[Photo courtesy of Sophia Hoffman]

By Julia Weber, Features Editor

Summer in Athens, Ohio, for as long as I can remember, has marked the return of the beloved Nelsonville Music Festival, or NMF.

Although NMF 2022 took place in September at the festival’s new venue, Snow Fork Event Center, this year’s festival returns to its summer dates and promises a weekend packed to the brim with performances from some of the biggest names in indie music today.

Friday greets fest-goers with sets from artists like Pearla, Greg Freeman, Shannon & the Clams, Sierra Ferrell and Geese among others. A surprise set is also scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. on the Creekside Stage.

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Folk artist Michael Hurley will also take the stage on Friday and Saturday, continuing his longstanding tradition of playing at the festival.

Friday night brings Kurt Vile and the Violators to Snow Fork for a night of rock music that will undoubtedly be as delightfully unbothered and badass as Vile himself. Vile returns to the NMF stage for the first time since his 2012 and 2014 performances. Most recently, he released “(watch my moves)” in April of last year.

Day two of the festival welcomes local and touring bands alike to the festival grounds, with Athens jangle pop band The Laughing Chimes taking the stage in addition to the Stuart’s Opera House Afterschool Music Program bands. Later in the day, artists like Courtney Marie Andrews, Florry, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price, and Jake Xerxes Fussell are scheduled to play at the festival.

Saturday brings a headlining performance from indie rock legend Alex G. This set follows his September 2022 release of the widely-praised album God Save The Animals, and it marks his debut performance at Nelsonville Music Festival.

For those who make it through two nights of camping with enough energy for day three, or perhaps those who don’t camp and come back to the grounds more refreshed and ready to rock, Sunday welcomes another stacked lineup, particularly for ACRN rock lobsters.

Sunday welcomes Jake Xerxes Fussell for another performance, followed later in the day by Lobsterfest 2022 headliner Wild Pink. Also taking the stage on day three are Jupiter & Okwess, and Wednesday member MJ Lenderman with a solo set before Wednesday takes the stage later in the day.

Sunday night brings closing headlining shows from Lobsterfest 2023 headliner Wednesday as well as NMF alumni Alvvays and Big Thief. All three bands have released new music recently. Wednesday released their widely-acclaimed new album Rat Saw God earlier this summer, while Alvvays released Blue Rev late last year and Big Thief released the ambitious double album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You in early 2022. Big Thief also recently announced that “Vampire Empire,” an unreleased song that has dominated their tour setlists, will be released on streaming services on July 19.

Nelsonville Music Festival has brought countless music legends to southeast Ohio since the inaugural festival in 2005. Last year’s headlining performers included Japanese Breakfast, Mdou Moctar, Yo La Tengo, Angel Olsen, and Neko Case.

Performers in previous years include John Prine, Mavis Staples, Wilco, Conor Oberst, Courtney Barnett, Mac Demarco, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, and Jason Isbell among many others.
To learn more about Nelsonville Music Festival and purchase tickets, you can visit their website.