There are few backdrops more fitting for Gregory Alan Isakov than a summer evening in Vermont. On Saturday night, the Colorado-based folk songwriter played to a completely packed lawn at the Shelburne Museum, where the mountains framed the stage and the air smelled of food trucks and fresh grass. The free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream never hurts either.

Selling out the museum’s green is nothing new, but this one felt different. The crowd, boosted by University of Vermont’s move-in weekend, seemed larger than usual. The blankets and lawn chairs stretched nearly as far as the eye could see, creating a community-sized living room for a night of quiet reflection.

Ocie Elliott sets the tone

The opening duties fell to Ocie Elliott, the Canadian husband-and-wife duo whose stripped-down sound proved a gentle welcome. With little more than harmonized vocals and delicate guitar and piano, they invited the audience to settle in for the evening. Their set leaned on recent work, including “By the Way,” a single released just a week ago. While some fans were still collecting food and drinks, those who paid attention found themselves rewarded with lyrical intimacy that set the stage for the night’s mood.

A smoky, slow-burning headline set

When Gregory Alan Isakov emerged, it was less about spectacle and more about atmosphere. The set design was hazy, smoky, and muted. It felt like an extension of his music itself. Moody folk songs that resist the spotlight in favor of texture and tone. For much of the night, he stood silhouetted in shadow, seemingly intent on letting the music carry the weight.

Isakov leaned on newer material, but he still made room for older gems. A standout moment came when his violinist stepped forward for a virtuosic Csárdás-inspired solo, the semi-improvised moment tumbling directly into “This Empty Northern Hemisphere.” It was one of the evening’s rare flashes of upbeat energy, and the audience responded in kind.

Closing on familiar ground

As the night drew on, Isakov was more than generous with his encores. He played three in total, ending on “The Stable Song,” the longtime fan favorite that’s become a campfire hymn for his listeners.

At Shelburne Museum, concerts on the green are always picturesque. But for Gregory Alan Isakov, this setting was the perfect match.

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