Blackberry Smoke:Country or Southern Rock?

Since Blackberry Smoke was announced as one of the acts performing at the Taste of Country Festival June 13-15 at Hunter Mountain and I plugged them in to a fairly steady rotation, the response from Big Kat listeners who had not previously heard them has been fantastic. But, are they country or are they southern rock? Is there a difference anymore? According to this reviewers article, they are bringing a fresh take to the so called traditional southern rock label, and that's OK with me.

In fact, I have long thought that bands that decades ago were given the southern rock moniker would indeed be labelled as country acts now.  That includes Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Eagles, and even The Allman Brothers Band. If you haven't heard them yet, check out the tunes below and see if you agree.

By the way, Blackberry Smoke is scheduled for Thursday, the 14th, right after the day's opener, Rachel Farley.What a way to kick off the day!