Concert Review, Fairwell Festival, Redmond, O.R.!

Fairwell Festival what can I say but WOW!!

When Fairwell Festival first got on my radar it was 100% about the music. Such a stacked lineup but looking back on the weekend it was so much more than the music. 

The high desert of Redmond, OR truly is the perfect setting for an event like this. With mountain views and hours outside of the hustle of the city it became so easy to detach from the world and just be in the moment and just let the music take you places.

My review of Fairwell Festival really starts even before the first band hit the stage. I have been going to festivals now for almost 30 years and there are so many little things I appreciated. The communication was amazing letting us know little things like when the campgrounds were opening and when it was going to be busiest. To having the box office, open the night before. These little things often get overlooked but it was not something lost on me as I truly believe the preparation is half of what makes this festival so successful. Arriving early on day one expecting frustrating slow lines I was shocked at how smoothly getting into the venue was. There really was no rush I think this was part due to a decision made the night before to open the doors an hour early which I think was a brilliant move. I used that extra hour to wander the grounds and get my bearings figure out where all the stages were and important things like bathrooms and concessions and had my first chance to chat with some of my fellow music fans. This was the first time I realized how truly large this event was with fans traveling from Idaho, California, Washington and all parts of Oregon and I am quite sure some were traveling from even farther away.

So, one of the top-of-mind things I wanted to determine was it worth springing the extra money for VIP or was General Admission the better value. To my surprise the answer really was not clear and its one of the things I loved. Farewell offered so many different ways to experience the festival. With a total of 3 stages, you had options. You could be hardcore get in early, get to the rail and just mark your spot the whole day. And there were some hardcore fans that I saw at the rail for every set at the mainstage. I thought it was amazing that even standard GA had front row access. Way too many concerts these days trying to bleed fans' wallets dry just to get a good view, it was nice to see that was not the case here. VIP did offer some advantages for most of the day. It was far less crowded with access to air conditioned restrooms and other areas to escape the heat. I really did spend most of the weekend thinking that VIP was the route to go. However, when I got home and was combing through all my photos it’s when I realized how much more fun the GA crowd was at nearly every stage. The GA crowd was the heart and energy that made this so fun. But your choices didn’t just end with deciding GA vs VIP because there were so many other ways to enjoy the show. If having a good view was not the most important thing there were multiple cooling stations and tents where you could still enjoy the music, or you could sit around the pond and relax, go lay down in the shade and just enjoy the summer air. Truly an endless number of options and you could hear the music from pretty much any stage. 

The Fairwell staff kept the water flowing and every stage staff was passing out free water to the crowd along with the many free refilling stations that never seemed to have a line. It was truly refreshing. Speaking of lines with very few expectations during the weekend, lines never seemed to be an issue. There were ample restrooms scattered all over the grounds. You really never had to wait, nor did you ever have to look far to find one. Concession lines were very reasonable most of the weekend. For a music festival I felt prices were reasonable and the options were amazing. They went so much further than the typical fried festival food offering everything from your typical burgers and fries to lobster rolls and even offering vegan options.

The day one music offered such a great selection of music with rising up and comers like Gabriella Rose to legends like Dwight Yoakam and really every flavor of country music in between. I can honestly say I do not think I heard a bad set of music the whole weekend. I walked away with some new discoveries and had a few bands that I liked completely blow me away and make it on to that list of bands that I will not miss live anytime they are in town.

I was kind of shocked when I got home and realized I saw 20 bands over the weekend and none of them I had seen previously.

My day 1 started at the main stage with Gabriella Rose who was one of the handful of acts I was not familiar with prior to this weekend. But someone one I will keep an eye on. She really had a lot of that old soul trying to make it in a modern world vibe

Next up was another young up and comer in Noah Rinker. I honestly do not think Noah will be playing side stages much longer. I highly recommend checking him out now while you can still see him on some of the smaller stages before he blows up. His style of country really fits those intimate smaller stages. So raw so much heart.

Brent Cobb was the next stop of my day. I was super excited for this set as Cobb has been on the list of artists I have wanted to see for years and just never had the chance. After years of writing hits for some of the biggest names in country music Brent is now blazing a path with his own voice and man it was great. Bringing that rowdy honky tonk vibe to the stage. Cobb is already on my list of shows to see when he comes back to Portland this Fall. One time just was not enough. It’s really the biggest down side to festivals like this with the shorter sets and the hustle to try to make it to each one of the stages it always leaves you wanting a little bit more. Brent’s set was one I lingered around that stage as long as possible to make sure I heard “Bar guitar and a honky tonk crowd”.

Next up was another one of the bands that I had bullet pointed as a set I could not miss Flatland Cavalry and man did they deliver. With this just being a short festival set I really was not expecting them to have such a detailed stage set up. The music was on point; they hit the stage with such great energy, and it didn't stop for the whole set. This is a band I can’t wait to see again. 

Next up was Wyatt Flores. Wyatt has a great story with Fairwell Fest. Just a few years ago Wyatt played Fairwell Fest in 2023 in one of his first major festivals playing on one of the smaller stages. Fast forward to this year and he was on the main stage with a huge crowd, and he had the full backing of the Fairwell Crowd. Singing along from pretty much the first song of his set. It really was a cool moment and really had me thinking about who in this year's lineup is going to be the next Wyatt, who is going to come back in a couple years and go from being one of the up and comers on the small stage to being one of the major drawing acts on the main stage.

After Wyatt I headed over to one of the side stages to check out Ole 60. Ole 60 is a band I discovered this year. Typically, I am not a fan of Facebook suggesting music to me, but I will say the algorithm hit it out of the park with this suggestion. As they advertise themselves “this is not your daddy's country band” and it is so true. They were absolutely rocking and really showed off how varied their influences are with a couple unexpected covers including an Alice in Chains cover that I didn't know I needed in my life, but it just hit. Ole 60 is what country rock should be. They bring the story teller vibes that you expect from a good country band, but they give you a welcomed punch in the mouth with some straight rock. Ole 60 is a band I could probably see every week and never get tired of. Just a great show.

After Ole 60 I headed to the main stage for my first real break in the day. I headed to the VIP section and just took a seat and just took in an absolute master class put on by Dwight Yokum. Dwight is an absolute living legend still moving like a man half his age. So much energy and his voice is still as strong as ever. Getting to experience this was truly a bucket list moment for me. 

Cody Jinks was up next. The crowd for one of the side stages was huge making this one of the rare times all day it was really hard to navigate the grounds, but it was well worth it. I have been a huge Jinks fan for years. I cannot even begin to even count the number of times I was ready to fly to a different part of the country only to have to back out last minute because life happens. Cody is a modern day country outlaw who does things his way. It's so refreshing to see a truly independent artist get this much support from the crowd and every bit of it was well deserved. Just a truly amazing performance, bringing the energy and heart to Fairwell. I could have ended day 1 after this set and went home a very happy man. But we still had one more set.

Night 1’s mainstage headliner was Tyler Childers. After the Cody Jinks set, I really didn't think anything could top it. But Tyler and mother nature had some tricks up their sleeves. Tyler opened the set alone on the stage as the sun began to set with a stripped down truly raw opening with Lady may and just setting the stage for an epic closing of night one. But mother nature decided she couldn't be upstaged and blessed us with the most amazing sunset as Tyler brought out the rest of the band and played us into the night. This sunset with Tyler providing the most heartfelt soundtrack words or photos will never do it justice. Ask anyone who was there, and I think they would all say it was a moment you just had to be there to fully appreciate. 

Day 2

Day 2 was a blur. I don't know how or why but the day just flew by. It really was a blink and its over type of day.

I started the day back at the main stage nursing a serious sun burn and realizing that mistakes were made day 1 and I was going to pay dearly for skipping the sun screen day 1.The first band to the main stage was another one of the few bands I had never heard of going into the weekend. A little blue grass band called Mountain Grass Unit. It was a very chill relaxing way to get started with the day.

Next up was one of my biggest and most pleasantly surprising acts. Lily Fitts. Going into the weekend Lily was not on my radar. She was not someone I had heard before, but I caught a couple of her songs on the Fairwell Fest Spotify play list and I was intrigued enough to skip my planned break and check her set. I can say it was one of the best decisions I made. I really think Lily could be one of the next big women in Country music. She has such a sweet voice but sassy lyrics that have a little bit to them. She is so versatile I can see her crossing over back and forth between that indie folk singer song writer style playing more simplified strip down sets. But at the same time, she has start potential that could easily cross over not just to mainstream country but if she did a pop collab I wouldn't be shocked, and I would totally be there for it. Day 2 started off with a lot of young up and comers, but I put Lily near the top of the list. Give this gal just a touch of exposure and she could easily blow up and be the next Ella Langley or Lainey Wilson. The style of country is not exactly the same, but the talent and potential are there.

I was back to the mainstage for Colby Acuff. This was another artist I came into the weekend not being super familiar with but walked away a major fan. Colby is a truly gifted story teller. I think the best way to describe Colby is authentic. I sadly missed seeing it live but I was able to catch the video highlight of Colby singing John Denver with modern legends Charles Wesley Godwin and Robert Earl Keen and it really felt like the perfect collab. Multiple generations of legendary story tellers covering one of the best story tellers to ever do it.

My next stop was to one of the side stages for Bo Staloch. Man, Bo is just cool. He is another one of the artists that I think really have versatility to go some many different ways. Such a smooth and unique voice. Another one of the young story tellers reminding us that the genre is really in good hands. However, if Bo decided he wanted to put out a more folky indie record sitting on the beach in California it would be every bit as believable as a country folk album. He is truly a gifted versatile artist. I have no doubt he is going to make his mark on the business. Earlier in the article I made mention of who was going to be the next Wyatt Flores, the guy playing a small stage now but who will be on the mainstage in a couple years. I really think Bo is the guy and I think it could happen sooner rather than later. But the biggest thing I took away from Bo’s set is how happy and grateful he seemed to be just to be there. An absolute infectious smile it seems impossible to not have a smile on your face when you are in Bo’s company. 

Next up on the main stage was Robert Earl Keene. It sounds odd to be saying this about someone as accomplished and established as Robert Earl Keene, but this was a set that truly surprised me. I really feel like to truly appreciate Robert Earl Keene you have to see it in person. The man is just a legendary story teller. Surrounded by such a talented band he really just reels you in and has you just hanging on his every word. I really didn't expect to enjoy this set as much as I did. If it wasn’t for the fact, I had to hustle to get to the next stage I could totally see myself finding a nice shady place in the grass and just getting lost in his words.

Next stop was one of the most glaring outliers on this line up but what proved to be one of the most fun sets of the weekend.  The legendary Ludacris. The fun started even before Luda hit the stage with his DJ warming up the crowd and blasting some old school hits setting the mood. And then Luda hit the stage, and this country crowd went nuts. Second day of the festival drained from the mid-day heat this crowd did not care. Luda blasted through his impressive catalog digging deep for some old school jams and the whole set trying to test the crowd to see if everyone remembered his early hits or some of his collabs that he thought the crowd might have forgotten about. But the Fairwell crowd ate up every single beat. When I first saw his name, I really thought it was a strange addition to the line up but after feeling the crowd energy I realized it was perfect. It really got me pumped up and I caught my second wind ready to close this weekend out right.

Still amped from the Luda set, I headed to the main stage for Charles Wesley Godwin. This was another set I really wasn’t quite prepared for. I had heard his music before and was a fan. Another one of those extremely talented modern day story tellers. But what I was not ready for was the energy of his stage show. The whole band truly were entertaining showmen, and you really could feel that these guys enjoyed playing together. Charles is playing with Eric Church this fall as well as announcing a few Northwest Solo dates and I really need a second round. This had everything I wanted from a country set. Great musicians, great story telling and man that energy. 

Next up was Treaty Oak Revival.  I saw a lot of great sets all weekend. I was a Treaty Oak fan heading into the weekend, but this was the set I probably told every friend about. I have a very hard time calling Treaty Oak Revival a country band because this was about as rock n roll as you can get. Treaty Oak would be at home at any rock festival in the country and not a single person would bat an eye.  This was beer soaked, high energy guitar riffs from start to finish.  Whereas a lot of bands slowly transitioned into their sets saving most of the big hits for the middle and end of the set, not Treaty Oak they hit the stage on fire with “Have a Nice Day” and honestly didn’t slow down for the whole set. If Treaty Oak is coming to your town just buy the tickets and thank me later. 

Next up I made my final trek to the mainstage for Sierra Ferrell. Sierra is just magical her so much detail into her stage set up. She reminded me so much of a magical little ferry in her little mushroom garden. Sierra is just so cool with her old soul making it cool to appreciate the roots of country music. It was so easy to just get lost in the magic of her set. Her voice is truly magical. Sierra Ferrel is truly an experience.

My last set of the weekend was Koe Wetzel. This was probably the largest crowd for any of the side stages and Koe did not disappoint.  Just rolling through hit after hit. Killer energy. I found myself singing along and just getting lost. Knowing I was a photographer, and I had a job to do capturing as many moments of this set as I could, but I couldn't help but get lost and truly just be a fan rocking out singing along. I rocked out hard to Koe. There was one more act this weekend, but Koe was truly my headliner. This was the exclamation point on my weekend.

After Koe I was truly spent. Sturgill Simpson took the main stage to close out the weekend with over 2 hours of just nonstop music but instead of fighting through the masses to find a good place to see the set I found myself walking around the back half of the festival grounds stopping to sit on a bale of hay next to the Welcome to Fairwell Festival sign and just truly reflecting on such an epic weekend. Thinking about all the great bands I saw but also thinking about some of the sets I missed with legends like Marty Stuart and Tanya Tucker to up and comers like Kaitlyn Butts and Willow Avalon. As I dove back to my hotel still riding the high. Sore and sun burnt having walked over 20 miles in 2 days. I found myself trying to figure out the words to describe this weekend and I realized words will never do this weekend justice. I went in excited about an amazing line up and don’t get me wrong the music was mind blowing good but the thing that stood out the most was something I didn't expect. My biggest memory wasn’t just the music, it was the festival itself. It was the people, weather that be the staff and security who treated me so well all weekend. Or sharing stories with the other photographers. Talking to the fans who I often times would see over and over all weekend long. It truly was such a memorable experience and such a great experience. I already have it marked on my calendar. I can't wait for next year.