Welcome back to our Mile 0 Fest recap, giving you the deets you missed or blacked out on. We've rocked on through Day 2 with some big time fun.
Today we decided to be intentional with time & refreshed experiences Mile 0 Fest has to offer. Moving back to the Key West Theater this year (from the San Carlos theater of previous years), Adam Hood & Ben Chapman presented themselves as the Sultans of the South. This intimate show was a Premium package experience, complete with table service, black crushed velvet table tops, & a true cigar/martini club feel. The sultans song swapped while producing soulful harmonies & lead guitar teamwork. Hood, Mile 0 Fest royalty in his own right, sang with that deep rooted southern twang & emotion we know from his golden songwriting discography. Chapman tried out new tunes never before played for a live audience. His raw emotion about his blooming new family brought several tears to the audience eyes, singing a ballad he wrote for his 4 month old little boy & what it feels like to be a new father. This set between the two was absolutely moving, a gentle reminder of what true artistry & guitar talent looks like. Check out our full spotlight interview with Ben debuting next week!
Next we braved the elements at the Garbo stage for Micky & the Motorcars. This year, two stages were set side by side at the amphitheater roundabout outside of the usual festival grounds. Micky came prepped with many cold weather inspired tunes from his Idaho raising, unfazed by the soft drizzle of rain coating the crowd. Gary Braun added backup vocals & led a few songs.
Flying over to the Mule Barn Southernmost Point beach stage, we caught Kashus Culpepper. Though the Atlantic wind kept a cold chill over the crowd, it didn't deter the fans looking for Culpepper's southern sound. Culpepper has such a wholesome personality while mixing country rock with a gospel twang. 
Starting off the main stage at the amp was Suzanne Santo. We were most excited to see Santo on this day, a trained vocalist with a long list of accolades. She faced the weather in comfy clothes, dropping a "news bomb" (her words) on us that she's currently pregnant with another child. Santo's songwriting is emotional, filled with personal life lessons & ancient wisdom. This may have been a rare concert occurrence for the future days as Santo declared on stage that she prioritizes motherhood over touring & missed her two year old awaiting her return in Austin.
Funky force of nature Taylor Hunnicutt took the stage next, amassing popularity across the nation. She's been climbing her way up in slots on festival lineups with her tight groove band & her Stevie Nicks-inspired stage presence. The gal can SANG while she transports you to her home sound of Alabama. I'd like to see her do a song swap with Adam Hood & Brent Cobb, adding that womanly touch of sass & can-do attitude.
Definitely the most emotional show of the evening, American Aquarium stayed true to its name. BJ Barham is no stranger to the blue collar working class lifestyle & the demons that grapple with societal hierarchy. Barham's sharp wit tongue & direct vocals delivered American Aquarium songs with a new found seriousness since he's recently lost a vote for town commissioner. The band is known for its rock'n'roll Americana heat, headbanging & kicking around on stage-- but this set included tears during "The World is on Fire." We cannot turn a blind eye to the political & social turmoil this country is facing, & people like BJ Barham are using their platforms to inspire change. Perhaps the best advice for the time comes from his song lyrics: "We just can't give in. We just give up. We must go boldly into the darkness & be the light." Jamie Lin Wilson also joined for a duet to "Lonely Ain't Easy."
Closing out the sanctioned festivities was Stephen Wilson, Jr.
We ended the night early, opting out of the trek to Duval. Remember y'all, it's a marathon, not a race! See y'all tomorrow for a recap on today. Hopefully the sun shows its face & the wind is at our backs.