I had the privilege of attending a Sturgill Simpson concert at The Norva in Norfolk, Virginia this week. What an amazing concert! Sturgill is an incredible musician and performer.

I haven’t been a big country music fan, especially the modern country scene. I find it to be nothing more than pop with a bit of twang to it. I’ll take Johnny Cash over what’s being played on country radio all day long.

But there’s been a movement in country music the last 10 years or so. As country radio becomes more pop-oriented, artists like Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Zac Brown Band, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, and Old Crow Medicine Show are bringing us back to the roots of country music. Since they aren’t played on country radio, people are calling this musical genre Alternative Country or Americana.

Sturgill Simpson’s latest album is Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. It’s a fantastic follow-up to his debut album, High Top Mountain.

Sturgill and his band played for nearly two hours straight. There was no encore, but I’m pretty sure the crowd definitely got their money’s worth. I was exhausted. The energy that Sturgill and his band put into their music was insane. Nearly every song became a 6 minute jam session. I will definitely see him again.

Now for my photographs.