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Another wild Winstock weekend down, another batch of unforgettable memories on the books. The 19th annual Winstock Country Music Festival on Friday and Saturday was the perfect way to kick off a summer of great music in Minnesota!

It was Texas' time to shine on Friday at Winstock with a lineup of proud Lone Stars: Sunny Sweeney, Wade Bowen, and Willie Nelson. Sunny kicked things off right. Female artists face an uphill battle in country music, especially newer artists like East Texas' Sunny. In a vast sea of chicks singing about fairytales and wildflowers, Sunny brings the spunk in songs about drinkin', cheatin', bad bosses and dirty ex-boyfriends. That's my girl! Backed by an incredibly talented band including Jake Clayton on fiddle and keys, they brought the Winstock stage to life. She played a selection of her solid-country honkytonk tunes fromHeartbreaker's Hall of Fame and Concrete (her 2011 release with Republic Nashville), covers of Waylon and Lucinda Williams, and also a few new songs that we can't wait to be released, like "Everybody Else Can Just Kiss My Ass," "Dirty Laundry" and "You Don't Know Your Husband." The next time I see her play won't be soon enough (psst: it'll be at Ramble Jam in September)!

We literally bounded across the field to get prime spots for Wade Bowen, who took to the UND Emerging Artists side-stage. In our book, 14 years does not an emerging artist make, but that's where we heard Texas native and now Nashville (Sea Gayle/BNA) recording artist Wade Bowen on Friday night; the highlight of the weekend! We know he belongs on the big stage, but were thankful to see him up-close twice in one night. Playing an entirely original set (below), Wade didn't need covers to bring the crowd of new fans (and a large number of dedicated Texas music scene fans like ourselves!) to life. I've never before seen the crowd respond so well to an artist they were seeing for the first time. Hearing cuts from Wade's recently released and first major label album The Given was exactly what we'd been anxiously waiting weeks to hear — and the new songs sound even better live! Minnesota got a good helping of Texas music; it does the body good! Although we're sad we didn't get the chance to say hello, I hope Wade Bowen and the band felt welcome in Minnesota. It was a great feeling to know how many new fans Wade made that night — and we're continuing on our mission to spread the gospel of good music!

Here and now, I have to say: THANK YOU, Winstock. Bucket list item: CHECK!Willie Nelson's performance Friday evening was one I'll never forget. It's long been a wish of mine to see this legend live, and I was not disappointed. Aly and I wondered what his set would be like (how does a man with a song roster like Willie Nelson chose what to play??), but were glad to find an assortment of his classics like "Whiskey River" and "Georgia On My Mind" to new cuts (from his latest album Heros) like "Roll Me Up.." to covers of Hank Williams and his friend the late Waylon Jennings. Even if a little flat and quiet in presentation, it was an honor to be able to hear Willie Nelson this living legend with an untouchable legacy and untold contributions to American music with my own ears. Willie embodies the American spirit and country music's roots. It was a beautiful sight to see fans dancing and enjoying the music of Willie Nelson on a gorgeous, peaceful Minnesota summer night.

Sidenote: a tip for fellow festival-goers. We're all fans. Complaining about people standing, dancing, singing and having a good time to the music only makes you a jerk and everyone else upset. Just enjoy the music. If you can't do that, you need to go back home and sit in front of the TV because obviously a music festival wasn't meant for you.

Songstress Martina McBride followed Willie, closing day 1's festivities with a selection of her biggest hits. Her beautiful voice was enjoyable to listen to. Martina's heartfelt performance capped off a wonderful day of great music! With superstar talent straight from the Texas music scene, a Highwayman legend, and the renown vocals of one of country music's leading ladies, Friday's lineup was top-notch.

Saturday's program began with Rocket Club and Frankie Ballard on the mainstage, followed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Uncle Kracker, Gary Allan and the night's headliner Blake Shelton. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band treated the crowd to some phenomenal bluegrass pickin and even some Hank Sr., but the highlight of Saturday afternoon's main stage performances was when Gary Allan joined the them on stage for "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and "The Weight," in a wonderful tribute to legends Levon Helm, Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson. It was a definite chills-inducing moment!

Broken Bow recording artist Dustin Lynch played the Emerging Artist stage Saturday and he was a hit with the large crowd gathered between main stage acts. Having only heard his current (debut) single "Cowboys and Angels," I didn't know what to expect, but we observed Dustin's confident stage presence and southern boy-charm as he showcased a few songs that will be included on his August 21st release like "Me and my Truck" and "She Cranks My Tractor" (no,seriously…). I find it hard to see how he'll stand out in an already saturated field of other generic country artists that are recording the exact same song. Nashville is hemorrhaging music like this, and his set only showed me how he's no different from the rest. I'm tired of it. Aren't you?

Thank the country Gods, Gary Allan hit the main stage just as the sun sank on the last night of Winstock; providing a much needed musical reprieve. His rock-solid set of Allan standards like "Right Where I Need To Be," "Airplanes," "Songs About Rain," "Nothin On" and "Dark Whiskey" are some of the best of modern country music and he delivered them to the full crowd with ease and conviction. Often underrated, I've enjoyed his introspective ballads and gritty vocals for years and am glad for any opportunity to see him live. You've gotta love a guy that brings his dog (Lucy!) on stage with him!

Blake Shelton brought the entire festival to a close with his larger-than-life personality, Top Male Vocalist talent, and songs perfectly suited for the festival crowd that acted like kerosene to a fire. As Mr. Lambert worked his way through his extensive catalog of hits interjected by hilarious covers like "Play That Funky Music," "Centerfold," and "My Prerogative," Blake kept the party atmosphere alive with drinkin' songs like "All About Tonight" and "Before I Drink" as well as sentimental ballads like "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" and "God Gave Me You." Favorites were definitely "She Wouldn't Be Gone," "Austin" and "Ol Red." I could've lived without "Footloose" in the encore — I try so hard to forget that he ever was a part of that. Euuugh. In all, it was great to see Blake do what he does best: sing country music.

Like I said upon arriving, Winstock begins to feel more and more like home each year. The crowd is not too big or small and very friendly (with a few notable exceptions of unkind neighbors), the lineup a great assortment of new and established artists, and the operations well-organized, clean and safe. We hear that Winstock will be pulling out all the stops for next year's 20th year, a milestone surely worth celebrating for this non-profit festival benefiting the Winsted community. Each year keeps getting better and better — we can't wait to see what's in store!

Beth


Wade Bowen setlist: You Had Me At My Best / All That's Left / Patch of Bad Weather / You Ain't Got Me / A Battle Won / Please Come to Boston / Resurrection // Willie Break // Trouble / Matches If We Ever Make It Home / Mood Ring / Nobody's Fool / On My Way to Wonderful / Saturday Night / God Bless This Town