Artist - Bones Owens - Holler Pilgrimage Sessions 2

Under the haunting and mysterious moniker of Bones Owens, Missouri-songwriter Caleb Owens has been known for brewing up soul-stirring and swampy rock and blues, the sort you'd find belting out of the smokiest of honky tonks and dive bars in Nashville's East Side. 

His self-titled debut, released in 2021 via Thirty Tigers, channelled this into a raw, alluring collection of songs that was as accessible and melodic-driven as it was boisterous and unrestrained. 

But, having recently been out on the road with Koe Wetzel and co-written with one of Holler's new favourites in Peco and The Rooftops, it shows Owens certainly doesn't package himself in one box. He uses the power of his songwriting to explore vast feelings and themes that show him to be a mature and affecting songwriter.

Joining George Dickel for the Holler Pilgrimage Sessions, Owens' performance of three new, unreleased songs certainly cements such an opinion. 

His session is dark and brooding, most suitable for the gently lit bar where the performances are recorded. With the stripped-back nature of the session, Owens is able to really lean in to the raw, sombre nature of these songs. Be sure though, this is no sorrowful tale; Owens growls at times, almost cries at others, ensuring the whiskey blues take hold and ruminate in your mind and soul.

'Bring Me Back' veers into the former. A brazen, petrol-doused murder ballad that would've been as suitable on 

Owens' caustic and defeated vocal rings heavily, as he admits there's nothing that will bring him back; "got no one to call / go on, sell my records off / mama now". 

'Eighteen Wheeler' and 'Heavy Arms', while softer in their tender desire, lose none of their emotional weight. Whether he's leaving someone behind to head back out on the road or observing his own fragility in the wake of a loss, Owens gently pines in hope, playing on the edges of finality while grasping onto the softly burning embers of hope.

Delivering one of Holler's most unreserved and passionate sessions to date, this is Bones Owens for the Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel.

George Dickel Presents Bones Owens for the Holler Pilgrimage Sessions, performing his songs 'Bring Me Back', 'Eighteen Wheeler' and 'Heavy Arms'.

Laura

Laura Ord

Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel: Bones Owens

Under the haunting and mysterious moniker of Bones Owens, Missouri-songwriter Caleb Owens delivers one of Holler's most unreserved and passionate sessions to date.

Bones Owens - 'Eighteen Wheeler' | Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

Artist - Boy Named Banjo Holler Pilgrimage Session 2

What better way to kick off the Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented By George Dickel than with one of country's finest and fast rising groups, Boy Named Banjo!

The sound of guitars being tuned and steel guitars and banjos being playfully picked fills the air in the George Dickel Bar, as preparations begin for the group's Holler Live Session at Pilgrimage Festival 2023. It's a fantastic time to catch the band - with the release of their much-anticipated major label debut 

 in September, the band are in a celebratory mood - and what better way to do that then stripping everything back and performing these songs in a new, unique way.

"I think [this song] is best enjoyed with the windows down, on a cool sunny day driving around town", banjo player and vocalist of the band, Barton Davies, explains while introducing the group's first song, 'Lonely In This Town'.

His description may seem strange upon listening, but it actually suits it beautifully. upon reflection. The song lingers in the twilight of a summer romance, as guitarist and vocalist William Reames sings of slow-passing landmarks and fading memories of the sadly-ended relationship. The band's harmonies pleasingly loiter rather than haunt the performance, as Reames' gruff and gravelly vocal embodies the heartbreak that now taints each favourite spot or lasting memory of the love that's sadly passed.

"This is a good old fashioned love song" Davies explains as he introduces the band's next song, 'Feel For You'. "We really love playing this one, we hope you like it too". The song's deliberate and measured build-up all pays off with it's evocative and soaring chorus; the whole group belting out the words at the top of their voices to remind us that sometimes, there's little words you can say to express how strongly you feel for someone. 

A wonderful display of their ability both live and in songwriting, Boy Named Banjo are an affecting and powerful group, who should be on everyone's Ones To Watch List from this point forward.

Holler Presents Boy Named Banjo for the Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel, performing their songs 'Feel For You' and 'Lonely In This Town'.

Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel: Boy Named Banjo

The fast-rising Bluegrass group join Holler and George Dickel at Pilgrimage Festival for an stripped-back and intimate performance.

Boy Named Banjo - 'Lonely In This Town' | Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel

Artist - George Birge Holler Live Session 1

George Birge's bio on Spotify reads like a mantra for living life exactly how you want to. "Golfin, Grillin, Songwritin and Singin", a simple sentence that sums up the man behind some of the hottest viral tracks this side of the 2020s. 

With 'Beer Beer, Truck Truck' and 'Mind On You', Birge has quickly made a name for himself as a songwriter with a quick whit, a finger on the pulse and a courage to say what he's thinking.

Joining us at The Betsey Trotwood for his first Holler Live Session, Birge is as affable as you'd expect him to be - a natural performer with an easy-going charm that feeds into his music.

"I always struggled writing love songs. I always felt like I couldn't make them my own or they were a little bit too cheesy; I struggled to make them tough enough. When I sat down to write it, I wanted to write a love song but I also wanted to write a song that I felt like was me, and I felt like I finally landed on something".

What he landed on was the album opener to his debut album 

'Forever and A Day'. As a studio recording, it's a slow-burning pop-country take that plenty of established stars would be begging to cut, but in the intimacy of a Holler Live Session, the heavy restlessness that Birge hints at comes much more to the fore, making the track uniquely his own.

"Being we're in the pub with Holler, I figured we'd play a song called 'Whiskey Side'", Birge explains as he introduces his second song. 

"I sat down to write this song and I was thinking about how we all have two sides. We have who we are when we're thinking about what we're saying, trying to be contributing members of society and make our momma's proud, and we have who we are when we take a couple shots of whiskey and say what's really on our mind". 

While we're not suggesting you down a bottle of Beam and really tell Janet in the office what you think of her, we appreciate Birge's candidness and desire to let off a little steam once in a while. While he may be trying to shake off what people expect of him, it feels like we get to see Birge's true colours as a songwriter - a calm self-reflection peppered throughout his work.

"I wrote this song in 2020, when I didn't have a record deal and I was writing songs for other artists" Birge admits when heading into his final song of the session. "I orginally pitched it to Jason Aldean; I got an E-Mail back from his team saying 'don't play this song for anyone else', they wanted to put it on his new record". 

"At the time, that was the biggest thing to ever happen to me". Birge continues "Fast forward about six months, I put some of my own songs on social media and they blew up. I got a record deal and I ended up getting this song back and getting to put it out with my own name on it".

The song is his aforementioned biggest hit to date and the title track of his debut album, 'Mind On You'. A late night drive full of burning desire, Birge channels all of the passion and intensity of the recorded version into this simmering performance, while still delivering it with the cool nonchalant of an artist in his element.

Holler presents George Birge for the Holler Live Sessions, performing his songs 'Forever and A Day', 'Whiskey Side' and 'Mind On You'.

Holler Live Sessions: George Birge

Birge channels all of his passion and intensity while still delivering with the cool nonchalant of an artist in his element.

George Birge 'Mind On You' Video - Holler Live Session

Drake

Artist - Drake Milligan

In the last couple of years, a wave of exciting neo-traditional acts have emerged, bringing them with an arsenal of sure-fire hits that have country fans square-dancing over some Miller High Lifes till the mornin' breaks.

At the forefront is a certain gentleman by the name of Mr Drake Milligan. He's bringing this honky tonk strain of neo-traditional country to the forefront of the genre, delivering standout records and getting live crowds dancing across various festivals and headline dates.

The 25-year-old Texan has become famed for his delectable mix of Elvis and Roy Orbison charm and Garth and George country sensibility, which has coalesced into his straight banger of a debut double album, 

With not a single misstep in sight, Milligan has ventured across the pond for his first Holler Live Session, delivering some of his biggest hits to date in a stripped-back setting.

Kicking off with album highlight 'Kiss Goodbye All Night', Milligan's love drunk lyricism goes down like honey when paired with a Strait country-esque melody like this. The syrupy sentiment of the lyricism is laminated with a natural cool, Milligan shuffling side to side on his stool as he sinks into the performance.

'This song was really inspired by some of my heroes like Elvis, Roy Orbison and some of that music from the '50s". Milligan explains as he introduces his his second song, 'Don't Look Down'. 

A slow-burning pirouette that wouldn't be lost in Midland's discography, it's an endearing love song that twirls in the very moment; evoking the excitement and nervousness of the first sparks of love as two lovers touch on the dance floor for the first time.

Closing out with the barnstorming 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do', Milligan cements just why everyones getting caught up in a tizzy about this exciting young artist. The song is an unadulterated bop - straight from the late 80s country school of boot-scootin' harmony. It warrants the celebratory whoops from those in the attendance, and certainly from you watching at home.

Performing his songs 'Kiss Goodbye All Night', 'Don't Look Down' and 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do', this is Drake Milligan for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Drake Milligan for the Holler Live Sessions, performing his songs 'Don't Look Down', 'Kiss Goodbye All Night' and 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do'.

Holler Live Sessions: Drake Milligan 

Milligan is leading a pack of exciting, neo-traditional honky tonkers that are grooving country up once more.

Drake Milligan 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do' Video - Holler Live Session

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Live sessions and music videos from the world of country, Americana and roots from Holler.

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Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel: Bones Owens

Holler Pilgrimage Sessions Presented by George Dickel: Boy Named Banjo

Holler Live Sessions: George Birge

Holler Live Sessions: Drake Milligan