Over the weekend, thousands of music lovers gathered at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville, for the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival. Originally launched in 2015, Pilgrimage quickly ascended to become one of the state’s essential music festivals, thanks to a stacked lineup of premier performers, dozens of food trucks offering delectable local fare and libations, and a wide array of family-friendly activities.
This year’s music lineup, crossing three stages, was spearheaded by headliners Zach Bryan and the Lumineers, but also offered an eclectic range of music from the country sounds of Ashley McBryde and Hailey Whitters to the The Black Crowes’ high-octane rock. All of it is staged on this 250-year-old, historic horse farm, giving a southern bent to a traditional, relaxed festival atmosphere.
On Sept. 23-24, the weather was mostly idyllic, and the vibe chill as music flowed from multiple stages throughout the day and into the evening, as the crowds oscillated between various areas of the festival grounds. Many packed in tightly at the front of the different stages, while others relaxed on blankets and chairs, taking in waves of music from top-selling artists and talented newcomers. Notably, given the location of the festival, it’s no surprise that the lineup drew heavily from talented Nashville-based artists, furthering highlighting the depth and breadth of Music City’s performers.
From Bryan’s collaboration-filled set to Yola’s electrifying show and Better Than Ezra’s tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett, here are the 10 best things we saw Pilgrimage 2023.