Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists including Grammy, CMA, ACM, and ASCAP winner Suzy Bogguss who is making her second appearance. Ahead of the Festival, Bogguss kindly took the time to speak about what makes the BBR special to her, her varied musical career, and what's ahead.

Currently, you’re on tour with your trio and in August, you’re heading out to Challis for the BBR.
This will be my second trip, but I’ve known the boys since the early 90’s when they were little. I was performing fairs and things like that and the boys would open for me when they were with their Dad [Muzzie and the Boys]. In fact, the first time I played the BBR, Gary showed me a picture of him giving me a kiss on the cheek when he was about eight (laughing). It’s pretty neat to see how far they’ve come and how they’ve evolved as musicians as well.

That’s so incredible. Did you stay in touch all through the years?
You know, I lost track of them for a long time, but when I became a fan of Reckless and the Motorcars, I put two and two together. Then, when I got to sing at the BBR for the first time, we rekindled everything.

So, in addition to your friendship with them, what drew you back to play the BBR again?
It is such a unique festival. I try to tell people, especially folks who haven’t been, that the BBR is what a festival is supposed to be. Some festivals you play, the music is the background, and the BBR is so much more than a big boozefest, it’s truly a celebration of music. I love that the people who come love the bands and are there to participate in celebrating music as well as having a great time.

The first time I played, the audience was singing every word to every song. There’s something about that feeling of participation and communication with the crowd that is so energizing and beautiful. I’m picky about what words I use and what I try to communicate in a song and sometimes I wonder if anyone cares about what I’m doing, so it’s a great feeling to know that someone is moved by what you’re singing. You feel validated and know people appreciate you.

The crowd is very attentive. The setting is also pretty amazing.
It’s unbelievable. I don’t know if they’re still doing this, but the first time I was there they had police or patrol on horseback and it made everything so low key. It felt like what a festival is supposed to be - nothing should have to be enforced, everyone should take responsibility for themselves and respect the grounds and what you’re participating in. It felt like everyone cared.

For the past few years you have been playing with your trio, how do you adapt from playing more intimate venues to outdoor stages?
We tailor the show for wherever we are, but I always want to do the songs people know me for. I play a lot of small theatres during regular times of the year and I tend to babble a lot, tell really bad jokes (laughing), and talk to people one on one in the audience. In larger venues and outdoor areas, I have to be more concise, so I try to not babble as much and if I’m going to talk between songs, I have to make it count (laughing).

​Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists including the "Chick with a Pick", esteemed guitarist Rosie Flores who makes her first appearance in Challis. Ahead of the Reunion, Flores graciously took the time to chat about playing the BBR, her friendship with the Brauns, exploring her creativity, and what's ahead.

You tour all over the U.S. and in August, you’ll head to Challis for the BBR. Have you made the trip before?
I have always wanted to go, so when I got invited this year I was completely thrilled. It’s something that the guys and I have been talking about for a long time, and I guess my time is now. My plan is to fly in and do the whole shebang and treat this as a little bit of a party and a vacation. Everybody is working and on their own train, but every once in a while you get to cross paths and be on the same bill with someone you really like, so this makes for a great event for that reason. Plus, I’m excited to get to listen to some great musicians and bands I hardly ever get to see and be pleasantly surprised by some bands I have never seen. I look forward to making new friends and hanging out with old ones.
​
​And the other thing I am excited about is that Reckless Kelly will be my band! I’m thinking maybe we can be called Reckless Rosie (laughing)!

That has a nice ring to it!
You have known those guys for a long time, so how do y’all prepare to play together…or do you even need to?  
They are so good that we can get up there and play, which we do a lot if we happen to be in the same town. But, I’m actually going to put some effort into preparing this time since we are doing a whole set together. Maybe we will get together and rehearse once, but they don’t need more than one rehearsal. Willy is such an amazing singer, I cannot wait to get up and do some harmony with him and sing “Wild Horses,” and I’m excited to play with Dave [Abeyta] who is one of my favorite guitar players. Over the years, we’ve formed a mutual admiration society with one another. When we get up there, it’ll rock.

No doubt.
Both you and Reckless have been around for over 20 years, did you become fast friends early on?
I’ve known Cody and Willy since the very first version of Reckless Kelly. My drummer, who helped produce Millican, told me all about them. I went to see them on 6th Street and immediately knew they were playing my kind of music. They were so young and so cool and sounded like a cross between Tom Petty and Steve Early with Dylan’s songwriting. We started writing together, supporting one another’s shows, and sitting in with one another. They used to have this hangout in Austin where they’d get together with their friends to hang out and jam and whenever they’d come to L.A. when I was living there, I would go see them and we’d have jam parties too. We’ve been pals a long time and I just adore them to pieces.

​Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists including fan-favorite Corb Lund who makes a return appearance at the Reunion. Ahead of the festivities, Lund graciously took some time to speak about the festival, what's ahead, and more.

With so many festivals out there these days, what do you find special about the BBR that keeps bringing you back?
I’ve only known the Brauns for about ten years, but I feel like I’ve known them my entire life. They’re fantastic people who have become like family to me. With them being from Idaho and me being from Alberta, we share a Rocky Mountain heritage and a history of cowboy culture that bonds us in addition to the music.
We’re on the road so much and we play the same venues as our friends, but we never see one another. Sometimes we'll play the same club a week apart, and I’ll see their gig posters and write them a note on it (laughing). That's why festivals like the BBR and Steamboat are so terrific, they're some of the rare times we get to hang out and spend time together. Braun Brothers is a special one too because most of the bands are good friends and getting together there is literally a reunion for us as well.

At times you play full band and others solo acoustic with always varying set lists. Will you be full band or solo at the BBR?
This will be a full band show. Actually, all of my summer dates are with my full band, and I'm not planning another solo tour any time soon. As for setlists, I don’t use one, ever. I’d get bored if I did the same set every night and since I have eight records of material, I kind of just get out there, start, and call audibles all night. After playing hundreds of shows I feel like I have a handle on taking the audience on a journey and have developed a sixth sense of how to structure the show on the fly so that it turns into a big emotional conversation with the audience. It’s always a fun time.

​Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists including singer-songwriter-producer Bruce Robison, whose most recent album, Bruce Robison & the Back Porch Band, was released in 2017. Ahead of the BBR, Robison kindly took some time to speak about the Reunion, The Next Waltz, and more.

Right now, you’re in the midst of a tour with John Baumann, but in August, you’ll be headed to the Braun Brothers Reunion, have you been out before?
This will be my second trip out. The previous time, we took the kids and made a big ole family vacation out of it, but this time, I’m coming out myself. I’m looking forward to it.

On stage, you’ll be backed by the BBR All-Stars, which will be fun. How will your set come together? Do you talk ahead of time about which songs you’re going to play?
​This is what I think is so cool about this event, the Brauns are such connectors on the scene that the BBR is like a big family getting together to make music. I’ve played with all these guys forever so they know a few of my songs and then we’ll pick some other ones that’ll be fun to do. They’re very generous to agree to play with me and I’m excited to play with them and try some different things.

It’ll be exciting for everyone in attendance to see as well. Being you’ve played everywhere from halls to theaters and more, how do you adapt playing a festival stage?
My stuff lends itself more to a listening room. I play a lot of ballads, which don’t tend to be too rockin’, so it’s a bigger stretch for me to adapt to a larger stage, but this’ll be fun to do. 

Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists including Mike & The Moonpies, whose latest album, Steak Night at the Prairie Rose, has earned them accolades from outlets such as Rolling Stone and The Bluegrass Situation further cementing their status as one of the most dynamic and promising bands in Texas and beyond. Ahead of the BBR, frontman Mike Harmeier kindly took some time to speak about the Reunion, the new album, touring, and more.

Currently, the Moonpies are out in Texas and Oklahoma supporting your February release, Steak Night at the Prairie Rose, and in August you’ll be making a stop in Challis for your first BBR.
We’re excited to head up there. We've heard people talking about it for a long time and we were so jealous because we’ve always wanted to do it (laughing), but it just never worked out, so we’re stoked that it actually came together this year.
 
That's great it finally came together. Being that you’re constantly on the road, will you be able to take any time to enjoy the festival and Idaho?
We’re flying in from London after our first-ever tour in France, then we're playing Montana on Thursday with Turnpike and heading to Challis where we plan to take in the whole thing. We’re friends with everyone who is going to be there, so it'll be really nice to see them play and hang out with them for a few days. Spending time together is what I love about things like this….it’s like a vacation. 

It’s such a great time for artists and fans alike.
The release of Mockingbird in 2015 saw you guys gaining a lot of momentum nationally and that's something that's continued to build with this record. What do you think it is about these albums that is connecting with people?
A lot of the songs I write are about what I know - my family and my past – and I think that catches a lot of people’s ears. There’s a nostalgic element, too. We tend to lean on 80’s and 90’s country, which not a lot of other people are doing and I think people appreciate that. I’ve had people tell me our music sounds like what they listened to in their dad’s truck when they were kids, which I think is neat.

Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, the picturesque town of Challis bustles every August when it plays host to the Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. Regarded as one of the state’s premier musical gatherings by both attendees and artists alike, the BBR is a family-friendly event that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe, bringing artists and fans together in an unparalleled setting for three unforgettable days. 

This year, the BBR will be held from August 9th-11th and will feature fifteen plus Americana, Texas, and Red Dirt artists, including singer-songwriter Courtney Patton who recently released her stunning new album, What It's Like To Fly Alone. In the first of our series highlighting the artists at this year's Reunion, Courtney very kindly took some time to speak in depth about her new album, the BBR, and the role closest to her heart, being a present, loving mom to her children.

Congrats on the album! The reception has been an amazing one.
It’s the best reception I’ve ever gotten from both critics and fans and it’s been wonderful. It seems like people are latching onto this record more than my other ones, and I don’t know why because I feel like I put just as much work into it as the others, but I’m incredibly glad. The hard work is finally paying off which makes my heart happy.

It’s much deserved.
What It’s Like To Fly Alone was self-produced. Was this the first time you took the production reins?
Yes, this is the first time I did that. When I made Triggering A Flood, which Jamie Lin Wilson and John Ross Silva produced, I was still working a full-time day job, so a lot of decisions were made without me simply because I just couldn’t be there. The last one [So This Is Life], Drew Kennedy produced and while he did hire the musicians and pick the studio, I was much more involved. And this time, I did everything myself, which was both terrifying and very rewarding. I didn’t give anything up and in the end, I got the record I 100% wanted. I made every decision from the songs, to who mixed and mastered it, to the graphics, so when it came out and people were enjoying it, it made me feel even more proud because I knew I did all by myself.

What an incredible accomplishment and so very rewarding to see such a labor of love be loved by so many. Was there anything else you approached differently?
Something I did that was a pretty big deal for me was co-write [six of the twelve tracks are co-writes]. I work very well by myself, but going into this record, I knew that letting go in that regard and doing more co-writing was something I wanted to work on. I called in help from writers I trusted and we either finished ideas one of us had or put ideas together and the songs came. Learning to be a co-writer was a fun part of the process for me.

Another thing I did for the first time was put liner notes in, which as a fan of music is a really big thing for me. I’ve always enjoyed not only being able to listen to records, but to hold them, read the words and see who wrote the songs and played on it. I also made vinyl, which I have never done before. As fans, Jason and I love vinyl, so putting out vinyl was another way for me to give back to the fans. And finally, I just tried to be more present and in contact with my fan base on social media. I made friends with so many people who are such good advocates for the music. They really are Patton’s Army and it feels good to know that people have my back and love and support me. It’s a comforting feeling to know that I’m not going unappreciated.

Absolutely, that must do the heart good. While this album has many personal songs on it, it also seems you wrote pure story songs on this one, like “Round Mountain” and “Devil’s Hand.”
Again, that’s me challenging myself as a writer. I never thought I would be good at writing that way, I thought my niche was telling personal stories about what I was going through. People responded to that, but with this record, I wanted to pull myself back a bit and tell an honest story, fictional or not, that people could relate to. “Round Mountain” is entirely fictional. “Open Flame” is fictional, but not so far removed from something I had gone through in my life that I could not tell it truthfully.

The ones that I wrote myself, “Shove,” the title track, and “Fourteen Years”, which is about my sister, are the most personal, and real, songs to me. Those three kind of wrote themselves, and honestly, I don’t know if they’d be the same if I asked anyone else to write them with me. 

A favorite time of the year is rapidly approaching - The Braun Brothers Reunion Festival. The daily line-up for the festival has been announced and tickets are now on sale. The BBR is an amazing three-day event with top-notch musical performances from esteemed artists in the Americana, Red Dirt, and Texas music scene, all in an unparalleled setting. If you're assessing the Summer Festival offerings, the BBR in Challis, Idaho is a trip worth taking.





​Thursday, August 9th
Jeff Crosby and the Refugees
American Aquarium
Ned LeDoux
Cody Canada and The Departed
Micky and the Motorcars

Friday, August 10th
Jason Eady and Courtney Patton
Rosie Flores and the BBR All-Stars
Asleep At The Wheel
Corb Lund
Turnpike Troubadours

Saturday, August 11th
The Braun Family
Bruce Robison and the BBR All-Stars
Suzy Boguss
Mike and the Moonpies
Reckless Kelly

In the coming weeks, I'm thrilled to once again bring you Artist Spotlight features where you can catch up with, or get to know, some of the artists who are at this year's BBR.

For now, head on over to their website for all the info. 

With the countdown to the 2017 Braun Brothers Reunion Festival well underway, the Brauns of Reckless Kelly and Micky & The Motorcars - Cody, Willy, Gary, and Micky - are getting you ready with a playlist chock full of their favorite tunes from the artists performing at this year's Reunion.

Stream the tracks while you pack for, and travel to, Challis, or if you're simply hanging out and in the mood to hear some great tunes. And if you like what you hear, be sure to visit the artist's website and pick up a CD or two.

For all of the information on this year's BBR, which will be held August 10th-12th in Challis, Idaho, visit HERE. For a complete listing of song titles and artists, see below

Artists and Song Titles

Braun Brothers - 1000 Cups Of Coffee, Yankee Fork, The Cowboy From Mackay

Reckless Kelly- Nobody’s Girl, Wicked Twisted Road, Ragged As The Road

Micky and the Motorcars- Hearts From Above, Careless, Tonight We Ride 
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Jack Ingram - Good Night Moon, Keep On Keepin’ On, Mustang Burn
​
Old 97’s - Salome, Time Bomb, Victoria 
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Blue Water Highway - Miss California and the Bad Man, Steamboat Song

Lee Ann Womack - A Little Past Little Rock, Mendicino County Line, I Hope You Dance

Dirty River Boys - Highway Love, Teenage Renegade 

Ned Ledoux - Brother Highway, We Ain’t Got It All 

Jeff Crosby And The Refugees - This Old Town, Silent Conversations

Wade Bowen - Sun Shines on a Dreamer, Mood Ring, My California

Randy Rogers - This Time Around, Kiss Me In The Dark, Neon Blues

Hold My Beer and Watch This - I Had My Hopes Up High, In The Next Life 

Jamie Lin Wilson - Ordinary People, Seven Year Drought
 
Turnpike Troubadours - Good Lord Lorrie, Gin, Smoke, and Lies

Cody Canada and the Departed- All Nighter, True Love Never Dies 
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Parker McCollum - High Above The Water, Meet You In The Middle ​

In anticipation of this year's Braun Brothers Reunion Festival, a few of the artists taking the stage contributed some of their favorite tracks from their fellow performers for an all new playlist guaranteed to get you ready for Challis! Stream the tunes below and then to head to the artist's website to learn more and pick up a CD or two. 

The BBR will be held August 10th-12th in Challis, Idaho. For all the information visit HERE

Artist & Songs Chosen

Jamie Lin Wilson - Meet You In The Middle, We're All In This Together

Blue Water Highway - Question, 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Parker McCollum - Diamonds & Gasoline, Mendocino County Line

Dirty River Boys - Evangeline, Question

Jeff Crosby - Volcano, You Had Me At My Best

Jack Ingram - Let's Get Drunk & Get It On, I May Hate Myself In The Morning

Wade Bowen - Radio, She Don't Love You