An article by Johnny Cole with photos by Stephen “Andy” Anderson, art by Robbie Amonett, and editing by Deborah Chatham
The Southland Music Line, which began in October 2013, aims to find the best music with a strong commitment to accuracy. We are now in our 12th year, thanks to devoted readers and music enthusiasts who share similar interests.
The Southland Music Line, a nonprofit organization and website, promotes music history, contemporary music, and the future of music. Our staff expresses gratitude to its followers for their appreciation of its articles and photo collections.
2024: A Year to Remember
The Southland Music Line continued to take a balanced approach to its activities in 2024. Since we all have active schedules outside of “The Line,” our staff saw the importance of evenly choosing what to do and what not to do.
Personally, my schedule outside of The Southland Music Line involves working with music education and consulting on events and tours, both stateside and abroad. Thankfully, I could accomplish my objectives while keeping everything in proper perspective.
The Southland Music Line has enjoyed a great working relationship with the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance for several years. For the third consecutive year, we had the honor of writing the biographies used by the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in its ceremony presentations. The Hall of Fame selected The Southland Music Line as their official archivist with our work featured in the museum, which opens in 2026. We enjoyed this year’s Mississippi Songwriters Festival and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The inductions of Glen Ballard, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon were excellent additions to the Hall of Fame.
Also, one of our favorite events that we regularly attend is the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance’s “Songs and Stories,” held at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center. This year we enjoyed seeing Cary Hudson (2023 Music Artist of the Year at The Southland Music Line), Cary Laine, Lynn Drury, Phil & Foster, Sean Gasaway, Summerlyn Powers, and Libby Rae Watson perform. The popular group Chapel Hart also performed at “The Mary C.” during this year’s festival.
Top photo: A painting of Red & The Revelers, one of the region’s most popular bands, by Robby Amonett (a co-founding member of The Southland Music Line); above photo: Jason Isbell at The Sound Amphitheater in Gautier, MS (photo by Stephen “Andy” Anderson (a co-founding member of The Southland Music Line).
In the spring of 2024, The Sound Amphitheater in Gautier, Mississippi, opened with two shows: KC and the Sunshine Band (April 12) and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with special guest The North Mississippi Allstars (April 19). We were honored to document these events through photography and articles. The Sound welcomed many major acts to its stage for the remainder of the year.
We enjoyed several more events in 2024, including “Along the Pontchartrain Concert Series IX” featuring Cary Hudson, Jimbo Mathus, Brian Stoltz, John Papa Gros, Casandra Faulconer, Russ Broussard, Katrina Miller, and Rurik Nunan at a private house concert in New Orleans, Louisiana. We also attended John Moreland’s return to Callaghan’s in Mobile, Alabama; John Hiatt, with special guest Libby Rae Watson, at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pascagoula, Mississippi; and The 100 Men Hall’s first Gumbo Cook-off, “Rock ‘N’ Roux,” in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
The Southland Music Line’s photographer, Stephen “Andy” Anderson, captured two memorable shows at the picturesque Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers performed on June 28; while Norway’s Bjørn Nilsen, Anne Fagermo, and Jan Birger Akerhaugen, who were special guests at this year’s Mississippi Songwriters Festival, performed on September 20.
Jan Birger Akerhaugen, Anne Fagermo, and Bjørn Nilsen, who were special guests from Norway at this year’s Mississippi Songwriters Festival.
In late spring, we traveled to Meridian, Mississippi, to visit the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX). There we met with Penny Kemp (President/CEO), Aaron Windham (Director of Operations), and Coleman Warner (Historian/Staff Writer). They could not have been kinder, giving us a guided tour of this amazing 58,500-square-foot museum dedicated to showcasing the state of Mississippi’s contributions to the fields of arts and entertainment. The museum is much more than just another museum, as its use of modern technology brings a variety of enjoyable experiences for its visitors.
In August, we enjoyed visiting our good, longtime friends, Rambling Steve Gardner and Bill Steber, at The Grill and Grocery in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was the first time we had seen them since the pandemic. On this particular evening in August, Steve and Bill performed before Drew Young, someone we have gotten to know over the past few years. We had a great time!
Throughout 2024, we developed a pleasant relationship with the good people at Red Radio Productions South. We attended several events they hosted, beginning with their Black Box Series show on January 20, featuring The Flow Tribe’s K.C. O’Rorke and Red and the Revelers, held at the Immersive Media Performing Arts Center (IMPAC), located at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. We also attended two shows featuring Heavy Strides, Stormfolk, Patrick Sanders, and artist Greg Noll (February 17), as well as Tender Oak, The Mississippi Shakedown, and artist Adam Cook (April 13).
Summerlyn Powers at The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center in Ocean Springs, MS. We enjoyed several additional shows by Miss Powers at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, MS, Flora-Bama’s Main Room during the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival, and Flamingo Landing in Gulfport, MS.
The Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, Mississippi, continues to be one of our favorite venues. We have attended several shows there, including two in January featuring Molly Thomas with Rick Hirsch and John Kueler, and later Summerlyn Powers.
Some other shows attended by The Southland Music Line include: Emily Sholes Smith at Flamingo Landing, Jimmy Lee Hannaford at Bill-E’s, Grayson Capps at Murky Waters, Cricket Selecky & Paulie Edmonds at The Shed, Mark Pfaff & Phil Proctor at Jack’s by the Tracks. Drew Howard, Bjørn Nilsen (from Norway), and Damien Joe Lamb, also performed at Jack’s by the Tracks.
A Busy Year Beyond The Southland Music Line
I have enjoyed working with numerous people and organizations outside The Southland Music Line, including participating in several tours and teaching projects. I appreciate the generosity shown to me by those who continue to have faith in my ability to do my job as a consultant and educator.
An Invitation to Emcee an Event at Frank Brown
In the spring of this year, I was invited to emcee the inaugural event of “Relatives of Nashville Royalty” at this year’s Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival, scheduled for November 8. This year’s event featured Georgette Jones (daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette), Tess Frizzell (daughter of Shelly West and David Frizzell, granddaughter of Dottie West, and niece of Lefty and David Frizzell), Waylon Payne (son of Jody Payne and Sammi Smith, and godson of Waylon Jennings), Jenni Eddy Jennings (daughter of Jessie Colter and Duane Eddy, and stepdaughter of Waylon Jennings), Quinn Loggins (son of Dave Loggins), Ricky Randolph (son of Mac Vickery), Stephen Hunley (nephew of Con Hunley), Matt Lale (grandson of Billy Sherrill), Hawkshaw Hawkins, Jr. (son of Hawkshaw Hawkins and Jean Shepard), and Tony “T-Bone” Montgomery (nephew of Peanut Montgomery). They were accompanied by Ben Murphy, Bobby Tomberlin, Mac Walter, and Matt Pittman. The evening was a memorable one filled with music and great stories. At times, it felt like a huge country music family reunion. I was honored to emcee this event on the festival’s 40th anniversary and appreciate the kindness shown to me by the Frank Brown Festival organizers.
Relatives of Nashville Royalty, a special event at the 2024 Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival. The Southland Music Line’s Johnny Cole was privileged to emcee.
Deborah’s Adventures
I am not the only one who travels the globe following good music. Once again, Deborah Chatham, our contributing editor, attended some outstanding stateside shows: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jeff Lynne’s ELO at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, For King & Country at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama Tennessee, and Frank Turner at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mississippi Blues Trail Series
A few years ago, we began documenting the Mississippi Blues Trail markers. Since then, our article series has spotlighted markers across the state and region, becoming one of our most popular features. This year, we spotlighted markers honoring Albert King, Club Ebony, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, and Denise LaSalle. We plan to continue the Blues Trail articles in the coming year.
The Southland Music Line Continues to Share Lists
Since 1979, I have been compiling year-end music lists. These lists, and all my other music-themed lists, are used for archival and educational purposes. Periodically, The Southland Music Line has shared some of the latest lists on its website. Thankfully, they have been well-received by our readers. This year, we shared a list of my all-time favorite songs by the Beach Boys. We also posted a weekly music chart and Gulf Coast live music listings on social media.
Will Kimbrough was selected as this year’s Music Artist of the Year by The Southland Music Line’s editorial staff. He was also named Favorite Music Artist by our readers in the Readers’ Choice Awards.
2024 Music Artist of the Year
Each year, The Southland Music Line’s management team, along with a group of consultants and contributors, chooses a different artist to be that year’s “Music Artist of the Year.” At the beginning of December, we announced that Will Kimbrough had been chosen as our “Music Artist of the Year.” Our featured article about Will was written by Les Kerr, a contributing writer from Nashville, Tennessee.
Results of The 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards:
During December, our readers celebrate the Gulf Coast music scene by voting in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The results of this year’s voting:
>︎ Readers’ Choice Music Artist of the Year: Will Kimbrough (Runner-up: Grayson Capps; also receiving a considerable number of votes, in alphabetical order: Abe Partridge, Cary Hudson, Eric Erdman, Grits & Greens, Phil & Foster, Red & the Revelers, Sugarcane Jane, and The Red Clay Strays; over 35 different music artists received votes.)
︎> Readers’ Choice Album or EP of the Year: Made by These Moments – The Red Clay Strays (Runner-up: For the Life of Me – Will Kimbrough; also receiving a considerable number of votes, in alphabetical order: Grits & Greens – Grits & Greens; Heartbreak, Misery & Death – Grayson Capps; Live at the Ryman – The Red Clay Strays; Old Blue – Cary Hudson; and On A Mission – Sugarcane Jane)
> Readers’ Choice (Indoor) Music Venue of the Year: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Runner-up: Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, MS)
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> Readers’ Choice (Outdoor) Music Venue of the Year: The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL (Runner-up: The Sound Amphitheater in Gautier, MS)
The readers of The Southland Music Line voted The Red Clay Strays’ Made by These Moments favorite album of 2024. The Red Clay Strays were previously selected as Music Artist of the Year in 2020 by The Southland Music Line’s editorial staff.
Top Album List(s) by Management Team:
☆ Johnny Cole (Editor/Writer/Co-Founder):
1. Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
2. Made by These Moments – The Red Clay Strays
3. For the Life of Me – Will Kimbrough
4. Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty – Various Artists
5. Sugarado – Nilsen’s Southern Harmony
6. On a Mission – Sugarcane Jane
7. Heartbreak, Misery & Death – Grayson Capps
8. Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits – Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
9. Grits & Greens – Grits & Greens
10. Jubilee – Jimmy Lee Hannaford
11. It Would Have Been You – Steve Eriksson
12. Luck and Strange – David Gilmour
13. Stella Cole – Stella Cole
14. Rhumba Country – Pokey Lafarge
15. Sweet Critters – Caleb Caudle
16. Ole Blue – Cary Hudson
17. Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish
18. Hill Country Love – Cedric Burnside
19. Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin – Various Artists
20. Songwriter – Johnny Cash
*Source: The statistics are from Johnny’s 52 weekly music charts compiled in 2024. See below for a link to the complete list.
☆ Johnny Cole’s Ten Favorite Singles/Album Tracks of 2024: 1) “Deeper Well” – Kacey Musgraves; 2) “Too Pretty to Cry” – Margy ft. Cherie McCabe; 3) “Too Good to Be True” – Kacey Musgraves; 4) “She Don’t Love Me Now” – Bruce Springsteen; 5) “The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves; 6) “Birds of a Feather” – Billie Eilish; 7) “Mr. Nice Try” – Chaislyn; 8) “Don’t Forget Me” – Maggie Rogers; 9) “Sandpiper” – Zach Bryan and Bruce Springsteen; 10) “Make Believe” – Chaislyn (*6th straight year that a song by Chaislyn has been in Johnny’s annual year-end top ten. This year she had two songs finish in the top ten.)
* See further below for links to Johnny Cole’s annual year-end lists, which include a complete list(s) of favorite albums, favorite singles/tracks, favorite shows, the 2024 Music Awards, and more!
☆ Stephen “Andy” Anderson (Photographer/ Co-Founder):
1. Portrait – Samara Joy
2. Hill Country Love – Cedric Burnside
3. Ancestor Sounds – Africatown, AL
4. Blame it on Eve – Shamekia Copeland
5. Mind, Man, Medicine – Secret Sisters
6. Live at Fillmore East, 1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
7. The In Between – Kevin Gordon
8. Visitor – John Moreland
9. The Love You Bleed – Danielle Nicole
10. Things Done Changed – Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
11. Mood Swings – Marcus King
12. Heartbreak, Misery & Death – Grayson Capps
13. Poloroid Lovers – Sarah Jarosz
14. Mahashmashana – Father John Misty
15. Tigers Blood – Waxahatchee
16. Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St. – Swamp Dogg
17. I’ll See You in My Dreams – Mason Ramsey
18. Welcome to the Plains – Wyatt Flores
19. My Stupid Life – Brittney Spencer
20. Woodland – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings
21. Passage du Desir – Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson)
22. Trail of Flowers – Sierra Ferrell
23. The Great American Bar Scene – Zach Bryan
24. Roadrunner – Kailtlin Butts
25. One Guitar Woman – Sue Foley
26. Jubilee – Jimmy Lee Hannaford
☆ Deborah Chatham (Writer/Associate Editor):
1. Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
2. Undefeated – Frank Turner
3. 50 – Herb Alpert
4. Bouquet – Gwen Stefani
5. Moon Music – Coldplay
6. The Secret of Us – Gracie Abrams
7. Ghost Notes – The Loving Apparitions
8. Radical Optimism – Dua Lipa
9. Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going – Shaboozy
10. Heartbreak, Misery & Death – Grayson Capps
11. No Name – Jack White
12. Luck and Strange – David Gilmour
13. Blame It on Eve – Shemekia Cole
14. On a Mission – Sugarcane Jane
15. Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables – Dolly Parton and Family
16. Forever – Bon Jovi
17. Ragged Glory (Live recording of the classic 1990 album released in 2024) – Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
18. Songs of a Lost World – The Cure
19. Lonely Christmas Eve – Joe Bonamassa
20. The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift
Johnny Cole’s Annual Year-End Lists, Complete List of Shows & Music Awards:
Click Here for the Johnny Cole’s Annual Music Awards, Top 125 Albums of 2024, and Top Singles of 2024 (both based on his weekly charts)
Click Here for Complete List of Concerts, Favorites Concerts, and Complete List of Music Artists seen in 2024.
The covers appearing on “The Line” in 2024:
Our Articles and Photos in 2024:
We appreciate everyone who took the time to read our articles and view our photo collections in 2024. Our most-viewed article was “Will Kimbrough: 2024 Music Artist of the Year,” by our good friend Les Kerr, a contributor to The Southland Music Line. Our two photo collections spotlighting events at The Sound Amphitheater were our most viewed photo collections.
Tom “Doc” Leytham, a contributor to “The Line,” reviewed The Red Clay Strays’ latest album in August. He has written several articles featured in The Southland Music Line. This was his most-viewed article to date. Congratulations, Tom!
Click Here for our complete list of articles in 2024 and previous years.
Click Above for a look back at a variety of photos taken by Stephen “Andy” Anderson in 2024.
Click Here for “ALL” the photo collections from previous years.
2024 Monthly Music Spotlight:
▪︎ Jan – Wonder, Won’t You – Harrison Storm
▪︎ Feb – Wall of Eyes – Smile
▪︎ Mar – Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
▪︎ Apr – Hill Country Love – Cedric Burnside
▪︎ May – For the Life of Me – Will Kimbrough
▪︎ June – Forever – Bon Jovi
▪︎ July – Vagabonda, Virgins & Mishaps – Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
▪︎ Aug – Made by These Moments – The Red Clay Strays
▪︎ Sept – Luck and Strange – David Gilmour
▪︎ Oct – Sugarado Nilsen’s Southern Harmony
▪︎ Nov – Heartbreak, Misery & Death – Grayson Capps
▪︎ Dec. – It Would Have Been You – Steve Eriksson
Click Here to visit our Spotlight Music of the Month Archives.
Music Fans Spotlight 2024:
︎︎● Sam Long (Gulf Shores, AL)
● Dale Boyette (Woolmarket, MS)
● Ross Peterson (Mobile, AL)
Click Here for review of all our music fans celebrated at The Southland Music Line.
Acknowledgements:
The Southland Music Line thanks all the fine folks who granted us access to shows, events, and festivals, or even saved us a seat. We look forward to sharing more good times with you all in 2025.
Truitt Williams
This year’s review is dedicated to the memory of Truitt Williams (pictured above). He truly was one of the nicest people, treating everyone with genuine kindness. Truitt was featured in our 2019 article, “Truitt Williams – Words to Live By” (an article by Brenda Germany). Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to his wife, Amy, his family, his many friends, and everyone fortunate enough to have known Truitt.
Links:
J.C.’s Annual Music Awards, Top Albums & Singles of 2024.
J.C.’s Complete List of Concerts & Favorite Concerts of 2024.
A Year in Photos by Stephen Anderson
Will Kimbrough: 2024 Music Artist of the Year
