Day 164 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Saturday October 17th was day 164 for Charlie and I. It was day 31 for Tim & Debbie! We are still at Stagger Lee Music Park for the 6th Annual Headin' Home Fest! It has been blistering hot since we got here and overnight, a cold front came in! It is not going to get above 69 degrees today! Tim & Debbie and Charlie & I transferred all of the "Yankee gear" from their RV to ours. We will get it all back to Rod & Helen.

At noon, the music kicked off with Brad Kaylor & Mineral Bluff Revue. Brad Kaylor & Mineral Bluff Revue is a contemporary bluegrass band formed in 2025 that blends a hard-driving, traditional sound with modern songwriting. Rooted in the mountain traditions of North Georgia and Western North Carolina, the six-piece group is signed to Huckleberry Records, a division of Turnberry Records. The leader of the band is Brad Kaylor on lead vocals and bass. Chris Pope adds the rhythm guitar and vocals. Hayden Bramlett does some serious pickin' on the 5-string banjo and adds to the vocals. Dylan Smith does the pickin' on the flat top as the lead guitar and Tony White is filling in today on mandolin for the band.

At 1:00pm, the second band took the stage, NightFlyer. The Original Ohio Band named NightFlyer was around from 2010–2019. The new Florida / Georgia band was formed in 2025 by combining two bands. They are an exciting young band, brought together by a group of friends passionate about creating well-crafted music that comes from the heart and reaches the soul. They bring together years of combined experience to make NightFlyer a band that you won’t forget hearing. They perform classic bluegrass, gospel, and original songs with an excellence that shows their respect for both old and new American roots music. They launched their official presence to step into the regional scene with live performances at historic venues like Everett's Music Barn. 

Brandon Gandy on the 5-string banjo and doing the lead singing and song writing, while Brandon Taylor sang lead vocals and played guitar. Both Brandon's are members of the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame with Blue Holler. Kaiah Sauls, is a talented upright bass player and provides vocals for NightFlyer. Her brother and bandmate Nathan Sauls (who plays dobro) are also notable members of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Paul Hinkle is filling in on mandolin this weekend.

At 2:00pm The Brothers Five had their second set. The brothers have spent the entire festival parking campers, helping people, selling tickets and merchandise. And they find time to pick at these late night jams!

The fact that these boys spend practically every minute of their lives singing and jamming together shows in their highly polished and entertaining show! Ranging in age from 20 to 12, The Brothers Five have already performed at many festivals and venues across the country. To watch The Brothers Five on stage is to experience a refreshing dose of joy, family camaraderie, and reassurance that the future of bluegrass is brighter than ever.

3:00pm was when Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out took the stage. They are one of the most prominent and heavily awarded contemporary bluegrass and gospel supergroups in the world. 

Formed in 1991 in Cumming, Georgia, the band was originally known simply as IIIrd Tyme Out before updating their name to feature their iconic front man and guitarist, Russell Moore. One of the veterans of IIIrd Tyme Out is mandolin playet, Wayne Benson. On bass, this is his 2nd show with IIIrd Tyme Out, Daniel Sawyer.

For 13 years he played fiddle for IIrd Tyme Out, he took some time off and started a business, now he is back playing banjo, Justen Haynes. By day, he is the booking agent for Ole Smoky Moonshine stages. By night, Matt Flake plays fiiddle and sings the bass vocals.

4:00pm brought our Dinner Break and picture time! Everyone that purchased a festival T-shirt gathered in front of the pavilion for a group photo! 

Tim, Debbie and Cathy got in on the act! After that, we headed to the camper to cool off, we headed there to get warm! What a difference 24-hours makes!

We were all in our seats by 5:30pm with our coats and blankets, to watch the second set from NightFlyer. 

Kaiah Sauls belted out a beauty in their second set!!

At 6:30pm Brad Kaylor & Mineral Bluff Revue came to the stage for their second set. Front man Brad Kaylor grew up in Cherokee County, North Carolina, surrounded by family bluegrass musicians. 

Co-founder Chris Pope was raised on church harmonies and classic bluegrass in North Georgia. Together, Kaylor and Pope also actively promote the Ridge Jam Bluegrass Festival held annually in Blue Ridge, Georgia. They had Leo Lindblom come up and pick one with them!

It was 7:30pm when Headin’ Home took the stage. The family began touring as a bluegrass band in 2018. 

In 2023, Headin’ Home won the Dailey & Vincent Band Contest; in 2024, they won the official Georgia State Bluegrass Band Competition; and in 2026, they took 2nd place in the SPBGMA International Band Championship. The 1st Annual Headin’ Home Fest took place in 2022, and has been a joyful family team effort every year since.

The final act of the 2026 Fall 6th Annual Headin' Home Fest started at 8:30pm. It was Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. Moore himself is widely recognized as one of the finest vocalists in acoustic music history, commanding six IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards. 

Backed by tight instrumental arrangements and signature multi-part vocal harmonies, the group has amassed over 50 industry accolades, including an unprecedented seven consecutive wins for IBMA Vocal Group of the Year from 1994 to 2000. With a deep library of 15 studio albums, the group blends traditional mountain standards with contemporary pacing. Some of their most celebrated tracks include:

"Pretty Little Girl From Galax" — Their most viral hit, racking up over half a million digital streams.
"Hard Rock Mountain Prison" — The breakout single from their self-titled 2009 record.
"Erase the Miles" — The title track of a beloved compilation showcasing their signature heart-wrenching road ballads.

And they sung all three for us tonight!

What a fantastic bluegrass festival! We are thrilled that Tim & Debbie truly had a great time!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane adventures!