Pilgrimage Festival Kicks off Day One with Headliners Hozier and the Dave Matthews Band

The 10th annual Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival opened with steady rainfall, consistent genre-sweeping performances and palpable energy from a soaked and muddy crowd.  

After weather-related delays, singer/songwriter Chance Peña kicked off the first day of Pilgrimage on the Gold Record Road stage.

Peña’s solid following crowded the field as he sang fan favorites like “The Mountain is You” with a strong, clear vocal delivery.  

Chance Peña strumming on stage, Quinn Wells

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Celisse was the first act to take the main Midnight Sun stage on Saturday. 

Her strong stage presence and passionate energy carried her performance from its first moments.   

Celisse sings out to the Pilgrimage crowd, Quinn Wells

Allison Russell was backed by a powerhouse full band.

An excited crowd anticipated and actively engaged in her performance.  

Allison Russell belts out to the crowd, Quinn Wells

To the audience’s surprise, she brought Hozier onstage to perform their duet “Wildflower and Barley,” a standout from Hozier’s 2023 album Unreal Earth: Unaired.  

The Brook & The Bluff strummed to their songs, Quinn Wells

The Nashville-based band The Brook & The Bluff drew in a high turnout and captivated audiences with their high energy and solid instrumental skills.  

The band’s hooky, indie-pop fan-favorites were easy and infectious for the crowd to sing along to.  

Lukas Nelson, son of country icon Willie Nelson, joined his powerful band Promise of the Real to bring a country twang to the festival.  

An active crowd danced in the mud to his fun and energetic set.  

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real performing center stage, Quinn Wells

Trombone Shorty & New Orleans Avenue graced the Midnight Sun stage with full-sounding brass arrangements.  

Trombone Shorty & New Orleans Avenue blare their sound across the Pilgrimage stage, Quinn Wells

Each band member commanded the audience’s attention and encouraged them to participate in a lively musical atmosphere.  

Saturday’s steady rainfall slowed down for Hozier’s set, who was excited to take to the Pilgrimage stage fresh off his most recent tour.  

With on-point production and an in-sync band, Hozier captured audience members through his entire set, which later featured a guest appearance from Allison Russell.  

Hozier primed the energy of the rain-soaked crowd for headliners Dave Matthews Band to close out night one. 

Hozier in the midst of playing a guitar riff, Quinn Wells

Heavy rain poured down on audience members as Dave Matthews Band performed, but this didn’t scare anyone away.  

Dave Matthews Band singing out to the crowd, Quinn Wells,

The band put on the tight, high-energy performances they’ve been known for throughout their career and even brought out Trombone Shorty & New Orleans Avenue for an energetic collaboration.  

Dave Matthews Band ended night one of Pilgrimage on a tangible high that kept audience members excited for day two.  

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This article was written by Madeleine Bradford with contributory photography by Quinn Wells