Music Festivals Podcast

Music Festivals Podcast is a weekly podcast available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, iHeart Radio and in your email inbox that helps avid festival-goers and live music enthusiasts stay in the know on the music festival scene with comprehensive guides, insider interviews and behind-the-scenes stories so that they can discover new festivals and plan to have truly transcendent festival experiences.Each episode dives into the latest music festival lineups, dates, and ticket options, ensuring you're well-prepared before you go. From festival camping tips and the best festival venues to the latest in festival fashion, we've got you covered. Plus, for those who can't make it in person, we explore how to stream music festivals, bringing the magic of live performances right to your ears. Subscribe wherever your get your podcasts, make sure to tune each episode and become the festival insider you were always meant to be!

Music Festivals Podcast is a music podcast hosted by Nate Riggs, with 63 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Nate Riggs hosts Music Festivals Podcast, a music show with 63 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #86

  Lovegrass 2026 Music Festival Preview with Aimee Riegel of 80 Proof Alice

  Jul 25, 202625 minS3

  In this episode, Lovegrass Music Festival Executive Director Aimee Riegel of @80ProofAlice shares how a group of friends, musicians and volunteers transformed a bluegrass jam at Wilson State Park into a nonprofit festival supported by nearly 100 volunteers.We also preview the 2026 festival lineup, led by @EastNashGrass and @johnnymullenax , alongside The Debutants (@debutantsftw) and a diverse group of emerging regional artists. Aimee discusses Lovegrass’ commitment to artist discovery, its intimate and family-friendly atmosphere, instrument workshops, children’s activities, food vendors and the community that keeps the festival growing while preserving its grassroots character.Lovegrass Music Festival takes place August 6–8, 2026, at Wilson State Park in Kansas. Music Festivals Podcast will be there to bring you live performances, interviews and festival coverage throughout the weekend via our multistage festival live stream. ————— This Music Festivals Podcast Episode is Presented By:The 54th Walnut Valley FestivalAre you a fan of Americana, Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic Music? Make a trip to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival & National Flatpicking Championships — September 16th - 20th in Winfield, KS.SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVEOffer Expires July 31, 2026Get the Deal https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest ————— About the Guest: Aimee Riegel is the executive director and co-founder of Lovegrass Music Festival. She also plays bass and sings with 80 Proof Alice. @80ProofAlice https://80proofalice.com About the FestivalLovegrass Music Festival brings bluegrass music, lakeside camping and a community together at Kansas’ beautiful Wilson State Park. https://www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com ️ About the Venue Wilson State Park is a public recreation area found on the south shore of 9,000-acre Wilson Lake reservoir approximately 10 miles north of the city of Wilson in Russell County, Kansas Make sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams https://musicfestivalspodcast.com Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donations https://buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivals ⏳ Key Moments00:00 Lovegrass Music Festival 2026 Preview02:34 Aimee Riegel’s Festival Background04:28 How Lovegrass Music Festival Began07:13 Building a Grassroots Kansas Festival09:59 Lovegrass 2026 Lineup Preview10:15 East Nash Grass and Johnny Mullenax13:40 Discovering Emerging Bluegrass Artists15:31 Lovegrass Food and Festival Vendors17:02 Family Activities and Kids’ Workshops19:10 Why Aimee Riegel Loves Lovegrass Music Festival Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners. If you're a fan of the show, please support them! DLaw Coffee Company https://dlawcoffee.com Florida Sand Music Ranch https://floridasandmusicranch.com The Will McLean Foundation https://willmclean.com vidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! https://vidiq.com/mfp-discount Camp for Free with Harvest Hosts https://www.harvesthosts.com/?refid=x... Rent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsy https://www.outdoorsy.com/invite/nate... #lovegrassfestival #musicfestivals #bluegrass #bluegrasslife #festivals #kansas #americana #jambands #festivalcamping

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  Episode #85

  Inside Kansas Festivals: The Lovegrass Music Festival 2026 Fan Experience

  Jul 24, 202626 minS3

  Lovegrass Music Festival has grown into one of Kansas’ most welcoming bluegrass gatherings, bringing live music, lakeside camping and a close-knit festival community to Wilson State Park. In this episode, longtime attendee Maggie Menhusen shares the fan’s perspective on what makes Lovegrass special and why she and her family return year after year.Lovegrass Music Festival takes place August 6–8, 2026, at Wilson State Park in Kansas. Music Festivals Podcast will be there to bring you live performances, interviews and festival coverage throughout the weekend. ————— This Music Festivals Podcast Episode is Presented By:The 54th Walnut Valley FestivalAre you a fan of Americana, Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic Music? Make a trip to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival & National Flatpicking Championships — September 16th - 20th in Winfield, KS.SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVEOffer Expires July 31, 2026Get the Deal https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest ————— About the Guest: Maggie Menhusen https://www.facebook.com/maggie.balesmenhusen About the FestivalLovegrass Music Festival brings bluegrass music, lakeside camping and a community together at Kansas’ beautiful Wilson State Park. https://www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com ️ About the Venue Wilson State Park is a public recreation area found on the south shore of 9,000-acre Wilson Lake reservoir approximately 10 miles north of the city of Wilson in Russ Inside Kansas Festivals: The Lovegrass Music Festival 2026 Fan Experience ell County, Kansas Make sure to SUBSCRIBE on YourTube @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams https://musicfestivalspodcast.com Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donations https://buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivals ⏳ Key Moments00:00 Meet longtime Lovegrass attendee Maggie Menhusen00:40 Maggie’s connection to Lovegrass and the Kansas festivals02:22 Growing up with the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield03:56 Why Kansas bluegrass festivals offer more than traditional04:53 The importance of camping, community and campground pickin05:49 How Maggie prepares for a music festival07:03 Thoughts on today’s music festival crowds and fan behavior09:41 Why smaller, grassroots festivals offer a different experience10:09 How Lovegrass creates an intimate atmosphere11:15 Maggie’s history with Lovegrass Music Festival11:53 Why Maggie returns to Lovegrass every year12:11 The history of live music on the water at Wilson Lake13:01 Lovegrass as a meeting place for friends and family13:34 The welcoming atmosphere around festival picking circles15:34 The Lovegrass camping experience and its friendly neighbors16:36 Why the festival crowd feels “just about right”17:08 Cooking and sharing meals at cam18:43 A longtime attendee’s review of the Lovegrass VIP experience19:55 The grassroots organization’s investment in its musical lineup20:17 Lovegrass 2026 dates, location and live-stream information Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners. If you're a fan of the show, please support them! DLaw Coffee Company Florida Sand Music Ranch The Will McLean Foundation vidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! Camp for Free with Harvest Hosts Rent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsy #lovegrassfestival #musicfestivals #bluegrass #bluegrasslife #festivals #kansas #americana #jambands #festivalcamping

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  Episode #84

  Jake Cinninger's 26 Year Run Ends + Your Grassfire Festival 2026 Recap & News

  Jul 18, 202641 minS3

  Grassfire Festival 2026 brought another unforgettable weekend of music, camping, and community to Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, and in this episode Neighbor Nate is joined by special guest co-host Whisky Drinks Jeff of The Whiskey Drinks to break down everything that made this year's festival special. From standout performances and campground culture to Jeff's perspective as both a performer and festival veteran, this recap captures why Grassfire continues to be one of Ohio's favorite grassroots music festivals. We also cover some of the biggest headlines in this week's music festival news, including Jake Cinninger's departure from Umphrey's McGee after 26 years, a discussion about Hulaween 2026, updates from the Music Festivals Podcast summer tour, and a look ahead at what's coming next from festivals across the country. ————— This Music Festivals Podcast Episode is Presented By: The 54th Walnut Valley Festival Are you a fan of Americana, Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic Music? Make a trip to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival & National Flatpicking Championships — September 16th - 20th in Winfield, KS. SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVE Offer Expires July 31, 2026 Get the Deal https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest ————— About the Guest: Whisky Drinks Jeff & The Whiskey Drinks https://thewhiskeydrinks.com About the Festival Grassfire Festival is an annual family-friendly music festival celebrating bluegrass, Americana, jamgrass and roots music at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Garrettsville, Ohio. https://nlqp.com ️ About the Venue Nelson Ledges Quarry Park is one of the Midwest's most unique festival destinations, featuring legendary camping, natural swimming quarries, hiking trails and a year-round schedule of live music festivals. https://nlqp.com Make sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube for more videos @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams https://musicfestivalspodcast.com Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donations buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivalspodcast ⏳ Key Moments 00:00:03 Welcome & Introducing Whisky Drinks Jeff 00:00:23 Grassfire Festival 2026 Recap Begins 00:00:36 Jake Cinninger Leaves Umphrey's McGee 00:00:47 Hulaween 2026 Discussion Preview 00:01:02 Walnut Valley Festival Sponsor Spotlight 00:03:30 Grassfire Festival Highlights & Performances 00:12:00 Campground Culture at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park 00:18:30 Jake Cinninger's Legacy with Umphrey's McGee 00:24:30 Hulaween 2026 News & Discussion 00:29:30 Music Festivals Podcast Summer Tour Updates 00:33:55 Final Thoughts & Upcoming Episodes Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners. If you're a fan of the show, please support them! DLaw Coffee Company https://dlawcoffee.com Florida Sand Music Ranch https://floridasandmusicranch.com The Will McLean Foundation https://willmclean.com vidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! https://vidiq.com/mfp-discount Camp for Free with Harvest Hosts Become a Host Sign Up for Free Overnight Boondocking Rent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsy https://bit.ly/MFP-outdoorsy #GrassfireFestival #MusicFestivalNews #NelsonLedges #TheWhiskeyDrinks #UmphreysMcGee #JakeCinninger #Hulaween #Bluegrass #Americana #JamBands #FestivalCamping

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  Episode #83

  Rachel Sumner on Winnning Telluride Bluegrass & Her New EP Yodelay

  Jul 14, 202636 minS3

  As the winner of the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Band Contest, Rachel Sumner returns to Telluride in 2026 for her first performance on the festival's legendary Main Stage. In this conversation, she shares the remarkable journey from volunteering at the festival years ago to becoming one of the most talked-about emerging artists in contemporary bluegrass and Americana. We also dive into her new EP, Yodelay, recorded at Colorado's renowned eTown Studios as part of her Telluride prize package. Rachel discusses the stories behind the songs, her fascination with forgotten history, and how traditional cowboy music, labor movements, and thoughtful songwriting all come together in one of the year's most compelling new acoustic releases. 💰 ————— 💰 This Music Festivals Podcast Episode is Presented By: The 54th Walnut Valley Festival Are you a fan of Americana, Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic Music? Make a trip to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival & National Flatpicking Championships — September 16th - 20th in Winfield, KS SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVE Offer Expires July 31st 2026Get the Deal 👉 https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest 💰 ————— 💰 👧🏻 About the Guest: Rachel Sumner https://rachelsumnermusic.com 🎧 About the Festival Telluride Bluegrass Festival is one of the world's premier bluegrass, Americana, folk, and roots music festivals. https://bluegrass.com/telluride 🏕️ About the VenueTelluride Town Park is an iconic mountain festival venue nestled in the heart of historic Telluride, Colorado. https://www.telluride-co.gov/193/Town-Park 🔔 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams 👉 https://musicfestivalspodcast.com 🙏 Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donations https://buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivalspodcast 🤝 Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners. If you're a fan of the show, please support them! 🙏 DLaw Coffee Company https://dlawcoffee.com Florida Sand Music Ranch https://floridasandmusicranch.com The Will McLean Foundation https://willmclean.com vidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/mfp-discount Camp fro Free with Harvest Hosts https://www.harvesthosts.com/?refid=xsqi9zsx Rent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsy https://www.outdoorsy.com/invite/nater980046 _____ #telluride #bluegrass #bluegrassfestival #bluegrassroots #bluegrassmusic #americana #interviews #interview

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  Episode #82

  Walnut Valley Festival Preview — Get to Know the National Flatpicking Championships

  Jul 11, 202617 minS3

  Discover why the 54th Walnut Valley Festival has become one of America's most beloved acoustic music, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and Celtic music festivals. In this episode, Neighbor N8 sits down with Executive Director Bart Redford to explore the festival's rich history — from the unique "Land Rush" to the legendary National Flat-Picking Championships, world-class instrument contests, campground jam sessions, workshops, family programming, and the 2026 artist lineup.If you're looking for a world-class acoustic music festival experience, this conversation offers an inside look at what makes Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, a go-to destination for your next festival.👨🏻‍🦰 About the GuestBart Redford — Executive DirectorWalnut Valley Festivalhttp://facebook.com/bart.redford🎧 About the Festivalhttps://www.wvfest.com/entertainers/https://www.wvfest.com/camping-info/https://www.instagram.com/walnutvalleyfestivalhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064391181340https://www.youtube.com/@UCs9mAFDYm8zMn-cNlq1ZWPg 🎟️ SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVE 🎟️https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest🏕️ About the Venuehttps://www.wvfest.com/fairgrounds-mapWinfield Fairgrounds1105 W. 9th Ave., Winfield, KS 67156🔔 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams 👉 https://musicfestivalspodcast.com🙏 Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donationshttps://buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivalspodcast⏳ Key Moments00:00 – Welcome and introduction to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival00:58 – The history of Walnut Valley Festival and its founding in 197202:38 – Festival evolution to Americana, folk, Celtic, and acoustic music03:27 – The famous Land Rush, and longtime camping traditions04:18 – Exploring the festival's four performance stages06:33 – Workshops, educational programs, and family-friendly activities08:30 – Highlights from the 2026 Walnut Valley Festival lineup11:45 – Inside the National Flat-Picking Championships13:50 – Experiencing the campground jams and picks15:32 – Ticket discounts and how to save with promo code MFPSAVE16:14 – Festival dates, tickets, and planning your visit to Winfield, KS🤝 Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners like:DLaw Coffee Companyhttps://dlawcoffee.comFlorida Sand Music Ranchhttps://floridasandmusicranch.comThe Will McLean Foundationhttps://willmclean.comvidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/mfp-discountCamp fro Free with Harvest Hostshttps://www.harvesthosts.com/?refid=xsqi9zsxRent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsyhttps://www.outdoorsy.com/invite/nater980046

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