Watch The Newest Video From Dead Soldiers, Entitled Wicked River

As a music label, merch production company and diehard music fan there are many reasons for us to be at Muddy Roots Music Festival. From the welcoming atmosphere and positive vibe, to the vast array of friends that we have made directly from the festival itself. But ultimately the reason we go, is that being a part of a great music scene requires much more than just enjoying the tunes. It is about the individual people you meet, the camaraderie, the late night conversations that seem to linger on for a few years and the proof in the puddin' of a notion is that to have a real music scene, you have to be a part of it. Who cares if your band is not playing, go be a part of something bigger than any individual and contribute to a scene that only requires you to show up and have a good time. Stop by the booth and have a beer or twenty with us!

Muddy Roots Music Festival Giveaway From The Vinyl District

Carolina Still playing at Muddy Roots 2013

The days are getting closer to the next rendition of the Muddy Roots Music Festival. Do yourself a favor and check out what the great article below from the Vinyl District and a cool giveaway from The Sonics and Mudhoney.

Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette Performing At Official Muddy Roots Pre-Party

Heading to Muddy Roots early to secure the best camping spots possible? As festival veterans, we can honestly tell ya to get there early and find a shady spot as there is quite a bit of wide open pasture. After a long night of sipping party juice you will want to sleep in and prepare for the next round. 

Here is the even better aspect, show up early on Thursday August 29th and be treated to the sounds of Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette performing in our lounge at Muddy Roots. Yep, you heard right. The fellas will be going on around 9pm so get those beers on ice and your camp site squared away before the masses arrive.

Find all the info you need about Muddy Roots

Muddy Roots 2013 with the listing for the Rusty Knuckles pre-party with Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette

Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette warm up Muddy Roots 2013 with a pre-party

Muddy Roots Pre-Party With Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette

It's official folks, the pre-party at Muddy Roots in our lounge is going to be Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette. So all yall planning on arrival for Thursday August 29th, we have ya covered with some great music lined up! Whoohooo!

Hellbound Glory and Husky Burnette playing the Rusty Knuckles lounge at Muddy Roots 2013 on 8.29.13

Bands We Are Stoked To See At Muddy Roots

Muddy Roots is rolling up fast and as we are steady in our preparation mode. Here some of the bands that we are really pumped to see in no particular order. Now for all y'all that heading to Tennessee for the event, roll on through our lounge and store booth as we will be setup all weekend. Also of note, all the bands that are on Rusty Knuckles Music in attendance, will be hanging out, having drinks and talking shop with impromptu jams all weekend. Needless to say our lounge will be buzzing all weekend so come on over and say hello. 

HARD SOIL - The Muddy Roots of American Music, Needs Your Help

There are some great things afoot in the world of Roots, Americana, Folk and Country music. Not only is there an amazing amount of energy being poured into a new foundation of where this ensemble is moving, but the folks who are a part of it, are here for the long haul. 

Dig into the trailer and write up below as this project needs some sponsorship dollars behind it to grease the wheels and get the movie into full production.

Find out more on Hard Soil - The Muddy Roots Of American Music


"Nowhere is America’s cultural evolution and diversity as palpable as in the music of the people – folk music or alternately roots music.

Both terms are collective terms encompassing and compiling a variety of musical styles from Bluegrass, to Blues, from Country to Cajun and from Zydeco to Gospel.

In short:

American music has always been a wild cocktail of varied musical heritages and influences.
Over the years the roots of American music would evolve into Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rockabilly, R&B, Soul, Jazz and even Punk and such diverse sub genres as Psychobilly, Blues Punk, Blues Trash, Cowpunk and primitive Rock ‘n’ Roll to mention only a few.

In spite of the music business’ efforts of musical segregation and streamlining especially country music but also the blues since the early 1920’s a die-hard subculture emerged over the years dedicated to preserving a rawer, more authentic sound and conserving the music’s wild archaic beauty and its themes of love and loss, dreams and hardship, life and death.

However the aim has not been to simply preserve the past.

To the contrary:

The evolution is ongoing and today the roots of American music while cherished and respected are being infused with the sounds of the 21^st century keeping the evolution of American Roots music an ongoing one and one that is not only heard in the land of Lincoln but across the globe.

To many it has not only become the soundtrack to their lives - it has become a way of life…"

Poster for the film, Hardsoil, being developed by the folks behind Muddy Roots and Slowboat Films

News And Updates From Banjo Buck Thrailkill

Our good buddy Buck Thrailkill recently posted up his newsletter and after reading it, we realized just how much cool stuff he has going on and wanted to get it out to the masses. If you haven't heard much of Buck's banjo pickin', you are in for some amazing songs this year. With feature releases coming up with us and Farmageddon this year, Buck will be hitting stages across the country and showing how a banjo should be played.

Link to Buck Thrailkill on Facebook

Banjo Buck Thrailkill

"Hi Everyone, I hope you all had an AWESOME February... 

The NEWS just keeps coming for you so here we go...

There will be a lot of new recordings coming out this spring and fall with all of the groups I am involved with. There is also bunches and bunches of new merch, t-shirts, mugs, and more coming in. Almost have the song list finished for the SOLO Album. I have one more piece to finish writing, which will also be on the new album with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger this summer from Rusty Knuckles Record Label. I also had the honor be being asked to record a track for upcoming artist Larry Frick for his new album. Check his band out. They are awesome.... And a true honor is going to be to record with my dear friend Erik Smallwood this year. His latest album 'You Love' just came out in January so please go check his incredible sound out with Neil Ray and many other guest artist.

Still want to make this year big on getting my ReverbNation page and Facebook Pages out and I will need your help getting as many email addresses as I can here, as well as the Venue's and other Band's ReverbNation pages. So help get the word out for the News Letters, Seasonal Letters, Gig Updates for Special shows, and so folks have an easy way to access me to send ideas for music, merch, or whatever. You can also contact my good friend Sheila Barker at Ready to Roll Street Team on Reverb or Facebook for information as well.

Working in 'Ronnie Hymes and Carolina Freight', with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger, we finished and released a brand new demo CD called '5 Tracks' back in January. You can go to our ReverbNation page to have a listen or on the Reverb Store and purchase the song and/or ringtone for any of the tracks you like. We just finished up recording our New Album coming our summer via The Rusty Knuckles Record Label with almost all new original tunes written by us and a few friends. We also have some great GIG dates coming in March and April around the Carolina's. 

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight, Rusty Knuckles © 2012

Coming up:

Thu Mar 1 2012 - Hellbound Glory

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Mar 10 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

Puckett’s Farm Equipment- Charlotte, NC

Sat Mar 24 2012 -  D.B. Bryant Band

Buckshot’s-Salisbury, NC

Fri Mar 30 2012 -  Billy Don Burns

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Apr 7 2012 - Polecat Fisher & The Rank Strangers

Main Street Pub & Deli-Marion, NC

Fri Apr 20 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

The Twisted Spoke-Pendleton, SC

Be sure to check the show dates on my ReverbNation page as well as RH&CF's ReverbNation Page. There is also new merch from the Freight as well so check us out...

Working in 'JB Beverley and The Wayward Drifters', with JB Beverley and Frank Ehlinger, we have a brand new CD in the recording works right now of all originals that will be available from Farmageddon Records by the spring/summer as well as some really awesome GIG dates coming up. Farmageddon Music Fest 2012 in Montana is coing up this year for the first annual. Already have an incredible line up. Also the 3rd Annual Muddy Roots Music Fest in Tennessee in September. BIG NEWS HERE. Dr. Ralph Stanley will be preforming at MRMF 2012. One of my all-time banjo hero's!!! 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this mail and please fell free to send to your friends and ask them to check out some or all the projects for 2012.

Have a BANJOWONDERFUL Day...... Buck sends..."

Muddy Roots 2012 - Initial Lineup Announced

Looks as if we will be invading Cookeville, Tennessee once again on Labor Day weekend in 2012 for the third installment of the Muddy Roots Music Fest. If you are gathering up the plans and making arrangements for festivals next year, do yourself a favor and get out to this event. It is the perfect DIY festival and the location is beyond great. Now if they can add Hellbound Glory and Ronnie Hymes, we would be quite stoked as we will surely be bringing more folks from our roster in tow as well to party down.

• The Reverend Horton Heat
• Dale Watson
• Wayne Hancock
• Possessed By Paul James
• T-Model Ford w/ Gravel Road
• Joe Buck
• Cutthroat Shamrock
• ANTiSEEN
  
• Cletus Got Shot
• Soda
• Sean Wheeler y Zander Schloss
• Husky Burnette
• Rachel Brooke
• Viva Le Vox
• Reverend Deadeye
• Hooten Hollars
• The Calamity Cubes
• James Leg
• Peewee Moore
• Scott McDougall
• The Pine Box Boys
• Left Lane Cruiser
• Valerie June
• The Atomic Duo
• Molly Gene the One Whoaman Band
• Hillbilly Casino
• Immortal Lee County Killers
• Pearls Mahone
• Everymen
• Filthy Still
• Sarah Gayle Meech
• Pine Hill Haints
• Restavraunt
• Jayke Orvis and the Broken Band
• J.B. Beverly & The Wayward Drifters
• Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies
• The Defibulators
• Tom VandenAvond
• Dad Horse Experience
• The Cheatin’ Hearts
• Last False Hope
• Cashman
• James Hunnicutt

Muddy Roots Late Night Jam Session

Muddy Roots 2011, late night Jam Session of Take Me Back To Tulsa, featuring Wayne The Train Hancock, Hellbound Glory, J.B. Beverley and Zander Schloss of Circle Jerks and Repo Man fame. As the rain poured down, one lone pavillion was high and dry from the weather. On this platform a continual jam lasted long into the night and here is part of that jam session.

How To Build A Custom Stage and Booth

A crazy idea struck us earlier this summer. We figured that building a new setup for all the shows we do at motorcycle, hot rod and music events would be a good idea. Of course this was all on the fly and didn't even really think on drawing up a fully fleshed out idea as our clever concept entailed obtaining all recycled material or at least mostly refurbished steel and wood.

Several sketches and quite a few beers later we posted a note up on the local craigslist looking for scrap steel. Within a few days we got an email from a couple about an hour away that had an old steel staircase that needed tearing down and offered the steel for free if we hauled it away. How could we pass up on the opportunity to spend ten hours and over 30 cut off wheels cutting down an entire staircase? Yes, we are gluttons for punishment as this was all accomplished in close to a hundred degree heat and southern humidity, our normal operating temperature.

With all the steel finally at the shop we could take measurements and really see what we had to work with. The beams were our main interest along with the pipe as that would be our main structural support for the floor deck and poles to support the roof. The steel was under a huge amount of tension with the step supports that were welded on as they had begin to flex over the forty years that the stairs had been in use. As we we were cutting off the support brackets the steel was snapping back into its original shape. If that won't rattle your nerves handling big beams, not sure what else will, as you can guess this stuff isn't light.

Knowing how big our projects can get I cast out a blank series of text messages for "volunteers". One lone ranger opted to show up and help and we thank none other than Jukebox Hank for rolling down for three days for some sweat equity. Without his help in getting all the grinding and metal prep done on the box frame, we truly would have been up shits creek. The setup of the beams should have been a three man job to line things up and weld in the brackets to hold the corner bolts but we did it with two and several cinder blocks. The beams now lock into place with a series of four large bolts and the supports of the crossmember wood and steel pipe hold it all together so its easy to assemble and disassemble. In all actuality, one person can build the entire platform now without any other help as I had to do close to seven times to really dial in the construction of it on the fly.

One of the last pieces that we needed was refurbished floor planks. Luckily we have a Habitat for Humanity a couple of miles down the road and was able to purchase a stack of eighteen 2 x 6 x 10's in a variety of lengths. With the planks, our floor could now be completed and we cut those all to length and placed them in a specific alignment to lock the wood in tight and employed a few shims to really tighten it up.

Our plan is that now with a solid floor we can also use this for indoor shows as a bike platform or a raised deck for a variety of setups. We dig having an old country store feel as it matches the vibe we are going for. This stage has been truly labor intensive to build, but it solidifies exactly what we are doing and doesn't look like a lame cookie cutter tent at outdoor festivals. Add in our wrench knives flags and a variety of roof options and we are set for just about any damn show we need to do. 2012, here we come!

Total Cost, just under $180 bucks with excess cut off wheels, bolts, welding wire, etc. etc. Who says cool things have to cost a lot of money, go out and make life happen.

Soundtrack to stage building 101 provided by Antiseen and Crank County Daredevils

Antiseen - Broke Down Blues by RustyKnuckles

Crank County Daredevils - That's How We Roll by RustyKnuckles
Crank County Daredevils - Coming Down by RustyKnuckles
 

Muddy Roots 2012 - Already On Sale

Muddy Roots 2011 definitely lived up to it's name and a damn amazing time was had by all. Do yourself a favor and start making plans for this event in 2012. The folks putting it on worked their asses off and made everyone feel welcome. This type of dedication is a rarity and only by supporting such a great event and helping it to grow will such a great festival continue to exist.

Get your tickets for Muddy Roots 2012 now

Muddy Roots 2011 - Hot Damn Was It A Good Time

If you were not able to make the Muddy Roots Music Festival this year, well you are just plain shit out of luck. We were finally able to hang with quite a few folks we haven't seen in a while including our folks in Hellbound Glory along with meeting a plethora of quality new individuals which were gracious enough to swap stories, beer and liquor. For that, we guarantee we will return to our new favorite hallowed biker grounds in Tennessee. 

Below our photos is the impressive write up from Triggerman over at Saving Country Music and we are damn impressed at his hard efforts working all weekend along with the Jason and the rest of the crew that put the event on. Only with their dedicated time and effort would such an event exist and we truly hope to see this event grow for them to become something beyond good.

Anthony aka "Turbo" was the best damn roadie to be found

Rollin west from the Carolinas

We ended up drinkin' the bar out of Sparks on a dare

Muddy Roots banjo sized for Paul Bunyan

Jukebox Hank in Swimming attire and Scotty P of Southbound Turnaround

J.B. Beverly and the Wayward Drifters on the main stage

Sammy Guns was out and needed the emergency liquor shack

Our newest favorite Ohioans

Bob Wayne turning the crowd into a frenzy telling what is legal in Alabama

A few hot rods were present

Buck Thrailkill, Jayke Orvis and Banjer Dan

Fellas in Hellbound Glory setting up for a late night show

Ronnie Hymes on the main stage with Buck Thrailkill and Tim Shearer

The madman known as Jukebox Hank

Hellbound Glory setting up for a late night show

Jukebox Hank getting the sound dialed in for Hellbound Glory

Yours Truly, Zander Schloss from Circle Jerks, Die Hunns, etc., Zeke from Hellbound Glory and J.B. Beverly

The Ohio, California and Carolinas connection

Zeke from Hellbound Glory's washboard getting a full on knife engraving

J.B. Beverly, Buck Thrailkill and Banjer Dan smokin' the main stage

Ronnie Hymes taking the main stage and made a ton of new fans

Hellbound Glory got a shortened set due to rain but gave a taste of the new album

Garter tattoo anyone?

Link to Saving Country Music's official Write Up

The idea of sitting down in front of a keyboard to try and describe an experience as epic as this last weekend’s Muddy Roots Festival seems like the essence of fools errand. However I feel inclined to attempt to tackle this impossible task for the folks that weren’t there, the folks that were, but maybe were not able to take in the full experience, and hopefully somehow attempt to chronicle the magic that went down at the June Bug ranch, just north of Cookeville, TN on Labor Day weekend, 2011 for future reference.

My perspective on the fest is somewhat skewed, because I did not go there as a participant, but as a volunteer. I watched most of the bands with their backs to me, but I can honestly say I did not see one performer that weekend that I was unimpressed with. Granted, this was a festival whose epicenter is very similar to the music that is covered here on Saving Country Music, but the diversity of talent when you take a step back was astronomical. There were country music legends like Don Maddox of The Maddox Brothers & Rose, and Wanda Jackson. There were deep blues artists like the Ten Foot Polecats and Left Lane Cruiser. There were punk-infused roots bands like Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, neo-traditionalists like Lucky Tubb, and all manner of variations in between.

While the big city an hour to the west of Cookeville continued to deal with the historic contraction in music consumption, Muddy Roots more than doubled its numbers from its inaugural year. Folks from Canada, Belgium, Spain, The Netherlands, many other foreign countries and all around the United States made the trek to what is quickly becoming an annual epicenter for independent roots music.

Weather was a major factor for the 2011 Muddy Roots Festival, with scorching 99-degree days for Friday’s setup and on Saturday as well, chased by torrential downpours courtesy of the remnants of a tropical storm on Sunday. And then again, weather wasn’t a factor at all. Great music, and the fellowship between real roots artists and their fans was going to happen, and the adversity of uncontrollable elements seemed to only make for better stories. We’ll take temps in the 80′s and clear skies next year though if the weather gods are reading.

Though Muddy Roots did not officially begin until Saturday, by the end of Friday night it already felt like a memorable music experience for many participants, as droves of artists and fans, many that had not seen each other in a year, others that had never met each other ever, or only knew of each other over the internet, were finally able to make a personal connection face to face. Like a gathering of tribes, groups of friends and bands coagulated and intermingled until the early hours of the morning. Rusty Knuckles, one of the labels represented at Muddy Roots had a booth that could transform into a stage, and the band Filthy Still regaled a large crowd late into the night. Meanwhile Uncle Sean & The Shifty Drifters with members of Liquorbox and Cletus Got Shot played the June Bug Biker Bar at the front of the property to a packed crowd.

A late night made for a slow-starting morning, with Cashman, and Mark Porkchop Holder taking the first time slots on the main Muddy Roots stage, but by the time Jayke Orvis and his Broken Band took the stage at 1 PM, people were ready to brave the heat and his set drew one of the biggest crowds of the whole festival. The Broken Band consisted of Fishgutz and Baby Genius from The Goddamn Gallows, James Hunnicutt, Joe Perreze, and a fiddle player.

Meanwhile on Stage 2 under the tent, the blues were being represented by the Ten Foot Polecats who made the trip from Boston, followed by the ramshackle fire and brimstone one man band Revered Deadeye. About the only set of music that wasn’t well attended all weekend was Derek Hoke on the main stage, and it was a shame, because it was one of the best classic country performances of the fest. The low attendace had me worried of what might happen when the 90+-year-old Don Maddox took the stage. My concerns turned out to be unfounded as a decent crowd swelled to see the West Coast country legend, with a band consisting of the omnipresent James Hunnicutt on drums, Felix Thursday of The Cheatin’ Hearts on guitar, Banjer Dan, and Johnny B, a local venue owner from Medford, OR on standup bass.

Don Maddox was followed on the main stage by JB Beverly & The Wayward Drifters. The Drifters lineup included two banjos, and JB’s excellent original songs were complimented by the full sound. JB also gave one of the best, most impassioned speeches all weekend about the beauty and importance of the Muddy Roots gathering.

The Muddy Roots schedule had a few very cool runs where like-minded bands were featured back to back. One of these runs featured The Clamity Cubes and Cletus Got Shot on the second stage. Unfortunately I didn’t get to catch any of the Dirt Scab Band or the Spinderellas, but made it back to the main stage in time to see why Ronnie Hymes has recently been picked up by the Rusty Knuckles record label, and left Muddy Roots on a tour with Lucky Tubb.

Speaking of Lucky and cool runs in the schedule, Lucky’s set on stage 2 was preceded by Slim Chance & The Can’t Hardly Playboys, sans Slim Chance, but still with a cool lineup that included Zach Shedd of Hank3′s Damn Band. Lucky showed up to Muddy Roots with copies ready to sell of his brand new album Del Gaucho, and was followed by Possessed by Paul James, who put on one of the best, if not the best performances of Muddy Roots 2011. By the end of his set, some folks were in tears, and everyone was talking about the mysterious burst of wind on that blisteringly hot day that hit the stage 2 tent right as he began to play.

Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies had a daunting task of following up Possessed, but he did so admirably. Bob’s ear to ear smile and fun-to-be-around attitude was all over the place on the weekend. I can’t remember how many times I looked out over a crowd and saw Bob there smack dab in the middle, leading the charge and cheering on the performer.

On the main stage, O’ Death made the smart decision to hold the beginning of their set until Possessed by Paul James was done, and then entertained the crowd with their dark and original take on Americana roots. They were followed by two legends, from different worlds: the always enchanting and charismatic Soda, and on of the true pioneers of independent roots country, and an American original, Wayne “The Train” Hancock, who dazzled possibly the biggest crowd of the whole festival.

Those still not satiated by Saturday’s festivities sauntered back to stage 2, which after the performance of American Pickers’ star Danielle Colby‘s dance troupe Burlesque le Moustache offered a late night lineup of Black Jake & The Carnies, a band I had never seen or heard before, but were very entertaining with a high energy show and a frontman full of bits, including a flashing banjo that shot fire out the head stock, while he smoked a cigar wedged in a harmonica holder. Viva Le Vox followed up with their own light show and fiercely entertaining songs custom fit for the deep of the night. Unfortunately Farmageddon Records alum Owen Mays got shafted when the sound crew decided to call it quits at 2-something in the morning, but a decent crowd that stuck around were revered with an intimate, all acoustic set that included Banjer Dan, James Hunnicutt, and others fleshing out Owen’s original compositions.

Sunday began on the main stage with Liquorbox, Felix Thursday’s aforementioned Cheatin’ Hearts, and Davey Jay Sparrow, who was introduced by his very young son, who also revered the crowd with a few choice knock knock jokes. They were proceeded by a couple of roots music transplants from the punk scene in the form of Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss, while on stage 2, a couple of string bands got things going: The Hogslop String Band, and one of my personal favorite acts of the weekend, Thomas Maupin & Daniel Rothwell. Daniel is a young, up-and-coming banjo player, and Thomas Maupin is a champion tap dancer. Folks still sleeping off Saturday night really missed a treat.

As a pinup pageant was going down on the main stage, things really got cranking on stage 2, with the Celtic-infused Cutthroat Shamrock and the sludgy blues of Left Lane Cruiser revering the Dirtyfoot fans of Hillgrass Bluebilly music. This was contrasted by the straightforward Appalachian-style of JD Wilkes of Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers‘ side project with his wife called The Dirt Daubers touring in support of a new album. I’ll admit, since the beginning of this project, I’ve been worried Shack Shaker nation will want more blood and guts than what The Dirt Daubers can offer, but simply put, they killed it, and were joined on stage by Liz Sloan of Bob Wayne’s Outlaw Carnies.

Unfortunately I did not have the time to see many of the handful of performer’s slated for Sunday’s stage 3, but I did get to check out a few good songs from banjo player Joe Perreze of The Perreze Farm, who also sat in with numerous other performers over the weekend, as well as a few blazing blues numbers from last minute fill-in Husky Burnette, who at times was joined by washboard Avery from the Goddamn Gallows, and Soda and Jay Scheffler from the Ten Foot Polecats on harmonica. Yes, collaboration was everywhere on the weekend.

As punk band Hans Kondor was playing on Stage 2, and Art Adams Band on Stage 1, the rain came. And it came. And didn’t stop all night. This forced a reshuffling of the lineup and the closing of the open air Stage 1, moving the big Muddy Roots headliners under the tent. Leroy Virgil and Hellbound Glory were forced to play a short set, but did an excellent job with their post-Chico (their drummer) lineup that includes Leroy sitting on a bass drum and playing it backwards while picking and singing.

Then came one of my favorite runs of shows of the festival, with two legends of Nashville’s lower Broadway fronted by two of the best frontmen in all of music, as Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Hillbilly Casino took the stage one after another. As the rain continued to fall, the Muddy Roots patrons got muddy, and were treated to some of the best live music that exists.

At this point the rain had turned into an outright deluge. The sound equipment had to be lifted out of pooling water, and there was concern the main headliner Wanda Jackson would call the performance off. But all strings were pulled to accommodate the 73-year-old queen of rockabilly, and folks, she absolutely killed it. Her voice was as solid as when she dumped Elvis, and her stage presence was spellbinding. When Wanda called on her crisp yodel, the crowd went crazy. They sang along with full lung with the gospel number “I Saw The Light”. Wanda ran through her set list, and started adding songs sensing the fervor of the crowd. It was a spectacular performance.

After Wanda came short but solid sets from performers that got the short end from the weather: the great one man band Scott McDougall from the Pacific Northwest, the Whiskey Folk Ramblers that made the drive all the way out from Ft. Worth, and the lovely and talented Rachel Brooke.

Muddy Roots 2011 was capped off by one of the few bands that could tackle such a task, The Goddam Gallows. By this time there was water ankle deep no matter where you walked with sheets of rain still falling, but very few people had retreated, and those not watching the Gallows, were watching or participating in a huge jam under the cover of the main stage that included Wayne Hancock, J.B. Beverley, Banjer Dan, Nathan from Cletus Got Shot, all of Hellbound Glory, and many others.

Though I am afraid of attempting to compile a list of the non-musicians that were there or involved in Muddy Roots that deserve recognition because I am sure I will leave important names out, I must mention that independent country elder statesman Mr. Bandana was there all weekend, and using his 4-wheeler to help haul gear and people around the site. And of course, huge props goes to the promoters Jason and Anthony Galaz, and right hand man Jason H. Buchanan for pulling the whole thing off.

There’s really no way I can sum up the 2011 Muddy Roots Festival, and any written treatise just feels like a reduction of the experience. Truly, you just had to be there. But for the folks that weren’t, take note that Muddy Roots is quickly becoming one of those events you plan your year around. I will say that above all the excellent performances, the jaw dropping lineup, the beautiful and ideal grounds, the greatest asset of the Muddy Roots experience is the people it draws, and the fellowship it creates. As the world obsesses more every year with making money, Muddy Roots offers an opportunity to make memories.

Tags: Muddy Roots Festival