News & Updates

Festival of The Red

3 weeks ago

FoTR 2019

Man, what a weekend. I am humbled by the response that each and every person that attended has given. We had 12 states and two other countries in attendance this year. So now it’s time for an appreciation post.

Chase Fallen.. what would I do without you? This past year we have fought more than I ever thought possible, but you were usually right. You brought all my crazy visions to life and worked like a mule last week. Thank you times infinity for being my other half and dealing with me. I love you so much.

L.G. Richardson.. this started as a fun gig to have you a part of and now we just spent 2.5 hours on the phone because the 4 of us couldn’t get enough of each other. We absolutely love you and Jen like family and are so appreciative of everything you’ve done for us. Thank you for settling disputes, bringing new ideas, and treating the musicians like the kings and queens they are. There’s so much more we could thank you for, but I know you’re not into that sorta thing. Love you, dirt bag.

Thank you to all of our sponsors that helped make this financially possible! I will be making individual posts about that soon, but we could not have done this without your support.

Thank you to all of our food vendors for having such amazing foods to keep us all fueled up for the weekend! Special thanks to Vera Patterson and Larry for all your extra help including generators and feeding me all weekend.

Thank you to the artisan vendors that came and brought your crafts. I bought so many goodies for me and the kids and made new friends with so many of you. I hope to help you all as much as you helped me. I’m sorry for the shortcomings along the way, but those shortcomings taught lessons that will make things so much better next year.

Thank you to each and every musician that took the stage this weekend. I have an all new wardrobe and a lot more merch to buy online. Every one of you put on one hell of a performance and I saw some of the best shows you all have ever put on this weekend. I have an all new love for lots of you all and I hope we can welcome you back home in the Gorge next year. Special thanks to Teresa Prince, Sean Patrick Whiting, and Ed Hughes for celebrating your birthdays with us. Also, special thanks to Eric Bolander for the invention of Skull Holler. 😂 The biggest of thank you’s goes out to my brother Richard Henderson for speaking stage fright out of existence so I could give a few thank you’s to the crowd Saturday night. ❤️

Thank you to Jameson Killen Photography and Videography, Hillbilly Hippie Music Review, and The Honky-Tonk Hotel for all the reviews, photos, and shout outs that you’ve already given and more that I’m sure are to come. You guys are amazing. Thanks to my new friend and “Facebook photographer”, Glen Simpson for all the great photos and for the CD that is currently in my car.

Thank you again to The Honky-Tonk Hotel for bringing Missouri and Alabama to the Bluegrass State. Y’all are welcome back anytime. We need to build an extra bedroom just for you guys. Also, thanks for giving my boys two new best friends. Seeing the 4 of them play in the rain and creek made every second of this worth it.

Thank you to my mom and dad (Rebecca Townsend and Billy Townsend) for always being there to support me no matter what I wrangle you all into. Thanks for giving me advice and helping to always make things better. Thanks to my sister for only taking a break to go to her real job or to buy Maci things she needed (Autumn Townsend) 😂. I love you all more than I could ever explain.

Thank you to all of our volunteers that worked wherever you were needed whenever I asked. Most of you are family, but those of you that weren’t are now. Love you all so much!

And last, but most certainly the most important aspect of this festival, thank you to each and every person that came to the festival this weekend. We had a vow renewal, a class reunion, and a whole lot of good times that took place. We do this for a lot of reasons, but to sit on the porch and listen to music all over the campground at 2am is a special kind of feeling. Special thanks to Richard Johnson for the creation of JohnsonVille. I will be there next year for sure.

I’m sure I’ve left someone or something out, but I will be making more posts this week. We have already started a list for 2020 and have pretty much picked a date. When I said planning starts in July, I meant that. Festival of The Red 2019 has been one for the books. ❤️

📸: The Honky-Tonk Hotel (I totally stole this, but it is my favorite photo so far.)

Ps, I posted this on my personal page earlier this week but it needed to be re-posted. ❤️👏🏻 ... See MoreSee Less