Critic’s Pick: Coming to the rootsy-folk of Fruition

Contrary to what her hit single might lead you to believe, Melissa Etheridge isn’t the only one worth seeing at the festival tonight.

After taking a two-night break from normal festival activity for the Bessie Smith Strut and faith-based Sweet Tea Night, Riverbend is firing on all cylinders again. I can think of no better way to celebrate this return to musical form than gathering under a bridge to listen to jangly, toe-tapping indie folk.

Fruition was one of my favorite musical discoveries this year, basically dominating my attention as soon as I queued up “Portland Bound,” a rollicking roots anthem off the band’s 2013 album, “Just One of Them Nights.”

Coming from – surprise, surprise – Portland, Ore., this quintet will be making its merry way to the waterfront tonight as part of a spring/summer tour that included a pair of dates last week at Wakarusa in Arkansas. After they leave us, they’ll be heading to the farm in Manchester to play Bonnaroo.

If you’re a fan of artists like Tallest Man on Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, The Devil Makes Three or The Decemberists, then Fruition is right up your alley. They’ve got a stripped-back sound with warm vocal harmonies and call-and-response choruses that are so beloved of roots music aficionados. But give them half a second, and they’ll rip into the breaks with just enough instrumental chops to scratch your bluegrass itch. That’s called the best of both worlds, friends.

Fruition faced some pretty stiff competition for today’s recommendation thanks to my abiding love and affection for Brooklyn-based electropop duo Hank & Cupcakes (6:15 p.m., Chevy Stage), but ultimately, “Portland Bound” shifted the scales just enough. Fortunately, they’re booked hours apart, so today is one of the few times you can enjoy your cupcake before your fruit(ion).

Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205. Follow his Riverbend coverage on Twitter at @PhillipsCTFP.