2026 Festival Bands

 Arts Fishing Club is a Nashville-based indie-folk band led by Christopher Kessenich, known for energetic live performances and heartfelt storytelling. Their music blends rock, folk, and indie, drawing comparisons to Mt. Joy and The Head and the Heart. Notable releases include the album "Rothko Sky" and popular songs such as "Tupelo Honey" and "New York Heat." The band has performed at festivals including Bonnaroo and Summerfest. The name honors Kessenich's grandfathers, symbolizing perseverance. 

 Fluorescents is a hard-hitting Pop-Punk band based in the City of Chicago. Taking influence from early 2000s pop-punk & 2010s easycore, Fluorescents strives to fuel the next wave of pop-punk music and keep the torch burning strong for generations to come. What sets Fluorescents apart from the pack is the combination of three vocalists each bringing their own unique flavor into the mix. Combine that with wall-rattling drums, epic leads, chugging rhythms & BIG production, you get what Fluorescents calls “Post-Pop-Punk”: a culmination of all things pop-punk with a willingness to incorporate influences both modern and nostalgic. Fluorescents is sure to keep you on your toes with each release as they continue to thrive amongst their local & national music scene. 

 Transitioning from sports to music, Rye Davis began to cultivate his musical talents, drawing inspiration from country legends like Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks. His music is characterized by heartfelt lyrics that often explore themes of love, hardship, and rural life, resonating with listeners who appreciate authentic storytelling.
Davis's sound is described as a blend of classic country and contemporary styles, showcasing his smooth baritone voice and masterful songwriting. He has performed live on platforms such as ABC's "Rising Star," where he showcased his talent to a broader audience .

Meet renaissance woman of pop, Ivory Layne. She began songwriting at age six and by her teenage years had taught herself music production, a skill that would lead her to move from North Carolina to Tennessee. Crafting a unique voice entirely her own, Layne has made a name for herself in Nashville and London across multiple genres, collaborating with legendary writers and producers such as Jimmy Robbins, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, Liam Howe, Eg White, Cam Blackwood, Ash Howes, and Ian Archer. She has performed with Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Needtobreathe, Andy Grammer, Ben Rector, and The Script as well as having written for artists such as Tom Grennan, Cory Asbury, Harper Grace, and others. As an independent artist, she’s had four consecutive singles played on BBC Radio 2 and is currently releasing new music on all streaming platforms. Layne is passionate about creating safe spaces on and offline for fellow creatives to be authentic and inspired.

If your favorite mixtape came to life and started walking around in denim and a vintage snapback, it might just be Chesle.

Colorado-born and now rooted in Nashville, Chesle is more than an artist and producer — he’s a genre-melding architect, quietly building a world where pop, hip-hop, folk, and alt collide like they were always meant to. His sound doesn’t sit neatly in a single lane, and that’s exactly the point. Each track feels like a curated moment from a well-worn playlist: familiar, yet full of surprise.

Think robust hip-hop beats that knock just right. Breezy folk-inspired chord progressions that make you want to roll the windows down. Dusty tambourines that add a raw, analog heartbeat. Honey-smooth gang vocals that feel like you’re being lifted up by a crowd of your best friends. And then there are the lyrics — the kind you either get tattooed or immediately post to your story with zero context. The kind that hit too real in the best way possible.

What makes Chesle’s music feel so magnetic is that it’s not trying to be one thing. It’s a mosaic — layered, dynamic, and deeply human. It sounds like someone who’s lived through a few things, questioned a lot, and somehow still comes out the other side with hope and groove intact.

Whether you catch him behind the boards or on the mic, Chesle isn’t just making songs — he’s telling stories, building feelings, and giving a new voice to those of us who live somewhere in between the lines.