Atwood Music Festival facts for kids
The Atwood Music Festival is a super fun music event that happens every year in Monticello, Mississippi. It's held near the Pearl River during the Memorial Day weekend in May. This festival is the longest-running music event of its kind in Mississippi! It started way back in 1975.
At first, it was called the Atwood Bluegrass Music Festival because it only played bluegrass music. But later, they changed the name to Atwood Music Festival. This allowed them to feature all sorts of different music styles, not just bluegrass. The festival began to help promote the Atwood Water Park, which was new at the time.
Amazing Performers Over the Years
Many famous musicians have played at the Atwood Music Festival. Some big names include Stella Parton (who is Dolly Parton's sister), The Carter Family, and country stars like Trace Adkins and Charlie Daniels. Other popular artists like Neal McCoy, Little Texas, Jake Owen, and Chris Young have also performed.
After Charlie Daniels played in 2008, the festival decided to try something new. Instead of paying a lot for just one or two very famous headliners, they started inviting several newer, rising artists. This helped them manage their budget while still bringing great music to the stage.
Festival During the Pandemic
In 2020, something unusual happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival usually takes place in May on Memorial Day weekend. However, that year, it had to be moved to Labor Day weekend, which was September 4-5. This change helped keep everyone safe during that time.
Past Main Performers
Here is a list of some of the main performers who have played at the Atwood Music Festival over the years:
- 1975 - Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass, Doc Watson
- 1976 - Grandpa Jones, Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys
- 1977 - Minnie Pearl, Paul Ott
- 1978 - Dave and Sugar, Kurt Kilpatrick
- 1979 - The Hager Twins, Jimmy Martin
- 1980 - Stella Parton, The Carter Family
- 1981 - Dave and Sugar, Rattlesnake Annie McGowan
- 1982 - Helen Cornelius, Razzy Bailey, Paul Ott
- 1983 - David Frizell and Shelly West, Jimmy C. Newman, Elmer Fudpucker
- 1984 - Charly McClain, Vern Gosdin, Lorrie Morgan, Linda Nail, Kent Westberry
- 1985 - Justin Tubb and the Texas Troubadors, Jacky Ward, Helen Cornelius, Kathy Twitty
- 1986 - Dan Seals, Robin Killen
- 1987 - Tom T. Hall, Mark Gray
- 1988 - Jim Ed Brown, Shelley Mangrum
- 1989 - Billy Crash Craddock, Mike Snider, Vicki Bird
- 1990 - Baillie and the Boys, Irlene Mandrell, Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country
- 1991 - Connie Smith, Scott McQuaig
- 1992 - Gene Watson
- 1993 - Ronnie McDowell, Mac McAnally
- 1994 - Jimmy C. Newman, John Conlee, Pearl River
- 1995 - Terry McBride and the Ride, James Dixon, Dave and Sugar
- 1996 - Paul Overstreet, Lee Roy Parnell
- 1997 - Ronnie McDowell, Confederate Railroad
- 1998 - Wade Hayes, Doug Supernaw
- 1999 - Suzy Bogguss, Aaron Tippin
- 2000 - Ricky Van Shelton, Cletus T. Judd, Tracy Byrd
- 2001 - Tracy Lawrence, The Bellamy Brothers, The Kinleys
- 2002 - Highway 101, Trace Adkins, John Anderson
- 2003 - Neal McCoy, Doug Stone, Ricochet
- 2004 - Sammy Kershaw, Jeff Bates, Honky Tonk Tailgate Tour, Chad Brock, Rhett Akins, David Kersh, Daryle Singletary
- 2005 - Joe Diffie, Pam Tillis, Andy Griggs
- 2006 - Marty Stuart, Exile, Little Texas, Billy Dean, Kelsey
- 2007 - Emerson Drive, Keith Anderson, Shane Prather
- 2008 - Charlie Daniels
- 2009 - Jamey Johnson, LoCash Cowboys, Honky Tonk Tailgate Tour (Mark Wills, Trent Willmon, Jeff Bates), The Lost Trailers
- 2010 - LoCash Cowboys, Colt Ford, Chris Young
- 2011 - Easton Corbin, Jake Owen
- 2012 - Brett Eldredge, Craig Campbell, Randy Houser
- 2013 - Frank Foster, LoCash Cowboys, Earl Thomas Conley, Chris Cagle
- 2014 - Chris Janson, Craig Morgan
- 2015 - Chase Bryant, Travis Tritt
- 2016 - Jeff Bates, Brothers Osborne, The Bellamy Brothers, LOCASH
- 2017 - William Michael Morgan, Little Texas, Drake White and the Big Fire
