GOLD HILL — A day of connection, laughter, excitement, good food, and great music is how to describe the Labor Day party put on by the Gold Hill Inn. 

The day started out slowly as people filed in and found their seats for the opening act in the Inn’s beer garden. The weather was perfect and the food was hot.

Sydney, a frequent participant in the parties at the Gold Hill Inn and a former employee, said her favorite dish was the fried catfish. In addition to the fish, they served jambalaya, mixed beans, coleslaw, watermelon, and slices of their homemade bread. 

Catfish fried fresh for the buffet. Can you resist the amazing food at the Gold Hill Inn any longer?

Photo courtesy of Julia Savich

The night’s opener, Hundred Pound Housecat, set a cheerful mood for the crowd with their energized music. People were settling into the groove they would keep up for the rest of the night as the band played their set. 

As more people joined the party, the second band was getting ready to play for the crowd. Rob Pate and the d’Lovelies were the second act and they put on a great show for the crowd. Some people even came out to the stage to dance. 

Pate plays guitar, sings, writes, and arranges for the d’Lovelies. He said that this year’s Labor Day party was his favorite concert at the Gold Hill Inn so far. His favorite part of the night was when they played the songs they knew really well because the crowd responded to the heightened energy.

Rob Pate and the d’Lovelies playing on stage at the Gold Hill Inn's Beer Garden on Labor Day.

Photo courtesy of Julia Savich

Pate says that their first concert at the Gold Hill Inn was a New Year’s Eve party two years ago, and he has loved it ever since. The Gold Hill Inn’s immaculate reputation for their treatment of artists is part of why Pate loves coming back, he mentions. 

If you attended the Labor Day party and couldn’t get enough of the d’Lovelies, they are coming out with a new album, so stay tuned for that. 

As the day went on and the weather grew a little overcast, it was time for the headliner act, Banshee Tree, to come onto the stage. Soon after they started playing, a crowd gathered in front of the stage to dance.  

Banshee Tree playing on stage on Labor Day at the Gold Hill Inn.

Photo by Polina Savich

Some members of Banshee Tree were worried about playing too loud, since they once blew out the power at a Gold Hill Inn New Year’s Eve party. But everyone enjoyed their music so much they weren’t even bothered by the rain that came down during their set.

Kathy, who was at a Gold Hill Inn Labor Day party for the first time, said her favorite part was the music, especially Banshee Tree. 

Thom LaFond is the guitarist, lead vocalist, producer, and founding member of Banshee Tree. He and Jason Bertone, the bassist, had performed at a Labor Day party in 2016, right before their drummer, Michelle Milo, joined. 

Bertone, having played at the Inn for over 10 years himself, believes that the culture around music is very deep both in and around Gold Hill. 

LaFond used to live in Ward, so coming back to the mountains felt amazing, he said. He loved the opportunity the party provided them to come back to a place that feels like home. 

Another thing this party provided was a space for familiar and new people to gather, and Bertone said that “Seeing faces that you’ve seen for ten years is a very special thing for a musician.”

“My favorite thing was the sense of connection,” said Milo. She said the party felt like a very special community or family gathering since they don’t get to play at the Gold Hill Inn very often. 

Banshee Tree will also be coming back to this area on October 31 for their concert at the Caribou Room, so get your costumes ready. 

After Banshee Tree played their last song “Everybody’s Gotta Live,” originally by Arthur Lee, the night began to wind down. Some people left quickly, and others stayed around until the rain stopped so they could catch up with old friends. 

Brian and Chris Finn, the brothers who own and run the Gold Hill Inn, love hosting parties like this one. 

Brian Finn said that the most important thing is that the party brings people together and puts them into a great mood. He loves planning and running parties like this one the most. After imagining what this one would look like for weeks, he was excited to see how it actually went.  

Both of the brothers said that they have given around 40 Labor Day parties, and Chris Finn enjoys them because they let everyone get to know what the Gold Hill Inn is and what it does. 

Brian Finn said that what made the party most enjoyable was the great staff. He added that it was a very good end to a very busy season.