20 Years of LJT's Rhymes and Vines: Rhymes and Vibes

Twenty years in, Rhymes and Vines at Larry Joe Taylor’s Melody Mountain Ranch still feels like that secret handshake festival you hope nobody else discovers. Though at this point, it’s got plenty of history and loyalty behind it. Where the April blowout is wall-to-wall chaos in the best way, September’s version remains the chilled-out cousin. The vibe is impeccable.

You can literally leave your cooler sitting in the shade while you wander off for a set, and if anything, you’ll return to find folks have added to it instead of taking away. It’s a gathering that still runs on trust, community, and the unspoken rhythm of Texas music fans who know how to do it right.

Saturday brought the set of the weekend when Courtney Patton and Adam Hood took the stage. Separately and together. Their songs, stories, and harmonies reminded everyone why smaller, intimate festival moments can often tower over the big production sets. You could feel the crowd leaning in, hanging on every note.

Larry Joe himself reminded us why we’re all here, holding down the tradition with his trademark smile. Mike Graham and Davin James delivered the kind of no-frills, soulful sets that make Melody Mountain feel like home. Younger torchbearers like Nyles and Nick Brumley showed the future’s still burning bright. And that there's still room under LJT's big tents for the songs before all else.

Two decades on, Rhymes and Vines still isn’t about spectacle—it’s about soul, space, and songs. It’s about the feeling of being part of something familiar and safe, yet somehow still special every year. The April fest may grab the headlines, but September is where the heart is.

Here’s to 20 more years of coolers left unattended, songs that linger long after the stage lights fade and Melody Mountain’s perfect little corner of Texas music paradise.