Set in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio, Nelsonville — as it’s known among regulars — is a real treat for those of us who love small, independent festivals. And, despite being a smaller event, with the attendee limit capped at around 5,000, it punches much bigger than its weight.
The festival doesn’t seem fazed by by trends, and it doesn’t appear to be under the weight of any corporate sponsorship, either, with a lineup that mixes underground up-and-comers, with local legends, and established acts. I honestly feel like it’s one of the US festival circuit’s best-kept secrets.
For UK readers used to the chaos of Glastonbury or the polish of BST Hyde Park, Nelsonville offers something different: space to breathe, an authentic festival experience amid a tight-knit crowd, and a lineup that genuinely rewards curiosity. This year’s bill, for example, leans hard into indie, blues, folk, alt-country, and lo-fi rock — with enough around the edges to keep things interesting.
One name that jumped out to me straight away, by the way, was The Bug Club. I actually shared a bill with them once at The Prince of Wales in Moseley, Birmingham — a proper sweaty back room show, a million miles from the rolling hills of Ohio — and they completely tore it up. Seeing them on a stage thousands of miles from home will be surreal, but somehow, I expect it to be a perfect fit.
I suspect that the thing that makes Nelsonville stand out, however, won’t just be the music. It’ll be the atmosphere. I’ve heard all about the impromptu sets in open fields, vinyl stalls, local food vendors slinging proper BBQ, and late-night jams under the stars. It’s just music, people, and the kind of DIY energy that’s increasingly rare these days.
I’ve been hitting festivals for more than 25 years now, and the big-brand experience is nothing like what I fell in love with when I ventured out to muddy airfields and woods for a weekend of music in my teens. I need something with a bit more heart, and a lot more guitars than what we get now — yeah, I’m old. For those reasons, Nelsonville is well worth the flight.
Catch it 20–22 June 2025.