Music
Eric Gales
We are so honored and excited that the one and only Eric Gales @ericgalesband will be joining us on May 18 to headline this year’s festival!
Eric made his debut as a 16-year-old child prodigy with Elektra Records in 1990, and since that time he’s gone on to break new ground on the guitar and has earned a reputation far and wide as the world’s leading progressive blues and rock guitarist. “If you know, then you already know,” and are as excited as we are.. if not.. then get ready to be blown away by a truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime talent!
The Jerry Douglas Band
This Country Music Hall of Fame member and 15-time Grammy Winner has been an integral part of the progressive acoustic music scene since he first started playing professionally in the 1970’s. His work with artists like Tony Rice, Bela Fleck and Alison Krauss laid the foundation for an entire genre of artists that have grown up in their wake. Douglas is to the resonator guitar (the dobro) what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric guitar: completely changing the way the instrument is approached and setting a new standard for all modern young players to follow. The New York Times aptly described him as “dobro’s matchless contemporary master,” and his list of GRAMMY, CMA, AMA and IBMA awards, along with credits on over 1,600 records from artists as diverse as Paul Simon, Mumford & Sons, Dolly Parton, James Taylor, and Elvis Costello are a testament to this fact. As a composer, instrumentalist, improviser and producer, Jerry Douglas has honored his predecessors while blazing a new path that continues today and finds him everywhere at once, from jamming with groups like Phish and TTB to producing the BBC’s Transatlantic Sessions and serving as performing artist in residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jerry’s career in music is unprecedented and still evolving.. who knows where his journey will take him next, but on May 18, he’s bringing his unique brand of genius to us at Riverwalk Amphitheater.
West love
Malcolm-Jamal Warner booked @redblufffest during the writer’s strike, with the contingency that he might not be able to join us once the strike was over, and alas that is what happened, but he sends his deep regrets and wants to come back next year! In his absence, we have turned lemons into lemonade with a special appearance by the one and only Princess of Southern Soul: West Love!!
Southern Soul is a genre of modern music indigenous to central Alabama and made popular by artists like Montgomery’s own Clarence Carter and now megastars like King George who are crossing over into all genres of pop music. The Princess of Southern Soul herself West Love is one of these exciting modern artists, and at a time when there’s a dearth of female vocalists at the top of the Southern Soul genre, West Love has filled some of that vacuum, reinforcing her recordings with an ebullient stage presence and touring, where she frequently headlines. She is a dynamo and an endearingly open book. She’s all gospel—just flipped to the secular—an awesome technician, expressive beyond the norm. You know in the first few bars she can do anything with her voice. And you believe that not only can she do it; she’s not afraid to do it. Her good-natured, soulful and bluesy old-school brand of Southern Soul is refreshing and fun and will be a great way to kick off our Saturday night lineup on May 18!
The Happy Ghosts
The Happy Ghosts featuring @ccsunchild CC Sunchild, @juliedexter Julie Dexter, @kebbiwilliams Kebbi Williams & @devongatesmusic Devon Gates on Saturday May 18!🥳
These stalwarts of the Atlanta art-music scene are bringing their very special quartet to Red Bluff Festival to deliver a unique blend of sounds both ancient and modern.. and quite possibly from the future somewhere in outer space! Their respective resumes feature collaborations with a who’s who of modern creative music, and they produce a sound like no other when they combine forces.🎶👽
Taylor Hollingsworth
Birmingham legend Taylor Hollingsworth’s songwriting and performance style is raw, heartfelt and truly unique.. and can go from raucous to bittersweet in the blink of an eye. From a solo career spanning over 2 decades with over a dozen albums to collaborations with artists like Conner Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor has become one of our area’s most vital artists who is worthy of your time and attention. His music is equally inspired by blues, rock, folk and punk, and his songs are heartfelt and tinged with humor and a healthy dose of humility. Hollingsworth’s take on what it means to be a modern Southern folk artist is refreshing and inspiring. Taylor is also a visual artist, and his paintings are every bit as raw and funky as his music. Visit our festival artist gallery to see some of his work on display as well as enjoying a great show!🥳🎶🎨
Kirk Jay
A country singer with a soulful bent, Kirk Jay first made an impression in 2018 as a contestant on NBC's televised musical competition The Voice. Jay placed third on the 15th season of the show, but that was enough to propel him out of the bar circuit he played in his home state of Alabama. Born in the small Alabama town of Bay Minette on July 1, 1996, Kirk Jay grew up poor, finding solace in music. As a child, he sang in the choir and learned how to play drums, but he didn't go professional until he entered his late teens. Around 2015, he started to gain headway through open mic performances. Eventually, he assembled a backing band called Kuntry Funk. In 2018, he was cast on the 15th season of The Voice, where he became part of Blake Shelton's team. Jay lasted until the season finale, placing third overall. Long before Kirk Jay found national stardom on The Voice, his soulful vocals and hybrid style of R&B and classic country music made him a local sensation with a reputation for jaw-dropping heartfelt performances. Kirk recently signed with Alabama native Young Bleu and his Moon Boy University label and has released some impressive recordings making their way up the charts.
The Talismen
The Talismen formed in 2015 in Montgomery, Alabama, during the band members’ high school years. Over the past eight years, the band has evolved and progressed as a highly creative, powerful force; entertaining audiences across the country. With a combination of energy and sophistication beyond their years, The Talismen approach each performance as a totally unique experience featuring an expansive catalog of soulful, funk-filled originals, along with a constantly evolving rotation of covers.
The Talismen released their debut album, Jar Full of Something, in February 2019. The album has since totaled over one million streams via Spotify. In March of 2020, the band released a four-song EP, Extra Vehicular Activity, which was recorded and produced by Kevin Scott (Gov’t Mule / Jimmy Herring). They have since released two live albums (Live From The Bunker, Live From Saturn), as well as a series of singles.
