Should you ever wanted proof that Cavefest simply retains getting higher with age, this 12 months’s Cavefest 2025 at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee final weekend was it. With a world-class lineup, good fall climate, and that unmistakable mix of music and neighborhood that solely occurs at Cavefest, this 12 months’s competition was pure magic from begin to end.
For the reason that very first Cavefest 4 years in the past, it’s been superb to see how the occasion has grown. What began as a daring concept from The Caverns’ proprietor Todd Mayo has grow to be one of the beloved bluegrass and Americana festivals within the nation. True to kind, Mayo—ever the proud “cave man”—was hands-on all weekend, personally main a number of cave excursions and chatting with followers. His enthusiasm for music, storytelling, and the underground marvel he helped construct makes Cavefest really feel much less like a competition and extra like a household reunion for music lovers.
This 12 months’s lineup was among the finest but, that includes Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Dan Tyminski Band, Tim O’Brien, Jim Lauderdale & The Sport Changers, Shadowgrass, Arlo McKinley, and Scott Miller. On high of that, the Artists-in-Residence—the exceptional Lindsay Lou and Kyle Tuttle—added one thing actually particular, popping up for collaborations, impromptu jams, and people “you-had-to-be-there” moments that make Cavefest unforgettable.
The climate couldn’t have been extra good — heat sunny days, cool evenings, and skies so clear you would see each star over the Cumberland Plateau. It was the form of weekend that makes you grateful to be outdoors, surrounded by music and good folks.
Jim Lauderdale and his powerhouse band, The Sport Changers, delivered one of many competition’s standout units. Lauderdale’s timeless voice and joyful stage presence paired completely together with his band’s beautiful musicianship, incomes thunderous applause from the gang. Dan Tyminski was one other favourite, his soulful selecting and vocals echoing fantastically by the cave’s pure acoustics.
Leftover Salmon closed out the competition on Sunday with their trademark mix of bluegrass, rock, and joyful chaos, sending the gang house on an absolute excessive observe. Their power was infectious—followers have been dancing, cheering, and celebrating one other profitable Cavefest nicely into the night time.
Some of the welcome additions this 12 months was the new bar space within the reward store, which become an impromptu watch occasion for UT followers. When the Vols sealed their victory, Todd Mayo himself led a spirited singalong of “Rocky Prime” that shook the partitions and echoed by the hills. It was a type of moments that completely captured the guts and humor of Cavefest—Tennessee pleasure, music, and togetherness.
From the unimaginable performances to the climate to the friendships cast alongside the way in which, Cavefest 2025 was all the pieces we might’ve hoped for and extra. The Nashville.com crew met so many new pals, shared numerous laughs, and soaked up each minute of the weekend.
Right here’s to Todd Mayo, the artists, the followers, and everybody who makes Cavefest such a shining instance of what dwell music is all about. If the primary 4 years are any indication, we will’t wait to see what’s in retailer for Cavefest 2026. (Particular thanks Cavefest’s Jeff Meltesen)
