More Than Just Music: What to Expect at FreshGrass | Bentonville 2025
looking for the latest freshgrass | bentonville info?
To see weather updates, maps, current festival schedule, food and drink info, and more all in one convenient place, be sure to check out our Weekend Mobile Guide!
Ready for the best in roots music?
Festival season is officially here and we’re kicking it off with the long-awaited return of the best American and global roots music fest around–FreshGrass! Get ready to dive into the heart of the Ozarks and plan your weekend of toe-tapping tunes, artistic explorations, and endless fun for the whole family.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, May 16
4 PM GATES OPEN*
4:45 PM | SISTER SADIE – MAIN STAGE
5 PM | ROSANNE CASH TALK – RØDE HOUSE
5:45 PM | AJ LEE & BLUE SUMMIT – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
6 PM | WILLI CARLISLE – TULIP BARN
6:45 PM | JAMIE WYATT – MAIN STAGE
8 PM | BÉLA FLECK, EDMAR CASTAÑEDA, & ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ TRIO – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
9:15 PM | SHAKEY GRAVES – MAIN STAGE
10:35 | LOST BAYOU RAMBLERS – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
11:45 PM | LANGAN BAND – RØDE HOUSE
12 AM GATES CLOSE
No entry / re-entry allowed after this time
*All times are subject to change
Saturday, may 17
12 PM | GATES OPEN*
12 PM | CHARLIE J. MEMPHIS – SOLAR ROLLER
12:30 PM | GUINEVERE GOODWIN – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
1 PM | JUDE BROTHERS – SOLAR ROLLER
1PM | WORKSHOP – TULIP BARN
1:30 PM | JESSE WELLES – MAIN STAGE
2:30 PM | WORKSHOP – TULIP BARN
2:45 PM | LA DOÑA – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
2:45 PM | CRYING UNCLE – SOLAR ROLLER
3:30 PM | THE HOUSE OF SONGS PRESENTS: SONGRIDER – RØDE HOUSE
3:45 PM | FRONT PORCH – SOLAR ROLLER
4PM | ALISON BROWN – MAIN STAGE
4:45 PM | DOWNRIVER COLLECTIVE – SOLAR ROLLER
5 PM | MIREYA RAMOS AND THE POOR CHOICES – RØDE HOUSE
5:15 PM | WAYLON WYATT – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
5:45 PM | FOG HOLLER – SOLAR ROLLER
6:30 PM | ROSANNE CASH WITH JOHN LEVENTHAL – MAIN STAGE
7:30 PM | SQUARE DANCING – TULIP BARN
7:55 PM | SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
9:10 PM | LUKAS NELSON – MAIN STAGE
10:30 PM | CHA WA – NO DEPRESSION STAGE
12 AM GATES CLOSE
No entry / re-entry allowed after this time
*All times are subject to change
FOOD + DRINKS
Blue Concessions
Masa
Chop Shop BBQ
Southern Sippin
Sugar Apple Baking Co.
Holey Moley
Burton’s Creamery
Free Wheelin Pizza
Takashimura
The Momentary Food Truck
Hungry? The bright, fresh flavors of the Momentary Food Truck pair nicely with cool drinks from the RØDE Bar, located nearby. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu items are available.
MO Food Pop up with Chef Lisa (Saturday only, 11am–2pm & 5pm–8pm)
WORKSHOPS
Fine-tune your skills with hands-on workshops IN THE TULIP BARN!
Check back for our updated workshop options.
COMMISSIONS
WILLI CARLISLE
Arkansas native folksinger Willi Carlisle returns to FreshGrass, this year as the 2025 recipient of the FreshGrass Composition Commission, performing new music written for this commission for the first time in public.
For folksinger Willi Carlisle, singing is healing. And by singing together, he believes we can begin to reckon with the inevitability of human suffering and grow in love. On his latest album, Critterland, Carlisle invites audiences to join him: “If we allow ourselves to sing together, there’s a release of sadness, maybe even a communal one. And so for me personally, singing, like the literal act of thinking through suffering, is really freeing,” he says.
HOUSE OF SONGS
SongRider is back for a second year, merging the culture of musical performance with the energy of cycling in an innovative series of community rides and performances. Launched by the House of Songs, a nonprofit fostering collaboration and performance opportunities for musicians, SongRider pairs regional songwriters with local cycling groups for a unique pedal-powered journey across Northwest Arkansas.
Musicians will draw inspiration from the landscapes they ride through, the people they meet, and the emotions sparked by the journey to create original songs to debut. After each community ride, the songwriters who joined the group will treat participants to a performance.
Parking & Biking
Paid parking is available in the Momentary Garage. Reserve your parking passes ahead of time or use the additional parking available at the Walmart parking lot.
If you’re here on two wheels, there will be a bike valet outside the Tulip Barn.