Pilgrimage Festival 2017: Rolling Stone Country’s Favorite Photos
In its third year, the Pilgrimage Festival returned to the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee on September 23rd and 24th with a well-known local resident serving as co-producer: Justin Timberlake. The pop superstar welcomed record crowds in excess of 20,000 as he played a headlining set on the first evening, which also boasted appearances by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Valerie June, Amanda Shires, Colter Wall, Gary Clark Jr., Nikki Lane, Colter Wall and many others. Here are Rolling Stone Country‘s best photos from the 2017 Pilgrimage Festival.
All photos by Jordan O’Donnell
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Eddie Vedder
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder stripped down and sat down for a solo performance.
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Muddy Magnolias
The roots pop duo Muddy Magnolias (Kallie North, Jessy Wilson) shook and shimmied through socially conscious anthems.
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Pokey LaFarge
Renaissance man Pokey LaFarge led his band through an eclectic bunch of songs, including his soul-flavored latest album Manic Revelations.
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Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart and his band the Fabulous Superlatives nimbly skipped between traditional country and the psychedelic explorations of his latest album Way Out West.
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Valerie June
Folk singer-songwriter Valerie June, a native of west Tennessee, broke out the banjo for her Pilgrimage set.
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Aaron Lee Tasjan
Colorful singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan cut loose with a guitar solos and songs from 2016’s Silver Tears.
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Colter Wall
One of the youngest performers at Pilgrimage, Canadian troubadour Colter Wall sounded like an older singer with his deep, weathered voice and storytelling songs.
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Nikki Lane
Country artist Nikki Lane, who released the album Highway Queen in 2017, strummed her way through a lively set of songs.
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Gary Clark Jr.
Blues rocker Gary Clark Jr. showed off his guitar skills during a fiery set.
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Shovels and Rope
Americana duo Shovels and Rope (Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent) bashed their way through songs from their latest release Little Seeds.
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Texas Gentlemen
Lone Star favorites the Texas Gentlemen were riding high on their newly released album TX Jelly.
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Steelism
Steelism’s Spencer Cullum Jr. (on pedal steel) and guitarist Jeremy Fetzer impressed with atmospheric instrumentals.
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Trombone Shorty
Trombone Shortly brought a bit of New Orleans funk to Pilgrimage Festival.
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Amanda Shires
Songwriter Amanda Shires, whose album ‘My Piece of Land’ was released in 2016, enlisted husband Jason Isbell for instrumental backup.
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Justin Timberlake
Pilgrimage Festival co-producer Justin Timberlake played a headlining set on the event’s opening night.