Lockn' Music Festival

Lockn' is the festival that jam band fans whisper about reverently, and for very good reason. Held out in Nelson County, Virginia - right there in the Blue Ridge Mountains - it's the kind of event where the music doesn't really stop, the collaborations are genuinely legendary, and you might accidentally end up at a 3 AM superjam featuring members of five different bands who just decided to play together on a whim. That's not a hypothetical. That happens regularly here.

Peter Shapiro and Dave Frey (the guys behind the Capitol Theatre and Wetlands Preserve in New York) launched Lockn' in 2013, and it immediately became ground zero for the jam, Americana, and roots music world. We're talking Phish, Dead & Company, My Morning Jacket, The Avett Brothers, Tom Petty, and pretty much every artist in that universe cycling through the lineup over the years. The superjam pairings are the kind of thing you couldn't even dream up - Phil Lesh sitting in with a bluegrass band at midnight, that sort of magic.

The festival grounds themselves are gorgeous - rolling Virginia countryside, camping under the stars, and that mountain air that makes everything feel more alive and more connected. It's a camping festival through and through, so come prepared with your tent, your crew, and an open schedule because you're going to want to stay for all of it. The community here is warm, welcoming, and deeply invested in the music in a way that makes you feel like you've found your people immediately. The food vendors are solid, the craft beer selection is curated, and the general vibe is peace-love-and-improvisation in a way that feels genuine rather than performative. This is the real deal, folks.

If you're the kind of person who cares about musicianship, improvisation, and those magical one-time-only moments that only happen at festivals, Lockn' is your spot. Check Evil Tickets for available passes and clear your entire calendar for the weekend.