January 14, 2025
Make this year the one you experience as many Tennessee music festivals as you can. Check out our list below for music festivals that will host your favorite artists and artists you'll want to add to your playlist. Add these to your 2025 travel itinerary.
*Dates reflect the 2025 calendar year
Music Festivals in and near Bristol, TN/VA
June 2025
Downtown Bristol, TN/VA
Enjoy a new country music festival, In the Pines that will be full of incredible music headlined by Dwight Yoakam and performances by Elle King, Paul Cauthen and Wyatt Flores in downtown Bristol, TN/VA. Celebrate the roots of American music while also helping the Birthplace of Country Music preserve and share the deep history of how country music got its start.
Sept. 19-21, 2025
Downtown Bristol, TN/VA
At this award-winning music festival, the roots of traditional Appalachian music are brought to life through talented musicians Sept. 19-21, 2025. Known as the birthplace of country music, Bristol's music history runs deep and have been celebrated by nationally-known artists. The 2025 lineup will be announced soon, but you can expect to see music legends and bands who will perform on more than a dozen stages during the three music-filled days.
July 2025
Kingsport, Tennessee
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of fun at the Fun Fest July 19-27, 2024 in Kingsport. Family fun is abundant with festival events like a hot air balloon glow, block parties, parade, 8K races, movies, food trucks, moonlight hikes, sporting events, fireworks and more. The Sunset Concert Series presents different artists each night in concert which will be announced soon. Additional event details and events are forthcoming.
Music Festivals in and near the Smokies
Sept. 18-20, 2025
Kodak, Tennessee
Mountain roots are honored as 15 regional and national bluegrass acts flock to the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival Sept. 18-20, 2025 in Kodak, Tennessee. Enjoy the views of the Great Smoky Mountains while hearing some of the best bluegrass talent. Past artists include The Gibson Brothers to Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Picking and jam sessions, food and merchandise add to the fun.
Sept. 21-27, 2025
LeConte Center, Pigeon Forge
More than 40,000 music fans will head to Pigeon Forge's LeConte Center Sept. 21-27, 2025 for nightly concerts and showcases featuring some of the biggest quartet groups in Southern gospel. The National Quartet Convention is one of the biggest events for the genre. Tickets are now on sale.
March 27-30, 2025
Downtown Knoxville
Nearly 200 performances at historic theaters, warehouse spaces, museums, galleries and clubs along with exhibitions, films literary readings and markets around Knoxville happen during Big Ears Festival March 27-30, 2025. It's a celebration of the arts, heralded by New York Times as "one of the world's greatest music bashes". The 2025 lineup includes Bela Fleck, Arooj Aftab, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Explosions In the Sky, Taj Mahal, Steve Roach and more.
May 10, 2025
World's Fair Park, Knoxville
Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival returns May 10, 2025 to World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. The 2025 lineup includes headliners Charley Crockett along with The Dirty Guv'nahs, Willow Avalon, Devon Gilfillian, Southern Avenue, and Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies. Additionally, there will be a Tennessee Whiskey Experience, a new collaboration with the Tennessee Distillers Guild, that will bring some of Tennessee's amazing distilleries to the festival to serve a wide variety of whiskey and spirits as well as bottle sales. Learn about their unique distilling process, barrel aging and the history of each distillery. Celebrate music and community at this homegrown Knoxville music festival.
May 24-25, 2025
The Caverns, Pelham
The Caverns presents CaveJam May 24-25, 2025 with headlining group The String Cheese Incident, performing for two nights - three sets above ground and one special set in The Caverns' underground venue. Enjoy music at various stages, including in the subterranean venue. The new yurts will be available to rent for the weekend as well as other glamping options, food trucks, craft vendors and cave tours.
Sept. 16-20, 2025
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Photo Credit:
Visit Chattanooga
The most important week of bluegrass happens in Chattanooga Sept. 16-20, 2025. The two-day IBMA World of Bluegrass live music festival will host some of the top bluegrass artists in the world. Additional events will include a convention, tradeshow, awards show and artist showcases across downtown Chattanooga. More details will be announced in the coming months.
Music Festivals in and near Nashville
March 25-29, 2025
Music venues in downtown Nashville
The Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival takes place March 25-29, 2025 in music venues around Nashville. Organized by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in partnership with Regions Bank, the festival is the largest songwriters festival in the world. Every genre is represented, celebrating the many music styles that make Nashville Music City. 2025 lineup will be announced late February.
May 15-18, 2025
Loretta Lynn's Ranch, Hurricane Mills
If you love the motorcycle lifestyle, this festival is for you. Hang out and listen to music at the award-winning Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival May 15-18, 2025 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills. Music will play from three stages and as hosted past artists such as Ben and Noel Haggard, Tim Montana, Roadhouse Roosters, Bones Owens, Cordell Winter and Tayla & Ernie Lynn among others.
June 5-8, 2025
Downtown Nashville
CMA Music Festival comes back bigger and better than ever. Mark your calendar for June 5-8, 2025 where the brightest stars in country flock to Nashville for the biggest party in the city. You'll want access to Fain Fair X inside Music City Center which includes artist meet-and-greets, access to CMA Close Up and Spotlight Stages, exclusive merchandise and more. Four-night passes are on sale now. Check out continued updates on CMA Fest including the star-studded lineup, stages and more.
June 12-15, 2025
Manchester, Tennessee
Music fans will once again flock to the 700-acre farm June 12-15, 2025 in Manchester. The farm becomes a city with various events like yoga, Broo'ers Festival, sustainable fun at Planet Roo, the classic Ferris Wheel, Splash-A-Roo and a village market with curated crafts, art and experiences. This year's lineup includes Megan Thee Stallion, Pretty Lights, Fisher, Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fred Again.. and many more.
July 4-5, 2025
Downtown Smithville
Heralded as the official festival for the state of Tennessee, the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree July 4-5, 2025 draws musicians and crafters as well as fans of both from around the world to remember the ancestral music and crafts passed down over generations. Enjoy an array of crafts booths, some barbecue and one of the biggest free shows filled with toe-tappin’ music.
July 23-26, 2025
Crockett Theatre, Lawrenceburg
The birthplace of Southern Gospel hosts well-known groups during the James D. Vaughan Quartet Festival July 23-26, 2025 at the Historic Crockett Theater in Lawrenceburg. Free shows fill the two days. The lineup will be announced soon.
Sept. 9-13, 2025
Music venues in downtown Nashville
Thousands of artists, fans and industry professionals will make their way to AmericanaFest Sept. 9-13, 2025 at various venues around Nashville. Jewel, The Vespers, Patty Griffin, and Parker Millsap are just some of the artists who have participated in the past. More than 165 showcases in venues around downtown Nashville give guests an insight on why Nashville truly is Music City. The 2025 lineup is currently being planned. Get your passes when they go on sale Spring 2025.
September 2025
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival was created to bring a meaningful, music experience to its attendees at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin. The region's best food and drink will be available and merchants selling art and crafts round out the festival's offerings. Everyone from Chris Stapleton to Willie Nelson and Beck have played at this festival. The lineup and dates will be announced soon.
Music Festivals and Events in and near Memphis
Rhythm on the Rails
Evenings in May and June
Discovery Park of America, Union City
Rhythm on the Rails returns to Discovery Park of America, an 8-week outdoor concert series taking place on the lawn near the Train Depot. The music series usually runs Friday evenings in May and June. 2025 dates and lineup will be announced soon. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with music beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public.
May through October
Century Farm Winery, Jackson
Sip Tennessee wine while enjoying music from a variety of local and regional artists starting May through October 2025 at Century Farm Winery. Voices in the Vineyard is a free event and starts at 7 p.m. Food trucks are on location if you want to get a taste of local cuisine. Bring a lawn chair or get there early to get one of the limited tables that are available. It's a great way to spend an evening in Century Farm Winery's vineyard.
May 24-25, 2025
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, Brownsville
Photo Credit:
@miles2gobeforeisleep
This music festival commemorates the important music contributions of three blues pioneers who called Brownsville, Tennessee home: “Sleepy” John Estes, Hammie Nixon and Yank Rachell on May 24-25, 2025. Live blues music, a cruise-in, deep-fried barbecue eating contest, arts and crafts and a corvette car show are all on tap at the Exit 56 Blues Fest.
June to September 2025
West Tennessee Farmers Market, Jackson
Fill your summer with music by attending one or several of the concerts part of the AMP Summer Concert Series by the West Tennessee Farmers Market in downtown Jackson. Music starts at 6:45 p.m. and all shows are family-friendly. Concerts run from June to September 2025. The lineup will be announced soon.
September 2025
Cooper-Young Neighborhood, Memphis
The city's largest historic district, Cooper-Young is Memphis' most anticipated outdoor celebration. The festival in September 2025 welcomes thousands and more than 400 artisans from around the U.S. to share their art. Music performances range in sound from R&B to reggae to pop and gospel.
Mempho Music Festival
Oct. 3-5, 2025
Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis
World-class musicians and artists from a wide range of genres will take the stage during Mempho Music Festival Oct. 3-5, 2025 at the beautiful Memphis Botanic Garden. Get ready for live music and a unique artistic experience in the Incendia Dome, an interactive event space in a geodesic structure with propane flame effects. Inside, the hottest DJs in Memphis bump music that'll get you dancing under the warm glow. The full lineup will be announced in early Spring 2025. Past Mempho Music Festival performers have included Cage the Elephant, Post Malone, The Avett Brothers, Bill Strings, Widespread Panic and more.
Explore even more Tennessee music experiences and plan your trip today.
