Nat Myers Makes Triumphant Return At Master Musicians Festival
By Matt Wickstrom
Nearly five months to the day from when he had to cancel tour dates for the foreseeable future to focus on battling a sarcoma diagnosis, Northern Kentucky bluesman Nat Myers returned to the stage last Saturday for a joyous and emotional performance to close out the 32nd annual Master Musicians Festival (MMF) in Somerset.
While I wasn’t able to witness his triumphant return in person, photos and videos posted online have placed me there in spirit. The moment was a full circle one, not just in relation to his cancer battle but also to our friendship and the connections that have come from it, which includes me introducing him to MMF Executive Director Tiffany Finley during Americanafest in Nashville a couple years ago. That eventually led to his debut at the festival in 2023 and now, his first show back in the saddle since his life was turned upside down.
I first heard Myers during an appearance on Lexington based Red Barn Radio in early 2022 and finally met him a few months later in North Carolina of all places during my maiden voyage to Merlefest. While covering the event for The Boot we linked up with and spent most of the weekend hanging out together during what was also his first time at the Wilkesboro based gathering.
Since then he’s been one of my closest friends in the Kentucky music scene and someone I’ve interviewed on multiple occasions, whether it’s to dig in to his debut album Yellow Peril or to discuss what it means to be a musician from Kentucky. I even highlighted him as a Kentucky musician to watch in 2023 and was lucky enough to attend his Grand Ole Opry debut in August of that year.
“When I walked out, I was just telling myself that this is the biggest dive bar I’ve ever played in,” Myers said at the time. “I love a lot of the musicians that have come through the Opry, but I never thought I’d be on their radar to play here too. It was a reassuring reminder that I belong here and am on the right track”.
During all these exchanges what I’ve come to love most about Myers, even more than his music, is how genuine he is both on the stage and off. What you see if what you get with Myers — a genuine, down to Earth old soul that feels like he time traveled from the 1920s to now to bring us country blues music in its rawest form. That artistry has led to countless tours around the globe along with opening slots for big names like Charley Crockett, Willie Watson, Shakey Graves, Langhorne Slim, Willi Carlisle, JJ Grey & Mofro, G. Love & Special Sauce and Vincent Neil Emerson.
In fact, when news of his sarcoma diagnosis broke many of those artists quickly came to Myers’ side for support. The most notable was Crockett, who on April 25 announced a sweepstakes where fans could enter for a chance to win the Texas based singer’s signed 1984 Cadillac, with all proceeds benefiting Myers medical treatment.
That’s in conjunction with a GoFundMe launched my Myers’ partner that currently sits at nearly $190,000 raised as bills for chemotherapy and other medicine continue to climb. On July 11 he shared an update on where treatment stands as he looks for second opinions following months being cared for at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus (see below).
As Myers continues to fight for his life in the months ahead, he’ll also be making a few more public appearances to serenade us with his songs. Next up will be at the Virginia-based celebration FloydFest on July 25 followed by a return to The Burl on Aug. 8.
I implore y’all to go check him out and to lend your support in any other way you can. Nat is a cherished member of our music community and someone I hope to see performing and living his best life for years to come.
