Delivers Two Days Of Standout Music, Eats, Wares + Fun
"As many began to line up and brave the rain with smiles on their faces, only one thing was on their minds: Music." – The Tennessean
"Balancing Top-Tier Booking with Local Charm" – Consequence
Rain or shine, the show must go on. Proving to avail beyond the hurdles, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival did more than exceed expectations during their 10th anniversary return to The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, they put on the show of the decade.
The two-day festival more than made up for Saturday’s (9/28) two-hour opening delay. By 1:30 p.m. a sea of eager festivalgoers was lined up fence to fence, winding through fields with anticipation of running through the entry. Watch the spirited opening here. Festival organizers worked to restructure the day's schedule, ensuring all artists were able to perform. Music started at 2 p.m. with Chance Peña leading the charge over at the Gold Record Road Stage.
Special moments throughout the weekend included Allison Russell’s set at the Gold Record Road Stage, where Saturday night’s headliner and Russell’s tour mate for the last 10 weeks, Hozier made a guest appearance for a duet of “Requiem.” Returning the favor, Russell graced the same stage later in the evening to sing "Work Song," during the Irish singer's headlining set. American Songwriter raved that Hozier “braves the elements, showcases ‘One-Of-A-Kind Talent’ with iconic Pilgrimage Festival performance.”
Saturday came to a close as Dave Matthews Band made a splash with their unforgettable headline set at the Midnight Sun Stage. Delivering an unparalleled performance, The Tennessean applauded, “for nearly two hours, Matthews and his band had the crowd dancing and singing and oblivious to the fact they were soaking wet.” They invited out friend and festival co-billing act Trombone Shorty of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue back on the stage to rock out, ending the night on a high-note.
Bringing the heat for Day Two, Better Than Ezra’s fiery set continued a decade long tradition on Sunday (9/29) afternoon. President and CEO of Gibson, Cesar Gueikian jammed out for “Mystified” and an Elton John classic cover of “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” before gifting the guitar to a lucky winner. Lady A’s Charles Kelley also popped up to join the band during “Summer Of ‘69” delivering an electric version of the Bryan Adams’ original.
Treating the packed-out farm, Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey performed with NEEDTOBREATHE for their song “Wasting Time.” The headliner also brought out Judah & the Lion members, Judah Akers and Brian Macdonald for their hit song “Brother.”
By Sunday night’s final headliner, excitement buzzed through the air as fans quickly migrated over to the Midnight Sun Stage to catch the last performance of the weekend, Noah Kahan. Performing a stellar and raw set to thousands of fans, Kahan stacked his set with hits and a guest appearance from Ashe.
Standout performances also included Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lukas Nelson, The Brook & The Bluff, COIN, Stephen Sanchez, Myles Smith, Sierra Hull, plus many more.
Williamson Source praised, “it’s this blend of Southern charm and world-class music that makes Pilgrimage a standout event,” while News Channel 5 added, “a little rain and wind didn't stop the Pilgrimage Festival from kicking off in Franklin!” “Hats off” to PEOPLE for bringing to life the Pilgrimage x Stetson Legend portrait studio. Check out the gallery here.
Sponsors of the 2024 festival include Southwest Rapid Rewards® Visa® Card, Hardee’s™, Gibson, White Claw, Corona, George Dickel, Splash Refresher™, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, Blue Moon, Teremana Tequila, Stetson Legend, National Seating & Mobility, Crescent 9 THC Seltzer, House of Mustaine Wines, ASCAP.
The festival is produced by Better Than Ezra front man Kevin Griffin, W. Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan. The event has established itself as a music and cultural festival, highlighting area creators of all kinds, including chefs, artisans, jewelers, brewers and more.
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