Kickin' It On The Creek 2019

Photo by Beth Branson-Lakes

Kickin' It On The Creek 2019 was a phenomenal experience for music lovers and artists alike who traveled to the beautiful holler on Ross Creek in Estill County, Kentucky. The week was full and overflowing with love and incredible performances.  We owe the Roberts family a huge thank you for their donation of a pair of passes for this year's festival. Also, a tremendous thanks goes to the KIOTC family. We were able to raise $600 toward a vital equipment upgrade for the station. We are grateful for the generosity of Kentucky's music community! 

Byron Roberts and his family have been hosting the festival in their front yard for five years now, and this was Pickup Country's third year in attendance. This year, Ryan and I had the most perfect camp location and as always, we were treated with the best hospitality to be found.

​During the festival, we reconnected with music scene friends and made tons of new friends who share our appreciation for great songs and sweet Appalachia. And being there is like swimming in a sea of talent - from the musicians to the craft vendors, the sound and lighting crews to the spider monkey media folks. The lineup was nearly unbeatable for any stage anywhere. But also, in every holler hideaway of Wolfpen Branch you'd find a circle of pickers jamming away and I'm pretty sure the "Wook Nook" played and howled until sunrise.

It really is one of those "you have to be there to get it" kind of things that I often refer to as a bucket list event. By that I mean that if you love music and attending Kickin' It On The Creek isn't on your list of things you must do before you die, you need to at least pencil it in there somewhere. And if my poor writing doesn't convince you, I ask you to give one of the upcoming KIOTC pre-shows a try and you'll see what I'm talking about.

As I sort through and edit the music captured for airplay, I'll be updating our blog with KIOTC highlights and additions to our library. Until then, I leave you with some memories we snapped, many behind the scenes. 

~Angela

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