NASHVILLE, TN – Centennial Park Conservancy announced today that Musicians Corner, Nashville’s beloved free concert series, will return this fall with a five-week season of live music in Centennial Park, beginning on August 28. The multi-genre free music festival will include Musicians Corner’s Free Fest, a three-day event over Labor Day Weekend in partnership with Lightning 100 and Presented by Amazon and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation from September 4-6. Musicians Corner will continue every Friday in September from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., including a special partnership with AMERICANAFEST® on September 18.
“Musicians Corner is the perfect opportunity for the community to gather outdoors with friends and family, enjoying cooler fall temperatures, while experiencing free live music in Nashville’s beautiful Centennial Park,” said Justin Branam, Musicians Corner Executive Producer. "We’re excited to return for five weeks of free live music with an amazing lineup of artists across genres. We are especially excited for the return of Free Fest, a three-day music festival happening during Labor Day weekend in partnership with our friends at Lightning 100, as well as our annual partnership with AMERICANAFEST.”
Musicians Corner is once again hosting Free Fest, a partnership between two longtime ambassadors for Nashville’s live music scene: Lightning 100 and Centennial Park Conservancy’s Musicians Corner. Free Fest — held over Labor Day weekend — continues a tradition of no-cost live music in Music City. This three-day music festival combines Lightning 100 and Musicians Corner’s artist curation efforts alongside the series’ fan-favorite outdoor concert experience that has been cultivated over 17 years in Centennial Park.
Musicians Corner’s Fall Series will feature performances from 38 multi-genre artists, including Arlo Parks, Rayland Baxter, Augustana, Buddy Miler, Birdtalker and more. The family-friendly and pet-friendly festival will continue to bring together a vast lineup of the city’s finest food vendors, local artisans, and Kidsville activities.On Friday, September 18, Musicians Corner will partner again with AMERICANAFEST®. The special concert will give the Nashville community an opportunity to see official AMERICANAFEST® showcases for free.
“It’s such an honor to get to work year after year with the folks at the Centennial Park Conservancy,” said Dan Buckley, Program Director, Lightning 100 WRLT. “These are the people who have given you Musicians Corner for over a decade – a free all ages world class concert series that has entertained and inspired thousands. Nothing excites me more than joining forces and putting together Free Fest for the third year in a row with them.”
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ARTIST LINEUP
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
Birdtalker • Josh Okeefe • Kara Frazier • Sweet Lizzy Project • Gerard Alain
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - Free Fest (with Lightning 100) - Labor Day Weekend
Rayland Baxter • Vlad Holiday • verygently • Creamer • Eva Cassel
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - Free Fest (with Lightning 100) - Labor Day Weekend
TBA • Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves • Laney Jones and the Spirits • Marble Jets • Wolf Twin
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - Free Fest (with Lightning 100) - Labor Day Weekend
Arlo Parks • MORGXN • Moody Joody • Elke • Maddie Ettrich
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Augustana • Caper Sage • Wildermiss • Carver Jones • Mary McGuinness
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 - in partnership with AMERICANAFEST
TBA • She Returns From War • Ink • Obed Padilla
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Buddy Miller • TBA • Abigail Rose • CHAPPY • Milly Roze
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FREE FEST 2026 WITH LIGHTNING 100 IS POWERED IN PART BY:
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Amazon • Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
SUSTAINABILITY SPONSOR:
WM
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
HCA Healthcare supporting the Kidsville Active Play Zone
FOOD & BEVERAGE SPONSORS:
Stage Water
MUSICIANS CORNER 2026 PROGRAMMING IS POWERED IN PART BY:
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Amazon • Beaman Toyota • Dettwiller Foundation • HCA Healthcare Foundation • Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp • Pinnacle Financial Partners • Sandra Schatten Foundation
SUSTAINING SPONSORS:
Jackson National Life Insurance Company • Richland Building Partners
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
First Horizon Foundation • The Frist Foundation • Tennessee Arts Commission • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee • SESAC • Spire
SUSTAINABILITY SPONSOR:
WM
VALUED PARTNERS:
Great Day Home Improvements • Pella Nashville • Renewal by Anderson
EVENT SPONSORS:
Friendly Arctic • 6th Man Movers • Radios615
FOOD & BEVERAGE SPONSORS:
Daddy's Dogs • Golden Plant Vegan Burgers • Hautewheels • Kiwi Scoops Real Fruit Ice Cream • Retro Sno • Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck • Tacos By Tam • Tito's Handmade Vodka • Yazoo Brewing Company • Hap & Harry’s • Little Harpeth • Lipman • La Vieille Ferme • Lone River
MEDIA PARTNERS:
Azul615 Magazine • Blackbird Media • City Cast Nashville • Do615 • Edible Nashville • Lamar Advertising Company • Lightning 100 • Nashville Scene • OUTFRONT Media • Social Indoor Nashville • Telemundo Nashville • Tennessee Tribune • WMGC El Jefe • WSMV 4 • 102.1 FM The Ville • 93.3 FM Totally Hits
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Metro Parks
PRODUCER:
Centennial Park Conservancy
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ABOUT MUSICIANS CORNER
Since 2010, Musicians Corner has provided free public access to live music in Nashville's Centennial Park while supporting artists who call Music City home. The program hosts events annually in May/June and September, and since its inception has showcased over 2,000 artists including legendary acts Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Vince Gill, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Musicians Corner is a program of Centennial Park Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so that all future generations may benefit from these enriching cultural and educational landmarks.
ABOUT CENTENNIAL PARK CONSERVANCY
Centennial Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so all future generations may benefit from these cultural and enriching landmarks. The organization works in partnership with Metro Parks to protect and revitalize the Park’s green space, underwrite the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programs, and present accessible and inclusive community programming to sustain the Park’s vibrancy. In 2026, CPC opened the first permanent on-site dining destination, the Croquet Cafe, whose proceeds benefit the Park.
Note to Editors:
Website: musicianscorner.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MusiciansCornerNashville
Instagram: instagram.com/muscornernash
Twitter: twitter.com/muscornernash
Centennial Park Conservancy: conservancyonline.com
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