The fifth annual Camp Barefoot festival returned to scenic Bartow, WV for the second year in a row. The festival saw headliners Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, collaborators Walters, Roberts and Deitch and featured one of the last performances of The New Deal. Despite a few cancellations, the weekend turned out some amazing live music and a good time for all.

After the success of last year, Barefoot grew in size and the atmosphere was definitely different than past festivals as the lineup differed from previous years and the crowd was a bit bigger. Last year saw artists bouncing from stage to stage sitting in with lots of different acts, yet this year, the different bands mostly stuck to their core pumping out solid sets. It was nice to see Perpetual Groove return to the bill (they played at 2009’s festival in Gore, VA) and others like Kyle Hollingsworth, Papadosio and Segway returning for consecutive years as well. At first it was slightly upsetting not to see The Breakfast on the bill, who played at the past few Camp Barefoots and to hear of RAQ’s cancellation earlier this summer; however, this year’s headliners held their own.

Music started at 9 pm on Wednesday night featuring Future Rock and Former Champions, but people really started trickling in on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday’s first highlight was Michigan’s UV Hippo, who graced the grounds with their funky tunes early Thursday evening. Their sound was the perfect pick-me-up for the night’s music to come. Immediately following and keeping the energy high was the Pimps of Joytime bringing more funk and getting the crowd pumped.

Thursday’s headliner was Perpetual Groove who delivered a solid, dance-worthy set. They played favorites like “Teakwood” and “TSMM” and even closed with “Sweet Oblivious Antidote.” The shocker, however, was when they busted out a cover of Mumford and Sons’ “The Cave.” They managed to turn the popular bluegrass-y tune into a dance-y rock one. It can’t come close to the original but was definitely a great adaptation.

Thursday’s late night highlight was the Big Something from Burlington, NC. Big Something tore up the Instant Mustache Stage burrowed in the woods and kept people dancing until late in the night. Throughout the course of their two sets of the weekend (they also played on Friday afternoon), the group played every song off their debut album as well as some of their older tunes of their EP like “Dubsynth.” They also threw out some shocking covers that the crowd loved like when they played Kid Rock’s “Cowboy” during their late night set.

Following Big Something, Silo Effect kept the late night ragers dancing until 5 am. If there is one sure thing about Camp Barefoot, it’s that music plays until the sun rises every morning.

Friday was full of great music to dance to throughout the day with bands like Farm Vegas and Zoogma as well as a little bluegrass with Jackass Flats. When night fell, the funk started coming out as DJ Williams Project took the stage always delivering a solid set. Immediately following was Papadosio who brought the heat as they warmed up the crowd and got everyone dancing in anticipation for Kyle Hollingsworth’s set. Papadosio closed their energy heavy set with “The Unparalyzer.”

Perhaps one of the most anticipated acts of the weekend, the Kyle Hollingsworth Band, took the stage next. Hollingsworth’s set featured an entire Talking Heads set following a set filled with Hollingsworth and String Cheese songs. Hollingsworth came out bringing the energy right away playing some of his classic tunes as well as some of Cheese’s new ones like “Rosie” which instantly creates a dance party, the lighthearted “Let’s Go Outside” and “Will It Go Round in Circles.” This set almost felt like a mini Cheese show just with a smaller and more intimate atmosphere. The anticipation was high during the set break for the Talking Heads show that was to come. The set was strong as Hollingsworth played classic Heads tunes like “Once in a Lifetime,” “Psycho Killer,” “Crosseyed and Painless” and “Naïve Melody.” Hollingsworth did the Talking Heads justice in his tribute set to them, but his first set was so strong it almost overshadowed it.

The biggest surprise of the night was the New Deal’s spontaneous set time change from 3 AM up to right after Hollingsworth. The New Deal plunged right into their set getting everyone dancing along. The group played some of their most popular and dance-prompting tunes like “VL Tone,” “Homewrecker” and “Techno Beam.” The New Deal performed such a solid set that it just makes it even more sad that the group will be breaking up.

Another surprise was the Malah’s late late-night cancellation; however the Mantras replaced them and made up for it by throwing down a solid dance party.

Good music started early on Saturday with up-and-coming Baltimore jammers Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Pigeons played one of the strongest daytime sets of the weekend, riling people from their campsites with originals as well as some greatly chosen covers like “Psycho Killer” (probably the best version heard of the weekend) and the Ghostbusters theme song.

Later in the afternoon, Funkuponya, the soulful, funky group from North Carolina kept people moving in the daylight.

As the sun went down, Zach Deputy started heating things up on the main stage. The always consistent Deputy slowly built up the crowds energy into full blown dance party.

Following Deputy was Brothers Past who warmed up the crowd for Walters, Robert and Deitch who performed a fun and impromptu collaboration. All three musicians brought their past influences from the bands they come from (Greyboy All Stars, The New Mastersounds and Lettuce). They seemed to be having a lot of fun collaborating; at one point Roberts even toasted the crowed with a glass of red wine while wearing a pair of 3-D glasses that got thrown up onto the stage. They also invited Karl Denson to join them before taking the stage later in the evening.

After, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe took the stage to swoon the crowd with his soulful songs playing late into the night. The funky, sexy jazz saxophonist put the crowd into a trance and got everyone swaying and dancing along.

Segway delivered a solid jamtronica set to fill the time between Denson and Papadosio’s second set of the weekend. Segway has really expanded as a band to include more equipment (synths etc) and has really grown into their own.

Papadosio’s late night set was a highlight of the weekend. They jammed out lots of the best songs like “Curve,” “Polygons,” and “Magreenery.” The crowd was partying like crazy passing around handles of whiskey and bags of wine. It seemed as though everyone did not want the music to stop and the festival to end.

Closing out the festival was the Mantras. They were they perfect late night/early morning festival closer keeping people dancing until the sun rose and even busting out a great “Terrapin” cover.

Camp Barefoot 5 was overall a great success. Barefoot is more than just a music festival. Live painting was a consistent theme throughout the weekend as at times there were up to 15 people in the pit creating art to the music. Small festivals like Barefoot are great because it feels like a family by the end of the weekend as you start to recognize everyone in the crowd. I just can’t wait to see my family again next year!