John Mark Nelson is a popular singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, and he's touring the U.S. this month. Before playing shows with The Tallest Man On Earth, he performed for a crowd at Sasquatch! Festival last weekend. He recounts the experience in a mini-tour diary below:

"The moment we got off I-90, and drove our van down the dusty roads leading to the festival grounds, I could tell we were heading for something special. There was an audible gasp as we took in our first view of the grounds. In previous years, I had made the long journey from Minneapolis to Seattle, but had never had the chance to stop and take in the incredible Columbia River Gorge. Other musicians and music fans were always telling me, "You HAVE to check out Sasquatch," or, "If you go to any festival, PLEASE go to Sasquatch." And suddenly, here I was. Taking it all in.

Just like playing SXSW or any other large-scale festival, it feels like you get to participate in a deeply rooted tradition and story. For years, bands have made the journey to those grounds to share what they are the most passionate about, and it is such an honor to participate in that history."