Big Freedia
Each year, the Nashville Pride Festival assembles some of the best and brightest queer artists from Nashville and beyond to anchor the weekend’s diverse celebratory programming. The lineup is often one of the most dynamic and surprising of any Nashville event, and this year’s roster of artists does not disappoint.
Headlining the festival this year are Kim Petras, 4 Non Blondes and Big Freedia, the last of whom will perform alongside beloved local queer-affirming musical organization Nashville in Harmony. Undercard acts include local favorites like Jake Wesley Rogers (more on him elsewhere in this issue) and Crys Matthews, with additional support throughout the weekend from drag artists including Jaxson Stone and Nichole Ellington Dupree.
Petras will hold down the prime-time spot during Friday’s Nashville Pride Concert, which kicks off the weekend’s musical festivities. Joining Petras at Friday’s concert are British pop/R&B singer-songwriter Estelle, indie singer-songwriter Empress Of, multihyphenate and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 2 star Kylie Sonique Love and pop singer-songwriter Ahli. Drag queen The Princess will host.
On Saturday, music kicks off beginning at noon, with both the main Equality Stage and smaller Rainbow Stage offering a variety of musical styles well into the evening. Nineties alt-rockers and “What’s Up?” hitmakers 4 Non Blondes will lead the pack on Saturday, while New Orleans bounce legend Big Freedia will close out the weekend on Sunday.
Below, the Scene checks out several standout acts performing at this year’s festival. To get in the groove, also check out Nashville Pride's curated playlist featuring festival artists.
Kim Petras
While “Unholy,” her 2023 smash hit with Sam Smith, raised Kim Petras’ profile significantly, the Germany-born singer-songwriter has been a pop music fixture for more than a decade. The first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy Award, Petras is a vocal advocate for trans rights. Petras will perform at 9:30 p.m. on Friday as part of the Nashville Pride Concert.
Brent Snyder
Brent Snyder is a local up-and-coming country singer-songwriter with a penchant for humor and a sticky melody. Snyder’s latest tune is “Nerve,” a ’90s-tinged, infectiously poppy number that should appeal to fans of Fancy Hagood and Joy Oladokun. Snyder will perform Saturday at noon on the Rainbow Stage.
Eleni Iglesias
Eleni Iglesias makes melody-forward indie pop, like the newer tune “Josephine,” a piano-driven kiss-off with shades of Brandi Carlile that appears on a recently released Live at Blackbird three-pack. Look for some older tunes in the mix too, like the slinky, synthy “WAISTLINE.” This isn’t her first Nashville Pride, as she performed as part of last year’s Rainbow Stage lineup. Iglesias will perform Saturday at 1:40 p.m. on the Equality Stage.
The Knocks and Dragonette
Electronic duo The Knocks and Canadian singer-songwriter Dragonette will join forces for their Pride set, just weeks after releasing their first collaborative album, Revelation. (Read more in our interview with Dragonette, also in this week’s issue.) As that record suggests, it should be a great set for anyone looking to dance, as numbers like “Love Me Alive” brim with fizzy energy à la Robyn or Carly Rae Jepsen. They will perform Saturday at 6:55 p.m. on the Equality Stage.
Crys Matthews
Crys Matthews makes delightfully unclassifiable music that pulls from country, blues, folk and everything in between. It’s Matthews’ lyrics that really shine, though, as the Nashville-based singer-songwriter writes vulnerably about love, belonging and inclusivity. Matthews will perform Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on the Equality Stage.
Kasah
Berklee School of Music graduate and current Nashville resident Kasah blends folk music with pop and R&B hooks, crafting textured and intricate musical beds for his rich and agile voice. Though he doesn’t have a large body of work (yet), look for songs like the sweet and breezy “Tryin’” mixed into his set. Kasah will perform Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on the Rainbow Stage.
Jake Wesley Rogers
Local singer-songwriter Jake Wesley Rogers has built a quickly growing following with his singular spin on piano-driven pop, which finds surprising connection points with Christian spirituality. (Read more in our interview with Rogers, also in this issue.) The former Nashvillian released his debut album In the Key of Love in May, so look for him to perform lots of new material like standout song “Hot Gospel.” Rogers will perform Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on the Equality Stage.
Big Freedia with Nashville in Harmony
Big Freedia is New Orleans royalty. The bounce music pioneer and larger-than-life personality will bring her electric, empowering energy to what’s sure to be an unforgettable closing performance, during which she’ll collaborate with queer-affirming vocal group Nashville in Harmony. This set caps off the festival on Sunday at 6 p.m. on the Equality Stage.
Talking to the Nashville Pride president, highlighting the best of the Nashville Pride Festival and more
