Nelsonville Music Festival 2025 was held on June 20th-June 22nd in Nelsonville, Ohio, and Crowdsurfer Magazine was there to capture the beauty of this intimate festival experience. Nelsonville is a small community located just outside of Athens, nestled in the hills of southeastern Ohio. Since its inception, this festival has been focused on raising funds for Stuart’s Opera House, a non-profit historic theater in Nelsonville. In addition to the focus on giving back to the community, this festival also strives to have a positive impact on the environment by being a Zero Waste event and diverting over 92% of waste from the festival to recycling and composting.
Despite the 90-degree days, NMF had an incredible turnout for all three days of the festival. Many festival attendees camped out in the nearby “Mudville” campground where sets were carried late into the night. The festival had 3 stages, one of which was situated in the woods surrounded by hammocks. Throughout the festival grounds, touching art installations could be found to honor the memory of the late Michael Hurley, an American folk singer-songwriter who was a long-time performing artist at NMF throughout the years. NMF also highlighted local artists in the “Artisan Village” section of the festival grounds. Although the heat was intense, festival attendees could be seen setting up their camp chairs in the shady areas. The entire vibe of the festival was chill and family-friendly, with all kids under age 12 gaining free admission to the festival.
The festival line-up featured a wide range of talented musical artists. The weekend was filled with incredible performances, some of which included: Charley Crockett, Waxahatchee, Taj Mahal, MJ Lenderman, The Black Lips, The Bug Club, Being Dead, Esther Rose, Dehd, and Low Cut Connie.
If you are looking for a festival featuring a wide range of eclectic artists in the literal woods, I highly recommend checking out Nelsonville Music Festival. Not only does this festival have an incredible purpose and commitment to the community; but the stunning backdrop, friendly festival attendees, and impressive lineup will surely win your heart. I am thrilled to share with you a selection of photos from my incredible weekend in the woods.
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