DBT #445 2026 Moccasin Creek Festival Highlights
Our fourth visit in five years did not disappoint and we already bought tickets for next year. Just like last year, we trust Bill Poss to book a very eclectic group of artists, but this year he announced at the first "In The Round" he had TWO artists already booked for 2027, Steve Poltz (a returning act for MCF) and Emily Scott Robinson (Oh my a bucket list artist and a favorite fest) Emily is only listed 22 times in the blog currently, and how it's gone in the past we'll get one gig on the calendar to see her and quickly we'll have TWO; that would be awesome too. They are shifting it back a week next year which might land on Blue Ox's weekend, so there it goes I haven't been to Blue Ox (only 90 minutes away) I prefer the size of MCF and nothing beats the Shady Stage.
Ok so much for next year, this year's fest headliners were firsts for us and both were outstanding. Rodney Crowell played a tight set of originals until he covered Poncho and Lefty and had a few fans join him on stage. Nick Shoulders was wonderful, but while we were upfront we had some jerks come and stand right in front of us. We get that MCF has no layout designated for dancers but dance then. I absolutely hate standing venues; and for a minute I was pissed. We decided to walk to the back so we could see. Headliners don't tend to be good video because of the dancers and the light; but the rest of the fest I have nicely documented so I can remember who we saw and archive some awesome memories.
Speaking of artists, first we had already hosted two (Jess Klein and Chicago Farmer) for house concerts and have booked two (Shanna In a Dress and Loveseat) more from the weekend for the Bluff View. There is always an artist that surprises and floors us and Lori and I agreed it was Sheafor and Simes. Now some of you might say it was because of Audrey was dressed in the coolest short skirt outfit; but that had nothing to do for their outstanding fun, and yes she was fun just to watch dance while she played the drums. (more like a snare only)
Speaking of dancers, I believe Molly from Molly Flower Designs would show up in the highlight videos, but instead I did a special one just for dancers. If we sit up front and have to have dancers directly in front of us; can they all be as fluid and beautiful as Molly with her hoop. Here she is dancing to a clip of Carsie Blanton's music:
Yes, YouTube dinged and blocked it for licensing, but I bet Carsie would have said "F That, use it Dave" Oh well I ended up tweaking the comic filter and put it up with my song "The Dance of Life". So have a listen and see how much fun that effect is:
If you had stopped at last year's recap, you know they had Tay Peterson as the photographer, and she was back this year and was one of the first hugs I got from the weekend. Lori of course just shakes her head when I tell her how I have made connections. I am the Lucky Dog of course.
This post will be real sketchy until I finish; but it will always have access to the YouTube playlist that will include all the videos I post from the fest. Like last near 79 videos to putz with and make some fun memories for me and the many patrons of the fest. I will try my best to post in chronological sequence, but I did have to pull up a favorite one from Hope Dunbar because JJ asked me; and Bill told me you never really want to say no to JJ. ;-)
Here's the playlist started Monday after the fest, and now finished July 24th with 44 videos.
And now this is the first highlight video that I said to myself immediately after I recorded it, yes Hope Dunbar an outstanding mom and songwriter found a 80's classic power ballad and recruited two women crazy enough to marry Passalacqua men and get that handle as a last name.
It took to only the third concert we listened to for Lori and I to both agree the surprise of the weekend was Sheafor and Simes. Audrey Simes and Drew Sheafor from St. Louis describe themselves as "Action packed music duo with soaring harmonies and combustible performance power" I think they nailed it, but I would add INFECTIOUS... everyone was smiling and grooving in their chairs. I'll have a couple clips in the playlist, but this one merged my first experience seeing them sing the traditional "You are my Sunshine" and a great rockabilly song. Note their is nothing traditional about these two. I'm so happy that Google didn't ding this for their licensed protocols and I can share it with you.
Pat Bryne had a wonderful set, and when he invite J. Plank to the stage I expected the song to be special. Boy I was right, it was a fantastic cover of Guy Clark's "Dublin Blues" He did put the song out on his "Live from Cedar Creek" album.
Of course, I have to share one of the four songs I recorded from Shanna In A Dress, how about the one we meet "Her Best Friend" from high school I assume:
It was our second time seeing Grant Peeples at MCF, and if you are not a Trump supporter; you have to love his sense of humor. We do.
Here's another highlight with JJ Passalacqua... this time with J. Plank. On the album version of this song, Patty Griffin sings the harmonies, (Sleeping Dogs album) pretty big shoes to fill and she did a great job. Oh btw I did not pick the thumbnail being Tay Peterson; and I still haven't learned how to change the thumbnail on the short. (I kind of like it though.)
Friday evening's concert gave us a chance to see The Burney Sisters for the first time as a duo. Bella's voice really has become excellent, and Emma comes across as in full control of the songwriting and artistic direction. This song is the title song on the limited edition record I picked up on their Kickstarter. I reminded them that they now have to go make themselves famous, and I own the 44th of 100 albums available.
The night closed with some of my favorite people; Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes. I've taken many a video of him or the group over the years, but I got a rare cover by him and one of the best songs off of his new album "Home Aid" (well maybe after "Tina Hart's Mustang"). Tay and Moon Flower get appearances in the following video too. One kick ass jam song that I love to dance to in the kitchen when I'm cooking.
Well except for the Hope Dunbar Pop/Folk cover, this brings you to the end of Friday night. Now Saturday started with another song swap with Erin Goldstein (Bill Poss Music's President), Terry Klien, and Ryan Noir. After Ryan played this song and the set was over, I went to the merch table and bought the vinyl record that had this song!!!! Sure to show up in a playlist too. Yes since I was smiling already, and I wanted to see that colorful short Ryan was wearing highlighted, I used the Vintage Comic filter:
I loved Erin's usage of time waiting on a train:
Now let's join Terry Klein driving across OK:
I love this tale about a worm in a bottle. Yes if you haven't seen Trout Fishing in America, you have been missing a real treat.
The uber talented Greg Klyma was the only T-Shirt I bought at the event, and it was because I liked it the best AND I had just spilled salsa all over the shirt I was wearing. I'm just not a huge T-Shirt wearing person unless it's for sleeping. I just need a pocket shirt for my reading glasses.
I've always enjoyed his music, and recorded a him seeing a song he co-wrote with the fest originator, Bill Passalacqua. I might have missed a little of the first verse. Great song you can find it on "Learning Out Loud" which I did and bought it. The rest of the album is on my Bandcamp Friday wishlist.
Saturday night's main stage started with Otis Gibbs moving from Shady Stage to the Main because of some plumbing issue. Never found out why, and Sunday was under the Lake Stage to protect everyone from the predicted rain. Here's a song from Otis:
Yes I held the phone in position and recorded Otis's nine minute story song "Great American Roadside" and you can have it here:
Next up was The Mighty Pines, our first listen to them. Pretty good jam band with nice harmonies, and shouldn't all Rock 'N Roll bands have an accordion?
Oliver Steck wasn't feeling himself, so he didn't bring his bunny costume. Ruby said that was no excuse and got her mom to give him a suit. Heck it wasn't as hot as in 2025, and I love how he can do that quick voice you hear on drug commercials.
One of our favorites, Jess Klein put the band back together and did an incredible set of music. Yep we've seen her at SERFA, MCF in 2024, and our house concert series, so we're great judges of her music. Here's another Rock N Roll song:
She even told a story where Jonathon Byrd had her learn bass for a tour, and she loves it and wrote a song on the bass. You know she's a little petite so she sure reminded me of Suzie Quatro; maybe Jess could play her in a movie?
Sophie Deters took to the stage for a quick two songs while the bands were changing over. Great to hear her again, and after seeing her cover Linda Rondstadt last year I'm still waiting on her to be booked to do a tribute set of just Linda's music. Maybe Bill could book Emmylou and she could harmonize with her.
Here she was from last year on stage as Sophie and the Saints.
Yes we'll end this post like our weekend ended. Sunday's forecast looked like so much hard rain we attempted and pretty much out ran it on the way home. I'm never disappointed if we miss any Thursday or Sunday at the fest, in two days we get our money's worth of entertainment; and yes have bought tickets for 2027 already! This Nick Shoulders short was his last encore, and it got dinged and blocked for licensing on YouTube, so here it is on Facebook. Different rules I guess.
But until then you can browse through our last four visits
and how we came to love Moccasin Creek Festival
