Jason Galaz has lived in Middle Tennessee for the past six years, running a small, but successful, screen printing shop in Smyrna called Color My Shirt. Unfortunately for him and his grounded, younger brother Anthony, Jason is a dreamer and a rabid fan of music.
Enter the second annual Muddy Roots Music Festival in Cookeville, Tenn. Featuring over 30 bands from punk, grunge, roots blues, vintage rock and country roots, the two-day camping festival Sept. 3 and 4 pays homage to its namesake and Jason’s devoted fandom.
“Really the biggest thing was to put all of my favorite bands together and to give them a home and a bigger stage,” said Jason.
The 2011 lineup is dedicated to the late, great Charlie Louvin and includes performances by Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson, Wayne Hancock, Don Maddox of the Maddox Brothers and Rose, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Possessed by Paul James, and Art Adams Band. Nashville locals Hillbilly Casino, Spinderellas (Hula Hoop act), Derek Hoke, Hans Condor and The Dirt Scab Band are also scheduled to perform. For a full list of the line-up, check out muddyrootsmusic.com.
Muddy Roots Music is also Jason and Anthony’s promotion company, booking a couple dozen shows each year in the Middle Tennessee area. The brothers used their relationships printing shirts for bands through Jason’s screen printing company, Color My Shirt, in order to book them. It was important for the Galaz brothers to use those relationships, since they’re funding the festival out of pocket and Jason has a tendency to think big.
“It’s hard to tame Jason, honestly,” said Anthony. “There really was no limit. He was like ‘Let’s just do it’ and it seemed to form and grow itself . . . [then] we said ‘Let’s do this on a bigger scale.’ What’s the worst that happens, you go into debt? It’s just money.”
Last year’s inaugural festival received praise from patrons—both local, national and international—and bands alike. The down-home energy and lack of barricades made all attendees feel like they were living by countryside rules. “For a lot of the bands, it seemed like a family reunion,” said Anthony. “They were camping together and the fans and the bands were together. There was no barricade, no barrier, no VIP sections backstage . . . there were no pedestals.”
Not only is Muddy Roots Music Festival a way to bring fans and musicians together, but to take a Robin Hood-esque approach to festivals and music in general. “Muddy Roots Music Festival is a stance against the bigger corporate festivals that book the top 40 bands or the best selling bands, where they’re booked on record sales and not talent,” said Jason. “It’s about supporting the little guy and boils down to the bands that we’re fans of, giving them a bigger stage and giving them a chance. Right now you just have the music industry, and they tell you what to like, and then you like it and buy a ticket to that event and it’s a whole cycle. We’re there to be a counter voice, letting people know that there are other bands out there.”
In this family effort (Jason and Anthony’s sister does the bookkeeping), not only do the Galaz brothers show the importance of family and supporting local bands and smaller, talented acts, but using local resources and showing ingenuity, passion and respect not just for musical genres, but eras.
The Muddy Roots Music Festival is Sept. 3–4, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. both days. Nestled at 115 Waterloo Rd., Cookeville, Tenn. 38506, tickets are available online at a special advanced price of $55 and are $70 at the gate. Primitive camping is available, and attendees can camp with their vehicle. There are no RV hookups but free hot showers are available. Must be at least 18 to purchase; children are welcome. Event is BYOB (no glass please). More information is available at muddyrootsmusic.com.
