Scenes from the Huichica Music Festival outside Walla Walla

I popped down to the inaugural Huichica Music Festival (Washington state version) over the weekend. An offshoot of Huichica events in California and New York, this festival purports to provide a sweet setting for people who love 1. indie music, 2. wine, and 3. food.

Held about 15 miles northeast of Walla Walla in a wooded canyon tucked among a wheat farmer's massive agricultural operation, Huichica definitely succeeded in making guests feel like they were seeing music in a special place. With a stage tucked among the trees and only a few hundred people on hand, "intimate" was an understatement. And while one could quibble with the camping rules (no beer allowed!?!), it was generally a positive scene, thanks primarily to a lineup that included Yo La Tengo, Robyn Hitchcock, Waxahatchee, Fruit Bats, The Minus 5, Marisa Anderson, Titus Andronicus and many more.