TCMM’s editor, Reid Kohls, got the exciting opportunity to represent the Texas Country Music Magazine at the Born & Raised Music Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma earlier last month. To say the festivals lineup was stacked would be an understatement. Born & Raised brought amazingly talented bands from the Texas Country, Red Dirt, and national music scenes together for three days of incredible music and an unmatched atmosphere in the hills of Oklahoma.
Everything from the festival’s lineup, hospitality, set up, production, merchandise, and overall experience were top-notch.
It was evident from the energy of the crowds and the conversations we had with other festival goers that this weekend is one that thousands of country-music fans across the country look forward to every year. Many of the festival attendees we spoke to were proud, repeat attendees, going on their fourth and fifth years attending the festival.
Editor Reid Kohls had the opportunity to shoot the incredibly talented and acclaimed musicians that took the Born & Raised stages on the Saturday of the festival to share with the Texas Country Music Magazine community.
The day started out at the Horizon Stage with Jason Scott & The High Heat, Clayton Mullen, and Reid Haughton -- bands if you haven’t heard yet, you NEED to hear out of Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee, respectively. The energy on the stage between these three bands’ sets was contagious, making for a strong start to the second day of the festival.
In the afternoon, the acts alternated between the Neon Moon and Big Sky Stages with artists Maggie Antone, Pony Bradshaw, J.R. Carroll, Paul Cauthen, Kolby Cooper, Midland, Treaty Oak Revival, and Koe Wetzel. The hot Oklahoma sun didn’t sway the crowds from showing up in the masses to sing along with their favorite artists.
There is something very intoxicating about experiencing the unique energy and sound that each band brings to the stage and the way it ripples through their crowds. There truly was no one set like another, keeping the festival goers fully absorbed into the music for twelve hours straight.
Editor Kohls left this experience with an even deeper excitement and love for the uniqueness that is the Texas Country and Red Dirt music scenes. We will be talking about how great this festival was until it comes around again next year!
