Thursday, September 18, 2025

Rain or Shine: Pilgrimage Festival Delivers Star-Studded Weekend in Franklin, TN

This past weekend, fans braved the rain – and mud – to support the star-studded lineup at Pilgrimage Festival in Franklin, TN. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a return to The Park at Harlinsdale Farms.

The fun kicked off on Saturday, September 28th, after a two hour delay due to the rain. Day one featured performances from acts such as Celisse, Allison Russell, Lukas Nelson, Trombone Shorty and Hozier before Dave Matthews Band closed the night at the Midnight Sun Stage.

Winning the Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance earlier this year, Allison Russell had an electrifying performance at the Gold Record Road Stage. Stunning the crowd with an impressive clarinet solo, Russell played some of her fan-favorite tracks, including “Nightflyer,” to which she surprised the crowd by bringing out tour mate Hozier, who performed later in the evening.

Pilgrimage Festival Delivers Star-Studded Weekend
Photo Credit: Morgan Raum/The Travel Addict

Next up, fans crowded around as Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real began their set at the Gold Record Road Stage. The rain may have picked up, but so did the energy as Lukas rocked the stage with several notable guitar solos.

Photo Credit: Morgan Raum/The Travel Addict

Charlie Worsham had an impressive set as well, closing out the Americana Music Triangle Stage performing a catalog of his songs – both new and old. With plenty of ponchos and rain boots in sight, fans danced in the rain to Hozier and Dave Matthews Band in preparation of day two.

With a sunnier forecast for Sunday, Grace Bowers kicked off the second and final day of the festival on the Midnight Sun stage. Sierra Hall, Stephen Sanchez, Better Than Ezra, and Charlie Worsham are just a few of the artists who rocked the stages before Noah Kahan concluded the end of the festival.

Pilgrimage Festival Delivers Star-Studded Weekend
Photo Credit: Morgan Raum/The Travel Addict

Twenty-one-year-old Stephen Sanchez charmed the crowd with his nostalgic voice, following Bowers on the Midnight Sun stage. Dressed in a black suit and white tie, Sanchez had a timeless performance covering everything from the classic ballad “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” to his own viral track, “Until I Found You.”

Pilgrimage Festival Delivers Star-Studded Weekend
Photo Credit: Morgan Raum/The Travel Addict

Better Than Ezra fans proved to be loyal as the rain picked up during their set on the Gold Record Road Stage. The band, who are Pilgrimage veterans, started with their track “King of New Orleans” and closed with a cover of “Summer of ‘69” accompanied by Charles Kelley of Lady A.

The rain stopped just in time for fans to enjoy Noah Kahan, concluding the 2024 Pilgrimage Festival.

Words and Photos by Morgan Raum @morganraum for The Travel Addict

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