Brittany Howard performs on the Britt Music and Arts Festival stage.

I dreamed I sat atop a green hill surrounded by oaks, towering evergreens and happy music lovers. Below was a stage.

The stage was a canvas for amplifiers, multi-colored lights, and best of all, instruments, musicians and singers. They were about to come to life and work together for everyone’s benefit. The lights flashed and shone over the hill, the faces and trees, creating movement. A plumpish moon rose over the stage as the show broke open on a perfect autumn night. A comet streaked across the sky like a celestial tally-ho.

It wasn’t a dream, but a magical October night, with the leaves hinting at change, and the night air suggesting shivers ahead.

It was the Britt Music and Arts Festival’s final show of the year — unusual to play so late in the season — a welcome late-bloomer coming a full month after the previous performance.

“We apply to the city of Jacksonville to activate our ‘shoulder season’ every year (a few weeks either side of our normal summer season),” said Fran Jamison, Britt Music and Arts Festival director of marketing and communications, of the show’s timing. “We apply every year, but haven’t typically used it — at least not this late! This allows us to take advantage of any unmissable shows on tour.”

Sometimes the perfect decision involves venturing outside the vanilla zone. Monday night, the Britt Hill held out a surprise. We had come to hear Brittany Howard and Michael Kiwanuka — two singer-songwriter/musicians who were strangers to us. It’s accurate to say they blew us away, then brought us home. I can easily judge all “modern music” as sounding alike when I don’t explore possibilities.

Lane and I are huge fans of good music. But we mostly stick to classic rock, jazz and classical out of a sincere appreciation and prejudice. We decided to throw preconceived notions to the breeze and attend the festival’s last hurrah with open minds while hoping for the best — which is exactly what we got.

Guitarist and songwriter Yasmin Williams launched the multi-course adventure with nimble fingers born of hours spent playing “Guitar Hero.” Now, she’s reached her own level of play action as she held the concert-goers captive.

Next onstage came Brittany Howard, formerly with the band Alabama Shakes. With five Grammy awards and 16 nominations to her credit, she brought the goods.

Her several band members included two gifted backup singers who made us nostalgic for earlier soul groups. It’s no wonder, too, since Howard gleaned early inspiration from the wisdom of Dionne Warwick and Elvis Presley; she listened to classic ‘70s rock groups like Pink Floyd and Cream. Her sound reeled us in.

We detected the influences and fell in love with her incredibly genuine delivery. Using ingredients from earlier mavericks, she mixed in modern spice and churned out a unique, delicious flavor. We were glad for the generous helping.

After what seemed an entirely satisfying show, intermission allowed roadies to disassemble a complicated stage and create another for Michael Kiwanuka and his band, still ahead. Hill folk got their money’s worth and then some Monday night.

Kiwanuka is a British singer-songwriter of Ugandan heritage. I was intrigued right off by his creative light set up. When the first song began to drift out amid a red glow, I felt like I was enjoying a sound bath. It washed over me like a rejuvenating influence.

His voice is unique and soul-soothing. His backup singers added a vital element to Kiwanuka’s original creations. I want to experience it over again. But every live performance is a once-in-a-lifetime present. That’s what makes live performances and performers precious.

Hats off to all the many dedicated individuals responsible for a highly successful season. Britt Executive Director Abby McKee read their names before the show, but there wasn’t time to list the many faithful volunteers so vital to that success.

Fran Jamison summed up with good news: “This season was a great success for us thanks to our amazing patrons, volunteers and staff. It was a record-breaking year for us financially and as a nonprofit, that money allows us to run more education and outreach programs, and book more world-class acts.”

A new season on the Hill is in the works. Two acts are booked already. Consider a membership to get the early scoop. See brittfest.org for details and updates.