Laurel Cove Music Festival 2025 delivered a rain-soaked, soulful celebration of country, folk, and bluegrass in Kentucky’s intimate mountain setting.
Tucked deep in a hemlock-shaded hollow of Pineville, Kentucky, the 2025 Laurel Cove Music Festival offered a throwback to the soul of music festivals—intimate, authentic, and driven by pure passion for country, bluegrass, and folk.
For three days from June 12 to 14, just 1,500 lucky attendees gathered in what many now call the “Appalachian Red Rocks,” drawn together not by influencer hype or VIP perks, but by a shared love of music and community.
Unlike mainstream events filled with corporate sponsorships and towering ticket prices, Laurel Cove remains proudly grassroots. Organized by Jon Grace, the festival is curated with care—every performer is chosen for their rising star potential or deep ties to the music’s Appalachian roots.
This year’s lineup featured headliners Ole 60, Town Mountain, and Ian Noe (whose set was unfortunately canceled due to weather), along with breakout artists like Evan Honer, Kaitlin Butts, The Droptines, Colby Acuff, and Kashus Culpepper.
Rain became an unexpected headliner on Friday night, causing traditional stage performances to pause. But the spirit of Laurel Cove never faltered. Artists and fans adapted, with memorable moments unfolding under a picnic shelter where Honer performed stripped-down renditions of “Jersey Giant” and “idk s— about cars” as fans danced joyfully in the mud.
In one of the weekend’s most touching moments, Kentucky band Bedford played an impromptu acoustic set from their tour van, as fans huddled nearby in the rain, lit by fireflies and backed by the sounds of frogs—nature’s own symphony.
The weekend wasn’t without its musical highlights. The Droptines wowed the crowd with hits from their 2024 debut album, and Kaitlin Butts brought raw emotion to fan-favorites like “You Ain’t Gotta Die (to Be Dead to Me).”
Rising star Noeline Hofmann, now gaining national attention after her Zach Bryan collaboration “Purple Gas,” marked her own full-circle moment, having once traveled as a fan to Laurel Cove, now gracing its stage to roaring applause.
With no plans to expand, Laurel Cove remains a sanctuary for those who seek authenticity over spectacle. As Jon Grace proudly states, “There may be better festivals out there, but there’s not a better festival family.”
Built on heart, volunteer effort, and a deep connection to its Appalachian roots, Laurel Cove Music Festival 2025 wasn’t just a concert—it was a celebration of community, resilience, and the timeless power of music.
