WILDWOOD REVIVAL 2022
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/8/22
September 30 – October 2 at Cloverleaf Farm
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/8/22
September 30 – October 2 at Cloverleaf Farm
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/29/21
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/17/21
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/5/19
Sip a mule, watch some music, stay awhile.
A few miles out of the hustle-and-bustle of the college town of Athens sits a farm with a beautiful plantation style home, several lean-tos, a barn, pastures, and everything you’d expect in rural Georgia. But this southern farm is only masquerading as a farm, it’s really a lively event venue and home to Wildwood Revival. Beyond Cloverleaf Farms’ ambiance, Wildwood Revival has turned the open-air barn into a juke joint full of music, while down yonder is the bar full of tasty treats, a pasture where people sit in their own tailgate chairs, and at the house, VIP sip and savor some unique treats. Wildwood Revival isn’t your typical festival, it’s laid back, chill, listen to some music, sip on a Kentucky Mule, eat some delicious local grub. Stay awhile.
The music itself had a little bit of everything from rock to country to southern rock, blues, blue grass, gospel. We saw The
Texas Gentleman who are a mix of country, funk, southern rock. We did some research and found they have done back-up work for country legend George Strait. So, we get where they get some of their country roots, but their songs don’t sound country. They’re more what The Austin Chronicle calls, “eclectic country funk groove.” We concur. It’s a fun mix of genres that goes from toe tapping to soft piano ballads, like “Pain.*” Then there was Cedric Burnside, who was a mix of soulful guitar blues, with a hint of R&B. His music permeated the grounds and you could feel his music in the air. You could see it in the crowd that had gathered in the juke joint. Hoots, hollers, cheers erupted on this lazy Sunday afternoon!
Beyond the soulful, heartfelt performances by The Texas Gentleman and Cedric Burnside, they had some delicious local food, as well as craft beer and cocktails. We had the pulled pork plate from Maepole out of Athens and it the best music festival food we’ve ever had, ever. The pork was flavorful and tender. What really stuck out was the bean salad. It was a deep, savory flavor with a little spice and little sweet. They mix the beans and veggies with
jalapenos, garlic, and cilantro. Also, everything they make on the side is vegan, so there’s no cheese in those grits! We also put a little bit of the spicy avocado on top and mixed up the salad, pork, and grits together. WOW! They mentioned they were going to open in Atlanta. CANNOT WAIT. We will be there with bells on!
After our delicious meal, they had local craft beer from Creature Comforts, as well as ASW Distillery on site with their whiskey and vodka. First off, ASW Distillery makes some great liquor, we really like their Lawn Dart product! We got a Kentucky Mule made with ginger beer, lime, and their Fiddler Unison Bourbon Whiskey. was like sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair, sipping a refreshing cocktail and just watching the sunset type of feeling.
Kid friendly, they had a barn with an upstairs transformed into a chalk art area where the kids and the kid in you could create
chalk art, color, and watch the acts outside the little window. We might or might not have colored in an octopus. At the end of the day, we enjoyed the over-all feel of Wildwood Revival. This “anti-festival” really is laid-back, relaxed, and makes you feel right at home. It’s a bring your chair, your camera, your family, make a day or a weekend of it festival. See you next year, Cloverleaf Farm.
*Research on their background/confirming song name Pain came from Austin Chronicle’s Hot Luck Review: The Texas Gentleman article 5/25/18.
Date: Friday, September 27th to Sunday, September 29th
Time: Varies
About: Already setting the stage with a thoughtfully curated lineup announced earlier this Summer, Wildwood Revival is living up to its moniker as the “anti-festival” going beyond the music and announcing the schedule for the sixth annual event’s workshops and experiences. Ranging from a Gospel brunch where you can bring your instrument to a kayak river excursions, grilling demos, yoga, an artisan market and more. And while select experiences and workshops come free as a part of your ticket, there is limited space to certain activities, and Wildwood Revival ticket holders are encouraged to sign up in advance. A full list, with descriptions and sign up links, of workshops and experiences can be found at wildwoodrevival.com/experience.
The full Wildwood Revival Experience includes:
THE LINEUP: Lucinda Williams, Shovels & Rope, Mandolin Orange, Son Volt, Langhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band, Rayland Baxter, Rebirth Brass Band, The Texas Gentlemen, Charley Crockett, Lilly Hiatt, T. Hardy Morris, Super Doppler, Cedric Burnside, Illiterate Light, Revel in Dimes, and Georgia Mountain String Band. Performers take the stage in the Pecan Grove as well as inside the farm’s open-air barn. Beyond the stage lights, there are late-night picking sessions around the campfire where the best stories are often sung.
THE EXPERIENCES: Camping via tent, trailer or RV, a dance party to wrap up the festival on night two, a selection of local food and craft beer, an artisan market meets cultural revival, featuring handcrafted leatherwood, unique jewelry, vintage clothing, herbal apothecary, kitchen wares, modern-folk pop art, magic performance, tintype antique photography, yoga, a spectacle of badassery with purpose known as South East Women Wrestlers, all our favorite B’s with the Bluegrass brunch- booze, biscuits and banjos courtesy of Georgia Mountain String Band, guided river expeditions and the Gospel Brunch for One and All, featuring a host of the weekend’s artists and even you (bring your instrument).
THE WORKSHOPS: ASW Distillery tasting, featuring Fiddler Bourbon, Resurgens Rye, Duality Double Malt, Tire Fire Single Malt, and Armour & Oak Apple Brandy (free), Creature Comforts’ Taste of the South bottle collection tasting (free), Fire + Flavor Grill Experience, featuring Chef Patrick Fosgate (free), carry your positive affirmations on your wrist by making your own Mala bracelet ( $20), explore the world of herbal infusions with Cedarhill Homestead ($15), craft your own path to relaxation with an herbal bath bomb class ($15), learn about the healing properties of native plants and have a place to hang them on an herb drying mobile ($15) a portion of the proceeds will be donated to United Plant Savers, and take your mixology game from the Garden to the Glass when Cherokee Moon Mixology brings botanically-inspired cocktails, featuring Cathead Distillery and other spirits home ($15).
Celebrating what’s old is new again, Wildwood Revival embraces its history as a cultural revival; making it a true antithesis to what people have come to think of festivals. The intimate gathering is returning September 27th through 29th on historic Cloverleaf Farm just outside of Athens, Georgia. All ticket options to Wildwood Revival include three full days of music and are still available. VIP tickets include access to a 7,000- square foot Antebellum Mansion that includes gourmet catered meals, complimentary alcohol, private restrooms, and an outdoor courtyard. The farm opens Friday at 12 p.m. and music starts at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $92.
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