It's time, y'all! Should be a really fun opening day for the Festival. I am hoping for better weather than last year's Saturday experience!
This format will be like I have done in the past for ACL lineups - the links will take you to my more complete review of the artist at issue, and the bit next to the link will be my short one-liner about the band or artist. Hope it is helpful!
Hell yeah. Imma get a Cowboys jersey, some shredded jeans, and a straw to rock the Alan look all day.12:00/12:15/12:30
Big River (12:30) | T-Byrd's Country Gold: classic covers time |
Pony Up (12) | Walker Montgomery: John Michael's kid crushing a classic Nashville country sound |
Showdeo (12:15) | Lanie Gardner: Techno party at her top end, generic soft-pop country at the bottom |
Probably would have the most fun singing along to the classics with Tracy Byrd, but Montgomery was interesting too.
1:00/1:30/1:45 (times are very spread out!)
Big River (1:45) | Kaitlin Butts: Excellent story-telling Americana |
Pony Up (1:00) | Noeline Hofmann: Beautiful and basic country music with great lyrics and a Zach Bryan co-sign |
Showdeo (1:30) | Hudson Westbrook: Solid young country fella, reminds me of Wyatt Flores |
I think the youth vote is going to go hard for Westbrook - I keep hearing my girls talk about him - but I might do a half set from both of the ladies instead. I saw a few Westbrook songs at ACL and was underwhelmed.
2:15/2:45/3:00
Big River (3:00) | Ernest: Buddy to Morgan Wallen making some cheesy but solid bro country |
Pony Up (2:15) | William Beckmann: Honey-voiced classic country action from a newcomer |
Showdeo (2:45) | Diamond Rio: 90's Nashville country, power harmonies, supreme mullets, and that "Meet in the Middle" tune |
I may do the same here, since these times are so staggered, and watch half of Beckmann and then the Diamond Rio action. If I had to actually choose, I think I'd go with Beckmann. He's great.
3:30/4:00/4:30
Big River (4:30) | Flatland Cavalry: Lubbock's own Americana posse |
Pony Up (3:30) | Eli Young Band: Cheesy, well-polished country schmaltz |
Showdeo (4:00) | Tracy Byrd: High Cheese rating 90's Nashville country and a DWI PSA |
Torn on this one between Flatland and Byrd. I think I will lean towards seeing something new and good in Flatland, rather than the nostalgia points, but Byrd has at least four top tier 90's Nashville bangers that would be fun to sing along to with the crowd.
5:30
Pony Up | Priscilla Block: Country pop that veers between sad, confessional tunes and funny, self-deprecating tunes |
Showdeo | Randall King: Pure country in a classic sense but from a new guy |
It feels to me like these guys got mistakenly moved up the schedule. Are they really bigger or better than Flatland, Rio, or Byrd? I'm going to say absolutely not from my perspective. But I'll do King here (or more likely go find a dinner to snarf down).
6:30
Big River Stage: Miranda Lambert: One of the Queens of country music
Sort of sucks, since everyone will go to this stage as she is the only thing playing during this hour. But at least it makes the choice of what to see really easy! I just expect this means I will not be anywhere near the stage!
7:30
Pony Up | DIPLO: Electronic kingpin with generally uninteresting songs BUT now he is angling for that sweet country bumpkin cash as well. |
Showdeo | Gavin Adcock: Raw young country guy from Georgia giving me nothing |
I'm well aware of how this is going to work. I am going to skip both of these because I dislike them both very much, and later someone is going to tell me that the Adcock set was the best thing of all time and I'll feel a tinge of FOMO. But I'm thinking this hour sets me up to try to get closer for Alan. I hope my wife is on board and doesn't want to stay nine miles from the stage.
HEADLINER (8:30):
Big River Stage: Alan Jackson: One of the greatest country artists ever.
I am excited for this show. I hope he's still got his fastball, but either way, I bet the crowd is going to give him a heavy assist with the lyrics!
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