Hall & Oates showed the power of timeless pop as they closed the second annual Pilgrimage Music & Culture Festival on Sunday (Sept. 25) in Franklin, Tennessee.
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As they kicked into their 1981 smash “You Make My Dreams Come True,” everywhere on the lawn people started dancing like no one was watching. They also entertained with “Maneater,” “Rich Girl,” “You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’” and an extended version of “I Can’t Go For That” that featured a sax-guitar solo battle that seemed to last forever. Then the crowd went nuts under the stars when the pop legends closed with an epic two-song medley of “Kiss on My List” and “Private Eyes.”
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Everywhere there were faces hurting with smiles from all the fun as the thousands of Pilgrimage fans started making the trek back home. The best part of it all is that it was over a little after 8 p.m.
A portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold will support the Recording Academy’s non-profit MusiCares, the city of Franklin and Franklin Parks.
Here are some other highlights from day two:
Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
The Athens, Alabama, native hit the Frye Midnight Sun Stage with new arrangements of music from his 2015 debut album Delilah, two new numbers, Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” and Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.” Girlfriend Miranda Lambert was spotted watching the performance from the side of the stage.
Brothers Osborne
T.J. Osborne went through several water bottles on the George Dickel Kimbro’s Harpeth River stage as the blistering sun shown directly on the duo’s afternoon performance. While John ripped into the guitar solo on their first No. 1 “Stay a Little Longer,” T.J. went back to the drums for a bottle of Dasani and emptied it all over his sunburnt face. They championed through the heat, delivering an electrifying country rock set that included selections from Pawn Shop, Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River” and the Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl.” During “Down Home,” their sister Natalie Osborne and their father John Sr. were spotted in the audience waving the flag of their home state of Maryland.
Mickey Bernal/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
Americana Music Association’s 2016 emerging artist of the year capped her Americana week with a set on the Pilgrimage’s Frye Stage where Hall & Oates would perform later. Wearing a beautiful red embroidered jumper, she ripped through live selections from her debut album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter and a cover of Loretta Lynn’s “Rated X.”
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Her set drew one of the festival’s biggest crowds. After being introduced as the Dimestore Cowgirl and Texas’ queen of cactus, Musgraves and her band lit up the stage in full western wear and glowing neon cacti. The hour-long show included songs from Pageant Material and Same Trailer Different Park along with “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
Jason Isbell
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The sun was just starting to set on the festival as Isbell and the 400 Unit opened their set with the Americana Music Association’s new song of the year “24 Frames.” Ethereal fiddle solos by his wife and singer-songwriter Amanda Shires elevated the show, which included “Cover Me Up,” “How to Forget,” “Alabama Pines,” and Drive-By Truckers’ “Decoration Day.” Her killer stage wear of a black black body suit paired a flowing black sheer skirt made some women in the crowd think to themselves, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
ASCAP Shady Grove Stage Presented by City Winery Nashville
For a place to rest and recharge over glasses of pinot noir or sauvignon blanc, the Shady Grove offered an oasis of swings and lawn chairs with acoustic sets by rising talent including Alyssa Bonagura, Tim Easton, Angel Snow, Peter Bradley Adams and Matthew Perryman Jones.
Lauren Tingle