They say all good things must come to an end. What an end for this fabulous 3-day music festival.
Christie Huff is a country singer songwriter who brings a touch of pop to her soulful sound. She's an LA girl now, but attributes her country background to her childhood in Arizona. Consistent trips to Nashville to co-write with other country songwriters keep her country ties strong. She is currently working on releasing singles consistently. Christie is well-known in LA and Orange County, and she now performs her original songs both acoustically and with her band. She has performed all over the U.S. and played many historic spots in LA.
Christie was as talented as she was sweet.
This was my favorite shirt slogan, of the weekend, "Smoke Brisket, Not Meth". At first I thought it was just humorous, but as I researched more, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center's Drug Threat Assessment, "Methamphetamine is a primary drug threat to Arizona, and is increasing. High purity, low cost methamphetamine is readily available, and the drug is abused throughout the state." So I guess this shirt is a Public Service Announcement, too. That said, we never saw anyone in Arizona who appeared to have a drug problem or be homeless. I wonder how big of a threat it really is.
Okay, happy stuff. This Big Sting themed tattoo belongs to Vicky, the Queen Bee and exceptional organizer of this all. Not only was the weekend one of merriment, it was one for cause- The Shadows Foundation. This nonprofit, based in Flagstaff, is dedicated to helping those individuals in need who are affected by life threatening diseases by providing services and financial assistance when they need it most. So heartwarming. Wow!
The vendors were varied and fun, each of them. Nevari had the best Fry Bread and its owner, Richard, was a super cool guy. Shopping was fun, too. Steve, you will notice in a later photograph, is sporting a brand new, very handsome cowboy hat. Fun stuff.
An evening's highlight was another opportunity to see 17 year old Seth Hartwick showcase his talents. This time Steve made a video so you can meet him, too. Wow, right?!
Seth's Posse was there again, in full force, and their enthusiasm was infectious. How awesome to have such dedicated friends.
Each night, as the sun called it a day, the American flag was raised and a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was sung. If you ever need and infusion of patriotism, attend a Country Western music festival!
Our evening ended with the most incredible finale, Payton Smith.
At just 24 years old, Louisiana native singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist, Payton Smith, has a lot to celebrate. Smith began releasing music in 2019; quickly amassing over 50 million streams on his debut single, “Like I Knew You Would”. Known for not only high-energy guitar slinging and smooth vocals, the CMT 2021 Listen Up artist also composed and played every string instrument on each track of his debut project.
As Taste of Country noted his “raw talent, authenticity and strong work ethic are bound to bring him country music success for many, many years” as one of 2021’s Hottest Country Artists Under 25. Music Row called Smith the 2021 Next Big Thing, while “Like I Knew You Would” charted as the #7 song of the year on Spotify’s Hot Country.
And he is just a really nice kid! We loved how approachable and sincere each of the performers were. That was a highlight of the festival for sure.
Tomorrow we move on. We leave with musical memories, and new favorites. The Big Sting was more than we had hoped it would be and one year we will be back. Why? It's a Country Thing!
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