Like something out of a sci-fi novel, bluegrass music fizzled in and out of the loudspeakers in Canterbury’s maze-like corridors, coming from who-knows-where. I asked a security guard if he knew where the band was playing, to which his response was basically “they’re somewhere downstairs but the room is probably full, so I’m not going to tell you where.” Lots of fans, understandably, opted for the casino instead.

A few hundred people did manage to track down Spirit Family Reunion (above), who deserve extra props for giving it their all under challenging circumstances. They managed to put on a fun, raucous show—featuring a live washboard and an appearance by Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles—in what felt like a crawlspace under the bleachers. The crowd included plenty of good sports who said things along the lines of, “this will make a great story” or, “this is a really unique experience.”

As is expected of any event in its inaugural year, Festival Palomino had its kinks, particularly when it came to mobilizing and catering to such a massive crowd. However, Trampled by Turtles were thoughtful in their top-notch selection of artists, who delighted thousands of festivalgoers from two outdoor stages (and one makeshift indoor stage). For future festivals, I’m most excited to see how Trampled by Turtles can diversify Palomino’s sound—like Charles Bradley’s soul explosion and Low’s haunting, distorted rock helped to do this year. All in all, Festival Palomino’s predominantly Americana sounds were well suited to the changing scenery and crisp air, and the festival felt like a perfectly appropriate—and quintessentially Minnesotan—farewell to summer.

Writer KT Lindemann is a writer based in the Twin Cities, and a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota—Morris. Photographer Bridget Bennett is a student at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.