Moon River Festival is back and better than ever this September 9 and 10 with an incredibly stacked lineup! Founded in 2014 by artist Drew Holcomb, this is the festival’s ninth year and with artists like Hozier, Caamp, Houndmouth, and Flipturn, this year is looking to be one of the biggest yet. Held in Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Coolidge Park, this two day festival is known for its nightlife and picturesque views of the Cumberland Plateau. It has long been a Chattanooga favorite, bringing in music-loving folks from all over the country. The festival is currently sold out, but fans wanting tickets can join the waitlist here, for a good chance at scoring face-value resale tickets.
The bill for day one is incredibly strong with Ohio folk band, Caamp, headlining. Founded by banjo player Evan Westfall and lead vocalist Taylor Meier in 2015, the group has been on the up and up since their second LP, By & By, released in 2019. The release was quickly followed by several full North American tours building tons of new fans, including myself. Last year, the group released their third full length album, Lavender Days, which is full of catchy upbeat tunes, perfect for summer. Currently, the group is beginning their massive run of the United States which includes first time appearances in historic venues such as Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado and The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s safe to say that the anticipation is already building for their advent at Moon River Festival which falls near the end of their tour.
Also on the lineup for day one is Houndmouth, an alternative rock and folk band from New Albany, Indiana. Known primarily for their song “Sedona” released way back in 2015, Houndmouth has recently brought on a new set of fans following their run of opening shows for popular rock band, Greta Van Fleet, last fall. This spring, they headlined their own Chartreuse and Chandeliers tour that ran primarily on the East Coast and Midwest. Growing faster than ever, the band hasn’t released new music since 2021, however, it is likely that we can be on the lookout for some soon.
Headlining day two is none other than Irish musician, Hozier. His arrival at Moon River Festival will closely follow the release of his much anticipated third full length album, Unreal Unearth, in August. Moon River Festival falls in the middle of a long run of shows of all sizes that began at the beginning of May at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta. Hozier has already released an EP titled Eat Your Young and a single titled “Francesca” this year, with three out of the four songs of the two releases finding their way onto the announced tracklist for Unreal Unearth. Hozier’s ever-expanding and incredibly dedicated fanbase will follow him anywhere, and it is likely due to his appearance that the festival sold out almost immediately after it was announced.
Other artists to look out for at the festival include First Aid Kit, Marcus King, Judah & the Lion, and Ritchy Mitch & the Coal Miners. With such a diverse lineup, there is truly something for everyone. Even if you aren’t in attendance for a specific act, the ambiance created by beautiful Chattanooga will make the experience ethereal in nature. Known for everything from cave tours, to hiking, to its railroad and American history museums, Moon River Festival attendees will have plenty of activities to indulge in inside and outside the festival grounds.
If ticket holders are having trouble finding hotels, you can check out the festival webpage here for a list of associated, and discounted hotels, perfect for your stay in Chattanooga. Moon River Festival truly knows how to host! With such a stacked lineup, we at For The Punks hope to find ourselves under the beautiful Chattanooga sky this September for this spectacular lineup and you should join us!
