Lauren Watkins Delivers Sunday Afternoon Set at TidalWave Festival 2023

All photos by Devyn King

One of Big Loud's newest country prodigies, Lauren Watkins, bathed in the spotlight of TidalWave Festival's Next From Nashville stage on Sunday afternoon (August 13).

Over the course of the three-day weekend, the Next From Nashville stage was graced with some of the genre's most exciting new talent, including Megan Moroney, Pillbox Patti, Jake Worthington, Ben Burgess, MacKenzie Porter, Chase McDaniel and a slew of others.

However, few gave as remarkable a performance as the young Watkins.

With only seven songs recorded and released out into the world, the Nashville native pulled out all the stops and showcased all of the talent and promise that we can expect in the coming months – and years – including, we hope, her full-length, debut record.

If you've seen or heard Watkins before, you know that she has this unique ability to transport you back in time to some hole in the wall dive bar from the '60s, and that sentiment rang true even in Atlantic City.

Watkins quenched the TidalWave beachgoers' thirst as they swayed along to the honey-drenched yet utterly woeful 'Shirley Temple,' perfectly displaying her simple southern sensibilities.

Armed with already beloved hits like 'Sleeping In My Makeup,' 'Dark Places,' 'Camel Blues' and her southern rock-laced 'Grain of Salt,' Watkins also teased fans with a handful of unreleased songs that we hope to get our hands on soon, including 'County Line,' 'Jealous of Jane' and more.

A standout Holler favorite, every Lauren Watkins performance feels a little bit life changing in one way or another, and we can't wait for the full-on transformative experience we'll have when we get the next taste of her intoxicating artistry.

The 2023 edition of TidalWave is providing plenty of sizzling performances from some of country's biggest stars and fastest-rising newcomers as we celebrate the last days of summer.

After 2022's hell raising inaugural weekend, this year is racking up to once again be Atlantic City's new favorite country music festival, as we revel in performances from Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn and Thomas Rhett, who'll take to the stage throughout the three-day beach bash.

For more on TidalWave Festival 2023, see below:

Lauren Watkins

Artist