Watch Dirtwire’s Paste Session from the Northlands Festival

By Brad Wagner  |  July 21, 2025 | 12:56pm
Photo by Jay Strausser
Music Features Dirtwire
Watch Dirtwire’s Paste Session from the Northlands Festival
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On a sunny June weekend, Paste Studio “On the Road” set up shop at the Northlands Festival in Swanzey, New Hampshire, to capture a new round of Maple Barn Sessions. Artists were invited to perform in a stripped-down setting inside a small barn tucked just beyond the hustle of the main stages. Historically used for maple syrup production, the barn was thoughtfully decorated for the occasion: plush bears, neon lights, vintage syrup memorabilia, and a well-worn cutout of Danny DeVito adorned the space. The quirky setup matched the tone of our session with Dirtwire, an experimental folk group specializing in global instrumentation and genre-bending soundscapes.

Founding members David Satori and Evan Fraser’s performance was filled with sounds I’d never encountered in an acoustic setting. Much of their set was improvised, adding a layer of spontaneity and intimacy that elevated the experience. They opened with a tune they dubbed “Werewolf,” a hypnotic jaw harp duel that felt equal parts Appalachian front porch and alien transmission. At moments, I couldn’t tell whether I was sitting in a creaky old barn or touring a spaceship.

Just as I was lulled into the trance, Satori seamlessly switched to a banjo—played with a slide, something I’d never seen before—shifting the mood into more familiar Western territory. Moments later, Fraser pulled a harmonica from his pocket, and without time to process the transition, I felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of a classic spaghetti western. The flow between instruments was effortless, and the improvised nature of the tune made it feel wholly one-of-a-kind.

Their next piece kept the momentum going, with Satori staying on banjo while Fraser picked up a Kamele N’goni, a traditional instrument from West Africa. Fraser even bowed the banjo at one point, an unexpected touch that deepened the session’s exploratory spirit. Just as suddenly, we were transported from the American frontier to a village scene somewhere in West Africa.

They closed the set on a high-energy note, with Satori moving to drums and Fraser sticking with the Kamele N’goni.

Thanks to everyone at Northlands for helping make this magic happen, and stay tuned for more Maple Barns sessions in the pipeline.

Evan Fraser – Jaw harp, kamele n’goni
David Satori – Jaw harp, banjo, drums

And check out our first Dirtwire Paste session from 2022 below:

 
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