Close a Hot August w/ a Cool Festival

The best and busiest summer of the decade--at least for us here at Soundproofblog--is quickly coming to a close.  And we're thrilled we'll have one last chance to celebrate it, at Hot August Blues Festival next Saturday, August 18.  This will be our second Hot August Blues, and the festival's 20th iteration.  The line-up is killer, featuring two of our favorites: Trombone Shorty & Justin Townes Earle.  The latter's the crooning, sensational son of Steve Earle, and Trombone Shorty... well, he really needs no introduction, as the very visible and talented musical ambassador of New Orleans.

But even before you get to the line-up, the venue itself stands out as superb.  Oregon Ridge is a beautiful park in Cockeysville, MD, a former ski resort with a stage instead of a chalet.  Not only does the hill make for amazing sightlines, but a spectacular view as well.

Even if jam bands like Gov't Mule, the festival's top billing, aren't your thing, surely sunsets are!  HAB offers an awesome opportunity to see legendary musicians play against a beautiful backdrop in our own backyard (did you know Gov't Mule is an Allman Bros side project?  I didn't).

HAB's got a mom & pop, local flavor to it, too; think tie dye tees, fest food and beer trucks run by civic groups.  A far cry from Firefly, which we unfortunately missed.

With a ticket price that supports a Baltimore-area arts organization, what's not to love?  Check out our preview playlist, and hope to see you there!