Four years after introducing Pines Fest to 最新杏吧原创, Mighty Pines guitarist and singer Neil Salsich, 37, says the event is beefier than ever with a bigger lineup and new venue.
鈥淲e really just want to make it a tradition because 最新杏吧原创 is definitely a place of traditions,鈥 Salsich says.
The brainchild of 最新杏吧原创-based bluegrass-soul band the Mighty Pines, Pines Fest takes over Atomic by Jamo in the Grove on Oct. 18. Previously held at the Big Top in the Grand Center Arts District, Salsich says the move to Atomic was an easy decision.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always worked with Jamo Presents on this festival, so once Atomic was ready, we decided to move it there,鈥 he says. Jamo Presents is a concert promotion and booking company run by Drew Jameson, who also operates Atomic by Jamo.
Salsich and his band originally started Pines Fest with hopes of becoming ingrained in the city鈥檚 cultural calendar. Salsich stayed true to that vision, slowly growing the festival, collaborating with other local creatives and expanding the lineup beyond 最新杏吧原创鈥揵ased acts. Salsich says he hopes, within a decade, that the festival is unrecognizable due to the growth and changes he foresees in the future.
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鈥淥ur goal is to one day have something like Music at the Intersection or Evolution Festival,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our big dream, but we just have to take these baby steps in the first couple of years to get the foundation.鈥
Describing the 2025 lineup as 鈥渂road,鈥 Salsich says most festivalgoers expect to experience a lot of rock 鈥檔鈥 roll and bluegrass acts. The event is staying true to its roots this year while also offering more R&B and soul acts. Salsich says his time performing with the local jazz-and-soul band the Playadors and seeing other ensembles perform at local festivals proved that more genres fit the Pines Fest lineup.
Neil Salsich of the Mighty Pines on stage during with Emily Wallace and the Burney Sisters during Pines Fest 2023.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really inspiring and makes me laugh when I鈥檓 still surprised at how many great musicians, bands or scenes exist here that I wasn鈥檛 even aware of, even as a professional musician,鈥 he says.
最新杏吧原创 soul music group Root Mod was added to the bill after Salsich saw them perform at Music at the Intersection in 2023. After watching psychedelic funk band Starwolf鈥檚 surge on music-streaming platforms, Salsich added the act to the lineup. The majority of the lineup features local acts like Hunter Peebles and the Moonlighters and Jake鈥檚 Leg. When the musicians aren鈥檛 on stage, Salsich says he鈥檚 looking forward to the partying and networking in the greenroom.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a freaking party the day of,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 good for the soul.鈥
Organizers also stepped outside of the city limits to bring bands into town that 最新杏吧原创 music lovers would enjoy. Electric root-rock duo the Spooklights 鈥 out of Columbia, Missouri 鈥 will slide through Pines Fest for a groovy set, along with Americana band Pert Near Sanders of Minnesota. The latter founded their own festival, Blue Ox, in 2015, which the Mighty Pines are performing at in 2026. Salsich says bringing in out-of-town bands helps create a touring ecosystem for bands to expand into new tour markets.
鈥淲e need every advantage we can,鈥 he says. 鈥淥ne of those is to create something lasting with Pines Fest that can give us some opportunities to scratch and to get our backs scratched in other places.鈥
The Mighty Pines on stage during Pines Fest 2023
Pines Fest is also bringing in New York violinist and Railroad Earth band member Tim Carbone as the artist-at-large, a special festival act who plays with every band on the bill. Carbone will be Pines Fest鈥檚 first artist-at-large who isn鈥檛 a 最新杏吧原创an. Past artists-at-large include El Monstero鈥檚 Jimmy Griffin, soul singer Brian Owens and indie folk singer Emily Wallace.
鈥淭his year, it鈥檚 a guy that鈥檚 from out of state,鈥 Salsich says. 鈥淎lthough he鈥檚 part of a very successful band and has a tremendous reputation in his own right.鈥
In addition to the homegrown and visiting performers, the Mighty Pines will hit the stage to present classic songs and new material to fans. The band released its live album, 鈥淟ive Pines,鈥 in September, but Salsich says the band has a new studio album recorded and ready for release in 2026. Festivalgoers can expect to hear many of the upcoming album tracks performed live during Pines Fest.
鈥淲e like to work out our material live,鈥 he says. 鈥淏y the time our songs come out in recorded versions, our fans sometimes are already familiar with them because we played them.鈥
Although festival planning can be 鈥渁 bit chaotic and last-minute,鈥 Salsich says the Mighty Pines continue to host Pines Fest because its a family.
鈥淔amily is everything under the sun,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the good, the bad and the ugly. But it鈥檚 thick. And it鈥檚 family.鈥
