Pillbox Patti Delivers Friday Afternoon Performance at TidalWave Festival 2023

All photos by Devyn King

One of country music's most interesting new fringe acts, Pillbox Patti, closed out the Next From Nashville stage at TidalWave Festival 2023 on Friday night (August 11).

Following sets from other rising country artists like Mackenzie Carpenter, Chase McDaniel and Aaron Raitiere, Patti showcased her signature brand of not-always-pretty honesty set to the tune of her grungy, trap-influenced country twang.

Armed with only nine songs in her discography so far, Pillbox Patti, who is the artist persona of hit songwriter Nicolette Hayford ('Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,' 'One Night Standards'), used her TidalWave set to give fans a vibrant cross-section of her experiences growing up in Florida. Epitomized on the swampy 'Suwanee', she got festival attendees bopping along in the sweltering Friday evening heat while decked out in a Prada bucket hat and holding a cool Starbucks refresher.

Throughout the rest of her closing set, Patti also played the hypnotizing 'Candy Cigarettes,' slow-roller slice-of-life 'Good People,' the breezy swayer of 'Young and Stupid' and the pièce de résistance, 'Eat Pray Drugs', altogether blending country, rock, hip-hop and R&B into her own musical concoction.

Though still paving her own path in the country music landscape, Pillbox Patti has already begun to make a name for herself. In a little over a year, she's made her Grand Ole Opry debut, took the stage at several top-tier festivals and landed opening slots for the likes of Jelly Roll, Brantley Gilbert, Koe Wetzel and Old Crow Medicine Show.

If her TidalWave Festival set is any indication of what's to come for this burgeoning singer-songwriter, then Pillbox Patti is one artist to keep your eye on.

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 Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch and Cole Swindell, who'll take to the stage throughout the three-day beach bash.

For more on TidalWave Festival 2023, see below:

Pillbox Patti

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