Muddy Roots Festival In, Deep Blues Out

Muddy Roots FestivalFirst the bad news.

One of the best festivals for independent roots music, the Deep Blues Festival, is no more. Simply put, this is a tragedy. If the independent roots movement had one premier festival, this was it, and this is coming from someone focused on country more than blues. Still, bands like .357 String Band, Hillstomp, Cuzn Wildweed, Left Lane Cruiser, Los Duggans, Scott H. Biram, and Those Poor Bastards made appearances there, just to name a few. The organizer Chris Johnson deserves a lot of thanks for putting this show on over the last few years. A commenter “M.A. Littler” over on ninebullets.net said it best:

“It’s mostly drivel that sells, and the good stuff gets filed under “obscure”. The little man inside my head tells me that Chris Johnson knew this from the get go and did it all anyway. To me that is more heroic than doing something based on the belief that it will prosper. Like Dylan Thomas, Chris raged against the dying of the light”¦but Chris, folks get what they deserve”¦and they did not deserve Deep Blues.

But there’s good news. Where Deep Blues left off, hopefully the Muddy Roots Festival will continue on. In fact a lot of previous Deep Blues acts, like The Dex Romweber Duo, Cashman, and Reverend Deadeye, are in the Muddy Roots lineup this year. And hopefully the location (right between Nashville and Knoxville) will not be the same hindrance that it was to Deep Roots.

I really believe that these festivals are important in the support structure of independent music, and that is why I have decided to put the savingcountrymusic.com name behind Muddy Roots and become a sponsor. Between now and the festival, I will be doing what I can to get as many butts out there as possible, and also to keep those already drinking the Muddy Roots Kool-Aid informed.

You can buy pre-sale tickets for only $30 by CLICKING HERE. For all the music you’ll get, plus FREE camping and showers, that is a steal of a deal. If you don’t have anything planned the last weekend of May, or hell, even if you do, blow if off and get your ass out there.

Here’s the latest updated lineup:

  • Billy Joe Shaver
  • Wayne “The Train” Hancock
  • Kyle Turley (former football player)
  • The Goddamn Gallows
  • Cashman
  • Dex Romweber
  • Husky Burnette
  • Cletus Got Shot
  • Smokestack and the Foothill Fury
  • The Calamity Cubes
  • Lane Kristian and the Jakehead Mob
  • Reverend Dead Eye
  • Hillbilly Harlots
  • Dave Smith and the Country Rebels
  • Jason and the Punknecks
  • Soda
  • Dash Rip Rock
  • The Delta Saints
  • Matt King
  • Tom VandenAvond
  • Larry and his Flask
  • Travis Mann Band
  • Ten Foot Pole Cats
  • Joshua Black Wilkins
  • The Scissormen
  • Hellfire Revival

Muddy Roots Festival

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