10th Annual Rockabilly Reunion Is A Wrap

By Grace Usher

The 10th annual Rockabilly Reunion was a rockin’ good time. The weekend event brought thousands of visitors from around the world to visit Arizona’s largest rockabilly car show and music festival.

In total, five bands kept the party going all weekend long.

Cash’d Out plays during Rockabilly Reunion on Saturday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Neon Circus, of Phoenix, brought in a country twang as a Brooks and Dunn tribute band. From San Diego, Calif., returning once again was Lake Havasu Rockabilly favorites, Cash’D Out. Cash’D Out is a Johnny Cash tribute band. Also from San Diego, Calif., was Willie Nelson tribute band, Red Headed Stranger. Hailing all the way from Germany was The Booze Bombs. The group plays in the area only once a year for Rockabilly. The Octanes are an award-winning band from Austin, Texas. The group is sponsored by Gretsch guitars, the main sponsor of the Reunion.

The performances were all MC’d by Tumbleweed, stage personality and owner of Rockabilly restaurant in Phoenix, The Blooze.

When the music wasn’t rockin’, the girls were walkin’ in the much-anticipated Pin-up Beauty Pageant. Dixie Rebelle hosted the event. The winners of the weekend:

Miss Rockabilly Reunion: Little Miss Tay

Miss Psychobilly: Destiny Fatality

Miss Lake Havasu: Chev’ay Bowtie

Miss Alicia Cuppetelli (Miss Congeniality): Kristina Lee

photo courtesy Dixie Rebelle

Off-stage, the Rockabilly reunion included vendors with unique goods and services such as pin-up attire, motorcycle enthusiast memorabilia, face-painting and a zipline.

The food court featured a wide range of meals, snacks and goodies such as fried favorites, Mexican cuisine, sandwiches, barbeque, ice cream and yogurt, even vegan options.

Scattered on the asphalt was a sea of revving motors, vintage cabs and rat rods.

Eagles Tribute Van. Grace Usher/ RiverScene Magazine

Hotel California mural on van. Grace Usher/RiverScene Magazine

One car owner named Hip, accompanied by his friend, Jim, enjoyed the weekend atop Hip’s custom built 1936 International pickup. Hip bought the truck for $200 and rebuilt the whole motor and body himself. This is Hip’s second year at the Lake Havasu Rockabilly Reunion.

Hip (left) and Jim (right) relax on Hip’s Pickup. Grace Usher/RiverScene Magazine

1936 International pickup Grace Usher/ RiverScene Magazine

“I love Rockabilly because they do their own thing and it’s all different. There are some real down-to-earth people, just wonderful people. The other car shows are so uptight and don’t let you touch anything. Here, they do cool things and kids love the trucks. It’s cool for everyone” said Hip.

The 10th Annual Lake Havasu Rockabilly Reunion was a wild weekend with fun, friends and rockabilly style.