Love Merle Haggard? Then Don’t Miss Hagfest!
On April 6th, Hagfest returns to the Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY
Much more than a tribute show, Hagfest celebrates the music and lasting legacy of the great Merle Haggard, his contemporaries, and his own heroes whom he was readily known to pay tribute to himself.
The lineup is curated by Cincinnati musician and songwriter, Joe Macheret (of Joe’s Truck Stop and The Tillers) to include some of the best Country, Honky Tonk, Western Swing, and Bluegrass inspired songwriters and musicians currently out working. The lineup includes legends like Otis Williams (of Cincinnati’s King Records fame) and Bill Kirchen (the Titan of the Telecaster), up and comers Jaime Wyatt and Josh Morningstar, and a slew of regional and local talent!
The festival has grown each year, and we’re hoping that continues. It’s creating a community of like minded folks who acknowledge something unifying and special in the music we all love, and that includes both the audience members and the musicians. Working with a community-first mindset, we donate most of our ticket proceeds to the Appalachian Prison Book Project, a cause we believe Merle Haggard would be proud of.
If you’re not familiar with Otis Williams and the Midnight Cowboys, I highly recommend you get on youtube and check out the record. Otis recorded the album in 1971 with Nashville stalwarts Pete Drake, Scotty Moore, and D.J. Fontana, plus members of Otis’ own Funk/Soul backing band, The Endeavors. Unfortunately, digital audio of the whole record is inaccessible, but we’re hoping to gain some attention to this long forgotten project and find a way to make it readily available to the public.
Hagfest will include nineteen acts on three stages! Although the bands and performers will most likely play their favorite Hag hit or deep cut, we want to celebrate the originality of the great songwriters on this lineup. Just the same way Merle Haggard was celebrated for writing so many of his own songs and paving a path for original songwriters inspired by Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Country and Dixie Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz, Old Time, and so on…
Food by Eli’s BBQ
All ages
Tickets: $20 in advance/$25 at the door
Doors at 5, show at 6
