Hometown Heroes: A Socially Distanced Festival

Hometown Heroes: A Socially Distanced Festival
w/Snoop Dogg, Randy Rogers Band, Nelly, Josh Abbot Band, Stoney LaRue, Mike Ryan, Deanna Wheeler, and Harper Grace
Brushy Creek Amphitheater, Hutto, TX
September 25-26, 2020

Photography by Michael Mullenix

Live Music finally returned to Central Texas as the Hometown Heroes Live Festival brought the finest names of Hip Hop and Country together for two nights of socially distanced live music.

The festival itself was set up to adhere to social distancing guidelines, where concert-goers reserved 6 foot squared sections and relied on a downloadable app that made ordering food, drinks, and artist merch convenient. In addition to the four acts onstage each day, the festival would stream in live performances from the festival’s other locations in Dallas and Lubbock over several monitors. But Austin/Hutto lucked out when it came to their live entertainers with music performances by The Josh Abbott Band, Nelly, The Randy Rogers Band, Stoney Larue, and undoubtedly the largest draw for Snoop Dogg.

Interestingly, in what felt more like a Country Festival it was the Rap Artists that seemed to draw the most amount of hype and excitement throughout the weekend, spearheaded really by Nelly who was actually born in Austin.  His set was back to front filled with his greatest hits like Air Force Ones, Dillema, E.I, Ride Wit Me, and Hot In Herre. Particularly he got the biggest reaction from the title song to “Country Grammar,” celebrating 20 years since the album’s release. But truly the highlight of the weekend was Snoop Dogg, oddly with no discernible connection to Texas in general, but when Snoop wants to play your town you can’t even argue with it. An entourage and local dancers joined Snoop as he strolled out onstage to The Next Episode. The party was instantly underway as every section of the socially distanced crowd dancing and throwing their hands up. Between songs like Nuthin’ But A G Thang, Drop It Like It’s Hot, and P.I.M.P, the king of the rap game was electrifying, and boiled to a fever pitch as Snoop went into Gin And Juice. Finally though, he bid farewell to the audience with a final send out and the hook from Young, Wild, And Free.

FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY

SATURDAY PHOTO GALLERY

About the Photographer

Michael Mullenix

Growing up around the world, Michael developed a taste and appreciation for all styles of music. While studying film making at Boston University, he dove headfirst into a mosh-pit and never came out. It was in Boston that he combined his love of film and photography with his drive and passion for being a chronicler of the underground music scene. After graduation he headed to Los Angeles and for over a decade has worked with some of the top musicians and actors in the entertainment industry. Lured to Austin by the cultural explosion in the music and film scenes taking place there, he relocated two years ago and describes Austin as a cultural Shang Ri La!