WRAPPING UP: BIG BARREL 2015

Delaware did their country fans right with the Big Barrel Country Festival. They sure didn't play games, bringing in some of country's biggest artists, both new and legendary names. Fans brought their families to enjoy a weekend, although wet and rainy, of great music and good times and the staff at Big Barrel certainly didn't disappoint. Sadly, due to the bad weather, we weren't able to be there all days but the 2 days that we were on site, we sure got the most of and had a great time. The only thing that was noticably a little on the negative side was the overlapping in schedules with Lyrnrd Skynrd and Jana Kramer, Kasey Musgraves and Merle Haggard and Eric Paslay and Loretta Lynn. There was also an awkward 30 minute gap between Chris Young and Blake Shelton. You could tell a noticeable difference in crowds at each of the above sets and an obvious "bleed" of fans leaving one stage to go to the other in hopes of catching at least a portion of each set. I did notice some other complaints on their Facebook page from fans about meet and greet photos taking too long to post and merchandise running out somewhat early. All in all, despite the usual setbacks, one of the most noticable awesome things about the festival was that the music wasn't all one style, it was a great mix of classic country, Texas country and today's country. There was definitely something for everyone! Thank you to the folks at Big Barrel for a great weekend and for giving us great music. The approximately 30,000 rowdy and ready fans who showed up thank you and can't wait til next year!

On Friday, June 24, highlights included:

Blake Shelton who definitely brought the attitude (and probably the whiskey).
Lynyrd Skynrd rocked with southern flavor and southern pride.
Chris Young brought the dark and mysterious, and to the women in the crowd, the sexy.
Jana Kramer brought the beauty.
Cassadee Pope brought the voice and the flair as only Cassadee knows how.
Joel Crouse brought the pop flavor and showed off a new look (aka nearly Lenny Kravitz).
Wade Bowen did it Texas style and did it perfectly.
Sturgill Simpson definitely showed why "try" belongs in country.


On Saturday, June 25: 

Word on the street is that ...

Miranda Lambert lit up the night like kerosene, gunpowder and lead.
Loretta Lynn made sure you were looking at and listening to country tradition.
Sam Lewis brought his own deep rooted soul.
Logan Mize brought the good time (it follows him around wherever he goes.)
Chris Stapleton made you remember why music is such a powerful thing.
Jon Pardi brought the party as he always does.
Eric Paslay may sing that she don't love you but that doesn't matter because the crowd loved him.
Gary Allan proved that every storm runs out of rain (and literally, it did!).

And wrapping the festival up on Sunday. June 26: 

Carrie Underwood broke out a megamix party side with a mashup including her take on Wiz Kalifa.
Merle Haggard showed us that classic country still matters, is still important and that it's still wanted.
The Oak Ridge Boys, the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame brought their legendary four part harmonies and tore the roof off with "Elvira".
Jake Owen showed us what "Real Life" is all about.
Kacey Musgraves may have been showcased last week in an article about "resting bitch face" but she proved that resting bitch face just means she knows she can't musically kick your ass.
Charlie Worsham ... Charlie left everything he had on that stage.
The Del McCoury Band brought a little bit of the Opry to the Barrel.
Michael Ray didn't wait until the morning, he kissed everyone right smack in the face with his sound.