XPN Fest Recap: Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds bring sunshine and soul to the waterfront

Sister Sparrow | photo by Makena Duffy for WXPN

Backed by her seven-piece band The Dirty Birds, Sister Sparrow brought a dose of swingin’, soulful sounds to the River Stage this afternoon. Arleigh Kincheloe is the singer-songwriter behind the high-energy project, which blends classic brass band sounds with contemporary pop influences for a timeless sound. The Brooklyn-based collective released their fourth album Gold last year, and came prepared to cool off the sun-drenched crowd with the new tunes.

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds kept the mood bright throughout their eight-song set, pausing only to introduce the members of the power-packed band, which includes sax, trumpet, and Kincheloe’s brother Jackson on harmonica. The spirited and charismatic bandleader has spent a lot of time building her signature sound, and her skill as a songwriter and performer shines through with each powerfully belted song and unwavering energy. Today’s set was consistently lively, with each funky, foot-stomping track blending right into the next as Kincheloe led the crowd to clap along to her tambourine. Revisit the set with the photos and audio below.

Setlist:
Bad Love
Can’t Get You off my Mind
Frankie
Don’t Be Jealous
Gold
Bad Habit
Sugar
Tell Me What it Is