Orange Blossom Review “25: Florida Festival Winter

Orange Blossom Review celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary this past weekend with an unforgettable festival that drew a crowd of thousands to the scenic Lake Wailes Park in central Florida. The two-day celebration of music, community, and culture reaffirmed its status as one of the Sunshine State’s most highly anticipated and fastest growing events of the year.

Friday’s festivities kicked off in grand style with teen mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and his top-tier band. The young group delivered a colorful set of bluegrass classics, original compositions, and innovative arrangements that set an inspiring tone for the weekend. Later, legendary Texas country savant Robert Earl Keen made a rare live appearance since the announcement of his hiatus in 2022 and treated fans to a number of singalongs, including his signature “Beer Run,” “Feelin’ Good Again,” and, fittingly, “Merry Christmas From the Family.” Closing out the night were award-winning Americana/soul duo The War and Treaty. The husband and wife pair brought their red-hot energy and cheeky storytelling to a packed Friday night crowd, leaving everyone on their feet and buzzing with excitement.

On Saturday, Lakeland-based Van Plating ignited early arrivals with an infectious set from her aptly-named third studio album, Orange Blossom Child, before honky tonk heartache Emily Nenni took the stage with her soulful blend of country and rock. Later, Sam Grisman and his impeccable ensemble gathered around an old school condenser mic and delivered a heartfelt tribute to the music and legacy of David “Dawg” Grisman while sprinkling in familiar favorites from the repertoires of Old & In The Way, The Grateful Dead, and more. Asheville-based bluegrass luminaries Steep Canyon Rangers then brought forth an epic hour of picking, highlighting the group’s dynamic musicianship, tight harmonies, and deep roots in Appalachian tradition. Drawing an unforgettable weekend to a close, JJ Grey and Mofro returned to the OBR stage for a second year in a row, unleashing an electrifying set packed with their biggest anthems and fan favorites, even delivering multiple encores. Reflecting on his return, Grey expressed his affection for Orange Blossom Revue, enthusiastically declaring, “This is our second time playing this festival, but by gosh, if they’ll have us, we’ll play year after year!”

As the 10th anniversary of Orange Blossom Revue comes to a close, festival co-founder Reid Hardman looks back on the incredible journey that has brought the event to its milestone year. “It’s been an amazing ride to see this festival grow from a small gathering to a thriving celebration of music and community,” said Hardman. “This event is our love letter to our home town of Lake Wales, and we’re so grateful for the fans, artists, and everyone involved who believed in us enough to do this again and again. Here’s to many more years of bringing people together in celebration of this incredible town that we hold so close to our hearts.”

With a decade of success behind it, Orange Blossom Revue is poised for even greater celebrations in the years to come, starting with its 11th annual event taking place December 5-6, 2025. For more information and to stay up to date on all things OBR, visit OrangeBlossomRevue.com. Like their social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. Look hard enough and you just might see the firmament.

Thanks to Jess Greaves and her team for covering the event for Wranglers Media. Look for her expose on the underbelly of Clewiston, Florida in the most recent issue of “Sunshine State Woman”. Find the rest of Hobo Kamp at Suwannee Spring Reunion at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, in the middle of the not-so-quiet section.       Namaste y’all.