For me, 2023 was a year full of music and music-related activities. I attended over 25 concerts and streamed over 106,000 minutes of music throughout the year. Most of my year was related to music in one way or another. In this week’s blog, I’d like to reflect on some of my top music experiences of 2023.
10. All the New Music
2023 was a year marked by great releases from so many artists. Due to this abundance of new music, I often found it difficult to keep up with what was coming out and when. Though, I am not complaining; y’all keep the music coming.
So many of my favorite artists such as Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Turnpike Troubadours, Nolan Taylor, Treaty Oak Revival, Tanner Usrey, Morgan Wade, Wyatt Flores, Drayton Farley, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Southall released new albums, EPs, and singles.
And that’s not even all of the artists whose new releases I enjoyed this year. If I listed every artist who released new music in 2023 that I enjoyed, that list would take up most of this post. For brevity, I’ll leave it at that.
Throughout 2023, I wrote on numerous occasions about new releases that I enjoyed. If you would like to go back and read any of these articles, click on the title! Recent Releases: What I'm Loving Lately: April & September / New Release: Noah Kahan / New Release: Zach Bryan.
Not only did I enjoy all of the new music 2023 brought, but I also enjoyed discovering new artists. Some of the artists that I started listening to in 2023 were Levi Turner, William Prince, The War and Treaty, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, and Maggie Antone. Again, this is just a short list of artists. I am constantly discovering new music and artists, it would be quite difficult to list all the artists I discovered this year in this post. We still have 9 other topics to get to!
I can’t wait to see what the new year brings in terms of new music. I just know that the artists I enjoy will continue to grow and explore their sound in new, captivating ways. I also cannot wait to discover even more new artists in the new year.
9. Zach Bryan Pen Pals
In 2023, I participated in a fun, fan-organized activity called ‘Zach Bryan Pen Pals’. This is a postcard exchange that was organized by my best friend, Katie Bartnick. Through this, I received postcards from Zach fans around the country. I even received a postcard from Alaska!
If you are interested in participating, you can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Katie starts up a new round of the postcard exchange once every couple of months or so and signing up is incredibly easy!
8. My First Turnpike Troubadours Concert
In February, I saw the Turnpike Troubadours for the first time! I have been listening to Turnpike for years now and it was so great to finally see them live. The show I went to was in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Simmons Bank Arena. I went to this concert with my mom and we had such a great time together.
The show was opened by The Wood Brothers and The Avett Brothers who both played great sets. My mom and I really enjoyed The Avett Brothers and began listening to them more regularly following this show. Before this show, I had only heard a couple of their songs but now I have a much deeper appreciation for their music.
Turnpike blew me away with their set. I knew they were great but I truly don’t think anything could have prepared me for seeing them live. I hope to see them again live in the future, especially after the release of their recent album.
7. Zach Bryan in Tulsa
In August, I saw Zach Bryan play back-to-back nights at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not only were both shows amazing, but I also got to spend much-needed time with my mom exploring the city.
This was one of the best trips I have ever taken. I fell in love with Tulsa on this trip and can’t wait to return to the city in about a month or so. I wrote about this entire trip in great detail earlier this year. If you’re interested in reading about it, click here.
6. Charles Wesley Godwin at the Ryman
In December, I saw Charles Wesley Godwin, Wyatt Flores, and Cole Chaney at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. This was such a memorable, amazing show featuring some of my favorite artists.
While I had seen Charles many times before this show, this was the first time I saw him as the headliner rather than an opener. I constantly find myself wishing I could go back in time to this show and this trip to Nashville. I wrote about this show a few weeks back; you can click here to read!
5. Drayton Farley in Memphis
In October, I saw Drayton Farley in Memphis, Tennessee at Lafayette's Music Room. I loved the vibe and atmosphere of this show. It had such a calm and respectful energy which was truly the perfect setting to experience both Drayton Farley and Jonathan & Abigail Peyton. I wrote about this concert in greater detail; you can read it by clicking here!
I’ve already got plans to see Drayton Farley again in the new year and I am looking forward to the show. In February, Drayton Farley will make his return to Memphis alongside 49 Winchester. If you’re in the area, I highly suggest you get tickets to this show.
4. J.R. Carroll at the 2 Whales benefit
In August, while I was in Tulsa for Zach’s shows, I also attended the 2 Whales Benefit Concert at J Farley’s Pub in Claremore, Oklahoma. To my surprise, J.R. Carroll was one of the many artists who played at this benefit concert.
It was mind-blowing to see J.R. in such a small, intimate setting. This is an experience that I will never take for granted and I will cherish the memories from it forever. If you would like to read about this experience in greater detail, click here!
3. Jason Isbell in Memphis
In September, I saw Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit for the first time at Radians Amphitheater in Memphis, Tennessee. This truly was one of the best concert experiences I have ever had and I constantly wish I could go back in time to this night. Jason Isbell is such an amazing singer-songwriter and I hope to see him again in the future. This was a show that I never wanted to end.
Not only was the show amazing but so was the venue and the crowd. The crowd was incredibly respectful and, even at my spot on the barricade, I never felt claustrophobic or annoyed with people being too close to me like I usually do at concerts. I can't wait to go to more shows at Radians Amphitheater; it has easily become one of my favorite Memphis venues.
2. Nolan Taylor in Memphis
During 2023, I saw Nolan Taylor twice, both times at Growlers in Memphis, Tennessee. While Nolan played an amazing set both times, my personal favorite out of the two was his headlining show in December.
This was the last concert that I attended in 2023 and, to me, it was the best show overall of 2023. It was such an intimate, emotional show that I wish I could return to time and time again. I recently wrote about this show, you can click here to read!
1. Starting this Blog
The best music-related thing I did in 2023 was, without a doubt, starting this blog. This blog has enabled me to share my love of music and concerts with a larger audience than just my friends and family. I honestly never thought anyone would read it but so many of you have. I am so thankful for all my readers; even if you’ve only read one of my posts.
I cannot wait to keep writing during 2024. I already have a lot of concerts and trips planned that I can’t wait to discuss here! If there are any topics that you would like to see me talk about here, let me know in the comments!
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