Debuting on a farm in Franklin, Tennessee, Pilgrimage Music and Culture Festival was a whole new breed of music fest. Focusing strictly on the genre of Southern music— artists from the South or with Southern musical influences, the festival was a breath of fresh air in a world oozing with Electronic Dance Music.

The festival had a much more mellow vibe than any I had ever attended, partly for their lineup and partly for their “family friendly” theme. Parents brought their children to see classics such as Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and Weezer, as well as ride on a new wave of music with bands such as The Lone Bellow, Will Hoge and Birmingham’s own John & Jacob and Saint Paul and the Broken Bones. 

This mellowness, as refreshing as it was, was a potential downfall for the festival. Most of the crowd was standing still or barely swaying, while chairs littered the stage lawns and took up extra space from those wishing to get close and jam. 

Overall the festival, despite having a hefty lineup for their first year, is not one for the college student. Perhaps in a few years, I will revisit Pilgrimage when I am looking for a calmer experience, but until then I will stick with scenes like Voodoo and Austin City Limits. 

Lineup: Wilco, Willie Nelson, Weezer, Cage The Elephant, Steven Tyler, The Decemberists, Sheryl Crow, Band of Horses, Dr. John, Jimmy Cliff, Dawes, Chris Stapleton, Punch Brothers, Iron & Wine, Neko Case, Trampled by Turtles, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Lone Bellow, Lucius, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Will Hoge, Saint Motel, Nikki Lane, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Holly Williams, Madison Ward and the Mama Bear, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, John and Jacob, Elel, Guthrie Brown and the Family Tree, The Grand Southern, Nawas, Kingfish, Stevie Woodward. 

Best of Show: Cage The Elephant/Weezer. 

Cage The Elephant hails from Kentucky, but their latest album “Melophobia” was recorded in Nashville. Because of this, the festival was a sort of homecoming for them. The energy they exhibited on stage fueled the crowd, with lead singer Matt Shultz igniting the crowd as he leapt off stage to crowd surf. Shultz ran past the barricade, past the VIP section barricades and deep into the crowd to sing along with fans, showing just how at home he felt. The band put on an impressive set and their energy was absolutely off the charts. That energy was the more infectious of the festival, earning them one of my picks for Best of Show. The band is currently in the process of recording a new album, to be released this December. 

Sharing that title, would be 90’s favorite Weezer. The group played during the peak of a rain storm, which completely changed the vibe. The elements did not seem to affect the crowd, but seemed to amp them up as they howled along old favorites in unison. Weezer played all their most popular songs, and the crowd ate it up. Seeing a childhood favorite during the middle of the storm was the perfect way to close out the day. 

Best Discovery: Saint Motel.

I have always been a sucker for bands with good horns (looking at you, Dave Matthews Band), and Saint Motel did not disappoint. Earlier time slots sometimes have smaller, less interested crowds, but the boys of Saint Motel had the whole crown dancing with their infectious key rifts and sax/trumpet combo. The lead singer, A/J Jackson, hopped off stage, singing from the band’s recently released Extended Play along the guard rail. The band rallied the sleepy crowd with their infectious keyboard rifts, which were stuck in my head the rest of the day. I highly recommend downloading a copy of their “My Type” EP.