Sugar Magnolia Fest - In the Middle of Everywhere

Beach to Bayou - Oct/Nov 2018

This outdoor music fest in Kiln, Mississippi offers a stellar line-up, a pristine natural setting, and a rural location that's easily reached from several metro areas. 
- story by LB Kovac

Award-winning blues artist Samantha Fish is one of the headliners for the 2018 Sugar Magnolia Fest. Photo courtesy Samantha Fish FB page.

There’s something quintessentially American about a music festival.  Nothing is more apple pie than packing yourself onto a parade ground with thousands of your friends, chomping down on something fried and on a stick and belting out song lyrics in between sets from one of your favorite bands.

As American as it is, it’s not something often found in South Mississippi. The country’s big music festivals – Burning Man in Nevada, South by Southwest in Texas, Bonnaroo and Telluride in Tennessee, even Essence and Jazz Fest in New Orleans – form a bubble around our little piece of the pie.

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Camping at Sugar Magnolia 2018 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds

That's changing now, thanks to the Sugar Magnolia Music Festival. Now in its second year, the event seeks to bring everything we’re missing out on to the Mississippi coast – top music acts, delicious food, and a pristine rural setting with the ability to camp on-site, in either tents or RVs with hookups.  

Mike Rosato and his Bay Rat Productions team are behind this festival. And Rosato says that this “brackish mix” of Mississippi and Louisiana culture dubbed “Sugar Mag,” scheduled for November 9-11 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Kiln, is sure to get the hearts of all attendees pumping.

But the fun doesn’t stop at the music. “Honestly, events like Sugar Magnolia are more about a total experience rather than a stand-alone concert or festival that is focused on any one band, food or artist. It’s the whole kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells and interactions,” Rosato says.

“For those who have never been, there is something very friendly, primal and relaxing about going to a music festival,” says Rosato.

In the vein of festivals like Burning Man and Bonnaroo, about half of the Sugar Mag’s festival attendees camp out for the weekend. “Bring your RV and set it up,” says Rosato.  And if you don’t have an RV, you can always rent one.

Primitive tent camping (with no hook-ups) is included in the ticket prices.  Advance tickets are only $35 for one day and $55 for the weekend.  Advance ticket prices even include tent camping without hookups (there are free shower facilities on-site). RV hookups are available for those who want more luxe accommodations for the weekend.  An advance weekend camping pass with hook-ups - which includes two tickets - is just $140.  Purchase tickets online here).  

“Sharing the weekend with your friends and enjoying the entire experience together… It’s like the best tailgate party of your life but you don’t have to go home if you don’t want to!” says Rosato.

And if you’re in the half that is not the camping type, then you still have plenty of options. There are lots of nearby hotels and home rentals. And home is probably just a short drive away.

“Kiln…is NOT in the middle of nowhere," says Rosato, "But rather in the middle of everywhere! New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Mobile, and Pensacola are all far enough to leave your worries back home, but close enough to run back to if you need to.”

Click on map icons for directions

New Orleans to Sugar Magnolia - 1 hour, 59 miles.

Baton Rouge to Sugar Magnolia - 1 hour & 17 minutes, 117 miles

Jackson to Sugar Magnolia - 2hrs & 43 min., 160 miles

Hattiesburg to Sugar Magnolia - 1hr& 16min, 72 miles.

Mobile to Sugar Magnolia - 1hr & 19 min., 90 miles.

Pensacola to Sugar Magnolia - 3 hours, 187 miles

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​The music will play throughout the day in this weekend community, with special late night shows as well.

“Samantha Fish, Raw Oyster Cult, Russel Batiste and Friends and The Dustbowl Revival are leading an amazingly talented lineup,” said Rosato.

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L to R, Dave Malone, Marc Paradis and Camile Baudoin in a jam session at the first Sugar Magnolia Fest in 2017

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Fish, a Blues protégé, debuted her latest album, Belle of the West¸ in the Number 1 spot on the Billboard Blues Albums charts just last year. That album went on to win the Best Blues Album at last year’s Best of the Beat Awards.

And Los Angeles-based The Dustbowl Revival, with their unique brand of vintage Americana sound, has been generating a lot of buzz. Under the direction of Grammy Award-winning producer Tedd Hutt, their latest self-titled album got them a resounding recommendation from Rolling Stones reviewer Rob Sheffield.

New Orleans jam bands The Iceman Special and The Quickening, as well local R&B group 'Sippiana Soul, are just a few of the other outstanding acts scheduled for the vibrant 3-day weekend. Everyone can find a band to sing to all night.
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Dust Bowl Revival

Pat Murphy and 'Sippiana Soul

Away from the stage, the Bay Rat Productions team pulled out all of the stops, bringing Southern flair to every aspect of the festival. Big Wil and the Warden will serve up all your Southern fried favorites; an oyster bar will be on hand - in the middle of oyster season, no less; and the festival bars will be stocked with local micro brew beers and specialty drinks spiked with spirits from Louisiana and Mississippi distilleries.

Great music, good food, and friends you haven’t met yet, will all be just a short drive (or a short camp) away come the weekend of November 9/10.  This Southern-stewed music fest offers it all.  

For more information and tickets, go to the Sugar Magnolia Fest website.