The annual Railbird Competition in Lexington, Kentucky simply introduced its 2025 lineup for Could thirty first to June 1st, and it consists of a wonderful crop of top-of-the-line impartial nation and roots artists.
This consists of Cody Jinks, Sierra Ferrell, Wyatt Flores, Blackberry Smoke, The Castellows, Ole 60, and lots of extra. Railbird organizers have additionally clearly been doing their homework, and booked some missed, and under-the-radar bands worthy of the chance, particularly Saving Nation Music Songwriter of the Yr Jesse Welles, in addition to considered one of Austin’s best bands, Rattlesnake Milk.
These artists and bands are what you’d count on from the C3 Presents Railbird Fest, which for the reason that starting has centered extra on impartial nation artists versus mainstream names. However it’s the headliners Railbird has introduced which have return patrons chirping, and questioning how they match with the competition’s undercard.
Lainey Wilson isn’t too far out of left subject. In spite of everything, for a mainstream nation artist, she nonetheless has a extra conventional sound, and has been featured at impartial nation festivals earlier than. Consider it or not, you could possibly even see a universe the place Shaboozey could possibly be a novel change of tempo for the fest, particularly if he options a few of his extra rootsy materials (which he’s additionally apparently desirous to lean extra into).
However Bailey Zimmerman, and particularly Jelly Roll really feel nearly like poison tablets for a lineup that primarily focuses on non nation radio-supported artists. Zimmerman is just like the TEMU model of Morgan Wallen, and we’re a few yr previous folks being bored with the overexposure and fixed ram rodding of Jelly Roll down our throats.
As one commenter on Fb stated, “That’s a technique to verify the fest isn’t oversold! Went from a pleasant alt nation/ rock fest to mainstream nation….ruined the entire thing you had going!”
However as one other factors out, “Look previous the headlines yall, Crimson Clay Strays, Ole 60, Noeline Hoffman, Treaty Oak Revival simply to call a number of up and comers on this checklist which might be so good and real to their music. Give them a hear if unfamiliar, that’s why I’m going.”
In some methods, you are feeling sorry for Railbird and different independent-oriented nation music festivals. At the same time as impartial artists and bands proceed to surge, the quantity of prime headliners for a serious competition is considerably skinny. With Zach Bryan saying he’s not going to tour a lot in 2025, Billy Strings and Tyler Childers focusing extra on their very own headliner reveals, and Cody Jinks and the Turnpike Troubadours coming again all the way down to actuality a bit bit, there’s not many names to select from.
However a robust case could possibly be made you’d fare higher placing performers like Sierra Ferrell and The Crimson Clay Strays on the very prime of your poster versus overpaying for Jelly Roll. Together with Charley Crockett, 2025 feels just like the yr these performers graduate to reputable headliners, and The Crimson Clay Strays have already got.
Railbird has some unbelievable names enjoying the competition in 2025, providing each a ton of top-line impartial nation leisure, together with loads of issues to find. It’s only a disgrace Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, and Bailey Zimmerman will distract from how good this lineup really is. Most impartial nation followers would fairly hearken to a straight up hip-hop artists than pop nation’s poorer variations of 1.
The presale is now up at railbirdfest.com .
