Three different stages showcased a stacked lineup as Medicine Stone 2019 did not disappoint.

Year seven of Medicine Stone, originally created in collaboration with Jason Boland and the Turnpike Troubadours, was missing a key contributor at Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, Oklahoma this past weekend. After announcing an “indefinite hiatus” in May, fears of an event cancellation surfaced but those behind-the-scenes took steps to ensure a continued, high-quality, weekend of music.

The legendary Robert Earl Keen was tabbed to fill a headlining position and although there was no set from the Troubadours, their presence was felt throughout the festival grounds. Appearances by members of the band, sitting in with others or leading their own projects were witnessed, in addition to covers by many who were there performing and Turnpike songs could often be heard between sets.

Following, in no particular order, are the 10 best things we experienced at this year’s Medicine Stone.

RC and the Ambers

Affectionately referred to as the godfather of Medicine Stone by Doc Fell during his set on Saturday, RC Edwards, bassist for the Turnpike Troubadours, and his project, RC and the Ambers, kicked off the main stage lineup Thursday night. Singing their own original songs, in addition to a few covers, locals got to witness the rise of some of their own as Edwards, Amber Watson and Jordan Cox took the stage alongside Kyle Nix, the Turnpike Troubadours fiddle player. Watson’s angelic voice paired with the gritty Edwards and a harmonic Cox, combine to create a unique and very well received sound.

Osage County

Rain greeted Osage County on the Gravel Bar stage Friday morning, but it didn’t slow anyone down. Fans piled into the area as Cox, who played with RC and the Ambers on day one, put his relatively new band on full display. Leading an entertaining and high-energy set, featuring hits ‘Like I Used To‘, ‘By and By‘, and ‘Wildfire‘ from their debut EP with a few new ones mixed in – it quickly became apparent this group is on a solid trajectory for success after forming just last summer.

Jacob Tovar

Jacob Tovar is the epitome of old-school country music with a resonant voice, honkytonk style and twist all his own. Just as the sun broke through on Friday afternoon, Tovar also began heating up. Joined by pedal steel phenomenon Roger Ray (who featured his talents throughout the weekend by sitting in with multiple artists), and musical genius John Fullbright on keys, his hour-long set spanned the full spectrum of pacing from slow, easy listening, to getting up for a dance and eventually a full-on party. Tovar left fans wanting more as he continues to grow his audience in Oklahoma and beyond.

Courtney Patton

Making her Medicine Stone debut, singer-songwriter Courtney Patton was flanked by fellow songstresses, Jamie Lin Wilson and Kaitlin Butts, all while being backed by Ray and his magical pedal steel guitar. While the harmonies and soulful steel were amazing, it was Patton’s voice and lyrics that carried her 90-minute set. Spectators were greeted with a wave of emotions as Patton dedicated a song to Kylie Rae Harris, a fellow musician who was recently killed in a car accident, just as a perfectly timed gust of wind removed Patton’s hat prior to the chorus. She also covered one of Harris’ songs before taking requests from the crowd, which included ‘Fourteen Years‘, a song about Patton’s own sister who tragically passed away while she was in college. One of the best sets all weekend, Patton made quite the impression on those in attendance.

Max and Heather Stalling

Down at the River Stage, just outside the main venue, Max Stalling was telling his own musical tales while sharing an enjoyable set of his own. Alongside his wife, Heather Stalling, the two share more than a musical connection as her fiddle playing and harmonies add flair to each and every song. Finishing his set with an enthusiastic version of ‘Bass Run‘, Stalling took the time to thank Medicine Stone – as he too was making a first appearance – in addition to everyone who works behind-the-scenes to orchestrate such a large scale event. Especially thankful for the sound engineers, who Stalling referred to as the, “first ones in and last ones out”, both Stalling’s undoubtedly gained many new fans with their performance.

Dixie Chicks Tribute

Fans began piling up in front of the River Stage well before showtime in anticipation of this very special set. Performed only once before, Heather Stalling, Butts, Patton and Wilson joined forces paying tribute to the 13-time Grammy Award-winning Dixie Chicks and their library of hits. After countless classics, this quartet – who were accompanied by a drum kit and upright bass, dialed up the Merle Haggard classic, ‘I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink‘ before paying tribute to the Turnpike Troubadours.

With the fans on their feet and crowding the stage, Butts belted the words to ‘Gin, Smoke and Lies‘ as enthusiastic fans sang along with her word-for-word while Wilson added harmonica before spiking it to the stage. Eventually, they returned to the task at hand with a Dixie Chicks finale as festival goers and fellow artists both looked on well aware they were witnessing a rare but beautiful experience.

Chris Blevins

Henryetta, Oklahoma native Chris Blevins is a rising star. Sharing his own personal songs about triumph and heartache, Blevins voice is a unique instrument in its own right. True performers are able to entertain acoustically or with a backing band and Blevins proved capable of the former with his Gravel Bar set. Granted only an hour on a jam packed lineup, Blevins shared his blended blues and folk styles before a haunting rendition of Jason Isbell’s ‘Cover Me Up‘.

Kaitlin Butts

If Carter Sampson, who was also part of the lineup – playing a wonderful set on Friday – is the ‘Queen of Oklahoma‘ then Kaitlin Butts is undoubtedly next in line to the throne. Popping up everywhere, Butts shared her talents and unique voice alongside multiple artists throughout the weekend. From singing with fiance’ and Flatland Cavalry front-man Cleto Cordero, Butts also joined Wade Bowen, American Aquarium, Courtney Patton and multiple others on top of her own Saturday afternoon set. One minute, Butts would be meandering through the crowd watching different performances only to be up on stage the next, enhancing someone else’s song. Her star is continually burning brighter and Medicine Stone 2019 served as a coming out party for this Oklahoma songstress.

Doc Fell and Company

Another artist making his Medicine Stone debut, Doc Fell and Co. drew one of the largest crowds to the Gravel Bar over the weekend. Sharing originals like ‘Peacemaker‘ and ‘Tears In Texas‘, Doc Fell and Co. also debuted some new material. ‘Boxes‘ especially has all the components to be another hit for the local Tahlequah general practicioner. Joined by Jordan Cox on accordian, who Fell described as the “swiss army knife of red dirt” and former Jason Boland and the Stragglers drummer, Brad Rice, the set delivered by Doc Fell and Co. capped with Amber Watson joining Fell on stage for his own version of ‘Beulah Land‘ – an upbeat take on the classic hymn with a personal twist.

William Clark Green

The lineup at Medicine Stone was stacked with legitimate talent and William Clark Green found himself sandwiched between North Carolina’s own American Aquarium and overall festival headliner, Jason Boland. A precarious position but Green answered the bell, dishing out arguably the most memorable main stage set of the entire festival. Before taking down Uncle Bekah in Beer Puppeteer and sitting below the Gravel Bar to enjoy Fullbright’s late-night set, Green was entertaining fans with his own rock-solid performance. Transitioning into an array of classics during a culminating performance of ‘She Likes the Beatles‘ and giving his bandmates an opportunity to shine in the spotlight, Green’s notable set was well worth the wait.

Overall, Medicine Stone proved capable of sustaining the absence from one of their pillars and should continue bringing people – who share a love for live, original music – from all across the country together well into the future.

Following are the 10 best things we witnessed during Medicine Stone 2018…

The sixth annual event created in collaboration with Jason Boland and the Turnpike Troubadours takes place annually at Diamondhead Resort on the banks of the Illinois River in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This year’s event brought an extremely talented lineup to entertain the thousands in attendance who travel not only from all of Oklahoma but also neighboring states and even halfway across the country – as we did. In no particular order, here are the 10 best things we experienced at our first-ever Medicine Stone event.

Camping

To get the full Medicine Stone experience attendees need to camp or stay at one of the on site bunkhouses. Offerings from areas only large enough for setting up a tent, to “glamping” upgrades and even RV spaces complete with full hookups, there is a variety of different options from which to choose. The camaraderie established between attendees in only a short period of time is fun to watch. Life-long friendships are created and strengthened, meals are shared, parties last into the wee hours of the morning and musical talent can easily be found outside of the festival lineup as many artists bring instruments to entertain campsites at all hours of the day and night.

Illinois River

The weather didn’t cooperate for patrons to take full advantage of the Illinois River but it also didn’t keep people from giving it their best shot. Day one provided the best opportunity as the sun beat down ahead of an impending rainfall forecast for Friday and those campers who were ready when the gates opened, completing set up before lunch crowded into the river ahead of BC and the Big Rig kicking things off at 3:00pm. Setting up lawn chairs and just enjoying the fellowship of other concert goers, pack a bathing suit because regardless of what Mother Nature had to offer, the river still beckoned those who wished to float or relax as people made their way down to the water every day.

Yellow House Revisited

Some of the greatest musicians to come out of Oklahoma have ties to the Yellow House in Stillwater, following the dissolution of The Farm – including Mike McClure, Cody Canada, and Jason Boland. These three reunite on occasion and when they do it provides for a must see experience. All talented and entertaining in their own right, when the three share a stage the stories, lyrics, and music are endless.

Crowded into Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse (one of two side stages), which Boland shared was the namesake of a family friend and subject of his song by the same name on the Rancho Alto album, patrons were treated to a song swap before the grand finale – Carney Man.

The crowd asked and Canada reluctantly obliged after stating he was saving the song for his own set later in the evening. The first track on the very first Cross Canadian Ragweed record, Canada retired the song from his repertoire for many years before recently bringing it back. A crowd favorite, although Canada teased they were “easily entertained”, hearing it live with McClure was epic.

Reckless Kelly

Scheduled to perform on the main stage Friday evening, Reckless Kelly had their set moved into Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse which lead singer Willy Braun affectionately nicknamed, “The Cheeseburger Tent”. Turning a negative into a positive, the tight confines allowed for an intimate set with one of the best in the business and Reckless Kelly didn’t disappoint.

Ending their set with a tribute to Prince and inspired by the continuous downpour outside, Purple Rain ignited the crowd and helped everyone to forget about the dismal weather conditions. Admitting they hadn’t played that song in quite some time, the band showed no signs of rust as it was one of the highlights of the entire festival.

Jamie Lin Wilson

In her first performance since giving birth to her fourth child, a baby boy, Jamie Lin Wilson greeted fans with a toast. “Here’s to the first show since last Christmas without a baby in my belly – cheers.” Set to release her new album, Jumping Over Rocks, in late October, Wilson wowed the crowd by triumphantly owning the stage back from her maternity leave.

The Medicine Stone debut of Oklahoma Stars, a single from her new record written by Wilson and Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadours (who previously released the song), took on an entirely different feel at the place of its inception. Hearing her sing, “on the banks in late September” brightened an otherwise dreary day as Wilson shone like the sun throughout her entire set.

John Fullbright

In the first three minutes of John Fullbright‘s early afternoon set inside Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse he captivated the audience grabbing everyone’s attention with dynamic guitar skills which were surprisingly overmatched by his ability to control the harmonica.

Fullbright not only entertained with exceptional talent but also shared some jokes, displaying a vibrant personality while on stage. His Satan and St. Paul, in addition to Fat Man, which displayed his ability on the keys, ended with an accentuated foot to the keyboard. A rousing set of songs touching on a number of emotions, Fullbright is not to be missed.

Turnpike Troubadours

The originally scheduled finale for night two, the Turnpike Troubadours returned after a brief hiatus of touring to “open” for Jason Boland and the Stragglers on night three. Another first in Medicine Stone history, both Turnpike and Boland performed on the same night.

Turnpike picked up right where they left off showing no signs of what has been a noticeable break, entertaining the crowd for what felt like a homecoming performance as many of the current members hail from Tahlequah and the surrounding area.

Uncle Bekah’s Inappropriate Trucker Hats

No matter where you found yourself on the grounds of Diamondhead Resort you didn’t have to look far to find an inappropriate trucker hat created by Uncle Bekah. One patron told her she had the best vendor booth on site and two doors down they were passing out free shots of whiskey – he wasn’t wrong.

Hats available in a range of colors, Bekah has taken her concept and organically grown it into a modern day phenomenon deeply rooted in the music scene. There’s already an option for seemingly every occasion but should you find yourself in need of something new, one can be created in seconds.

Rain

Medicine Stone 2018 brought the rain – literally. A brief shower early Friday morning gave way to more steady rainfall as the day progressed. By mid-morning clouds covered Diamondhead Resort and a rain never before seen in festival history ensued.

As the main stage flooded, every performance was relocated to Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse, the only covered venue on site. A tent city was erected out onto festival grounds as patrons attempted to get as close to the action as possible.

The performers, fans, and especially those responsible behind the scenes handling equipment and changing out stage setups for each act, all deserve a round of applause for making the best out of a difficult situation.

Collaborations

Often the highlight of a festival atmosphere when so many talented individuals are gathered at the same location, the collaborations witnessed over the course of the event were amazing. Beginning on night one with Koe Wetzel joining Wade Bowen after his own set and extending to both the Turnpike Troubadours with Jason Boland and the Stragglers sharing the stage on night three, many once in a lifetime moments were witnessed.

Kaitlin Butts joined Flatland Cavalry for their hit song, A Life Where We Work Out, Jamie Lin Wilson sang alongside Wade Bowen and Cody Canada, who joined Reckless Kelly for a monumental performance of the song performed by both, Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah.

Cody Braun played alongside seemingly everyone on Friday, on stage with Jamie Lin Wilson, his own Reckless Kelly, Cody Canada, and Charley Crockett. Fullbright also joined The Red Dirt Rangers and Austin Meade for a few songs.

Jason Boland sang without a guitar, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets alongside The Departed, jokingly stating that he didn’t know what to do with them.

Overall, Medicine Stone was an amazing festival full of quality music, people, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Preview every main stage artist set to perform on Day 3 (Saturday) of Medicine Stone…

Medicine Stone is just two days away, kicking off at Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Thursday, September 20. Now in its sixth year of existence, the festival continues to grow and attract fans from all over the country to the home of red dirt music.

The music begins at 11:30am on Saturday with the main stage lineup set for a 5:25pm start, featuring each of the following:

Red Dirt Rangers (5:25pm)
“The act that represents Red Dirt? You couldn’t do any better than the Red Dirt Rangers, who’ve been carrying the banner for Red Dirt music since the late 1980s.”

Red Shahan (6:50pm)
“The red-headed troubadour with the lonesome howl and penchant for somber portraits of busted boom towns and gritty, white-knuckled anthems.”

Flatland Cavalry (8:15pm)
“Lubbock roots-country outfit Flatland Cavalry straddles that line between the Panhandle and the badlands of West Texas with their bright, earthy country ballads and gritty folk ramblers. Vocalist and chief songwriter Cleto Cordero’s honest, smooth songwriting revolves around the vernacular world of West Texas that he’s constructed with dusty, sun-soaked character sketches, brooding self-evaluations, and candid love songs that all have the ability to turn into singalong anthems.”

Jason Boland and the Stragglers (10:00pm)
“That mix of subtle musical sophistication and unruly Oklahoma junkyard pedigree has resulted in some of the best independent honky tonk in recent memory.”

View the complete Day 3 Medicine Stone music lineup here.

Preview every main stage artist set to perform on Day 2 (Friday) of Medicine Stone…

Medicine Stone is just two days away, kicking off at Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Thursday, September 20. Now in its sixth year of existence, the festival continues to grow and attract fans from all over the country to the home of red dirt music.

The music begins at 11:30am on Friday with the main stage lineup set for a 5:00pm start, featuring each of the following:

Jamie Lin Wilson (5:00pm)
“No one covers the spectrum of age and experience quite like Jamie: moving portraits of men, women, and children coping, striving, wondering, and celebrating.”

Reckless Kelly (6:10pm)
“Reckless Kelly is a great band with an apt name. The outlaw’s spirit pervades the ambiance. They are rugged individualists who dedicate themselves to advancing the state of their art.”

Cody Canada and the Departed (7:35pm)
“There’s plenty of amplified crunch, Red Dirt twang, roadhouse-worthy guitar riffs, story-based songwriting, and the familiar rasp of Canada’s voice — an instrument that’s been sharpened by years of raw, redemptive shows.”

The Toadies (9:00pm)
“Burst[ing] onto the scene in 1994 with the breakthrough Rubberneck, including the singles “Possum Kingdom,” “Tyler.”

The Turnpike Troubadours (10:30pm)
Narratives put to music are nothing new, but Evan Felker and his bandmates have upped the ante, creating a web of unforgettable characters that show up on album after album in songs that are both catchy and musically complex: men and women with their backs against their wall, represented realistically but also imbued with dignity.

View the complete Day 2 Medicine Stone music lineup here.

Preview every main stage artist set to perform on Day 1 (Thursday) of Medicine Stone…

Medicine Stone is just two days away, kicking off at Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Thursday, September 20. Now in its sixth year of existence, the festival continues to grow and attract fans from all over the country to the home of red dirt music.

The music begins at 3:00pm with the main stage lineup set for a 6:00pm start, featuring each of the following:

Read Southall (6:00pm)
This band from Stillwater, OK gets things going on night one.

Koe Wetzel (7:15pm)
East Texan native based out of Stephenville, TX. Texas Rock N’ Roll.

Wade Bowen (8:45pm)
Long-time Texas artist and a staple in the scene.

Randy Rogers Band (10:30pm)
The Texas-based band has kept its lineup intact since 2002, and the group has reached the Top 5 of Billboard’s country albums chart with each of its last three studio releases, including 2016’s “Nothing Shines Like Neon.” The group recently completed a new album, set for mid-2018 release, at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A with GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson).

View the complete Day 1 Medicine Stone music lineup here.

Check out the full lineup and stage guide for Medicine Stone 2018 below…

Medicine Stone 2018 is fast approaching as event planners and festival organizers have put together another incredible lineup for the sixth straight year. Beginning on Thursday (9/20) at 3:00pm CT, live music fills a majority of each day with sets from all of your favorites up until the wee hours of Sunday morning. There will be plenty to keep you entertained.

Couple that with camping underneath the ‘Oklahoma Stars’ by close friends, meeting new people and sharing in a love of music and you’ve got all of the necessary ingredients for a pretty spectacular weekend.

Following is a look at all of the scheduled events and where to catch your favorite artist or band when they take to the stage at Medicine Stone in less than one week!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

3:00pm – BC and the Big Rig (Gravel Bar)
4:30pm – RC and the Ambers (Gravel Bar)
6:00pm – Read Southall (Main Stage)
7:15pm – Koe Wetzel (Main Stage)
8:45pm – Wade Bowen (Main Stage)
10:30pm – Randy Rogers Band (Main Stage)
12:15am – Micky and the Motorcars (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
12:15am – The Vandoliers (Gravel Bar)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

11:30am – Dave Kay (Gravel Bar)
1:00pm – Brandon Aguilar (Gravel Bar)
1:30pm – Jason Boland, Cody Canada and Mike McClure (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
2:30pm – OK Film and Music Winner (Gravel Bar)
3:00pm – John Fullbright (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
5:00pm – Jamie Lin Wilson (Main Stage)
6:10pm – Reckless Kelly (Main Stage)
7:35pm – Cody Canada and the Departed (Main Stage)
9:00pm – The Toadies (Main Stage)
10:30pm – Turnpike Troubadours (Main Stage)
12:15am – Charley Crockett (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
12:15am – Dirty River Boys (Gravel Bar)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

11:30am – Randy Crouch (Gravel Bar)
1:00pm – Thomas Trapp (Gravel Bar)
1:30pm – Mike McClure Band (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
2:30pm – Austin Meade (Gravel Bar)
3:00pm – Kaitlin Butts (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
5:25pm – Red Dirt Rangers (Main Stage)
6:50pm – Red Shahan (Main Stage)
8:15pm – Flatland Cavalry (Main Stage)
10:00pm – Jason Boland and the Stragglers (Main Stage)
12:15am – Bo Phillips (Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse)
12:15am – The Dirty Mugs (Gravel Bar)