Sugarlands Mountainfest

We went to the First Annual Sugarlands Mountainfest and learned that we probably aren't festival people. We get tired a little too fast and we need good, non-freezing sleep. Other than being tired oldies, Sugarlands Moutainfest was great! We got to vibe to some Bluegrass, chill with some folk, and boogie woogie with Jeff Austin. Take a sit and read about our experience or watch our video for a few snippets of the artists we saw -- Sugarlands Moutainfest VIDEOOOOOO.

First things first, we are from this area so when we hear Sugarlands, we think first of the place that we park our cars before we go on hikes which is called Sugarlands Visitor Center. So, we were just a touch confused when this festival was not in fact deep in the mountains but in the heart of Gatlinburg. It was put on by Sugarlands Distillery Company, which distills their own Smoky Mountain Moonshine. If you have never been around a legal moonshine distillery, IT STINKS. I don't drink alcohol anyways, so the smell is much stronger for a girl like me... but still. YEAST.

There were three stages. The main two were very close to each other, so you didn't have to walk a distance every set change. The third stage was smaller and a very short walk away.

We ended up seeing 13 sets, so we are going to condense it to a few words about each artist/group. And pretty much a constant for ALL sets, was that this would be really good study music.

Side Note by Brittany: will be written in Orange.

Driftwood: we showed up a little late, they were really good, and a LOT of people missed out because the festival wasn't really full of people at this point. Honestly, I didn't know that we even saw this band. I was so taken aback by all of the scenery that I forgot music was playing. 

Honey cutters: They sounded like the Dixie Chicks before everyone hated them. This statement could not be more true. If you are like me and you loved the Dixie Chicks before everything went south, here is your new favorite band!

Grandpa's Cough Medicine: could you have a better band name?! Grandpa is devil went down to Georgia meets Johnny Cash with an element that physically makes you move your feet. I made a lot of awkward eye contact with the guy who played the mandolin, but overall great vibes.

Sam Outlaw: great look, great muscles, more traditional country sound. So Mr. Outlaw performed on one of the stages that were alternating sets, and he got upset that people didn't move from their previous spots but instead just swiveled their chairs around. His attitude was awkward for everyone.

Yarn: just having a garage jam sesh. If you know who Dwight Yoakam is, they sound a lot like him. So if you want to party to some old school country just join their garage jam sesh. 

JEFF AUSTIN BAND: I have literally TOO much to say about Jeff Austin. He took my soul and placed me in his cult with his boogie woogie magic. Next time you find yourself at a Jeff Austin show, make sure you bring your tape recorder (literally we saw a guy who did this. He had an old school tape recorder). When this group first got on stage, they were not the best. The only thought I had about them was that commercial of the guy dangling a dollar in front of that woman and telling her "you've got to be quicker than that". It was like they were almost good, but they needed to be quicker than that! But then, they got into their groove and forced the entire audience to become members of the Jeff Austin cult. It was a good time for all. 

The Traveling McCoury's: I actually have nothing to say about this group. We just people watched for their whole set. This group needed some drums or something. They followed a cultist movement (a.k.a. the Jeff Austin Band), so they really needed to bring their A game, but alas they did not. They were downers. 

Roy Lee Jones: BLUES IN MY SOUL, he is so cute and happy. Oh my goodness. This man. He killed it. I am a HUGE fan of soul and blues music and this man just embodies all of it. His voice has the perfect rasp and he meshes with his band really well. 

Girls, Guns, and Glory: Haley forgot to even put this group in, so that should tell you about their performance. 

Dead Horses: so so so good, definitely will listen again // "I like Dead Horses" is a phrase we can now say and will say often because it has so many meanings. I'm not going to lie, I fell asleep during this group. It probably isn't their fault. I am a grandma trapped in a 23 year old body and I am not cut out for festival life. Their music was just so relaxing that I could not stay awake. Not at all. 

The Urban Pioneers: everything we had been waiting for, they were bluegrass beautiful // they have a song called "Never had a waffle at the waffle house" and if you have never heard them jam to that tune, I am sorry for you. THIS group! They were the definition of bluegrass performers. They put on a truly delightful show and I would for sure go see them again. The band chemistry is down right adorable and they perform full time for a living so they are good at it. 

Elephant Revival: very impressed with their use of the washboard. I did not believe that washboards existed in bands anymore, but Elephant Revival proved me wrong. The lead singer is the washboard artist and boy does she know how to play it! 

OVERALL TOP FAVES: HALEY

Grandpa's Cough Medicine

The Urban Pioneers

Dead Horses

and JEFF AUSTIN IS MY LEADER

OVERALL TOP FAVES: BRITTANY
Roy Lee Jones
The Urban Pioneers
and Grandpa's Cough Medicine

Watch our Video!