Bands of Enchantment

Think of the time when you saw a great band in a really intimate space, where you felt like you bonded with the band and everyone in the audience -- that's this show! I really hope I get a chance to be there IRL, the bands and the people are having such a killer time!

Season 1 they are in this really small building next to a railroad... In season 2 they're in this huge industrial building with an RV and a picnic table in the audience! Season 3 they're in a historic '20's era theater -- but everyone in the audience is onstage with the bands! It's eclectic and I dig it.

Put this show on and let it run, it's a sonic AND visual adventure.

I'm a Moontricks fan and randomly stumbled upon this show, and let me just say, it earwormed me... Each episode you jump right into the band playing a song, then they jump to the band in some other place, and they're hanging out, then they play a stripped down song in that location before jumping back to the regular stage with a full audience -- who are like right next to the artists! It's sounds like a lot, but it's really great, and well thought out I think.

The show is a 10 for sure but I'm rating it a 9 so who ever sees this, raise the budget! I could see this really becoming 'a-thing' big artists will want to be in.

For everyone else, give it a watch, a listen, it's a joy.

I stumbled upon this show and have become a huge fan. It's beautifully shot and explorers that only music but also the bands origin story New Mexico and different cultures It introduced me to so many new bands and has some of my favorite bands as well. I highly recommend checking this show out. Each season has a great eclectic blend of different genres of music as well as band from different parts of United States and the world. Season one I loved the Making Movie episode and Brett Dennen is one of my favorites. Season two the show moves to Albuquerque and is filmed at this beautiful railyards. Flor de Tolache was an incredible season finale and French Cassettes are a new fav. Season 3 with BJ the Chicago Kid is an absolute favorite. I highly recommend checking this series out.

Bands of Enchantment on PBS is one of those shows that I stumbled across by accident, and now I'm hooked. It's got this low-key, authentic vibe that you don't usually see on TV. The show's set in New Mexico, and they bring in all kinds of bands-indie, folk, rock, Americana-you name it. It's like your cool friend's backyard concert series got picked up by PBS, but they kept it feeling real.

One band that blew me away was Dust City Opera. I'd never heard of them before, but their sound just hit me. They're one of those groups that sneak up on you and stay with you long after the episode ends. This show really nails it with the artist lineup. They've got a mix of up-and-coming acts and more seasoned artists, so you get introduced to fresh sounds without feeling like you're diving into the deep end.

Production-wise, it's solid but still feels intimate. You get these great angles and close-ups that make it feel like you're right there, but it's not overdone or flashy. The whole thing just has this cool, relaxed energy. The audience is clearly into it, and the musicians seem to feed off that vibe. It's pretty refreshing in a world of overproduced music shows.

If you're into discovering new music and miss the feel of live, authentic performances, give Bands of Enchantment a try. I never expected to find my next favorite band from a PBS show, but here I am, looking up tour dates for Dust City Opera. It's like a little secret I want to keep to myself...but it deserves a way bigger audience. Definitely worth checking out.