Rockabilly Is Revived at New Great Lakes Rockabilly Road Trip
Editor’s Note: This article is a contribution by journalist and photographer Kevin Smith.
Rockabilly music as a genre is well over 70 years old. And yet it survives, coming back in style every few decades as artists from new generations discover it and recognize its coolness and cultural cache. Despite the ebb and flow in the popularity of the music, there are always festival to be found not only across the US, but also in Europe dedicated to keeping the flame alive.
There is, after all, something intoxicating and seductive about the sounds of an upright bass being slapped propulsively in time to the sharp attack of a snare drum, while a hollow-body electric guitar rings out in a glorious wash of reverb and echo, capturing the listener’s senses and generating excitement while providing tangible dopamine hits to the brain. It’s a sound that still lures the unwary in, even in 2026.
This past Saturday (8-1), the inaugural Great Lakes Rockabilly Road Trip was held in scenic Port Clinton, Ohio. Port Clinton, sitting on the edge of Lake Erie, is an inviting and picturesque town that serves as a launching pad for recreational and commercial fishing and boating, as well as tourism in general.
Coinciding with an annual car show that took place on the same day merely a block away, it was the perfect pairing for this inaugural Rockabilly event. The music line-up was absolutely first-rate and offered up top-shelf talent. And as is true of most Rockabilly events, the festival offered a variety of experiences including a pin-up pageant competition where gals of various ages dressed in replica ’50s period attire and make-up, and competed for the title of Miss Great Lakes Rockabilly Roadtrip 2026.
Additionally, there were vendor booths selling everything from retro décor, vintage clothes, to rare vinyl records. Supplementing the large main stage, there were two outdoor side stages just across the street at local pubs which made for a very easy and pleasant experience in navigating around with minimal fuss.
With such a stacked line-up and schedule, there was an overwhelming amount of music to be discovered. The following are observations and highlights of a very impressive line-up of music.
Sebastien Bordeaux
Wild Records recording artist Sebastien Bordeaux has been making quite a name for himself recently, playing in Chris Casello’s band at Robert’s Western World in Nashville, as well as frequent appearances at the Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights event in Nashville playing onstage with local supergroup The Cowpokes. With a stunning voice like his that can go from midrange to tenor, and possessing musical chops aplenty, this Arkansas raised musician dabbles in the retro styles including Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Latin Jazz, and all points in between.
Bordeaux has interesting original songs and a massive stage presence sparked by a mix of charisma and charm, capable of turning any audience into true believers. He’s one to keep your eye on. There’s nobody out there quite like this guy. He has his own unique sound that is undeniably influenced by early country. In this set he was backed by Kitten and the Tonics from Michigan, who play a mix of Rockabilly, country, and instrumental surf style guitar. Absolutely a killer set top to bottom. This was one of the great discoveries the festival had to offer.
Jane Rose and The Dead-End Boys
A winner of the 2023 Ameripolitan Awards in the Best Female Rockabilly category, Jane Rose and The Dead-End Boys are the real deal. Once you witness the live show with your own ears you are a believer. Her voice is a cannon, no exaggeration. Rose has two big influences, Wanda Jackson and Stray Cats. She can emulate the Wanda growl with ease, and even more impressively, she aims to compete with the boys in her sound. She doesn’t sing tender love ballads. It’s fast and loud aggressive songs about hot-rods, thrills, wild characters, and bad relationships. If there ever was a female version of what Brian Setzer aims for, its Jane Rose.
Her band is a finely tuned V-8 Rockabilly machine. Guitarist Aaron Norcross is one impressive cat, playing mind-blowing riffs and solos, while making it look easy. Her rhythm section features her husband Wayne Harper on drums who absolutely brings excitement into his playing. Much can be said about Rose’s set on Friday night, inside the 3-Legged Dog Bar, at the Pre-Party; it was a set for the ages, paying tribute to the greatest songs of Rockabilly including the revival era. Her set on Saturday showed off her original material to a very appreciative crowd. Jane Rose was a true highlight of this festival.
Surf Music – The Volcanos
When talking about instrumental surf music, don’t think Jan and Dean, think Dick Dale, the godfather of surf who invented it. It’s loud and ferocious, with truckloads of reverb and echo that were meant to mimic the sounds of waves, and a fast staccato style of picking. Along the way, groups like The Challengers, The Pyramids, The Surfaris and others would make a mark, but no one was a bigger name than The Ventures.
These are the influences, and The Volcanos came along in the ’90s and put out two albums beautifully replicating the style. Band founder Rick Mills is still at it, as are the other members. They have new music on the way soon. Their set was epic, and if you like their music, check out Ricks other band The Hellbenders, who play a tribute to Ennio Morricone.
Surf Music – The TentaKills
The TentaKills are a much newer surf band and they are equally intriguing. Guitarists Travis Thomas and Andrew Bencsics play the Dick Dale style as well, but tend to rock out even more, with faster rhythms and a very aggressive playing style that is tempered nonetheless by the intricacies of their melodies. These guys are sophisticated and their sound is well worth exploring. Check out their album The Rage of Aquarius and cuts like “Ghosts of Atlantis” and “Low Tide/High Tide” to get an idea of their ferocity and beauty. It’s gorgeous music from a terrific band. Long live surf music!
Deke Dickerson with Kyle Eldridge and The Kentucky Cowhands
Without a doubt, Deke Dickerson is a legend in the modern era of the Rockabilly Revival. He received a musician of the year award at the Ameripolitan Music Awards in Memphis a few years back, and he has played with just about everyone in the scene. He’s done a movie soundtrack for Johnny Knoxville. His own music runs the gamut from old school country and honky tonk, to hillbilly boogie, Rockabilly and surf. He’s been the guy keeping the legacy of guitar greats Grady Martin, Scotty Moore, Luther Perkins, Joe Maphis and Larry Collins and Merle Travis alive for decades now.
Deke’s incredible set on Saturday was another one for the ages as he pulled out all the stops with the rising young guitar star Kyle Eldridge and his backing band along for the ride. The audience was treated to a masters class in hardcore early country style guitar picking with numerous nods to Joe Maphis, Merle Travis, Jimmy Bryant, Grady Martin and others. It was downright euphoric watching the two men duel, with Eldridge wielding his custom double-neck and Dickerson with his own custom six-string.
Legendary songs like “Cannonball Rag,” The Rockin’ Gypsy,” and “Ghost Riders in The Sky” were played as the audience sat and stood in rapt attention. You simply won’t find guitar playing in this style and on this level happening very much anymore, and when you get the chance you best take it. This set was worth the admission price alone!
As for Kyle Eldridge, he too is an awarded figure in the Ameripolitan organization and he’s been performing since he was a teen with a Western swing band. He routinely receives high praise from everyone including the Maphis and Collins families who have given him their blessing to continue the sound. On this night, Eldridge went on and played the after party at midnight where he jammed with many other artists from the festival.
For anyone wondering, the first album from Kyle Eldridge will be released later this year on SwellTune Records. At this point in the Rockabilly and vintage roots music world, Kyle Eldridge is the most envied young guitar player, bar none.
Wayne “The Train” Hancock
Whenever anyone wishes to assess the mid ’90s to early ’00s country and Rockabilly Revival that occurred, Wayne Hancock will be in the discussion. Hank Williams III has said that Wayne Hancock is the real deal and that no one is closer to emulating his grandfather’s famous sound than him. Whether or not that’s true is a matter of opinion. But what is not a matter of opinion is that Wayne Hancock is the King of Juke-Joint Swing. He is a road-dog in every sense, traveling the highways relentlessly, bringing the most authentic, old-timey, honky tonk music to anyone who will listen.
On this night we were treated to many familiar favorites from Wayne’s deep catalog including fan favorites “Thunderstorms and Neon Signs,” “Miller, Jack and Mad Dog,” “Johnny Law,” “Johnson City,” and many others. Though he isn’t featuring steel guitar on this tour, Hancock did bring along Texas guitarist extraordinaire Birdy who gave a fantastic performance on his Telecaster, even mimicking steel guitar at times, while taking the lions share of solos. Essentially you had a stripped down 3-piece band demonstrating the charm and beauty of hillbilly swing to a largely knowledgeable crowd who realized the significance of what Wayne Hancock is about.
The Reverend Horton Heat
This was the big one for many people and for some, the main reason they came. Jim Heath who goes by the stage name Reverend Horton Heat has been carrying the Rockabilly/Psychobilly mantle for over three decades. Back in his early years, he was marketed to the young generation on the famous Vans Warped Tour, and later, his now legendary song “Psychobilly Freakout” was featured in the Guitar Hero video game. For these reasons and many more, he’s become arguably the second biggest name in Rockabilly behind Brian Setzer, and he takes it all humbly and in stride.
Heath is one part monster guitar player, one part bandleader and composer, one part comedian and one-part great businessman, which is pretty much a winning combination. He also happens to be incredibly entertaining and mesmerizing to watch. It doesn’t hurt that the guy rocks ferociously. With long-time upright bassist Jimbo at his side, Heath hit the stage running and playing on all cylinders. His Gretsch guitar roared like a jumbo jet as he took everyone on a musical ride.
One of the things that always sets Heath apart from other rock and roll guitarists is his musical sophistication in playing out-of-the box jazz chording’s alongside flashy and impressive lead runs that leave onlookers drooling with envy. He had the audience hanging on to his every move, playing old favorites like “Galaxy 500,” “400 Bucks,” and “Big Red Rocket of Love” alongside newer material including a pair of songs from his latest album Roots of The Rev. Notably he played a very obscure Rockabilly deep cut from the late Johnny Carroll, the song “Crazy Crazy Lovin’” which excited the true Rockabilly fans in the crowd.
Of course, no RHH show would be complete without the instrumental that launched his career, “Psychobilly Freakout,” and the audience was ready for it. At the evening’s end, there was a big surprise awaiting the gathered music fans. For his encore, Horton Heat called Rockabilly legend Big Sandy to the stage much to everyone’s surprise and the two performed an old Rockabilly deep cut, “School of Rock and Roll “ by Gene Summers. A version of the song also appears on the “Roots of The Rev” album.
Though Big Sandy wasn’t a scheduled performer on this festival, he happened to be in Ohio on tour and decided to make a stop and see what the fuss was all about. You could see the admiration the two had for each other and Sandy was visibly excited to be on the stage alongside a fellow friend and music legend.
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This set was the perfect cap to an exhilarating music festival, but it was also the fulfillment of a bucket-list dream Alex Sandstrom, Co-Producer of the event, had contemplated for a long time. Alex has a band called The Palatinos from Toledo, Ohio and they have been playing high octane Rockabilly for some time. It has been Alex’s fondest wish that one day his band might open for Reverend Horton Heat, but he had yet to make it happen.
Enter co-producer Nicole DeFreitas who took on a very involved role in making this entire event possible. Her connections locally and dedication to the details is ultimately how the idea morphed into an entire Rockabilly Festival. Yet the challenges to Alex personally would be great. Faced with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, he has been focusing on getting the medical attention he needs. Even worse, his close buddy and drummer for the band, Bob Davenport passed away just days before the festival. Though they all knew his death was coming, he was in hospice care, the timing couldn’t have been worse for the band and for Alex who were immersed in preparing for the event.
Yet despite all of it, the band soldiered through it and did indeed get to play a triumphant and raucous set on the big stage, opening up for not only Reverend Horton Heat, but Deke Dickerson and Wayne Hancock as well. As the band finished up their opening set, you could see the smiles all around the faces of the band and their fans. To Alex Sandstrom, this meant everything, and it represented validation for all of the hard work and sacrifice he and co-producer Nicole have personally put into making the dream a reality. There is absolutely no doubt his departed fellow musician brother, Bob Davenport, would be proud of what they accomplished.
Note: for further details regarding a memorial for Bob Davenport, keep your eye out on The Palatinos official Facebook page.
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August 5, 2026 @ 9:02 am
Are you sure you didn’t die and experience this in heaven?
August 5, 2026 @ 9:31 am
Is this an unusual event or is there a network of rockabilly festivals like there is with bluegrass? It sounds like a great time.
August 5, 2026 @ 9:38 am
Thanks, Kevin! Great stuff!
It’s a great tonic after all the long discussions on here recently.
I really liked the first comment, from Jerome, about you maybe dying and going to heaven!