Life has a way of throwing unexpected twists into even the most carefully made plans. When we originally envisioned our trip to the Rock The Country festival in Ashland, Kentucky (July 10–11), our full crew was set to go: Cameron, Ryan, Natalie, Brea, Carson, and myself.
However, right before the trip, our family suffered a heartbreaking loss with the sudden passing of the kids' grandmother (my ex-husband’s mother), MeMaw. While our hearts were heavy, we were so deeply grateful and fortunate to have spent precious time with her over Mother’s Day weekend earlier this year. Rest in peace, MeMaw. You are so loved and missed.
With the kids staying behind to grieve and be together, we reshuffled our plans. My cousin Angie and her daughter Haylee stepped in to join Cameron and me for the weekend. I had even arranged a surprise to have my other cousin Deidre and her husband Joby drive up from Georgia to shock Angie! Everything was set to play out perfectly, but unfortunately, Deidre and Joby fell sick the morning before we left and couldn't make the drive.
Even with missing the kids, Deidre, and Joby, we loaded up the car and headed to Ashland, ready to reunite with Angie and Haylee for two days of country music, healing, and heartfelt memories.
Aaron Lewis, Classic Hits, and New Discoveries
The initial drive down was fueled by pure excitement to see Aaron Lewis, who happens to be one of mine and Cameron's absolute favorite singers. Seeing him live always delivers an unforgettable raw, soulful performance, and he did not disappoint!
We also got to experience a brand-new artist to us, Demun Jones, whose high-energy style was an awesome surprise. Following that up with legendary rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd singing timeless anthems under the Kentucky sky and a rowdy set from Brantley Gilbert made for an incredible lineup of music.
The Power of Connection: Why Jelly Roll Changed Everything
Going into the festival, I will be honest: I personally wasn't super excited to see Jelly Roll. I knew his hits, but I didn't fully grasp the hype. Seeing him live completely changed my perspective.
Watching the way Jelly Roll genuinely interacts with his fans and listens to their stories was powerful. He speaks directly to people who are fighting battles with addiction, recovery, and redemption. Experiencing his set alongside my little cousin Haylee, who is currently doing the hard work on her own sobriety journey, was a moment I will treasure forever. I am so ridiculously proud of her, and witnessing how deeply that music resonated with her made the entire trip worthwhile. It transformed a simple concert into a truly powerful, emotional experience for all of us.
Festival Logistics & Honest Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Outhouses
While the music on stage was top-tier, we want to give you a completely honest review of the festival setup so you can be prepared if you plan to attend in the future.
The Lows: Facilities, Food, and Parking
The Bathroom Situation: To put it bluntly, the bathrooms were horrible. I have genuinely never seen an outhouse overflow until this event, which was definitely a low point for the venue logistics!
Not Gluten-Friendly: If you have dietary restrictions like gluten sensitivity, come prepared. There were very few gluten-free food options available. Drink-wise, there were no gluten-free alcoholic beverages aside from basic vodka.
Drink & Beverage Shortages: The soda options overall were pretty disappointing, and if you bought the unlimited soda pass, they actually ran out of CO2 during the event.
The Parking Exit Wait: Leaving the venue at the end of the night required a lot of patience. Traffic control made all parked cars wait until every single pedestrian had cleared out, making for a very long delay before we could get onto the main roads.
The Highs: Free Water Refills
On a positive note, the venue did provide free water filling stations throughout the grounds. We brought our own reusable water bottles, so being able to easily top them off and stay hydrated all day without paying crazy prices was a huge plus!
Confidence, Tears, and Unbreakable Bonds
Festivals have a special way of pushing you out of your comfort zone, and this weekend was no exception. Beyond the emotional music, it was amazing to see my cousin Angie blossom across the two days. She really stepped out of her comfort zone, embraced the moment, and found her confidence again.
We shared so many belly laughs, shed a few good, healing tears, and made memories that brought our family even closer together.
Of course, a massive shoutout goes to my amazing husband, Cameron. He took care of us girls all weekend long, keeping us safe, making sure we had everything we needed, and navigating the crazy festival traffic so we made it back to our hotel safely every single night.
Final Thoughts
Rock The Country Ashland was not the trip we originally planned, but it turned out to be the exact weekend our hearts needed. It was a beautiful reminder that even in seasons of grief and unexpected change, music, family, and shared connection can lift your spirits in ways you never saw coming.
Let Us Help Plan Your Next Festival Adventure
Whether you are heading out to a multi-day country music festival or taking a bucket-list weekend road trip, having the logistics, travel, and lodging handled ahead of time makes all the difference. If you need help booking your next music or sports trip, contact Cameron at Olson Travel Group, Dream Vacations by visiting OlsonTravelGroup.com. Let us take care of the details so you can focus on making memories!
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Share Your Thoughts!
Have you ever seen Jelly Roll or Aaron Lewis live? What music artist changed your opinion after seeing them perform in person? Let us know in the comments below!
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