True Country Represented at the 2017 Tumbleweed Country Music Festival
For many years there has been the need for a festival to cover the music that sits on the fringes of commercial country, yet serves a very dedicated and surprisingly large audience of country music fans. Muddy Roots, Westport Roots, and others do a great job representing the underground. Texas music has ample festival infrastructure, including for up-and-coming artists like Galleywinter’s River Fest that occurred this past weekend.
But there’s an area in country—you could call it ‘Outlaw,’ but it’s a little more expansive than that, and encompasses elements of the underground and Texas country—that has gone woefully under-represented for too long. Some have tried to throw Outlaw festivals with an national and international scope in the past, and despite great effort and solid lineups, they’ve ultimately failed for one reason or another. But all you have to do is see the capacity of Cody Jinks concerts to know there is a group of country music fans going underserved in the festival space, and has been for too long.
This is what Borda Productions saw when they decided to transition from a more mainstream-oriented country festival for their first year, and went with headliners such as Whitey Morgan and the 78’s, Cody Jinks, and Jamey Johnson for year two. It was a risk, but to fans of true country music with an ‘Outlaw’ flavor (for lack of a better word), the 2017 Tumbleweed Festival lineup was just about perfect.
There were a few outliers, like Roger Creager and his more laid back style of Texas country, but he was still appealing to many, and allowed for Tumbleweed to represent a greater swath of music fans beyond the obvious ‘Outlaw’ mindset, which can be constricting. William Clark Green is not really an ‘Outlaw’ either, but brought a youthful energy backed by excellent songs that the fest needed.
Yet what was so great about Tumbleweed Festival is since they booked artists who happened to be friends and fans of each other already, it fostered collaboration on a greater scale, and allowed for “moments” to occur which immediately turn into lifelong memories for fans and performers alike. This is what many other festivals lack when they book these artists separately.
The moments were really the story of the Tumbleweed Country Music Festival in 2017. Jamey Johnson, Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, and Ward Davis were on and off the stage throughout the weekend singing on each other’s songs, and creating unique moments you don’t get at your average tour stop. That’s what is supposed to make a festival more than just a collection of artists, and greater than the sum of its parts. This is what Tumbleweed accomplished.
Even some of the artists in the earlier slots, like Porter Union, participated in multiple sets with other performers, and sung the National Anthem at the opening of the fest. Mickey Lamatia made sure that steel guitar legend and producer Robby Turner was there on stage, helping to add a layer of legitimacy to the festival, as did Billy Joe Shaver’s presence, who never disappoints live despite his advanced age.
Jason Eady and Colter Wall contributed the important element of pure songwriting to the fest, devoid of bravado and flashy showmanship, but nonetheless entertaining and representative of an important part of country music unheralded by the mainstream. The only issues with Sunny Sweeney and Courtney Patton’s late night sets on the side stage is that they were so late, and on the side stage. They proved why the ladies are such a large part of the independent country music movement, and deserve equal billing beside their male counterparts. It was unfortunate that Jaime Wyatt had to cancel her appearance, but Mickey Lamantia with Porter Union helped fill in. Porter Union was possibly the biggest takeaway for many festival goers just discovering the husband and wife duo, and their great songwriting and harmonies.
The 2017 Tumbleweed Festival was not perfect, but they did an excellent job pulling together an astounding lineup for a second year festival, and taking a punch and surviving at the very start. Hours before the festival was supposed to open the gates, the Kansas City area was walloped with eight inches of rain in six hours, flooding the festival grounds that sit on La Benite Riverfront Park on the banks of the Missouri River. With it’s views of the river, a nearby bridge spanning the Missouri, and ample shade trees, it’s a great place for a festival, but only if it’s above water. There was a moment where it appeared the entire festival might be canceled, but after a slight delay for entry, the site drained and held up to traffic surprisingly well, and you didn’t hear a discouraging word from festival goers, who completely understood the circumstances, and wouldn’t allow it to take away from a good time.
A bit more infrastructure at the fest might be needed as this year’s successes will likely mean a swell of attendees in years to come. A better way for attendees to hose off if not shower would be nice, and a bit more diversity in the food vendors and such would be appreciated. But the camping grounds were good, and fostered folks hanging out with each other and meeting new friends. If you were at the festival, you were very likely to get along with everyone else.
Tumbleweed did a lot to honor servicemembers, including letting active duty and veterans in for free, and the National Anthem started off the festival each day. A slight misunderstanding between Jamey Johnson and some attendees with a flag that was meant to back police officers showed why politics and music rarely mix well, including when they happen to be generally on the same side. But there was way more camaraderie than friction on the weekend. In fact camaraderie was the theme.
“We used to play festivals, and we always felt like the outsiders,” Whitey Morgan said from the stage Friday night. But the performers and attendees finally found a festival home in 2017 via Tumbleweed.
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Some pictures below:
Josh
July 31, 2017 @ 6:46 pm
William Clark Green stole the show I think. Rose above being an outsider, out on a great show, and had people buzzing.
Trigger
July 31, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
William Clark Green put on the best show I’ve seen from him. Same for Jamey Johnson who I’ve seen quite a bit. Same for Whitey Morgan, who I’ve probably seen 15-20 times over the last decade or so. I think the artists turned in legendary sets because they wanted to be there, and the energy from the crowd was unparalleled.
Josh
July 31, 2017 @ 9:07 pm
Felt like Creager mailed it in. Definitely out of his element, and didn’t seem comfortable. Like he said, he usually plays at night to a bunch of drunks. His guitar player pulling double duty really impressed us.
Mo Crawford
July 31, 2017 @ 6:55 pm
these artists are quite the conformists..all sound about the same and dress alike,all with the beards.
Bertox
July 31, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
With the exception of Billy Joe
Mike Honcho
July 31, 2017 @ 7:32 pm
They’re all getting fat, too. Except for Jinks.
Trigger
July 31, 2017 @ 7:43 pm
What is this, the CMA’s and we’re judging artists on their looks? Are they conformists, or are they trying to separate themselves from the pretty boys of country? I admit the beard can feel like a uniform when most everyone has one, but about the only thing they are conforming to is themselves.
The Goddess of Country Rock
August 1, 2017 @ 6:01 am
I think he was just joking. I hope so, at least.
Mike Honcho
August 1, 2017 @ 6:25 am
They also are either wearing a band t-shirt or a pearl snap button down. Reminds me of when accountants and bankers go to Sturgis wearing leather for the weekend, or goth kids that all look alike even though they think they are making a statement about conformity. I like most of these guys, but there seems to be a uniform.
JB-Chicago
August 1, 2017 @ 7:01 am
Mo is right. I have no idea who any of the people/bands are and as I scrolled through they all looked like the same artist. So now they are conforming to the Stapleton/ZZ Top look to NOT look like Sam Hunt, Chris Lane, and Dylan Scott. It’s just as contrived. God forbid someone doesn’t have a beard. Btw this is a great look if you don’t want women to come to your shows or buy your music. I know I know…..Stapleton sells records but will 20 Stapletons sell records?
Trigger
August 1, 2017 @ 7:23 am
Jason Eady didn’t have a beard. Colter Wall didn’t have a beard. Billy Joe Shaver and others didn’t have a beard. They weren’t shunned on the weekend. Yes, there was an inordinate amount of beards on the artists this weekend, but I would see that as an interesting observance as opposed to some conspiracy lending to conformity. Who the fuck cares what anyone looks like? How good is the music? That’s what I’m concerned about.
scott
August 1, 2017 @ 7:25 am
I’m guessing these artists wouldn’t want women fans if they’re all that shallow. Guessing you’ve never been to a Cody Jinks, and/or Whitey Morgan show. Plenty of female fans in attendance.
Mike Honcho
August 1, 2017 @ 7:32 am
Billy Joe Shaver is a non sequitur. The man could stand on stage wearing a g string and a Back Street Boys t-shirt , and you still couldn’t argue that he wasn’t country enough.
jtrpdx
August 1, 2017 @ 8:31 am
This is just silly. And if you have “no idea who any of the people / bands” were who played Tumbleweed, you don’t listen to country music….period. Most of these guys have had beards long before Stapleton blew up. You are thinking way too far into this.
R2D2
August 1, 2017 @ 7:14 am
Not sure what you want them to wear if they cant wear a t-shirt or a button down lol.. besides country singers have been wearing pearl snaps or button downs forever.
Dr. Venkman
August 1, 2017 @ 7:37 am
Agree w/ R2D2. I suppose Mo feels the same way about cowboy hats? And I think part of it is that they are representing their fellow artists. You know, the ones that don’t get much, or any, publicity for their great work.
Mo Crawford
August 1, 2017 @ 8:08 am
They are all pretty much playing the same thing…unimaginative 3 chord progressions from 50 years ago..would just like to see some innovation even in the “outlaw” genre
R2D2
August 1, 2017 @ 8:09 am
I understand Mo, and i am with ya.. I just thought the comments about how to dress were a bit dumb.
jtrpdx
August 1, 2017 @ 8:42 am
Exactly R2D2. Maybe a 3 peice suit? Or they could go for a full on jump suit. Or, I guess a nice collard Polo shirt would be different too. Also completely disagree with the “unimaginative 3 chord progression” comment. Yes, lots of traditional honky tonk represented here, but also a lot of artists who go well beyond that.
JP
August 1, 2017 @ 11:00 pm
Mo Crawford, I take it you have never listen to the words of ANY jinks song! You must be one that’s judges a song by its beat and could care less about its content, unless it’s something snappy that you can sing along to!
hoptowntiger94
August 1, 2017 @ 8:17 am
While we are being fashion police, I do wish Jinks would stop wearing artist/band t-shirts. It was cool when he wore Sturgill’s, now it comes off as lazy and predictable. I want him to establish his own brand so I can copy it ( I don’t wear artist/band t-shirts or jerseys with other men’s name on my back).
A.K.A. City
August 1, 2017 @ 1:17 pm
Sunny Sweeney looks really hot with a beard. 😛
RD
July 31, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
Holy fucking beards.
Joshua W Turel
July 31, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
I had never heard of William Clark Green before….. holy shit… he put on an absolutely amazing show. The whole experience was one of the funnest times of my life. God bless all involved in making this happen.
Steve
July 31, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
Yup. I was excited for him to be there. They put on a great show, taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Dot
July 31, 2017 @ 6:58 pm
Paul Cauthen opened for Cody Jinks on some of his last tour. Impressive.
Rob
July 31, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
Nice close up shot of Jamey’s guitar. At the CMA’s or ACM’s years back he performed “Give it Away” which he wrote at the George Strait artist of the decade thing and he brought it up to George Strait on tv and had him sign it
Rob
July 31, 2017 @ 7:02 pm
My bad I he didn’t write the song there, but he performed it at that event
Kevin Davis
July 31, 2017 @ 7:21 pm
I recently saw Whitey Morgan and the 78’s for the third time, and I still cannot believe their talent as a live act. They are easily the best touring country band right now, and their appeal can easily extend to fans of classic rock and blues…or, simply put, fans of good music.
Steve
July 31, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
Borda Productions pulled off something special. It was an INCREDIBLE weekend of music, and it went well into the night each night, before spilling over into the camping area, which was beautifully lit with strings of Christmas lights (nice touch btw). Mickey Lamantia and Paul Cauthen ventured into the camping area to hang and play with the fans, and most of the artists came out into the GA area to take pics and sign autographs. These artists all get it. Tumbleweed was something special. I’ll be back next year. Already marked my calendar.
Austin Lee
July 31, 2017 @ 8:35 pm
Aw man I didn’t even get a mention. I kicked the whole deal off with Porter Union and Mickey Saturday! Oh well it was still a kick ass time.
Trigger
July 31, 2017 @ 9:36 pm
Hey Austin,
Was great to meet you and hang out over the weekend. No disrespect was meant by not mentioning you or anyone else who participated in Tumbleweed in some capacity and didn’t get a mention here. I’m just one man and did the best I could to cover as much of the fest in words and pictures as possible, while also trying to spend time soaking it all in and participating in multiple capacities. It looks like Damien Gunn who left a comment below might feel left out as well. When there’s so much going on, I’m not going to be able to cover everything stem to stern. I do the best I can, and I don’t want to lie and act like I saw everything and met everyone and end up talking out of my ass.
Austin Lee
August 1, 2017 @ 9:24 am
Hey man good meeting you too. And I ain’t taking it seriously just kiddin! I was just honored Mickey asked me to do a few with him! Definitely ready for next year!
hoptowntiger94
July 31, 2017 @ 8:36 pm
Looks like a great time!
Thanks for sharing.
DAMIEN GUNN
July 31, 2017 @ 8:45 pm
I had a lot of fun performing the main stage Saturday at noon, opening with the Honor Guard and singing the National Anthem with such amazing talent. I was honored to be a part of this years festival and represent my Kansas City peeps for sure, too.
I also ran the 2nd stage this year and was blessed how many people stuck around to the wee hours of the night. Testimony to how great a festival like this really is and how Borda Productions really step up the game by offering this type of concert series to everyone!
I hope to be a part of it next year, and I hope for those that we not able to make it this year can show for the next.
GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
~DG
Chief Spires
July 31, 2017 @ 9:07 pm
Trigger it was great to meet you, brother. Thanks for all you do for OUR scene. Hope to run into you again soon! Keeping real country music alive!
-Chief Spires
Bassist- Greg Payne & The Piedmont Boys
Blackwater
July 31, 2017 @ 9:36 pm
How was the Boomswagglers?? No pics?
Gina
July 31, 2017 @ 9:41 pm
Good to see Sunny there. Really glad it went so well. I’m really hoping to make it next year.
Judy
August 1, 2017 @ 12:37 am
Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shafer and many many more have been doing this for years. You have nothing on them. As far as the flag incident, he truly went about things the wrong way. Jamey almost started a fight between some men against 2 women. What a hero he is. All that was needed was for him to ask the two woman to take the flag down and they automatically would have taken the flag down. But no he had to cuss, and accuse the 2 woman of trying to piss him off and like a baby if he didn’t get his way he was going to leave. Which pissed off the crowd and as they where taking the American Thin Blue Line flag down, a guy tried to take the flag pole and tried to grab the flag which almost started a fight between him and the woman trying to protect her flags and equipment. There was no agenda intended. We support our Police, apparently Jamey does not. I say boycott Jamey Johnson and his music.He could have handled things in a much safer way.
John Deaux
August 1, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
So here’s an idea, next time how about a little thought of the ones who’s view your blocking with your flag and take the damn thing down when an artist gets on the stage.
Drama queens, smh.
Mike Honcho
August 1, 2017 @ 2:47 pm
GFY. Don’t bring flags or video concerts with your phone. You’re not the only person there.
MOE
August 1, 2017 @ 5:52 am
Wow what a great lineup. I only wish we had something like this in Illinois.
glendel
August 1, 2017 @ 12:47 pm
a yr and a half ago, jason eady and courtney patton played bub city at lunchtime (and maybe later, as well) for free.
scott
August 2, 2017 @ 5:43 am
Tailgates and Tallboys in Peoria is doing some good things. Not a 3 day festival, but some good acts on the riverfront there.
bwh
August 1, 2017 @ 6:03 am
Having seen her twice, Sunny Sweeney is best in a small stage.
Not because she’s a small talent, or a small billing, far from it. It’s because she is absolutely hilarious to the bone. In a big venue, you just want the music. In a small venue you get the backgrounds to the songs, the jokes, the humor, the “hey lets try that one again, but faster this time.” She (and the band) put on a hill of a great show, and she is absolutely the star. The more she can talk and communicate with the crowd, the more people can connect.
On a big stage its harder to get that personality and storytelling out there. I’ll see her again in a few weeks, and I can’t wait for what anecdote she’s going to tell next.
Trigger
August 1, 2017 @ 7:07 am
You know, as much as I feel bad for the two solo women who played getting relegated to the second stage, I tend to agree that the bigger stage can sometimes gobble up certain performers and take the energy out of the performance. Side stage or no, Sunny Sweeney killed it, knew her crowd and what they’re level of sobriety would be at that time of night, and put on a hell of a show. If she had played at 12:30 p.m. on the main stage, she may have not had as many people there. She had a big crowd.
A.K.A. City
August 1, 2017 @ 8:06 am
I am really excited to see her open for Cody Jinks at the Ryman in October. Hopefully she will be able to translate her energy to that venue.
bwh
August 1, 2017 @ 9:43 am
She won’t have a single problem. You’ll love it. She is absolutely hilarious and has an incredible wit.
And don’t let her off the stage unless she plays “if I could” as slow, and as fast, as they can. Two wildly different versions of the same great song. Have fun!
Stringbuzz
August 1, 2017 @ 7:14 am
Sounds like a great time..
If it was closer to me, I would’ve been there.
Have to find myself lucky though, because I’ve seen a large number of these performers live over the last year or so.
GWB
August 1, 2017 @ 11:01 am
Trigger, do you have any info to if anybody reached out to Hank 3 to play at this show? Seems like it would have been an ideal crowd & lineup for 3 to come out of hiding
John Deaux
August 1, 2017 @ 2:21 pm
I wanted to be there so bad but it was not to be, I kicked myself all weekend.
Next year if the lineup is like this one.
Corncaster
August 1, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
what percentage was original material?
Sam Hunt Sucks Balls
August 2, 2017 @ 9:24 am
Flew all the way out from California to be there and will do it again next year if the lineup is even close to as good as it was this year.
countrygothic
August 2, 2017 @ 10:39 am
How in the hell did this turn into a conversation about the way they look? FFS!
Wesley Gray
August 2, 2017 @ 4:23 pm
DAMN! Looks like it was a hell of a time! I figured it would be. Glad everyone who attended had a good time. Thanks for keeping us updated here and on instagram, Trigger. Wish I could have been at this event. No way in hell am i missing it next year.
KGD
August 5, 2017 @ 7:59 am
This sounds pretty great, but I have to say something. You’re always throwing asides out there about women not getting their due like the Courtney Patton stage and set time, but here are a few things I just searched for and didn’t find on SCM.
A review of Elizabeth Cook’s 2016 release, Exodus of Venus. It was a slight departure for her, but it was every bit as country as Sailors and, like Sturgill, with her voice and twang when she opens her mouth a country song comes out.
A review of Brandy Clark’s new song.
Much of anything about Shelby Lynne.
Just the most obvious examples to me.
Fuck Sam Hunt. Give some love to some artists doing work. Backwards and in heels. 🙂
I love the site, don’t get me wrong, thank for making me aware of Turnpike Troubadours for example, it’s just a pet peeve.
Trigger
August 5, 2017 @ 9:57 am
KGD,
Thanks for the feedback. I see similar concerns on the site often. But this seems a very very strange place to put this observation. To cover Tumbleweed, I had to travel 12 hours there, 12 hours back, arrived early, stayed late, went through great personal sacrifice with both time and money to cover a festival that is supporting independent artists, and then wrote this review to share my experiences. The idea that I’m not spending enough time on independent music and obsessing over Sam Hunt just is not taking in the bigger picture. My last Sam Hunt article probably took 90 minutes to write. Covering Tumbleweed was a 5 day commitment and hundreds of dollars outlayed. And ironically, more people read that Sam Hunt article.
As for covering women, I have no obligation to cover anyone. I am a one man operation and can’t cover every single release in the greater country music world. If I had written about the Elizabeth Cook album, I would say it was okay, and not very country. What benefit does that offer to Elizabeth, or my readers? I cover more music than anyone in country and roots. But it will never be enough. There will always be one artist that I didn’t have the time to cover despite incredible personal sacrifice I’ve endured to keep this site going, and even as similar sites fold left and right because there is no viable economic business model for them. And that one artist will be used to speak to the illegitimacy of this site, while overlooking the hundreds of artists I have featured.
I do the best I can.
KGD
August 5, 2017 @ 2:39 pm
Yeah, sorry that came out way wrong. Thanks for the thorough response. And the site.