BUCHTEL, Ohio — Nelsonville Music Festival 2024 kicked off Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28 with notable artists such as Courtney Barnett, Killer Mike, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Amyl and the Sniffers, Indigo De Souza and a surprise performance from Jake Ewald of Slaughter Beach, Dog.
Attendees traveled from all over the country to see their favorite artists and experience the sense of community that Nelsonville Music Festival fosters.
Steven Melzter, who drove six hours from Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the festival, said everyone was “real nice” and that the festival “had a good vibe.” He added that though navigating the campsite was a little confusing, he enjoyed camping on the festival grounds.
“We’re pumped to see The Felice Brothers, Amyl [and the Sniffers], Courtney Barnett, Killer Mike, my list goes on.” Meltzer said.
Ted Hattemer, who played at the festival in 2006 with his band Moviola and in 2014 with his band Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, came to the festival as an attendee this year. Hattemer said he thought the music was great and noted that the crowd “is a little lighter this year.”
Over 3,000 weekend guest passes and over 700 single-day guest passes were issued this year, festival staff told the Independent in an email.
The festival is also a child and infant friendly space, providing various activities for children and even tents for breastfeeding.
Athens Birth Circle Assistant Director Natalie Speskey said Athens Birth Circle provided these “nursing and feeding tents,” along with a family care tent, changing tables, extra diapers, feminine hygiene products, etc. Speskey said she would encourage people to bring their children to the festival.
Music therapist Kayla Stuvblefield brought her guitar along to one of the childrens’ tents for the kids of the festival. Stuvblefield attended the festival through Central Ohio Music Therapy where she runs a grant funded program called Lullabies for Healthy Lives – a program for infants and caregivers to enhance bonding and connection through musical experiences.
“I love that the kids are engaging in music,” Stuvblefield said. “Today we’re going to [play] some instruments and we’ll sing — so learning through music, social skills and connections with other people.”
Southeast Ohio Hope Center, a peer-led recovery community organization, had a tent where they offered free naloxone and free walk-in recovery meetings, from formal Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings to informal conversations for both those in and out of recovery to talk with someone amidst the fun of the festival.
Center board member Maureen Burns said the tent also offered naloxone education, including information on how it can save a life and why people should have it available for themselves.
“It’s really great for me to be a long-term Nelsonville Music Festival [attendee] and to now additionally be in the role where I’m able to operate a safe, sober space at the event,“ Burns said. ”I’ve been sober for a long time but I go to tons of concerts and I used to think, ‘Oh my gosh, if I stop using, my life will be boring!’ and really no, it can be amazing. So this offers that support.”
Executive Director Chris MacNeal said the tent’s walk-in meetings were useful for those in recovery who missed their weekly meetings to attend the festival.
“That’s part of their recovery.” MacNeal said.
Another part of the festival are the many food, drink and artisan vendors.
One of those vendors was Micaiah Clouse of Athens, who owns Thistle Stitch, which offers handmade clothes using only recycled materials. She’s been a vendor for the past three years.
“I’ve been going to Nelsonville Music Festival for a really long time,” Clouse said. “It has a really sweet place in my heart, so it really feels incredible to be a part of the vending community.”
Elizabeth Murry, owner of an Athens-based crochet business called The Salty Otter, said this was her first time vending at the festival. She said it was “great,” adding that the festival was “professional, super easy and super accommodating” with vendors.
“I love making things [that are] cute and colorful. I like smiles. So [this tent is] for everybody. But, there are a lot of kids here — more than I expected. They like the toys,” Murray said.
Of course, the big draw of the festival are the musical acts. On Saturday night, Frankie and the Witch Fingers drew a big crowd filled with moshing and crowd surfing. The band is from Los Angeles but traveled to Nelsonville from Bloomington, Indiana.
The band’s bassist, who introduced herself as Pickle, said she had played at the festival before, with her previous band, Death Valley Girls. So when Frankie and the Witch Fingers was invited to perform this year, she told the band they had to do it, noting the “beautiful forests” and “nice” people found at the festival.
Drummer Nick Aguilar said, “[The crowd] exceeded my expectations in all the best ways — you know, playing last on the side stages can be kind of scary and intimidating. But man, people showed up. It was great.”
Athens rock band Basket Case made its NMF debut this year. In an email to the Independent, members noted the hospitality of festival staff and volunteers and their surprise at how big the crowd was for their show.
“It was an incredible opportunity to showcase ourselves and we were met with warm reception and hospitality,” lead guitarist Andre Hallenburg wrote.
Guitarist Collin Smith wrote that though this was his first time at the festival, he had such a great experience that he hopes to attend again.
“It felt amazing to play at the campground stage,” wrote Smith. “The sound team was fantastic and as a band, I believe it’s the best we’ve sounded! the festival treated its artists great and had everything we could’ve asked for … I was just thrilled to be there!”
Lead vocalist Izze Kaukonen wrote that the band has had many “amazing” shows in Athens, but that the festival was “a huge moment.” She added that the accommodations the festival staff provided were “wildly gracious.”
Drummer Bodean Reese wrote that everyone attending the festival was “very easy to get along with” and “always there to help if something was needed.”
“Energy ebbs and flows through the band as well as the people listening and (hopefully) enjoying; to share our sound with that many ears and souls was incredible and I felt it was very special,” Kaukonen wrote.
