a weekend of music defined by community, legend, and sweeping river views.
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Jade Bird, a UK native making waves in the Americana world, delivered a three-song acoustic set drawn entirely from her July album Who Wants to Talk About Love?, a record that charts the journey of a relationship from all its highs and lows. Accompanied only by another guitarist and pedal steel player, she opened with the optimistic “Dreams,” her voice bright, raspy, and timeless over glassy acoustic textures. The song explores the almost heavenly start of a loving relationship.
The mood shifted with the next tune, “Nobody,” where the promise explored in “Dreams” begins to fray. It’s a song defined by contradiction, knowing a relationship needs to end, while also knowing that the love is nowhere near gone. This song took a slightly more stripped-back sound, and Jade and her accompanist on guitar perfectly matched each other. She closed with “Einstein,” airy and ambient with a heavier influence of pedal steel, letting the song breathe rather than drive.
All the while, the Hudson tide rose higher, pushing us further and further inland between takes as waves taunted our gear. Bird and her group only laughed, as the circumstances only made the set more memorable. On a day of unpredictable weather, the sky seemed to clear up just for her set. For 15 minutes at sunset, Jade Bird gave a performance that was well-suited to the serenity of the Hudson River behind her.
Big thanks to Jade and her team, as well as all those from the Sleepy Hollow crew who were able to help make such a cool session happen. We hope you enjoy this sweet set just as much as we did!
