Holdyn’s Journal: Country Star Describes His Long, Strange Trip to the Barefoot Music Festival Stage
Holdyn Barder (right) goes live with Fox 29’s Bob Kelly (center).
Vicky Parente contributed to this article.
Editor’s note: Loyal Seven Mile Times readers will recall being introduced to country singer Holdyn Barder in these pages last summer, and many of you checked out the music video of his hometown hit, “Stone Harbor.” The momentum keeps building for Holdyn, who was invited to play at Wildwood’s Barefoot Music Festival this June. We asked Holdyn to keep a journal and share the experience with us. So, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to take the stage in front of thousands, read on.
It’s Happening!
March 2
Atlanta
You will not believe what just happened to me. Tonight, my best friend Chris and I drove from Nashville to Atlanta for a HARDY concert. We’re huge fans. While I’m in line, I met one of my biggest fans, a guy named Griffin, who said he was looking forward to the day when I would open for a guy like HARDY. Griffin told me how proud he was of me and my journey and that he had visions of me performing on a big stage one day. I took a look down at my phone, and at that moment, I got an Instagram DM from Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood. I got the invite to play the festival. To open for HARDY. I can’t believe it. I AM PLAYING AT BAREFOOT COUNTRY MUSIC FEST! LET’S GO!
Singing, Singing, and More Singing
June 13
Nashville
This show is GOING TO ROCK. My band and I sounded great today. We wrapped up our last rehearsal and I am beyond ready to make my family and friends proud. I’m excited to show my folks back home this side of my life. Since I’ve been living in Nashville for the past four years, who I am as an artist now is very different from the artist I was when I moved. My band and I leave in 48 hours. LET’S GO! I can’t believe this is happening. What’s even more special is being able to do this with friends: I met most of my band at Belmont University while in music business classes. It’s wild to think about how a kid sitting next to me in accounting class could end up performing with me in front of thousands a few years later. You’ve got to love Nashville!
On the Road Again
June 15
Winchester, Va.
My guitarist Jack just told me that it might storm tomorrow. There’s like a 50% chance of my set being rained out. We’re about halfway through our long van drive from Tennessee to New Jersey. I pray it works out. At least our van has a really big flat-screen TV for the guys in the back rows. If we didn’t have that, this drive would have certainly been a lot more painful on I-81, ha! It’s the most boring drive (not kidding). Luckily, we’ve been able to stop at Buc-ee’s and Sheetz. We have yet to hit a Wawa! I’m exhausted from waking up at 2am … We’re still only halfway there. Can this ride go any longer?
It’s Time
June 16, 12:02pm
Wildwood
Rise and shine! I woke up at 3am today after driving from Nashville to be with Bob Kelly on Fox 29. I’m beat, but I’m ready! I told myself that this is how champions are made! I’ve been waiting my entire life for this moment. The fans are here. The band is hot. The sun is shining. I’m excited. This is my chance — here we go! I just have to get the beach balls ready to throw into the crowd. I still can’t believe that we’re here, ready to go! I’m a tad nervous about the forecast, but it looks like we’re in the clear. I swear, if we get rained out, I’m going to be pretty upset. There’s no way that could happen, right?
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
June 16, 3:05pm
Wildwood
My worst fear just came true. My band and I got cut from the lineup due to the weather. It ONLY rained during the times of my sets. I’m really sad but I’m trying to remain optimistic. We even ran sound check, then BOOM: a giant thunder clap came. Heavy rain followed shortly thereafter. My band and I rushed to get our gear under cover before everything was soaked, but it was too late. Luckily, most of us had hardshell cases. But I have a weird feeling this may work out. We’re hopeful. Have faith, Holdyn, have faith. Everything happens for a reason.
The Interview Idea
June 16, 6:56pm
Stone Harbor
My content director and producer Ben had a great idea for today, the day of our biggest Barefoot show of the weekend. He was going to film the hype and excitement right after the show so we could document all the raw emotions and the magic of the moment. Well, we’re all bummed. I’m exhausted. The show didn’t happen. I’m trying to put on my best face and remain optimistic. This is challenging. I guess life just happens and you have to just roll with it. I just really want Wawa at this point.
Round Two
June 17, 5am
Stone Harbor
I’m awake and at it. I get an urge to rush my band and show up at the venue earlier than anticipated. We have a few more acoustic shows scheduled for the day. I’m still bummed that we couldn’t play yesterday but I’m keeping my hopes up. This van is LOUD. I can’t think straight. We’re blasting Van Halen to get into the mood. We’re DYING to perform at this point. We are on our way to the festival. I still have a strange feeling that this is all going to work out…
Timing
June 17, 12:21am
Wildwood
Jack, my guitarist, who’s also from New Jersey, just said he thought it was weird that no one was sound checking on stage. Apparently, someone’s supposed to start at 1pm today, but no one is here. It happens to be the same stage that we were supposed to perform on yesterday. Everyone is urging me to ask Mark, the stage manager, if we can perform. I went up to Mark and asked him if we could play. He said to “Go find Sandy” and that “Sandy will sort it out.” “Where’s Sandy?” I asked. “He’s probably near the main stage. Go get him,” Mark says. I sprinted across the entire beach to go to the main stage. I started shouting, “Sandy! Where are you?” I’m certain people thought I was nuts. Thankfully, I found him.
You Just Never Know
June 17, 12:34 PM
Wildwood, New Jersey
I’m on the verge of tears. Guess who is playing at 1pm to kick off the festival? ME! YES! GOD IS GOOD! An artist was cut from the lineup and we’re PLAYING! I’m speechless. Got to go sound check! Oh, my gosh … We’re on in a few minutes! LET’S GO!
Rocking It
June 17, 2pm
Wildwood
I am over the moon! This is all I want to do for the rest of my life. I know that this is just the beginning. It all worked out, as it always does. I’m very sweaty and just drank 10 gallons of water, ha! What a trip this has been. I grew up coming to this very beach as a kid. Now, I get to perform on it for my hometown crowd. To be able to mesh my Nashville reality with my Jersey Shore reality is the strangest and most amazing feeling.
When I ran on stage, I immediately felt a surge of excitement. Seeing Morey’s Pier in the background while singing was a surreal moment. What topped the experience for me was seeing the familiar faces of family, friends, and fans in the crowd, some of whom had never seen me play before. To be able to give them that moment makes me proud of who I am and where I come from. Hearing them shout “Stone Harbor” back to me was certainly a moment I’ll always remember. Seeing the crowd’s faces light up on that song made me want to sing it the best they’ve ever heard it sung. This was, hands down, the largest crowd I have ever played for. Chris (who isn’t really the best thrower) was in charge of throwing beach balls with his dad from the stage during my cover of Kenny Chesney’s hit song, “Summertime.” The crowd LOVED the beach balls. Everyone had a BLAST!
Moments like this make me want to continue performing at this festival year after year, making everyone in the region proud. Once the show ended, I jumped down into the sand, shook hands with everyone and signed autographs. This is it. It is happening. The seeds of making my dreams come true are being planted right now.
That’s a Wrap!
June 18
Stone Harbor
I tell the boys I love ’em and how grateful I am for their performances over the weekend. The boys clap as I wrap up with final words. I just performed at Barefoot Country Music Festival. At HOME. Opening for HARDY, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, and Kid Rock. WHAT. IS. LIFE? This is only the beginning. I feel confident. I can’t wait to perform at the Stone Harbor concert series this July. The guys are in the van and half-asleep, ready to head back to Nashville. They can’t believe how it all came together. Holdyn out.