Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is an annual arts festival in Franklin, Tennessee, a richly historic town just 20 minutes south of Nashville. After a year away due to Covid concerns, this years festival is fully stacked with a diverse, renowned lineup of Rock & Roll, Americana, Alt-Country, Bluegrass, Jazz, Indie, Gospel, Pop & Blues. From Dave Matthews to the Black Keys, this festival puts in great effort to create an authentic music festival experience. Keep reading to learn more about five bands that we think are Ones to Watch.
#1 Band: Khruangbin
Similar Artists: Leon Bridges, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Whitney
Listen: “Texas Sun”, “White Gloves”, “Midnight”
Khruangbin is three-piece band from Texas, formed of Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald Johnson on drums. Their sound defies convention and has a very distinct sound and taste. Although coming from Texas, their sound has been dubbed “Thai Funk”. Fresh off a feature with Paul McCartney, Khruangbin is gaining serious popularity and should be on any bucket list to check out this unique trio.
#2 Band: Houndmouth
Similar Artists: Mt. Joy, Head and the Heart, Dawes
Listen: “Sedona”, “For No One”, “Darlin”
HOUNDMOUTH is an indie alternative blue band that formed in 2011. They gained popularity from their breakout song Sedona back in 2015. And with hundreds of millions of streams to date, the song has gotten its well-deserved recognition. Recently they unveiled two new singles, “Good For You” and “Cool Jam,” marking their first releases on their new home-label, Dualtone Records. Pilgrimage Festival is one of the stops on their upcoming fall and winter tour dates!
#3 Band: Black Keys
Similar Artists: Jack White, My Morning Jacket, Cage the Elephant
Listen: “Tighten Up”, “Poor Boy a Long Way From Home”, “Lo/Hi”
THE BLACK KEYS are two man group led by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. They are fresh off a new album called Delta Kream. This album takes a different approach than past Black Keys albums which covers 11 Mississippi hill country blues songs. Pilgrimage Festival will be one of their fews stops during their “World Tour of America”.
#4 Band: Katie Pruitt
Similar Artists: Molly Parden, Margo Price, Hailey Whitters
Listen: “Out of the Blue”, “Normal”, “Loving Her”
KATIE PRUITT is Georgia bred singer/songwriter/guitarist that now resides in Nashville, TN. After the release of her debut album Expectations, her guitar fueled folk/country sound landed Pruitt on a “20 Artists To Watch In 2019” from NPR.
#5 Band: Black Pumas
Similar Artists: St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Leon Bridges, The War and the Treaty
Listen: “Colors”, “Fire”, “Know You Better”
Black Pumas are a psychedelic rock, soul band from Austin, TX. The group have been nominated for multiple music awards including their first Grammy Award nomination in 2020 for Best New Artist.
Don’t miss these artists if you get a chance to go to Pilgrimage!
Follow the Bands:
Khruangbin // @khruangbin
Houndmouth // @houndmouth
The Black Keys // @theblackkeys
Katie Pruitt // @KPmusic
Black Pumas // @blackpumasmusic
