I am back from another great Nelsonville Music Festival. I have been attending this festival since 2016, and each year it gets better. The folks at Stuart’s Opera House did it again and put on a great festival. You can truly tell that the Stuart’s staff have a true love for the arts, music, and community. I need to make a point of attending other events at this historic venue. This year’s festival was once again at the Snow Fork Event Center. Conveniently located from Columbus, fifty miles east on Route 33. This gives the option of taking advantage of the festival camping or just driving home at the end of the night.
The festival had a relaxed vibe, never felt overcrowded, and the music was wonderful. The lineup was amazing, from the gospel-tinged hip-hop of Killer Mike, the soundscapes of Suss, the country charm of The Local Honey’s, and legends like Bob Mould and Michael Hurley. The festival has it all, from beautiful wooded grounds graced with folk art fitting for the area, along with a sea of colorful hammocks. The vendors are great, and there is some good shopping if you are so inclined. As a new feature, the festival added a mist tent this year for a little relief from the heat. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to photograph and document this wonderful event near Central Ohio. I am already looking forward to next year and seeing what surprises are in store. Here are a few images that I was able to capture of this year’s festival.Â
Kara Jackson and La Lom
