Nelsonville Music festival 2023 (NMF23) has come and gone, and it was wonderful!! This year was the second year of the festival at the lovely wooded Snow Fork Event Center. The festival is a production of Stuart’s Opera House, a historic non-profit theater in Nelsonville that presents live music, theater, educational programming and community building. What immediately struck me about the festival is that this festival is truly a labor of love. There are so many people involved with the festival that have been a part of Stuart’s and the annual event year after year, and this shows in both the eclectic lineup of musicians and bands as well as the well kept grounds.
The Snow Fork Event Center is located about sixty miles outside of Columbus, OH. The distance is perfect, close enough to a large city and far enough away that you are able to get lost in the music and art that fills the air and decorates the grounds. This years festival had three main stages, The main Snow Fork Stage, The Porch Stage, and the very intimate Creekside Stage. This guarantees that there will rarely be a moment during the three days of the festival that you will not be able to find a live performance.
This year was the first year that I was able to camp on the festival grounds. I have to say every day was great, from waking up and taking a walk to visit the friendly faces at Heady Beans for a cup of coffee to the the last headliner of the evening. You really can’t ask for more from a weekend.
The line up this year was fantastic. I arrived at the festival after a short drive from Columbus, unfolded my camp chair and took a seat to hear the soulful sounds of Heather Redman and the Reputation. The music continued from there, amazing sets from Sierra Ferrell, Shannon and the Clams, Margo Price (in Barbie Pink), and the legendary Lucinda Williams.
The festival continued with a true country set by Jesse Daniels. An amazing psych rock set by the Rose City Band, and wonderful sets from younger bands like the Laughing Chimes, Pearla, Free Range, and Coralilly. The festival closed Sunday night with an amazing set by Big Thief. There was so much to see and hear, it’s hard to condense into a short post.
Thank you Stuart’s Opera House and the People who made this a great weekend at NMF23. I already have my calendar marked for next year. I did have a chance to stroll around with my trusty camera and take a few pictures!! Here they are!!
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Heather Redman and the Reputation
Margo Price
