Off the beaten path in Monticello, Kentucky is where this story begins at a little place called Hidden Ridge. What transpired were two incredible nights filled with music, love, and all around good vibes. I was lucky enough to be camped out just a short stretch away from the stage alongside my good friends. A few of them were Austin Shuck, from WhatTheShuck Podcast, the wonderful band members from one of my favorite bands, Brother Smith and of course, nearly every band’s drummer Zach Martin. Martin definitely deserves an honorable mention for how many songs he knows and absolutely murders. It was a beautiful weekend on the hill, camped in a wonderful, shady spot listening to some of the greatest acts the region has to offer.

Friday night kicked off with an amazing performance from Grayson Jenkins. I didn’t realize I had heard Jenkins before (having unfortunately missed his set at Shindigs And Shenanigans) until he played his tune, “Cowboy Dreams.” He has been popping up on my playlists (Hail the algorithm gods) and I couldn’t have been more tickled to hear the rest of his set. He has a great stage presence and a killer band backing him up. After Jenkins finished up, Eric Bolander and These Assholes stepped up to the proverbial plate and served up quite a set kicking off with some tunes from his new record, Can’t Get There From Here and then making me tear up a little with his song, “The Wind.” After Bolander and his band bowed out, Sierra Ferrell and her band delivered an unforgettable set. Nothing short of a time-machine could have transported you back the way her music did. This was one of the highlights of the weekend. Even the birds and the squirrels stopped to listen and you should have seen the little kids dancing and blowing bubbles to Sierra as her vocals soared off the mountain and into the hollers. Ferrell, being a West Virginia native felt right at home here in Monticello, and even danced a number or two during The Bolo Mules late night 90’s country tribute. Ferrell’s writing seems reminiscent, yet new. It is the type of music that really excites me. What four people can do with acoustic instruments and their voices alone really showcases the dedication each member has shown to their craft.

Following Ferrell, was a super-group made up of alter-egos of band members who may or may not have played beforehand, affectionately named, The Bolo Mules. This group of some fortunate, some unfortunate misfits get together a couple times a year to pay homage to our favorite 90’s Country Stars, and even dress to the occasion, and they expect you to come dressed as well. Perhaps my favorite of all the Mules, was poor ol’ Stacey Stillwater who owes money all over town, and has probably lost a few wives along the way. The stories are all-in-good fun, and the music is superb. Talk about a sing-along! Sheesh.

One thing I love about this festival, is that all the music begins later in the evening so there’s plenty of time to relax during the day, which I needed after staying up practically all night singing songs with Wesley Smith, one of the brothers of my aforementioned favorite band, around a campfire with a host of other hoot-owls who decided to forsake sleep for the sake of some toasty tunes. That later start also offered folks who maybe had to work on Saturday to make their way down to see Brother Smith kick things off. Their band that evening was made of the two brothers, Wesley and Aaron as well as Martin on Drums (of course) Amberly and Trevor Caddell holding down the harmonies and horn. Let’s talk about Amberly for a second, this woman can SING, y'all. We sang a few gospel songs after their set and let me tell you, we had everyone around going to church. She adds a lot to the band's sound and I always enjoy hearing her featured on a vocal solo. Trevor deserves a more than honorable mention for all the nasty things he does on tenor saxophone. He makes noises I could only dream of as a novice horn player myself, and the man knows more than a thing or two about music theory. Mix that all up with the blood harmony from the brothers, the killer fiddle playing from Aaron and the silky licks from Wesley and you’ve got one hell of an act to follow, which was easy because the brothers played with the next artist, Nicholas Jamerson as well.

Saturday was a day to be reckoned with, after having spent most of the night and early morning singing by the campfire, resting all day was about the only option to be primed and ready for that night's festivities, and since I did not do that the only true option was drinking copious amounts of caffeine and living on the high of being surrounded by so much musical talent that your eyes and ears won't seem to shut off. It is a truly breathtaking experience to walk these grounds and mingle with artists like Bee Taylor, who has one of the coolest merchandise setups I’ve ever seen and one of the most unique performances from the entire weekend. Bee not only surprises you with her amazing vocal ability and playing, but her wardrobe as well.

It was the first time I met Nicholas Jamerson (“Nick Jay” as some affectionately call him) and what a hell of a nice guy he is. Since I didn't get much rest, the late night of Saturday's festivities, which are usually the most intimate and fun, were not happening for me, as the exhaustion had finally set in. I regretfully missed the Minks and DeeOhGee’s set and have been kicking myself ever since. I have since listened to both bands and know that I missed a great set from them. But here’s what the next morning had in store as people were packing up and leaving: Shuck and I found ourselves walking uphill to where the artists and management team were hanging out. We stumbled onto what I now call the Sunday morning gospel porch jam. Members from various acts throughout the weekend were all represented and we all shared songs and sang some good old gospel songs from the heart until about noon or so when we all collectively decided to scramble, thus ending a near perfect weekend of peace and harmony (good, close harmony too).

This was my third festival of the year and I was still learning how to do it the right way. I am proud to say, after this summer, I am primed and ready for Black Mountain Jamboree next year. I always make mention of a good shower, and Black Mountain Jamboree has one of the best. To me, there’s not much else of higher importance at these outdoor events than to try and stay as clean as possible. If you have never been to Hidden Ridge Campground for this event you are missing out. It’s a really great, laid back atmosphere and everyone is welcome. The artists are phenomenal, the vendors are gracious and the food trucks aren’t too shabby either. Management does a good job of keeping everyone safe and entertained and most importantly folks look out for one another. The teams that make this happen go to great lengths to ensure maximum comfort and satisfaction. Make plans to make music with all the good folks at Black Mountain Jamboree next year; you will not be sorry.