(Photo: Mat Hayward/FilmMagic)

Winds as high as 40mph, and a 600-acre wildfire just three miles south of the Gorge Amphitheatre, threatened to ruin day three of Washington’s Sasquatch! music festival. The main stage was shut down for safety reasons for most of Sunday, leading to the cancelation of sets by Saint Motel and Houndmouth, while several other artists (Allen Stone, Frightened Rabbit, Tacocat) were relocated to smaller stages at the last minute. One main stage attraction, R&B revivalist Leon Bridges, wound up with nowhere to play – until Sasquatch! promoters sent out a cryptic tweet, ordering, “Get to the lawn at 8:15!” – a message also broadcast on the dormant main stage’s video screens.

Photos: On the Scene at Sasquatch! 2016

Fans who heeded this mysterious command found Bridges playing on the Gorge’s grassy hill – acoustic and unamplified. He was almost impossible to hear, but aside from a few frustrated spectators shouting, “Give him a mic!” or “Let him on the stage!,” everyone remained hushed and polite, sitting attentively on the ground while Bridges did his darnedest to give festivalgoers a show. His impromptu mini-set was hardly a substitute for the full electric concert he’d been slated to play, but it was a charming and genuine moment from a true entertainer who clearly didn’t want to disappoint his fans.

Earlier in the day, on the smaller Bigfoot stage, the shows went on as planned, although during ‘90s indie veterans Yo La Tengo’s set, the elevated V.I.P. platform was closed off. That left actor John C. Reilly, last seen Saturday introducing Major Lazer and dancing with Nathaniel Rateliff, no choice but to brave the elements – and brave the masses of selfie-requesting fans who ambushed him the instant he ventured out to watch Yo La Tengo among the general admission crowd.

London’s Savages, also playing the Bigfoot stage, didn’t let a little wind (or broad daylight, which seemed like the absolutely wrong environment for the surly, black-clad post-punks) bring them down. Androgynous, frequently crowd-surfing, French-born frontwoman Jehnny Beth was as fierce, ferocious, fearless, and full of righteous anger as ever. Towards the end of the four-piece’s pummeling, confrontational set, when introducing “I Need Something New,” Beth advised the crowd: “Only go see the good stuff today. Don’t let anyone bore you. If you’re bored, leave.” Suffice to say, no one left Savages’ stunning show, wind advisories be damned.

By evening, the winds had settled down and the main stage finally reopened – and there was no better act to christen that stage Sunday than Alabama Shakes, one of the greatest bands working the festival circuit today. “We’re so happy to finally play for you!” declared jubilant frontwoman Brittany Howard; “This made it all worth it!” one relieved and elated concertgoer shouted back. Howard oozed sincerity onstage – repeatedly expressing her appreciation for her fans’ support and promising to never take that for granted. And she and her crack band played a perfect sundown set full of heart, grit, soul, and the kind of stellar, stratospheric vocals that American Idol or Voice contestants would sell their souls to possess. Forget about Kylie Jenner, Vanessa Hudgens, or any other flower-crowned celebutante out there; Brittany Howard is the true rock festival queen.