May 16-18, 2025 – Gulf Shores, Alabama
Alabama was the place to be May 16–18, 2025, as the new Sand In My Boots Festival took over Gulf Shores’ white sandy beaches. Formerly the Hangout Music Festival, this year Morgan Wallen put his country stamp on it with a fresh new name and vibe.
I was incredibly fortunate to cover this amazing festival—and to top it off, I had the opportunity to meet and photograph some of the artists! Below are a few of my favorite shots, along with brief bios of the talented performers I had the pleasure of connecting with.
Ole 60
Ole 60 hit the Sand In My Boots Stage around 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon and absolutely crushed it.
They’re a fast-rising country band out of Kentucky, blending traditional country with a little rock, a little folk, and a whole lot of heart. The group is made up of Jacob Young on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Laslie on lead guitar, Tristan Roby on rhythm guitar, Colby Clark on bass, and Aden Wood on drums. They named the band after U.S. Route 60, which runs through their hometowns, tying their music directly to their roots.
They first turned heads in 2023 with their debut EP Three Twenty Four. One of the standout tracks, “Smoke & A Light,” made a huge splash—topping Apple’s country charts and even outpacing big names like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan. It also hit No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart, which is no small feat for a newer band.
Their sound isn’t your typical country—it’s a little edgier, a little moodier, but still grounded in storytelling. As frontman Jacob Young put it, they’re “not your father’s country band.” They’ve even snagged a couple of nominations at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, which shows just how quickly they’re making a name for themselves.
The band is currently racking up over 2.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify—and for good reason. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out their latest single, “Nancy Avenue.”
Lauren Watkins
Lauren Watkins lit up the Sand In My Boots Stage around 1 p.m. on Saturday, setting the tone for an unforgettable day. Her set was the perfect way to get the party started.
Watkins is a rising star in the country music scene, bringing a fresh yet classic vibe straight out of Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up in Music City, she was surrounded by the sounds of legends like Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, and Chris Stapleton—and you can hear those influences in her music. She got her start playing in bars and honky tonks as a teen, often teaming up with her sister Caroline to perform around town.
After graduating from Ole Miss in 2021 with a degree in integrated marketing communications, Lauren headed back to Nashville to chase her dreams full-time. Her honest, clever songwriting quickly caught the attention of Grammy-nominated songwriter Nicolle Galyon, who signed her to a publishing and recording deal with Songs & Daughters and Big Loud Records.
She first made waves with her debut EPs Introducing: Lauren Watkins and Introducing: The Heartbreak, which showed off her smoky vocals and raw storytelling. In 2024, she dropped her full-length debut album The Heartbroken Record, a 17-track album that’s packed with emotion, grit, and plenty of heart.
Lauren’s music feels real—like she’s singing straight from the pages of her own diary—and fans have been loving it. She’s played everything from small-town festivals to huge stages, including a spot on Morgan Wallen’s international tour. With her mix of old-school country soul and modern edge, Lauren Watkins is definitely making waves.
With over 340,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Lauren Watkins is clearly gaining more momentum—and her latest single, “Lose My Cool,” is a must-add to your country playlist.
Josh Ross
Josh Ross took to the stage right after Lauren Watkins around 2 p.m. on Saturday, and he was awesome!
Ross is a Canadian country singer-songwriter who’s been making waves since moving from Burlington, Ontario, to Nashville. Before music took over, Josh was a football player on scholarship at Western University, but after some injuries, he decided to follow his passion for songwriting instead.
He got his start with the band Silver Lining in 2016, then made a name for himself with a mix of modern country rock and honest, heartfelt lyrics. His big break came in 2022 with the single “First Taste of Gone,” which climbed the Canadian charts and helped him land deals with Universal Music Canada and The Core Entertainment.
Since then, Josh has kept the momentum going with hits like “Trouble,” which went platinum in Canada and gold in the U.S., and he even made his Grand Ole Opry debut. His 2024 EP Complicated topped Canadian charts and earned gold certification, with the single “Single Again” scoring a Single of the Year nomination at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
Josh snagged the 2023 Breakthrough Artist award at the Canadian Country Music Awards and took home the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award at the 2024 CMA Awards. With hundreds of millions of streams and growing, Josh Ross is definitely one to watch in country music.
Make sure to check out his latest single, “Hate How You Look!”
