Pictured top: Grace Potter
The bright shining sun seemed a bit too good to be true. At Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in Franklin, Tennessee, clear skies set the scene - a stark difference from last year’s deluge of rain courtesy of Hurricane Helene. Fans have been making the "pilgrimage" to The Park at Harlinsdale for over a decade now. Each fall, the peaceful park, typically a haven for fishing, dog-walking, and horseback riding, transforms into a picturesque festival destination. Visitors come from all over the country to enjoy local Tennessean food, drink, music, and art just 30 minutes south of Nashville. This year’s festival featured renowned acts such as Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Sam Fender, and the Turnpike Troubadours.
The young talents of Rocky Top Revue opened the weekend at the Americana Music Triangle with their traditional square dancing demonstrations, complete with colorful costumes and frilly skirts. Throughout the weekend, they could be spotted starting impromptu dances all across festival grounds. Despite being the smallest stage, the crowd was constantly robust and buzzing. Folks enjoyed acts like People on the Porch, Will McFarlane, and Ben Chapman’s Peach Jam while sipping on their beers under the shade.
Across the way at the Midnight Sun main stage, Alabama-native Taylor Hunnicutt got the music rolling with her modern country sound. Texan Angel White kicked off the Gold Record Road stage with his charming blend of soul, country, and folk. Grammy-nominated Maggie Rose has been a consistent face in the Nashville-area music scene, having performed at the Grand Ole Opry over 100 times. It only felt right that she graced the stage on day one to showcase her soulful voice and genre-bending sound. American Aquarium brought an alt-country flare to the afternoon, with songs like “The Luckier You Get” and “Burn.Flicker.Die.” Father John Misty was one of the most interesting picks for the lineup. His stage presence radiates a self-aware pretentiousness that only enhances his social commentary through song, while still maintaining his effortless charm. Ears perked up at hearing “Real Love Baby” and “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” echo across the park.
It was a hometown hangout for Colony House, who are native to Franklin, TN. The indie-rock band consists of two brothers, Caleb & Will Chapman, alongside guitarist Scott Mills and bassist Parke Cottrell. Fans of contemporary Christian music will recognize the Chapman name, as Caleb and Will are the sons of the legendary Steven Curtis Chapman. The Colony House set came in the late afternoon, when some may be starting to lose their steam. The band easily combatted the fatigue with their raw pop-rock energy. Caleb jumped down onto the barricade and leaped over it into the crowd, all while continuing to perform. Along the way, he high-fived fans and stopped to hug a young boy. While the security team may have been flustered, it was one of the most magical moments from the weekend.
The Turnpike Troubadours brought a honky-tonk swag to the day with “Gin, Smoke, Lies.” The Oklahoma based band has taken the country scene by storm with their down-to-earth, red dirt sound. Despite taking a hiatus from 2019 to 2021, they are back on the road to taking the world by storm. Similarly, Sam Barber may only be 22 years old, but that hasn’t slowed his skyrocket to success, landing him the penultimate slot of the day. It was only two summers ago, in June 2023, that he headlined his first gig at The Basement in Nashville (a venue with less than 200 max capacity). Now, he draws massive crowds and boasts a platinum album with his 2024 release of “Restless Mind.”
Local talent continued to take center stage on day one as Mt. Juliet natives Kings of Leon captivated the park. The rock band, formed in 1999, consists of brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill, alongside their cousin Matthew Followill. Their early albums in the 2000s brought quick mainstream success, even earning them four Grammy Awards, including 2010’s Record of the Year. Anyone who has turned on the radio has heard their iconic tracks such as “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody,” making them a perfect headliner for the festival. Their sound soared over the crowd and onto the streets outside festival gates, where folks stood to enjoy the show from afar.
The start of day two saw fans sprinting for the rail and racing to claim prime spots to set up blankets and chairs for the legendary lineup. The main stage opened with verygently, a Nashville-based group of singer-songwriters who joined forces in 2024. Their Instagram bio sums it up well: “rock n’ roll best served very gently.” Warm tones meld with bittersweet lyrics and wit to create an easy start to the day. Across the park, Eddie 9V satiated the hunger for some real blues-rock guitar focused music. Born Brooks Mason, the artist first picked up guitar at age six and garnered inspiration from people like Muddy Waters and Freddie King. He signed to Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound label earlier this year, joining a roster of incredible talent such as Hank Williams, Jr. and Early James, and his album “Capricorn” debuted at #1 on the blues charts, only to be dethroned by the legendary Bonnie Raitt. This Pilgrimage set came just in time to create buzz around his upcoming album to be released in 2026.
If there were an award for most hours spent on stage at Pilgrimage, it would be a tough battle between the Sam Grisman Project and Ben Chapman’s Peach Jam. Festival-goers had two chances to see the Sam Grisman Project on Sunday, both at the main stage and the Americana Music Triangle. This collective of acousticians is a showcase for folk, bluegrass, and roots music. Ben Chapman, who has become legendary for his monthly Peach Jam at The Basement, brought the vibe over to the Americana Music Triangle for two sets spanning three hours. The groovy jam band featured JD Clayton and Meg McRee.
The Heavy Heavy carried the energy at the Gold Record Road stage . They self-describe as a “retro inspired rock band, making the music the sixties forgot,” and boy, does it resonate. Led by Georgie Fuller and William Turner, the band melds folk-rock with a British influence, making for an afternoon of easy listening. Grace Potter embraced her true star power over at Midnight Sun. The “Something That I Want” singer rotated between keys, tambourine, and guitar for a riveting set, all while the sun reflected off her discoball-esque getup. Sunday afternoon came with a surprise performance by the Franklin High School marching band by the media tent. Despite an abundance of star-studded talent across festival grounds, we couldn’t help but marvel at the young drummers.
Kevin Griffin, lead vocalist and guitarist for Better Than Ezra, co-founded Pilgrimage in 2015 with W. Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan. Since then, his band has been a highly anticipated fixture at Pilgrimage, consistently drawing crowds and growing an already dedicated fanbase. Bassist Tom Drummond is an expert at riling up the crowd and playing it up for the cameras, while Michael Jerome pounds away on the drums and James Arthur Payne Jr. plays the keys. The group brought an intense energy to the afternoon and infused the spirit of the festival into every track.
At first thought, Young the Giant might seem like an odd choice for the Pilgrimage lineup. They explained that, while the festival tends to have more of an Americana and even a country focus, they were honored to be included in the weekend to share their art. The alternative rock band, consisting of Sameer Gadhia (vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Payam Doostzah (bass), and Francois Comtois (drums), has a discography featuring a rich blend of rock, synthy-pop, and bits of Indian fusion. Their latest release, American Bollywood, features eastern instruments like sitar and tabla, drawing influence from Gadhia’s Gujarati roots. They played hits like “Cough Syrup” and “Mind Over Matter” and even brought Grace Potter back out for “My Body.”
Hailing from the UK, Sam Fender has quickly become one of the most in-demand artists of his generation. Fans clung to their spots on the rail all day for a chance to experience his set from the frontlines, and came prepared with posters and gifts. Half of the excitement, from a reporter’s point of view, was seeing just how happy they were to be there! Fender has collaborated with Pilgrimage veteran Noah Kahan, opened for Bruce Springsteen, and has taken home two BRIT Awards for British Rock/Alternative Act. His raw and vulnerable lyrics tackle topics like mental health, grief, and love.
As night took hold of Middle Tennessee, the stage lights only shone brighter for John Mayer. As far at the eye could see, chairs and blankets were packed out to the furthest reaches of the farm. Up in the front, fans chanted “John-May-Er! John-May-Er!” in anticipation. Considered one of the greatest guitarists in the world, Mayer has built a career both as a solo artist and as a member of Dead & Company. He opened the set with “Last Train Home” and “Queen of California” while thousands sang along. Various fan requests, mostly communicated through clever signs, prompted Mayer to perform bits of songs, such as “Covered in Rain,” “A Face To Call Home,” “Wheel,” and “Man on the Side.” Of course, he included some of his greatest hits: “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” and “Gravity.”
As fans packed up their things and left the park behind, a buzz lingered in the air above Franklin. The fog machines clouded the air, the hum of traffic built up, and the ringing in our ears took over. But, it was nothing to complain about. Leaving in such a haze is a sure sign of a fantastic weekend at Pilgrimage. Needless to say, we eagerly await next year’s party. Let the countdown begin!
Learn more about Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival at https://pilgrimagefestival.com/.
