[Photos courtesy of Megan Young]

By Jenell Taylor, Contributor

For three sizzling days, music lovers from all walks of life gathered together in a venue nestled cozily in the rolling hills of Southeast Ohio to sing, dance and party. The 19th annual Nelsonville Music Festival (NMF) took place last weekend and featured over 40 local, regional and national acts. With many months of planning and the recruitment of hundreds of selfless volunteers under their belt, this year’s festival exceeded my expectations. Upon first look at the campground, I spotted several vendor trucks, ukuleles tied to trees, countless hammocks, water stations, portable toilets, Narcan stations and gorgeous pieces of artwork from years past. For a hippie party in the woods, I would say they were more than prepared. 

Friday

On NMF’s opening day, the festival hit the ground running with Columbus-based indie rock band Natural Sway performing first on Porch Stage at 1:15 p.m. Lead singer Ryan Eilbeck mentioned the late great Michael Hurley and praised his impact on the world of folk. He also took a moment to mention our current presidential administration and the recent ICE raids that have shaken communities across the U.S. His short speech was followed with cheers from the crowd, proving the community’s general discontent with the state of America. NMF is a place for love, unity, and of course, curiosity. In an area where thousands gather, musicians find it a civic responsibility to show up for their people in a way that extends beyond music. 

In the aftermath, I looked around at my fellow festivalgoers to see a community uniting. The nodding of heads and swaying of bodies, even under the blazing sun, those gathered at Porch Stage felt a connection not only through the music but also through the shared understanding of one nation, under love. 

Feeling spritely and centered, I made my way to Howard’s Stage at 4 p.m. to watch Shirlette Ammons begin her set. From my view high up on the hill, seeing the crowd shake and shimmy to the music felt like watching happy ants celebrating in their colony. Ammons commanded the stage with her big personality, and the backing jazz band only amplified her presence. Like many other artists this was her first time at the festival and she spoke of her black and queer experience at NMF as being nothing but positive. Again, themes of love and acceptance found their place there in the hills, and what a beautiful moment it was to witness. 

Other acts throughout the day included Merce Lemon (who sang like a gorgeous canary), Colombian funk band Balthvs, Mill Creek Mile, Welsh indie rock band The Bug Club, Rosali, Venezuelan and Appalachian folk duo Larry & Joe, and indie rock band Dehd. 

As the day came to a close and the sun began to set, headliners MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee brought the crowd to Howard’s Stage in droves. At 7 p.m., Lenderman opened with a slightly slower, more drawn-out version of my personal favorite, “Rudolph” off of his 2024 album Manning Fireworks. Applause began immediately, and from my sweet spot on the hill, I could see why he was brought back to NMF as a headliner. Previously in 2023, Lenderman played as a member of his alt-country outfit Wednesday at the festival. 

Waxahatchee channeled her inner-creek-nymph spirit as she took the stage to doting fans at 9 p.m. At one point, she brought Lenderman out to play a few songs with her, as well as their collaboration, “Right Back to It” from her 2024 album Tigers Blood. Her set also featured a supporting fog machine, adding to her aura of enchantment. As she serenaded us into the night, I witnessed hundreds of people singing and dancing together, embracing in the mystifying mood that swam through the air.

Saturday

Day two began significantly hotter than the first. In correspondence with the rising heat, the number of hats, water bottles fans, and big jugs of lemonade only multiplied as the day progressed. I was happy to see the number of smiles, hugs and ice cream cones increased, too. 

At 11 a.m., a performance from Stuart’s Afterschool Music Program Band started the day off on a high note, and at 1:15 p.m., I sprawled out on my friend’s picnic blanket and watched Spencer Radcliffe & Everything take their turn on Porch Stage. With an air of style and swiftness about them, they danced across the stage entertaining fans and those who came to cool off in the sparse shade offered by a few large trees. 

Later performances by folk artists Jordan Smart and Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters filled the air until I saw Gardener at 3 p.m. Remembering back to when I saw them play at The Union two years ago, it was nice to see them on stage again. Hailing from Yellow Springs, Ohio and being as indie rock as they come, Gardener sang several songs from their 2024 album, A Million Things, and succeeded in getting the crowd moving. 

At 4:30 pm, female-fronted punk band PAL hit Porch Stage with a bang. From my little area shaded by the trees, as I sipped my blueberry lemonade, I found myself tapping my feet and nodding my head time and time again throughout their set. In that same vein, garage rock band Being Dead continued the fast paced, quick-witted atmosphere previously set when they performed at 7:30.  

At 9:15, backlit by huge flashing lights, country artist Charley Crockett pranced around the stage as fans screamed and stretched out their hands. As the day’s headliner, Crockett looked like a real-life Woody from Toy Story, larger than life and grinning. His bright smile and cheerful demeanor seemed to me a perfect choice for that point in the festival. At times during his set, a saxophone was played brilliantly and as the sun set, I felt that familiar sense of community yet again. It was a prevalent feeling throughout and I can recall it all fondly. Later, I saw a set from The Bug Club. Rock bands Black Lips and Dana kept feet moving and hips swaying as festivalgoers grooved and boogied well into the night. 

Sunday

The festival’s final day was also its most blistering, but attendees paid it no mind, for the music was why they were there in the first place. In the hearts of these amped folks, the sun was only a minor disturbance.

Sunday saw acts from Stuart’s Afterschool Music Program Bands, Southern Avenue, Pachyman, Moe Reen, and several others. At 1:30 p.m., Athen’s own dreamy folk artist Wished Bone sang on Creekside Stage, which sits further in the woods surrounded by trees and washes of sunlight through the leaves. Her set sweetly serenaded festivalgoers as well as woodland creatures curious about the noise. At 3:30, Ocie Elliot graced the stage with their distinct folky sound, cooling fans down with gentle songs perfect for hugging your loved ones to. 

Headliners The War and Treaty and Taj Mahal played on Howard’s Stage, with lights and fog creating an even more magical atmosphere than the festival’s previous two days. At 9:00 p.m., at Campground Stage, the Pink Floyd tribute band Any Colour brought the psychedelic rock ambiance, closing the festival with a blast from the past.

The NMF also hosted a celebration of the life and legacy of folk giant Michael Hurley, who died in April. As he was previously set to perform at the festival as he has done since 2008, a tribute commenced instead. It saw acts from Bonnie “Prince” Billy and members of Styrofoam Winos.

While each day of the festival missed Hurley’s physical presence, his spirit was felt. Knowing that his impact spans across genres and age, it was beautiful to witness a community be there for one another to celebrate life. Nelsonville 2025 was everything but somber, as celebrating the love of music will always conquer sadness and appreciation of your neighbor will always conquer intolerance.