Orange Blossom Revue in Lake Wales, Florida – December 5-6, 2025

David Shaw of The Revivalists

All Photos © Steve Galli for Full Access Magazine

Story by Chloe Catajan for Full Access Magazine

Orange Blossom Revue (OBR) returned to Lake Wailes Park in Central Florida bigger and better than ever for its 11th year. The two-day boutique festival took place Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, selling record tickets compared to previous runs and officially expanding to two stages that hosted national and local country, roots, and bluegrass acts.

Headliners Drive-By Truckers and The Revivalists drew sizable crowds, rising star guitarist Grace Bowers debuted next-gen artistry, and local legends like Skinny McGee made attendees feel at home by bringing the Sunshine State spirit.

Hosted by the Blossom Charitable Foundation and promoted by Victory Lap Media, both are no strangers to putting together premier experiences. The Blossom Charitable Foundation supports numerous programs in the area and Victory Lap has MerleFest, Mempho Fest, and the Earl Scruggs Music Festival in its repertoire. But OBR is something special, going beyond expert country music curation to build a strong sense of community.

OBR’s celebration of roots doesn’t stop at just music. At the heart of it all was a celebration of Central Florida heritage. Citrus groves, palmetto trees, and live oaks surrounded the scene, as fans and families took in the sights and sounds of OBR. Attendees frequented both Main and Side Stages, and even the park’s fishing pier, thanks to a perfectly accommodating schedule. Camping and RV lodging were also popular, especially with new expansions to the RV grounds.

For both attendees and artists, ‘tis the season for one last honky tonk before the year ends. Steve Galli reports back with photo highlights from the weekend.

A head start with Hubo Bentley and Dim Crooked Fools

OBR weekend actually started on Thursday evening with the inaugural Blossom & Barrel Wine Walk in Downtown Wales. It included a free kick-off show from Hubo Bentley and Dim Crooked Fools at Oakley Park before the Lake Wales staple took OBR’s Side Stage the following day.

The trio brought vibrant energy to the early hours of the fest on Friday, delivering hearty three-part vocals and twangy melodies driven by two guitars and an upright bass. Their prominence in the local music scene was evident, with many attendees showing support and fondness for the band.

Thursday night kick-off with Hubo Bentley and Dim Crooked Fools

Main Stage energy

From the Pacific Northwest to the South, eight national acts took over the Main Stage to showcase a variety of country flavors.

The Revivalists brought one of the biggest crowds of the weekend with their Saturday headlining set. Vocalist David Shaw was a force onstage, even dropping to his knees to pour out a powerhouse performance. Altogether, the New Orleans collective delivered an epic wall of sound full of brass, sax, rock, and soul. They performed fan favorites, including “Good Old Days” and “Wish I Knew You,” as well as a cover of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” during which local legend Chris Bell made an appearance.

David Shaw of The Revivalists

David Shaw of The Revivalists

Grace Bowers has been busy on the festival circuit this year, with her OBR set being one of her lasts for the season. The prodigal guitarist has performed from BottleRock Napa Valley to Fuji Rock Festival, and with the likes of Toby Lee, Trey Anastasio, and Peter Frampton. She and her Hodge Podge crew tore up the Main Stage with fierce riffs from both Bowers and fellow guitarist Prince Parker. Songs like “Fleas” and “Eat Shit and Live” made the setlist.

Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge

Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge

No one boogies and grooves quite like The Dip. Hailing from Seattle, the seven-piece funk ensemble delivered “Bougainvillea Blues,” made rich with thick basslines, horns, keys, and some flute action. It was a stellar follow-up to the last time Full Access Detroit saw them at the 2024 High Water Festival.

Tom Eddy of The Dip

Bringing Southern Soul straight from Georgia, Eddie 9V had folks jamming to the sounds of “Love Moves Slow” and the like. Sporting a Fender Strat, the musician turned in smooth, electric tones that lived up to the voltage in his name.

Eddie 9V

With new song, “Couple Extra Hours,” hot off the press, Johnny Mullenax kicked off Saturday at the Main Stage already on a high. Mullenax and his four-piece band sounded fierce with their alt-bluegrass tendencies, their high-energy riffage featuring sharp fiddle action for added drama.

Johnny Mullenax

Friday at the Main Stage had an abbreviated lineup, featuring just three performances from Drive-By Truckers, The SteelDrivers, and Improvement Movement, all of which had endless momentum.

Drive-By Truckers packed a hefty setlist into an hour-and-a-half slot, spanning cuts off albums as early as 1999’s Pizza Deliverance to 2022’s Welcome 2 Club XIII. Most of their performance, however, focused on Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, and The Dirty South. The Georgian quintet’s sound was cathartic, driven by high-energy riffs and exhilarating solos. Their setlist of course included their fan favorite cover of Warren Zevon’s “Play It All Night Long.”

Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers

Performing the penultimate show of their 20th Anniversary Tour, The SteelDrivers brought the best of bluegrass to OBR. Crystal clear vocals on top of pronounced notes from the mandolin, fiddle, and guitars made the Main Stage feel like an intimate set. The Nashville group turned in a lovely rendition of “Heaven Sent,” as well as other fan favorites and hits.

The SteelDrivers

Improvement Movement kept things fresh early Friday with their psychedelic flair. Multi-part vocals layered over serious grooves provided an inviting soundtrack for fans and new listeners alike at OBR. The Georgia four-piece focused on songs off 2024 album, Slump, which sets playful jazz-pop elements to the tune of retro-prog influences.

Marshall Ruffin of Improvement Movement

Side Stage spotlight

After piloting a second stage in 2024, OBR introduced the Side Stage as a permanent fixture for the 2025 fest. Central Florida artists took the spotlight here, with one set from each opening act and double-headers from artists that followed.

Hubo Bentley & Dim Crooked Fools

After Hubo Bentley & Dim Crooked Fools opened the Side Stage on Friday, Skinny McGee and the Handshakes took over with two sets from 5pm to 8pm. The duo delivered rich storytelling in the tune of primitive country jams. With Skinny McGee on the upright bass and Chris Bell on the acoustic guitar and harmonica, the two local legends squeezed American frontier adventures into their sound, referencing scenic staples like Texas roads, the gulf of Mexico, and even orange blossoms.

Skinny McGee and the Handshakes

Phoenix 5 brought nothing but good fun to their opening Side Stage set on Saturday. The collective fused funk, fan-favorite covers, and flavorful melodies to deliver their signature sound. Lead singer Phoenix Gonzalez was a force with her strong vocals and compelling stage presence, while the band remained precise on each note.

Phoenix 5

Brett Staska & the Souvenirs followed with their back-to-back sets, looking sharp and sounding stellar. Staska rocked a teal blazer and BluBlocker aviators while the Souvenirs wore matching peach-toned, Western-style shirts with floral embroidery. Their brand of country surf-rock was incredibly magnetic, featuring magic from dreamy riffs and the standout lap steel guitar.

Brett Staska & the Souvenirs

Closing the Side Stage for the festival weekend were The Gnarbuckles with their double-header. Their smooth and soothing blend of psych rock, Americana, and soul provided a warm soundtrack perfect for the transition from blue hour into a deeper twilight. From the affective cajon and mandolin to Brandon McDuffie’s expressive vocals, The Gnarbuckles’ performance felt incredibly personal. It’s no wonder so many tuned in for both sets.