NELSONVILLE, Ohio – When it comes to regional summer camp-out music festivals few fests have held such a high bar as Nelsonville Music Fest or NMF – for reeling in epic acts, notching up the latest artists to break, and capturing the sweet vibe of community.
Located just a stone’s throw from the progressive Appalachian oasis of Athens, Ohio, NMF has through the years, NMF has hosted a who’s who of America’s most influential artists from Willie Nelson, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and John Prine to Loretta Lynn, Mavis Staples and Emmylou Harris. NMF has also reeled in a consistent string of ready-to-break artists such as Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and Tank and The Bangas, before they all broke big nationally.
Curated by Tim Peacock, his team of music taste-makers at Stuart’s Opera House, and aided by the greater Athens’ community, the 17th annual Nelsonville Music Festival (NMF23) is set to run Friday through Sunday, July 21-23 at the Snow Fork Event Center in Nelsonville, Ohio.
We call it the Goldilocks of music festivals, not too big, not too small, but just right. Time Out Chicago calls it “one of the Midwest’s best festivals.” The AV Club and Ohio Magazine calls it the “Best Music Festival in Ohio,” Whatever you call it, NMF includes three days of music featuring more than 50 eclectic performances across 3 stages, camping, kids’ activities, artisan vendors, food and beverage vendors. And does so leaving no trace or guilt as a Zero Waste fest.
The Lineup
This year’s lineup includes Big Thief, Alex G, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Alvvays, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price, Sierra Ferrell, Shannon & The Clams, Altin Gün, Courtney Marie Andrews,Lido Pimienta, MJ Lenderman, Geese, Nick Shoulders, and iconic folk singer Michael Hurley, who has performed at every NMF.
Other acts include: Jake Xerxes Fussell, John R. Miller, Rose City Band, Jesse Daniel, Mama’s Broke, Sam Moss, Meridian Brothers, Wild Pink, Florry, Charlotte Cornfield, Free Range, Pearla, Garcia Peoples, Greg Freeman, FERD, Jay Skaggs, Hearts Gone South, Heather Redman & The Reputation, The Laughing Chimes, Heatwave Dance Party, Toecutter, Megan Bee,Weedghost, Coralilly, Nate Kojun Hayes, and the Stuart’s Opera House Afterschool Music Bands. View the full schedule and set times here … https://nelsonvillefest.org/nmf-artists/
The Entry
Weekend passes for all three days are on sale now for $189, and the price will increase as the
festival weekend gets closer. Weekend passes for teens are currently $95. Kids 12 and under are always free. Weekend passes for Nelsonville and Buchtel residents are free with proof of
residency, which must be shown in person at the Stuart’s Opera House box office
Monday-Friday, 12-4 pm. Tickets and more information can be found at nelsonvillefest.org or by
calling 740-753-1924.
The Woods to Explore
Set in the beautiful rolling hills of Southeast Ohio and surrounded by the Wayne National Forest,
the laid back, family-friendly weekend offers a carefully curated, diverse lineup of national,
regional, and local acts in an intimate setting. Snow Fork is located at 5685 Happy Hollow Road in Nelsonville. It is just 3 miles from U.S. Route 33. Tucked up against the Wayne National Forest, the festival site features stellar camping sites.
In addition to music, social media star and outdoor educator Alexis Nikole Nelson (better known as BlackForager) will be leading nature foraging walks, showing attendees what the foothills and
hollers of Southeast Ohio have to offer.
The Cause – Arts Education Programs
Get a warm fuzzy feeling supporting NMF because since its inception The Nelsonville Music Festival has been a production of Stuart’s Opera House, a Nelsonville-based historic, non-profit theater that presents live music, theater, educational programming and community building. All proceeds directly support Stuart’s Opera House including their tuition-free Arts Education programs. Stuart’s signature Arts Education program is the After School Music Program (AMP). High school students meet weekly and learn not only how to make music, but valuable life skills while working together to form bands, write songs, and produce music. And AMP bands get to perform at NMF.
Just a few of the Arts Education programs include: Free admission to NMF for all children under 12, a Kids Area activities at NMF, Artist workshops and masterclasses in area schools and at Stuart’s, Music & arts performances for local children, After School Music Program (AMP), Nelsonville-York Drama Club, Summer Performing Arts Camp, Old-Time Music Week, Monthly Paint & Pour classes, Community Choir, Spoken & Heard Poetry Series, Poetry Out Loud, Private Music Lessons and Adult Creative Writing Learn more about Stuart’s by visiting stuartsoperahouse.org.
The Impact of Sustainability
Sustainability is a huge factor of the locally-sourced NMF. Once again NMF is
working with Rural Action’s Zero Waste Program to provide waste diversion and materials management within the festival grounds. This is the 13th year of their partnership. They hit a 94% diversion rate in 2015, and have maintained a diversion rate in the 90 percentile since then. Their team collects and sorts through all the materials generated within the festival grounds in order to separate both recyclable and compostable materials and prevent them from entering the landfill. Go online at https://zerowastefest.com/ to find out more about Zero Waste Fest.
