July 22^nd (Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI) – July in Michigan means several things when it comes to events for the summer but none of them compare with the excitement and the hype that builds for the annual Faster Horses country music festival. The festivals first year was back in 2013 and other than 2020, when Covid affected pretty much everything, the event has grown and been successful every year. For the 2022 Faster Horses festival, both the event passes, and the campsites were completely sold-out other than some remaining spots in the VIP camping area. I think it is safe to say that people were more than ready for the event this year.

This year’s 3-day lineup featured headliners Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, and Tim McGraw along with other well-known artists Jake Owen, Brothers Osborne, Cole Swindell, Chris Janson, Jordan Davis, Michael Ray, and Ashley McBryde. Also playing the festival this year were newcomers Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Tyler Braden and about a dozen others. Although I was really looking forward to being there the whole weekend, last-minute happenings threw a wrench into that plan, so I was only able to make it out for the Friday edition. Bummer, but I will take what I can get, and I was looking forward to my first experience at Fast Horses. Between the two different stages, the sold-out crowd, and the heat that day, it was hard to catch everyone that was scheduled and unfortunately, I was not able to see each artist do their thing. While I was able to watch at least one song from several performers that played on Friday, If I didn’t see them play at all or didn’t see enough to really comment on their performance that day, I will just leave it out and focus on the acts where I really got a feel for what they were all about.

The first full set I got to see on Friday was Tyler Braden. I was really looking forward to seeing Tyler based on the song ‘Try Losing One’ that is getting radio play currently and based on what I have heard from a few people that have been following him over the last year or so. I was pleasantly surprised with Tyler’s set that night and really thought he did an excellent job. Talented band, good chemistry and you could tell they were having a good time up on that stage. I think we will be hearing a lot more from Tyler and I look forward to seeing how far he goes in the coming months and years.

The next two acts that I at least got to catch a few songs from were Alexandra Kay and Lauren Alaina. I watched about three or four songs from each of them and was quite impressed with what I heard from these ladies. Alexandra has this tiny little voice, very similar to Alison Krauss, and it definitely made some of the songs hit the mark even harder for me. I think this young lady has some good things coming her way. As for Lauren Alaina, I have already had her on my radar because of the songs ‘Road Less Traveled’ and ‘Getting Over Him’ featuring Jon Pardi, but it was my first time seeing her live and she did not let me down. Great stage presence, solid vocals, especially for being live, and a fun and entertaining show for the songs that I was able to catch. Lauren is someone else that I think is going to be around for a while if she keeps doing what she’s doing.

After a break to grab something to eat and relax and cool off for a little bit, I headed over to main stage to grab some photos and catch the last three acts of the night. The first of the three was Jordan Davis. Jordan was someone that I knew a little about but was still fairly new to new to me overall. Like most people, I had heard the songs ‘Singles You Up’, ‘Buy Dirt’ featuring Luke Bryan and the latest single ‘What My World Spins Around’, but for the most part, seeing him live would be an experience and learning session for me. I absolutely enjoyed Jordan’s set. He was really feeding off the crowd, and you could tell that he and the band were having a fun time up on that stage. I will definitely be keeping a close eye on what he does from here on out and thinking about that night I am glad that I made it back to the main stage in time to catch his complete show

Next up was Jake Owen, whose no stranger to me. I caught him the very first time he played in Michigan at a bar called Coyote Joe’s when ‘Startin’ with Me’ was out on country radio. I actually got a chance to chat with Jake for a few minutes earlier in the day and he remembered so many of the those first shows he did at honkytonk’s around the country and more specifically remembered Coyote Joe’s and the fact that there was only one guy in the whole crowd that had a cowboy hat on at that show, which he thought was weird being a country bar and a country show. Ironically enough, the one guy with the cowboy hat was me. I have seen Jake live quite a few times over the years and this one was no different. Entertaining, full of energy and the band was just having a blast. Jake came out on stage barefoot, wearing a Faster Horses t-shirt and shorts and was totally enjoying that sizzling summer night, while also looking the part of a beach goer who just happened to hop on stage and sing a few songs. The beach balls were bouncing around everywhere, which totally fit the look that Jake was sporting, and both the crowd and Jake were having the time of their lives throughout his whole show that night. As usual, I always love hearing ‘Made for You’, ‘Barefoot Blue Jean Night’ and ‘Alone with You’ live. Once again, another stellar performance from Jake and the band. There is no doubt why he is still out there doing what he loves and why it is still possible over a dozen years after he first showed up on the scene.

Nightfall was fast approaching, and it was time for what so many people were waiting for that day, many looking forward to this the most out of the whole weekend of performers. I had a chance to speak to a couple festival attendees about the event and find out who people were most excited to see and as you could probably guess, the answer was an overwhelming ‘Morgan Wallen’. There is something about this guy that people are just fascinated with, and I could not wait to see him live and find out what all the hype was about. Now, I must admit that I wasn’t a fan at first, mostly because I am very picky with what kind of country music I like, but there was something about this guy that just intrigued me to the point that I had to look more into him and his music from the past few years. After a career that was taking off and then suddenly derailed by a well-known video taped incident, Morgan is definitely back on track and taking the country music world by storm. As myself and many of the other media folks waited side stage for the show to start, we braced ourselves for what was about to come. 

The lights dimmed and Morgan and the band took the stage and the crowd just exploded with excitement, cheers, and screams which literally lasted for several minutes, even into the first song. These people were ready for this night and Morgan’s performance, and they let everyone know. So many times throughout the show you could see on his face just how proud and appreciative he was as they went through their twenty song setlist for this sold-out crowd of forty thousand people. You could feel and see the passion with Morgan as he belted out hit after hit. From ‘Up Down’, ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Still Goin’ Down’ through the encore of ‘Heartless’, ‘Wasted on You’, and ‘Whiskey Glasses’, the audience was just eating it up and having the time of their lives. Morgan was great at interacting with the crowd and he and the band were just on fire that night with so much energy and chemistry amongst each other. I honestly cannot remember the last time I was so surprised about seeing someone live in concert, this was so much more than I expected and anticipated. I really enjoyed the whole show, but I loved hearing ‘Chasin’ You’, ‘Cover Me Up’, and ‘This Bar’ and I was totally blown away and quite surprised to hear them do ‘Warning’ as it is without a doubt one of my favorite songs from him and from the new albums. Morgan’s set was the perfect ending to a day that words really can’t describe, and he has a new fan in me as well.

To wrap it all up, I loved Faster Horses, had such an incredible time, and I cannot wait to do it again next year, and do it for the whole weekend. Based on a few more conversations with fans, it gets better every year, new and increased safety precautions are in place every year as the promoters learn more and more to make it perfect and everyone is so happy to have one of the best country music festivals in the United States happening right here in the state of Michigan. As a life-long Michigan resident and huge country music fan, that makes me proud. Until the next one!

-Howie