Southern hospitality
“Loretta.” Simply say the name in the proximity of a music fan and you’ve said enough. Her name conjures thoughts of others—Patsy, Elvis, Willie, Waylon or Hank. Loretta Lynn is country music royalty. She defined the music industry in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and beyond. She was a pioneer who laid the foundation for so many that followed. Her body of work is epic, all of it achieved in a grittier time when country music felt a little more authentic and a little less manufactured.
Crowned the Queen of Country, Loretta is the most-awarded female country recording artist ever and was the only female Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade in the ’70s. She is in multiple songwriters’ Halls of Fame. She focused on blue-collar themes and music that working men and women could relate to. She was married at 14 and a mother of four at 18. None of that slowed Loretta down!
As you get to know Loretta, she will steal a special place in your heart. She has lived her entire life on her own terms; she smashed stereotypes and broke the rules. Loretta Lynn shares the values of the motorcycle community: family, faith, a love of freedom, respect for the men and women of our military, hard work, creativity and sheer guts. She typifies Southern hospitality and most of all knows how to throw a party where every guest feels special. In two-wheeled terms it’s safe to say Loretta is a badass.
If you haven’t experienced the Loretta Lynn Ranch, just realize that words can’t do it justice. It is a special place in its physical beauty as well as its people, who exude genuine friendliness and hospitality. Loretta fell so in love with the property that her husband Doo purchased it the day after their first visit in the late ’60s. Located about 50 minutes west of Nashville, it’s billed as the seventh-largest attraction in Tennessee and features a recording studio, western town and a country music museum. Its manicured 450 acres (out of 6,500 total acres) feature an amphitheater, a beautiful horse barn (yes, you can ride horses), a large swimming pool, over 400 powered RV spots, cabins, and enough room for thousands of tents and campers. Loretta no longer lives in the sprawling mansion and tours are now available. Just be forewarned: the plantation house is said to be haunted.
Never one to be satisfied to just dominate the music world, Loretta’s dream was to make the ranch a destination and a place for special events. In the early ’80s the Ranch became the home of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. For 36 years, every aspiring and current pro made their bones in the dirt at Loretta’s. The relationship with the bike community has grown naturally for V-twin and metric riders as well. The ranch is such a great place to camp and stage that multitudes of riders stream through on a regular basis. The roads surrounding the Ranch are some of the best anywhere, with rolling hills, meandering turns and lush green canopies to frame it all.
As Loretta worked into the twilight of her career and as her children and grandchildren grew she desired to create a legacy event—something beyond motocross. The idea of a revival of motorcycles and music in a four-day festival came to fruition in 2017 after some challenges with a previous promoter who never delivered on his promises. The decision was made to connect with an experienced team in the motorcycle world and turn a challenging start into something that the fine people of Tennessee and the region could grow and be proud of. The first Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival was in September 2017 and with a short production time frame, the event was a strong first effort. Many called it the coolest event of 2017 for its authenticity, hospitality and just pure fun.
The second Motorcycles and Music Revival taking place October 4–7 is shaping up to be the party you don’t want to miss. Building on the foundation of year one, 2018 will feature over 40 custom motorcycle builders in the BC Moto Invitational, two motorcycle shows, and 20 bands featuring original rock, southern rock and country with an edge along with singer-songwriter rounds and acoustic performers playing throughout the property. The event is expanding on the hillbilly dirt track racing from 2017 as well as adding a shooting range run safely by local professionals.
A full schedule of music, racing, daredevil shows and singer songwriters will start Thursday morning and end Sunday afternoon. Sunday will feature a charity tribute to the men and women of our military with rally partners, United Service Organizations (USO). Last year Loretta came out and performed, which was probably one of the coolest surprises I’ve ever experienced at an event. We’re told she hopes to come out again this year because she loves motorcycles!
There are a variety of ways to stay on the ranch and all are detailed on www.motorcyclesandmusic.com. If you bring your tent, camping is free with your event pass. Tickets are available now at www.motorcyclesandmusic.com. To find out about pricing and benefits for groups of 10, 20 and more, email info@motorcyclesandmusic.com.
