[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on April 10, 2016]

Knoxville’s Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival continued on Saturday night with headliners The Mavericks and MUTEMATH.

Both bands performed on the Cripple Creek Stage, an outdoor venue created specifically for the festival in the parking lot across from Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria. The venue also featured local food trucks such as Savory and Sweet and Tootsie Truck. Yee-Haw Brewing Company provided alcoholic beverages for the event.

The Mavericks took the stage first and performed their blend of western swing, Latin and rockabilly for the crowd. Despite the temperatures in the low-to-mid 40s hundreds of fans filled the space and danced along to the music in the outdoor venue.

Knoxville natives Dawn McKinney and Brittany Stanford were among those who made it to the Old City for the weekend. They took their second trip to Rhythm N’ Blooms this year and attended the shows for both The Mavericks and MUTEMATH among others.

They said they are supporters of local and indie music. Both enjoyed getting to hear all that the festival had to offer.

“The Mavericks aren’t really our style, but they’re fun,” McKinney said. “My favorite act tonight was The Lone Bellow.”

MUTEMATH took the stage after The Mavericks and helped to showcase the diversity of the festival with their alternative music contrasting the Americana of The Mavericks. After Rhythm N’ Blooms, the band will be preparing for a summer tour with Twenty One Pilots.

Overall, McKinney and Stanford were impressed with the variety of the music and the organization of the festival in general.

“I feel like everything runs really smoothly,” McKinney said. “Getting your tickets and getting in and out and everything is really seamless.”

Stanford believes Rhythm N’ Blooms adds something special to Knoxville’s music scene.

“I love it,” Stanford added. “I wish they would do more things like it more often.

“We love our scruffy little city,” McKinney added.

For more information about Rythmn N’ Blooms Festival, visit their official website.

Featured image by Taylor Owens

Edited by Jessica Carr