A sophomore slump is defined as a decline in performance after a successful debut.
When Two Step Inn announced dates and a lineup coming soon, myself and many of my friends were worried that they would hit a sophomore slump. After an out-of-control lawn chair situation, general admission tickets only getting you as close to the soundboard for the main stage, and a lot of other first-year fest mistakes, I was unsure if I would return to the festival again in 2024.
Then, things started looking up. First, the festival announced Cody Johnson as the Saturday night headliner, then they announced that they’d be improving cell service all around the park and enforcing no chair zones, and finally, a revamped main stage setup that allows fans with general admission wristbands to get up to very front of the stage if they want to, rather than restricting them to the soundboard and behind. It’s a move that hooked me back in if the lineup was up to par. Holy moly was it.
This year’s festival is headlined by the previously announced Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, and Hank Williams Jr. Also highlighting the lineup are Ryan Bingham, backed by the Texas Gentleman, Colter Wall, Clint Black, Charley Crockett, Megan Moroney, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack. These are only throughout the top three lines. Even on the last two lines of each day, Drake Milligan, Dylan Gossett, Zach Top, Wyatt Flores, Ella Langley, Vincent Neil Emerson, and J.R. Carroll all are way down this lineup. Ludacris is even on this lineup, filling the spot that T-Pain left behind from last year. The full lineup is posted below:
There are so many incredible artists from top to bottom to the point where the schedule and all the potential conflicts are scaring me already. Sophomore slumps do not exist in the C3 offices I guess. Regardless, I am so stoked to return to Georgetown, I cannot wait for this festival to return, and since I can’t write a festival article until this festival rolls around in April, I might as well do it now.
Here are my top 10 most anticipated acts for the second edition of Two Step Inn.
Turnpike Troubadours
Will this be my fourth time seeing Turnpike? Yes. Am I still just as stoked to see them now as I was the first three? Absolutely. The band finally has a new album out, their reunion has gone off without a hitch, and I can’t imagine how great it’ll be to see them in a festival environment again. A song like Before The Devil Knows We’re Dead or Every Girl in the middle of 30,000 rowdy Texans will be just as great as it was when I saw them right off the back of their reunion at KOKE Fest last year. Above all else, it’s just been so great to see the band get the flowers they’ve deserved for so long. Before their hiatus, the band would struggle to sell at times and their last show in Lubbock was a street show at The Blue Light. They returned this April to a packed United Supermarkets Arena. Along with that, the band is selling out arenas and amphitheaters all over the South and selling out large clubs and theaters in markets like New York, Washington D.C., and California. The band has been so great for so long and it’s a shame that it took them breaking up and reuniting for them to finally get the love they deserve.
Try Checking Out: Gin, Smoke, Lies, The Bird Hunters, 7&7, Every Girl, Pay No Rent, Brought Me
Megan Moroney
Last year, Hailey Whitters made it on the lineup and absolutely crushed it. She is on her way to being a bonafide superstar and is one of my favorite new country artists in a minute. This year, Megan Moroney is here to take that spot. Megan is also on her way to becoming a superstar and has found a lot of viral success with the songs Tennessee Orange and I’m Not Pretty. She’s already pretty highly billed on this lineup but I don’t think it’ll be too long before she’s up in the headliner or sub-headliner slots. Her music is full of catchy hooks and killer melodies and she’s such a great voice to hear in the country mainstream today.
Try Listening To: I’m Not Pretty, Tennessee Orange, Traitor Joe, Lucky
Hank Williams Jr.
Come on. It’s Hank Williams Jr. Bocephus himself. How could you not be excited about this? If the legend sub-headliner slot of Sunday continues to be a part of this fest, I will be back every year. Wynonna Judd absolutely killed it last year and I have no doubt in my mind that Hank Jr. will kill it this year. While age is something that’s always a concern for artists like this, at 74 years old, Hank Jr.’s shows are still getting rave reviews. I have a friend who caught his headlining set at Under The Big Sky this summer and did not have enough positive things to say about it. While I’m not someone who consistently listens to him, it’s hard to deny his legendary status, and he has a laundry list of hits that I’m positive are going to crush live. I would be dumb to miss him while I have the chance.
Try Listening To: Have you seriously never listened to Hank Jr? This is just a waste of words honestly. If you haven’t at least heard Family Tradition, you need to fix that.
ERNEST
I’ll be 100% honest, I’m not a huge Ernest fan. I like the singles I’ve heard but I haven’t ever felt the desire to take a deep dive into his catalog. However, his music isn’t why I’m excited to hopefully see his set. What really makes me intrigued for this set is a sentence buried in C3’s press release for the lineup’s announcement that says, “Additional lineup highlights include singer-songwriter ERNEST, who will host a Keith Whitley tribute, with surprise special guests in celebration of Whitley’s legendary catalog and the 35th anniversary of his passing.” ERNEST on his own would be cool but the potential guests he could bring out along with playing nothing but Keith Whitley songs? That really excites me.
Try Listening To: Do I need to put Ernest songs here or Keith Whitley songs here? I’ll do both. For Ernest check out Flower Shops and This Fire. For Keith Whitley, man where do I start? I’m No Stranger to the Rain, Miami, My Amy, Don’t Close Your Eyes, and of course, When You Say Nothing at All.
Ludacris
Yes, it’s that Ludacris. Atlanta rapper, actor, and peace disturber. Why is he on this lineup? I don’t know if we’ll ever know why but it doesn’t matter. He’s on this lineup and he’s going to be fantastic. Last year so many people scoffed at seeing T-Pain and Diplo’s names on the lineup but you know what, everyone that went to those sets had a blast and T-Pain was easily the biggest party of the weekend. Ludacris is going to throw down. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. Whether it’s a more laid-back song like Area Codes or straight-up bangers like Rollout (My Business) and of course, Move Bitch, Ludacris’s set is sure to be an hour of straight hits and will likely be one of the most fun crowds of the entire weekend. I saw Ludacris when I was in seventh or eighth grade and I didn’t get much out of it. Now that I’m older and recognize that he’s actually a great artist, I cannot wait to get my second chance.
Try Listening To: Rollout (My Business), Area Codes, Move Bitch, Act A Fool
John Anderson
One of the most distinct yet underrated voices in 80s and 90s country, John Anderson is an amazing grab for this year’s lineup. While the show is unplugged and acoustic, I still think it’s one of the ones I’m most excited about. He has so many bangers in his catalog and from the videos I’ve seen, he still sounds incredible live. His voice hasn’t wavered at all. There are a lot of nostalgia bookings on the lineup this year, just as many as there were last year. I cannot overstate how excited I am for this one above all the rest, even if it is just an acoustic show. Anderson has some of the genre’s most iconic songs under his belt and while most people might only know Seminole Wind, you’re guaranteed to at least enjoy most of his set. Just wait until you see how I behave when he starts playing Money in the Bank. I’m going to become a whole new person.
Try Listening To: Straight Tequila Night, Money in the Bank, Seminole Wind, Swingin’, She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs
Charley Crockett
I debated putting Charley on this list. Mainly because I think it should be a given that he’s a can’t-miss artist. But I realize that not everyone reading this is familiar with everyone on this lineup so here’s my spiel on Charley Crockett. He is a living legend. Charley is such a unique artist in the country world right now. He’s incredibly prolific, his signature “Gulf & Western” sound calls back to the old honky tonk records from Ernest Tubb and Buck Owens, and his story is insane. From busking in France and South Africa to crisscrossing the country on freight trains to nearly becoming a felon for trafficking marijuana and sweet-talking the judge down to probation to having open heart surgery only a few years ago, Charley Crockett has lived a wild life and it all shows in his music. I also do not have enough great things to say about his live shows. His dance moves, his stories about James Hand and life in this game, and how powerful his band The Blue Drifters are behind him. Crockett’s set will not be one to miss.
Try Listening To: Welcome to Hard Times, The Valley, Odessa, Trinity River, In The Night, I’m Just A Clown
Colter Wall
Canadian country music largely goes under the radar until there’s a big breakout artist. The 90s gave us Terri Clark and Shania Twain, the 2000s gave us Corb Lund, and the last decade has blessed us with Colter Wall. A deep-voiced troubadour who is the textbook definition of authentic. There is a now infamous story of him ducking an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast to continue ranching here in Texas. What I think I love most about him is that he truly makes cowboy music and doesn’t play himself up or try to make a big deal out of it. He just wants to sing his little songs and if this all goes up in flames tomorrow, he wouldn’t care. I discovered Colter on a lonely dorm night my freshman year and I have been dying to see him ever since then. He announced a show at The Blue Light around the same time and it was canceled about a week later. Now, I have two chances to see him within two months. I’m praying for him to be on the Showdeo stage at Golden Hour because I cannot imagine anything more beautiful than that. Regardless of where he plays, I cannot wait to finally see him live.
Try Listening To: Sleeping on the Blacktop, Western Swing & Waltzes, Kate McCannon, The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie, Standing Here
49 Winchester
49 Winchester is going to headline this festival within the next five years. I am fully confident in that assumption. Whiskey Myers might be on top of the world in the modern Southern Rock genre, 49 Winchester is quickly nipping at their heels. Their 2022 breakout album Fortune Favors The Bold is such a masterclass in blending hell-raising rock music with super sad lyrics and I have not been able to get songs like All I Need and Russell County Line out of my rotation ever since the first time I listened to the album. Isaac Gibson’s voice is perfect for a band like this, the performances and the chemistry all over the album are second to none, and it’s incredibly produced as well. What excites me even more is that I already know these are songs and this is a band that is going to sound ten times better live, on top of how good they already are. I cannot wait to watch them burn down whatever stage they end up on.
Try Listening To: Russell County Line, All I Need, Everlasting Lover, Annabel, Damn Darlin
Sierra Ferrell
I am a huge Billy Strings fan. I wanted Billy Strings to headline this festival this year so bad. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen for one reason or another but I’m still getting my bluegrass fix this year from someone I have become absolutely obsessed with recently, Sierra Ferrell. Sierra is an absolute badass. She’s an excellent picker, an excellent singer, and I just cannot get enough of her vibes and style and swagger. Her 2021 debut album Long Time Coming is a super bold debut album, sometimes it’s jazzy, sometimes it’s singer-songwriter, but it still has bluegrass roots at its core and all of the elements blend together incredibly well. This is going to be my preliminary pick for the best set of the weekend. I am going to be dancing like a fool the entire time. Sierra was one of my biggest wishes pre-lineup drop and I am so happy that she made it onto this lineup.
Try Listening To: Silver Dollar, In Dreams, The Sea, Fox Hunt, Jeremiah, Made Like That
To touch on a few names I didn’t include in the list: Wyatt Flores is going to be great to see again as he keeps gaining more and more traction. Pat Green is an absolute legend and his shows are just straight bangers one after another. Dylan Gossett will be fun to see now that he has more music out. Drake Milligan has been making his way into my rotation more recently. He, Zach Top, and VIncent Neil Emerson will definitely bring the tonk. I can keep going with this all day so I better stop here.
Tickets for Two Step Inn’s sophomore year are still available though I’d assume they won’t be for too much longer. They’re on sale at the fest’s website: twostepinn.com. I cannot recommend this fest enough if you’re on the fence. With a huge emphasis on fixing the mistakes of last year, I can’t wait to be back in San Gabriel Park with my friends listening to so much that I love. April cannot come soon enough.
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