A handy guide to highly anticipated upcoming Knoxville events
If you’re like us at BLANK, The Algorithm is producing vast amounts of upcoming festival-related advertorial content for your social-media feed. The problem that often arises, though, is that it’s not always geographically or chronologically (or financially) arranged in the proper way for your brain to make sense of it all. So here we humbly present – in chronological order and arranged by festivals within a five-hour drive of Knoxville over the next five months – to you, our dear, intrepid readers, a guide to some of the most hotly anticipated music festivals scheduled for the summer and early fall. While it’s not a comprehensive (or even a best-of) list, it contains some heavy hitters but also challenges you to tread off of the beaten path and try something new/unique in the journeys on which you embark during the warmer months of 2022.
Delfest (Cumberland, Maryland, May 26-29)
If you’re a bluegrass and/or jamgrass aficionado, this is your chance to drink from the fire hydrant with the Travelin’ McCourys, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Molly Tuttle, Bela Fleck and more, as well as collaborations like Tyler Childers with accompaniment from the McCourys.
Forecastle (Louisville, Kentucky, May 27-29)
Forecastle has become a must-see attraction for BLANK since its inception a decade ago. The downtown festival in Waterfront Park, nestled next to the Ohio River, seems to get bigger and bigger with each passing year. The 2022 iteration, which includes hot acts like Jack Harlow, Tyler, the Creator and Phoebe Bridgers, trends much younger than past lineups but is still solid.
Mountain Music Festival (New River Gorge, West Virginia, June 2-4)
Galactic, Cory Wong and Tauk Paper Scissors front the bill of this jam-oriented fest in beautiful New River Gorge.
Candler Park Music Festival (Atlanta, June 3-4)
Grace Potter, Yonder Mountain String Band and Disco Biscuits headline this jammy family reunion. If you’ve been jonesin’ for more ATL ever since Shaky Knees (or, more likely, SweetWater 420 Fest), this will provide a quick, fun fix in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly folks.
Blue Plum Festival (Johnson City, June 3-5)
The Little Festival that Could in downtown JC, Tennessee, has for years brought great national talent balanced with strong local up-and-comers. This year is no different, with Drivin N Cryin and Illiterate Light headlining and killer regional artists like Sam Collie and the Roustabouts rounding out the bill.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (Manchester, June 16-19)
The wildly diverse lineup includes The Chicks, Machine Gun Kelly and Tool in the 20th year for the festival that ignited the nationwide festival movement.
Red Wing Roots (Mount Solon, Virginia, July 24-26)
The Jawhawks, Yonder Mountain String Band, Langhorne Slim and other top roots acts play this gorgeous smaller festival nestled near national natural attraction Natural Chimney Park in Central Virginia.
Laurel Cove Music Festival (Pineville, Kentucky, June 10-11)
Sierra Ferrell headlines this magical little festival near the Cumberland Gap in the mossy, bouldered, canopy-covered amphitheater of Laurel Cove State Park right outside of Pineville.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Western North Carolina, July 7-10)
This one isn’t a music festival – just really cool Scottish stuff happening on Grandfather Mountain. The fest includes the Parade of Tartans of ancient clans, traditional dances, ancient athletic competitions and more, as well as great Scottish food and some music. Stop in nearby Boone and Blowing Rock for shopping, dining and lodging.
Fun Fest (Kingsport, July 15-23)
Recent Grand Ole Opry inductee Jamey Johnson and classic Southern rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd are musical highlights of the Model City’s annual weeklong family-friendly fest that also includes the Crazy 8s, the world’s fastest 8k; Breakfast With the Balloons, a hot-air balloon exhibition; fishing, softball and volleyball tournaments; and more!
FloydFest (Floyd, Virginia, July 27-31)
Lake Street Dive, Melissa Etheridge, Marcus King, Old Crow Medicine Show, Railroad Earth and Amythyst Kiah are among the names on this year’s star-studded lineup that has a rich undercard filled with some of the region’s strongest up-and-coming bands. Castlewood, Virginia’s own 49 Winchester was voted the fest’s best new act last year, recently signed with CAA and have been blowing up all over the country.
LEAF Festival (Asheville, North Carolina, Aug. 20-22)
Almost like a hippie-fied Big Ears, the festival has smaller events throughout the year that feature visual artistry, dance, storytelling and more, and the larger music festival acts as the flagship event in downtown in August. It features artists from all over the country/world representing genres like jazz fusion, traditional African and many others not usually found so abundantly at other fests. A warm, welcoming community spirit and colorful local culture make this a highlight of the festival calendar.
Muddy Roots (Cookeville, Sept. 1-4)
Don’t sleep on Cookeville’s Muddy Roots. While short on big, nationally recognized names, this punk-inflected roots fest typically features some of the grittiest – and best – underground bills in the country. If you love an edge to your roots music, this is the place for you. It also includes a car show and a pin-up pageant!
Moon River (Chattanooga, Sept. 9-11)
This Drew Holcomb-curated fest has brought a lively weekend of good music to Chattanooga in recent years. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast who also likes a fun, artsy downtown experience, this fest offers the best of both worlds. Featuring high-flying acts like Leon Bridges, the National, Band of Horses and Charlie Crockett, this year’s lineup promises to be another great time.
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (Sept. 9-11)
One of the most comprehensive and longest-running roots gatherings in the country, this one in the Birthplace of Country Music is high on the BLANK crew’s list each and every year. The historic downtown is famous for the Bristol Sessions, which produced early radio stars like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. This year’s lineup includes Tanya Tucker, Fantastic Negrito, Jerry Douglas Band, The War and Treaty, Molly Tuttle, 49 Winchester and a slew of the region’s finest artists in country, bluegrass, roots rock and jam music. Don’t miss it!
New Ground Festival (Knoxville, Sept. 17-18)
The festival started by then-high schooler and ambitious local musician Tyler Larrabee has grown and evolved to a larger, two-day event in its third year. Quickly becoming a bellwether indicator of indie bands on the rise, go scope the future with a lineup featuring the Vegabonds, DeeOhGee!, Nordista Freeze and flipturn.
Second Bell Music Festival (Knoxville, Sept. 30-Oct. 1)
We’re particularly proud of this one because it’s produced by BLANK publisher Rusty Odom and a tight-knit group of compatriots. Taking place at Suttree Landing Park right across from downtown, this year’s lineup features our biggest acts to date, including Big Boi from hip-hop greats OutKast and a Superdrag reunion. We won’t spoil you with the details now, but we will have a thorough preview coming out closer to the festival. Come hang with us down by the river!
The Fest (Gainesville, Florida, Oct. 28-30)
OK, this is a little more than five hours away, but this is a must-attend weekend if you love punk, metal, folk-punk and other underground, hard and/or edgy music. Gaining more traction and attendees with each iteration, this year’s bill includes stalwart vanguards of the scene like Bouncing Souls, Hot Water Music, Anti-Flag, Piebald and more.
AMBC Fall Festival (Knoxville, date TBD)
If you love all things mountain biking, this is the festival for you. Set up at Baker Creek Preserve at the edge of the nationally recognized trails of the Urban Wilderness, this gathering includes bike races and clinics, tents from multiple top mountain bike boutique vendors, delicious food and drink and a night of great music typically followed by a silent disco and some wild parties that form late at night at the pump track for rides featuring headlamps and glowsticks.
