Blackbird & the Cherry Tree Wows Wesleyan Crowd

We had no idea what to expect when we stopped by last weekend's Wesleyan University Long Lane Farm Fall Fest — except certainly veggie burgers on the grill and pumpkins.

See, we'd come the past two years to this autumnal festival but had never seen something this large and well-attended. Zen Roasters was there selling coffee and the city's Middletown Recycling Center had its own table, with a crocheted plastic grocery bag tote and instructions.

A number of students were pedaling stationary bikes along to the live music. There was face painting and colorful hair braiding, a bake sale and even a big ole heifer.

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Then the music began and — well, you tell us if you're as entranced by the music of vocalist Jessica Best '14, cello-playing/vocal genius Mel Hsu '13 and friend Sam Friedman on harmonica.

The group has just named itself, Hsu tells Middletown Patch. Introducing ... Blackbird & the Cherry Tree!

If we might say so, Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine' really hasn't sounded better.

Hsu did an album last year, and also performed with Best in the Honey & the Sting project, which just released an album last week. See here. If you want to check out more of Hsu's music, see here and here.