Story and photos by Matt Wickstrom
After a week of sweltering heat finally gave way to cooler temperatures I was more than ready to venture out for some live music this weekend. Intriguing shows happening so near to my home in Madison County in Berea and bordering Estill County made the slight cool down — no matter how brief — made it all the better.
The first came on Friday with the relatively short drive out to Cliff to Creek Camping Resort outside Irvine for HollerGirl Music Festival. The trip, particularly the right turn off Irvine Rd onto 89 past the fairgrounds, reminded me so much of the pilgrimage I made to Kickin It On The Creek from 2017-19 and the countless memories made there. While the gathering wasn’t hosted on the Roberts’ family property, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of the magic from it at the hillside escape owned by Chris Rader as I rolled in mid-afternoon.
The Prestonsburg-based singer and owner of Oasis Farms went from pickin’ around the fire at HollerGirl during its first couple iterations at Rockcastle Riverside to making her on-stage debut as a solo act there last year before a full band performance this year. Friday’s performance was yet another glimpse into her continued evolution and growth as she sprinkled in original compositions with covers of songs like The Red Clay Strays “Wanna Be Loved” and Highwaymen’s “Highwayman.”
Other standouts included a return to HollerGirl from Illinois born singer and third place finisher on season 20 of American Idol, Leah Marlene — who wowed with a stripped down, up-tempo cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” — as well as the vocal tour de force that is Them Lasses. The latter featured a magnificent cover of Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson’s “Queen Bee” paired with lighthearted originals like “Old Dog” and “Fire & Song” that solidified the Winchester-based trio’s place as an act to watch.
But my biggest surprise of the day came with the festival debut of Louisville-based Katie D. & The Bluegills. Those plugged into the Kentucky music scene will recognize the project’s namesake, Katie Didit, as the bass player for Mama Said String Band, which many of this side project’s jazz-grass influence stems from alongside the addition of drums, keys and horns. However, the group also puts their own spin on things with a touch of doo wop harmonies and poppy elements on everything from transformed covers of Mama Said songs like “Boxwine” to originals like “Fish In The Sea” and “Songbirds & Snakes” and even an unexpected cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” that brought the crowd to their feet as it rang through the holler.
Levitt Amp Berea
Following Richmond-based singer Eric Bolander opening the show solo with poignant performances of “Strawberry Moon,” “Old Tattoo” and “One More Ride” — the final a song dedicated to his daughter Ava, who was running around the park as he sang it — the Ox-Eyed Daisies took to the stage.
The Lexington-based group led by Berea native Liz Frazier quickly captivated the crowd with its Tedeschi Trucks and Magnolia Boulevard-esque blend of southern rock & blues on tunes like “Sweet Inspiration” and “My Friend.” The set was also cover-heavy, with the quartet also putting their own spin on classics like Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Home With You,” The Wood Brothers’ “Pilgrim”, Black Sabbath’s “Changes” (Rest In Peace Ozzy), Neil Young’s “Down By The River,” and Chris Stapleton’s “I’m A Ram.” With new music on the way from the foursome, they’re without a doubt a group to keep on your radar.
Now, onto this week’s music…
Live Menu Aug. 4-10
When: Aug. 7-9
Where: Nashville, In.
Online: PickinInTheBackwoods.com
Even though the second annual Pickin’ In The Backwoods music festival is taking place up north in the Hoosier State, the strong Kentucky contingent on its lineup made it worth mentioning here.
Set to perform are everyone from The Local Honeys to Bill Taylor, Candi Jenkins, Eric Bolander, Moonlight Mile, Lance Rogers and Emily Jamerson — the latter making her full band debut — over the gathering’s three days. Other notable names on site are Nolan Taylor, The Deslondes, Low Water Bridge Band, Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, Hannah Juanita & Mose Wilson, India Ramey, and Abe Partridge.
Nat Myers, Abby Hamilton
When: Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Burl — 375 Thompson Rd, Lexington
Online: TheBurlKy.com
After missing his returns to the stage at the Master Musicians Festival and FloydFest last month, my enthusiasm to see Nat Myers perform this Friday at The Burl is over the moon. Since February the Northern Kentucky bluesman has been battling stage IV sarcoma that has derailed the career and life for one of the state’s most unique voices, creative personalities and one of my best friends (which I elaborated on more here).
Also sharing the stage with Myers at The Burl will be another of my favorite local voices — Abby Hamilton. After missing her last weekend at HollerGirl I can’t wait to hear favorites like “Whatever Helps You Sleep” and “Displacer” along with (potentially) some of the new stuff she’s been cryptically teasing on her socials the last couple weeks.
Low Water Bridge Band, Tony Logue, Laid Back Country Picker, Cody Lee Meece
When: Aug. 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. (CT)
Where: The Grove — 702 Happy Valley Rd, Glasgow
Online: TheGroveGlasgow.com
The Grove in Glasgow will be the place to be this weekend with two epic shows taking place, the first of which will feature Virginia’s Low Water Bridge Band — who just released the fantastic album Honky Tonk Process on Aug. 1 — and West Kentucky country rocker Tony Logue, who himself is only a couple months removed from dropping his well-received project Dark Horse.
Then on Saturday a rock n’roll rager will consume the secluded forest venue when Laid Back Country Picker and Cody Lee Meece & The Poor Excuses — fresh off an appearance last week at Sturgis Bike Week in South Dakota — come together for what’s sure to be an epic show full of fiery solos and electrifying bangers all night long.
Hops & Vine Festival
When: Aug. 9 at 2 p.m.
Where: Apollo Pizza/The Quarter — 228 S Second St, Richmond
Online: Facebook.com
Earlier this year Apollo Pizza and Blue Stallion Brewing Company’s shared space in downtown Richmond known as The Quarter began taking shape, and this weekend it’ll host what’s poised to be its biggest celebration yet with the Hops & Vine Festival.
The free-to-attend event will kick off at 2 p.m. on Saturday with music from Stanton, Ky.’s Chelsea Nolan, who earlier this year teased new music during an episode of Wick’s Picks on The Hound — which you can likely expect more of this weekend.
Another Central Kentucky favorite that’s been slowly dropping new music throughout 2025, Magnolia Boulevard, will also play as an acoustic trio with lead singer Maggie Noëlle, guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Allen, and bassist Roddy Puckett — offering up a rare chance to see the rock band stripped back to bare bones arrangements in the process.
They’ll be joined later by Rhythm Phoenix at 3:30 and Arlo McKinley at 8 p.m.
Charlie Overman, Otto Helmuth & The Harvestmen
When: Aug. 9 at 9 p.m.
Where: The Green Lantern — 497 W Third St, Lexington
Online: Eventbrite.com
As part of my review of May’s Sleeping In The Woods songwriter festival I wrote about my fascination for up-and-coming singer-songwriter Charlie Overman due to his laid back demeanor and combination of funny and serious lyrics that conjure up visions of John Prine.
On Saturday Overman will celebrate the vinyl release of last year’s self-titled debut collection of songs with a bash at The Green Lantern that also features music from Otto Helmuth & The Harvestmen. Given the above, it’s sure to be a memorable show in arguably Lexington’s most underground music room, which just celebrated 19 years in business last weekend.
