More than 800 people attended the 12th Moccasin Creek Festival over the weekend at The Stage at Lake Sara, where local and not-so-local musicians rocked Effingham over four days.
Spearheaded by Bill “Poss” Passalacqua of Poss Music Works, the multi-genre festival included acts such as Rodney Crowell, Nick Shoulders, Trout Fishing in America, The Burney Sisters and Hope Dunbar.
During Crowell’s last song, he called up a few people to sing on stage with him: Poss, Greg Klyma and Kat Dow. It’s been a dream of Dow’s to see Crowell – let alone sing on stage with him.
“I’m just in shock. I am absolutely in shock,” said Dow.
Dow flew up from Florida for her third Moccasin Creek Festival. She first heard of it through Klyma.
“There’s so many people playing this festival that I absolutely love,” said Dow. “Rodney Crowell is legendary, and to be able to see him in an intimate setting like this – not to mention be called up to sing – is just an absolute dream, just a real pleasure.”
“Beautiful people, beautiful trees,” said Crowell. “I had a ball.”
This was Dunbar’s second time performing at Moccasin Creek Festival. She made the 12-hour drive from New Jersey to attend all four days of music.
“It’s a really fun vibe. It’s a really fun festival. It’s a bigger crowd than I typically play for, so that was really fun,” said Dunbar. “I really like that, when they get to sing along. I think people love that, so I’m glad about that.”
Dunbar first met Poss at a music conference in Kansas City, and has kept in touch ever since.
“What’s great about music is you meet friends. You stay in touch. It’s awesome,” said Dunbar.
Andrea Kirk and Melinda Robb drove from St. Louis for the festival. This was Robb’s first Moccasin Creek Festival and Kirk’s sixth.
“I’m loving the vibe. I’m loving the shade. I’m loving the scenery and the vendors,” said Kirk. “It seems super chill, and the music sounds great. So, so far, so good.”
They were excited to see Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, The Burney Sisters, Otis Gibs, The Mighty Pines and Sheafor and Simes.
“Sheafor and Simes about blew me away … I got to catch them more. I mean, she had me tearing up,” said Andrea. “Just amazing, so good, so talented, and it’s two people. They made enough noise for eight. It was amazing.”
Kirk mentioned how Moccasin Creek Festival is like it’s own little community, and she likes that it’s family-friendly. She was there with her parents, partner, daughter and dog.
“I’m excited, and I’m loving the vibe,” said Robb. “This won’t be my last, I’ll tell you that.”
Clothing vendors, jewelry vendors and food vendors – such as Joe Sippers Cafe – fueled the crowd throughout the four-day event.
Joe Sippers Cafe has been a vendor at Moccasin Creek Festival for a handful of years, with Effingham-local Drew Hanfland helping out each time.
“It’s a cool community. They bring in all kinds of people, so it’s a lot of fun,” said Hanfland. “Live music is great of any kind.”
He was most excited for The Burney Sisters because he’d seen them once before at Evergreen Park through a different Poss Music Works event.
People from New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Colorado and Arizona traveled to Effingham for the festival. It’s a very dedicated crowd, Poss said.
Poss will see people at the festival that he hasn’t seen in a while because life got busy for them, but they come back.
“We’re grateful for that kind of loyalty,” said Poss.
“It’s been amazing. The weather’s been beautiful. The turnout’s been great. We had a lot of people come in from out of town, a lot of local support, and it’s just been amazing.”
Poss Music Works events happen throughout the year, and can be found at possmusicworks.com.