Enjoy the sounds of melodic acoustic instruments throughout multiple listening rooms or maybe learn the craft of songwriting from world-talented musicians themselves.

Seymour Crossroads Entertainment is bringing back another year of musical experiences with Crossroads Acoustic Fest on Friday and next Saturday.

With a weekend wristband, festival attendees can create their own intimate music experience as they move from one listening room to another seeing — and hearing — their favorites artists.

These acoustic performances will take place at the Jackson County Visitor Center, the Knights of Columbus and Copper Top, the new event center in the former Tribune office on St. Louis Avenue.

Music will go from 6 to 10 p.m. each day. Tickets are $60 for both days, $35 for a Friday-only ticket and $40 for a Saturday-only ticket. They are available to purchase online at crossroadsacousticfest.com. To pay with cash or check, stop by the visitor center, 100 N. Broadway St., Seymour. Wristbands will be available to pick up at the visitor center beginning April 26.

“Planning takes about six months,” said Shawn Busby with Seymour Crossroads Entertainment. “Starting with booking musicians, then promotion, coordination, securing volunteers, etc. It makes it sound much simpler than it is, but it’s quite an undertaking with hundreds of hours behind the scenes all by volunteers.”

Crossroads Acoustic Fest was organized by Seymour Crossroads Entertainment in 2018, 2019 and then took a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization became a non-profit in 2021 and returned from their three-year hiatus in 2023 with the Acoustic Fest.

“It’s hard to say what I’m most excited for,” Busby said.

He said many nationally and internationally-touring musicians are coming to Jackson County from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico and of course, Indiana.

“Most first-time attendees are honestly shocked at the caliber of talent,” he said. “One couple told us last year, it was the best weekend they’d had in years.”

Special events on Saturday include a special free session with Robert Reynolds & Trevor Toms called “Inside the Song” at 11 a.m. and the Larry McDonald Memorial Guitar Show from noon to 3 p.m.

Reynolds, a Grammy winner and former founding member of The Mavericks, said he enjoys visiting Jackson County and being part of the festival.

“I’ve got three of them under my belt,” he said. “I love coming back and they seem to love having me back.”

Reynolds said his musical inspiration falls back to what he refers to as American roots in rock ‘n’ roll.

“What I mean by that is the deeper roots into elements of country and country rock,” he said. “Over the years it has been twisted and used in so many unique ways — the genre of country music — I don’t know if it is one single thing anymore.”

Reynolds describes his brand as including the earthy elements that are found in old country music, but blended with electric accompaniment as well to make a classic country rock sound.

“I like the history of that sound,” he said. “The Los Angeles country rock sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s.”

Reynolds said that style of music was influential on his life as a young boy growing up with his mother.

“It’s hard not to be a Johnny Cash fan,” he said. “I was blessed to meet John and June when I was in Nashville those years and for a little while I was their neighbor. I got to do some shows with them; now I look back on it and it seems so long ago.”

Reynolds said some of his influences of early hillbilly rock ‘n’ roll include Elvis, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, but he writes in a variety of styles.

“I always use it as a place to come home to, but I am always travelling out from that place,” he said.

Reynolds said he is at the point in his songwriting where it is mostly influenced by his personal experiences.

“A song isn’t worth finishing, following up or chasing down if I can’t have it mean something to me,” he said. “I am at the point in my life where I don’t spend a lot of time writing ear candy stuff.”

Reynolds said even when he writes a song with a simplistic, joyful, or upbeat grove, it’s still personal.

A special “Inside the Song” session will give those who aspire to be writers and musicians — and music lovers — the opportunity to learn the craft of songwriting and the storytelling behind it.

“The set also includes the stories behind the songs,” Reynolds said. “A lot of the time the best stuff is the inspiration behind it and why the songwriter wrote the song. It might be whimsical, funny or the most heartbreaking story you ever heard. We don’t know until we start asking these questions. I wouldn’t miss it if it were me.”

This festival wouldn’t be called Crossroads without the merger of world-talented musicians along with successful local artists as well.

Seymour resident Kyle Addison, owner of Foxtrot Barber and Shave in downtown Seymour, will have the opportunity to pick up a guitar again with singer Clint Culberson for a revival of MODOC, a popular alternative rock band in the early 2000s.

The band, which included Culberson, Addison and John Carlson on drums, got their start at Ball State University in Muncie, gaining an exceptional local following. Because of the era of the early 2000s, the bands’ style delved into loud rock ‘n’ roll.

“This show will be more tame, being just the two of us, but we are excited to explore the songs in a new way,” Addison said.

Addison said it has been a few years since they have played a show together, but they have all remained great friends.

“I think we all found each other and realized we had a similar vision and love for rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “Soon after, we moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and spent the next decade creating music and touring.”

Addison said he is looking forward to being on stage again with Culberson and seeing all of the talent that is coming to Seymour.

“I love seeing Shawn and all the people involved putting time and effort into bringing something like Acoustic Fest to our community,” he said.

Busby said all the talent this year is exceptional top to bottom, but mentioned a few that he is excited for.

“Steve Poltz, Gabe Lee and Otis Gibbs definitely make the short list,” he said. “Gabe Lee is one of my absolute favorite young songwriters out of Nashville … an incredibly talented writer and performer.”

“Steve Poltz is unique and quirky in the best way,” he said. “He’s hilarious. He spreads joy with every performance. And, a fun tidbit, Steve co-wrote ‘You Were Meant For Me’ with Jewel.”

“Otis Gibbs is an Indiana folk musician who performs all over the globe,” he said. “He has great stories and a fun stage presence.”

This festival experience is unique, allowing attendees to silence their phones, focus on the music and enjoy a weekend of storytelling.