Sloss Fest Music & Arts Festival Recap

Can you believe it’s almost August? This year is truly flying by! Over the weekend, I attended the inaugural Sloss Music & Arts Festival held at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. It was a two-day music event which brought music to Birmingham while showcasing some of the best food, Birmingham food trucks, craft beer, cocktails, and artists around! It was a hot, fun-filled weekend which included: vendors, poster makers, more than 30 bands, 3 stages and a look into the diverse culture of Birmingham! I only attended the Sunday showcase, but it was nothing short of energetic, fun, and amazing! 

It was so refreshing to see everyone relaxing in their hammocks, enjoying good music, good eats, and having a good time! This “Boho Bella” felt right at home!

I walked around for a bit and decided to grab a bite to eat. I kept seeing everyone with what looked to be some type of chicken dish. My discovery…Phat Daddy’s! They were serving up something serious with their Bourbon Chicken and Mac-and-Cheese combo! Goodness, I hope they will return next year!

As part of my 9-mile run recovery time, I sat in the the grassy area and watched the Manchester Orchestra set from a distance. They are an American Indie Rock band out of Atlanta, GA. This band is so dope, y’all! I know I have eclectic taste in music, but this band instantly became one of my new favorites. I “thought” I recorded an Insta vid of the band rockin’ it out on stage, but to my surprise I didn’t hit “send”. Womp! You can watch a short clip of them here. I heard the echoes of those instruments belting out across the grounds and I knew I had to be closer. I hurried to the stage to catch the song before it ended. “Where Have You Been?” is absolutely AMAZING live! 

 The sun finally started to go down. Thank God because I was a hot, sweaty mess! Festival-goers even had on hydration backpacks…it was just that hot! After Manchester Orchestra performed, I headed to the other stage. I really loved the Sloss Fest set up—after one set finished it flowed into the next.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones is an amazing soul band based out of Birmingham. When I tell you…they had us swaying from side to side! The way Paul Janeway pulled notes from the belly of his soul, you would have thought we were at a hole-in-the wall Circa 1985! The band was awesome! Proud to know that they are a part of Birmingham.

I’m a sucker for black and white photos, so here are a few moments…

I headed towards the purple lights and third stage area to see Purity Ring, but the way the crowd was set up…it just did not happen. I love that it was a packed out show, but I wish I could have seen the performance. I watched heads bob through about four songs and decided it was time to call it a night. I was zapped! I missed Primus, Tyler–the Creator, and The Avett Brothers–but I know the rest of the shows were awesome! Too bad you can’t be everywhere at the same time. You can check out the full line-up here.

Next year, I definitely plan to attend and YOU don’t want to miss it!