From relaxed indie to synth-pop divas, Treefort’s 2026 mainstage performances had something for everyone

Flipturn

When entering the Flipturn show expecting a chill concert full of mellow indie songs, I was pleasantly surprised by the high energy they brought to the stage. The crowd was hanging on to every note, swaying and dancing to the music. Despite being toward the back, I was able to hear the atmospheric guitar reverb crystal clear. The video playing alongside their performance created a cohesive retro-VHS style, featuring the group’s logo and various icons like a disco ball. Throughout the show, the video remained minimalistic until the last song, which featured a full animation. The animation told a short story of an astronaut and a cowboy and incorporated bright colors and space-like ethereal gradients. This concert was full of electric energy, an excited crowd and Flipturn’s upbeat indie music.

Magdalena Bay

Seeing Magdalena Bay live was a dream come true. Experiencing their ethereal, fun and experimental pop music live made me feel like I was floating on air. The performance was complemented by the captivating visuals of their iconic angel-winged eyeball and various footage from their music videos. Every screen on the stage used visuals to elevate the performance, especially during instrumental portions. While watching, it became very evident the band puts great care into the whole show, even adding creative details such as concealing instruments inside of props. Magdalena Bay really embodied the storytelling of the music itself with lead singer Mica Tenenbaum shapeshifting throughout the concert. As the themes changed, so did Tenenbaum’s outfits as she transformed into a sunflower, a demon, fire and an angel. When Tenenbaum asked the crowd to sing along, they enthusiastically joined in as the lights glittered down, an angel singing in our ears alongside ethereal instrumentals. 

Geese

Geese delivered a truly authentic performance, putting the majority of care into the sound quality and music itself rather than the visual aspect of their show. The band members didn’t move around the stage as much as other artists, and Cameron Winters was a mysterious figure in a hoodie and sunglasses with a distinct deep and mumbling voice. Only one screen was used throughout the show, with just one video playing on loop — the 3D word “GEESE” written in Helvetica Bold slowly spinning throughout the entire show. The crowd was made up of many tall individuals, and as someone who is 5’4”, I was on my toes and hopping to see the stage. As one of their more mellow songs was playing, people were crowd surfing, excitement radiating through the crowd. The audio quality was perfect, with the twangy guitar traveling throughout Julia Davis Park. Geese’s music sounds like it is meant to be heard live.

Father John Misty

Father John Misty didn’t spend as much time on the visual components of the venue and instead put more energy toward curating a specific ambience. He had a red curtain behind the band and primarily used stage lights on the actual stage more than the overhead lights. The show felt more like a band’s live session rather than a big concert, making it more personal for the audience. Hearing brass instruments live is always a great experience, and this was no exception. The saxophone solos were immaculate to hear live. Many people were dancing in the crowd, and while his concert wasn’t as packed as other headliners at Treefort, attendees truly made use of the space. The lead singer, Joshua Tillman, utilized the entire stage in his performance as he sang. Pacing back and forth as he sang directly to certain audience members, Tillman created a sense of intimacy and clearly demonstrated his passion for music. Father John Misty creates truly heavenly music, and as the songs reached the climax, audience members couldn’t help but raise their hands in the air.