Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm (Campground Sessions)
Friday, September 12, 2025, from 5:40 - 6:10 PM Festival Field (Artist Pop-up)
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10:00 pm (Juke Joint - The Moon at O'Bannon's)
Sunday September 14, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Blues Stage)
What’s going to grab you on first listen is Early James’ voice. It’s a unique instrument and impossible to describe, though there are those who’ve tried. The New York Times took a stab at his distinct vocals, calling them “tattered and nervous, with a grainy quaver.” Round Hill Music takes a big swing with this: “a century’s worth of American barkers and crooners, from Alan Lomax field recordings to mid-century iconoclasts like Billie Holliday and Howlin Wolf to ghostly late-century interpreters like Fiona Apple and Tom Waits.”
In any case, the Alabama native caught the ear of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who signed him to Easy Eye Sound. All three of Early’s records are on Easy Eye, including his latest, Medium Raw, another sublime showcase of his songwriting chops and That Voice.
Influenced by a host of artists such as Tom Waits and Johnny Cash, Early’s music trucks in real-life concerns like addiction and relationships, sifted through his clear-eyed observations and dark poeticism. On Medium Raw, Auerbach’s natural production values help Early’s songs shine. It’s an album made for our times.