Pilgrimage 2022 lineup: Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jon Batiste top the fest's bill

Chris Stapleton and Brandi Carlile will “make the Pilgrimage" to Franklin, Tenn. later this year.

The acclaimed country and Americana singer-songwriters top the bill for the 2022 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which returns to The Park at Harlinsdale on September 24 and 25.

They're followed by Jon Batiste — the R&B and jazz musician best known for leading the band at Stephen Colbert's "Late Show," as well as winning the Grammy for Album of the Year earlier this month — and folk-rockers The Avett Brothers.

Other top-billed acts include Lake Street Dive, Elle King, Lennon Stella, Trampled by Turtles, Dawes, Better Than Ezra, Marty Stuart, Celisse, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Butch Walker, Black Joe Lewis, Adia Victoria, Bones Owens, Brittney Spencer and Jensen McRae.

Pligrimage co-founder Kevin Griffin anticipates that their audience will feel the way he does about the 2022 lineup: "really fired up."

"This is a real focused lineup this year," said Grffin, who also fronts Better Than Ezra. "We wanted it to be about one thing, and it’s country and Americana. It just feels really concise, and I couldn't be more excited about it."

Two-day passes start at $219 and go on sale at 10 a.m. CT Thursday at PilgrimageFestival.com. Below, you'll find the full lineup and more from our conversation with Griffin.

The class of '18: This will be Stapleton's second time playing Pilgrimage, but the third time he's been booked. He was set to headline the 2018 edition, but heavy rains forced the fest to be cut short before any of the main acts could perform. Carlile was also on the 2018 bill, as were Elle King and Dawes.

"This feels more Americana": Though Pilgrimage has booked Foo Fighters, The Killers, Black Keys and Weezer in the past, you won't find a big rock act on this year's bill. (That said, Stapleton and Carlile can play as loud as any of them). Griffin says it wasn't Pilgrimage's intention to skew more Americana and country this year, but once the lineup started taking shape, they leaned in that direction. 

"We were looking at the different (festival) lineups, and as promoters, we talk to one another. A lot of the festivals around us, Bonnaroo and (others) this year were wanting to be everything to everybody, to greater or lesser success. We looked at what our fans have asked for – the artists – and we're like, ‘Wow, this feels more Americana, with a leaning towards a bit of country.’ And so that's what we went for."

Our chances for a Justin Timberlake cameo: The pop star and part-time Leiper's Fork resident is a partner of the festival, and headlined in 2017. During that performance, Chris Stapleton joined him onstage. When Stapleton was set to headline the following year, there was serious buzz that Timberlake would return the favor. Perhaps he took a raincheck for 2022? 

"We plan on surprises," Griffin says. "We book hoping surprises happen. But legally, contractually, we are not able to promise anything. What can I say? The people who have played this festival, like Justin, have deep roots here. All I can say for certain is that that some amazing collaborations will happen. Guests will definitely be on stage. And it's something you definitely do not want to miss."

Undercard acts to watch for: "I've got to say, Celisse is already blowing up," Griffin says. "She's on tour opening for Brandi this summer. Celisse is this amazing artist. I first saw her at a Gibson event because she plays Gibson (guitars), and she is having a moment. Lennon Stella — word is already out about her, but she hasn't even got to the level that she's going to hit.

Brittney Spencer — she had a huge year. And there are people that I've always liked that we've never had, like Black Joe Lewis, and somebody that I've become really close with, Molly Tuttle. Molly and I have written a lot together. And there are people that I’ve known, like Marc Scibilia. The Brummies are longtime favorites.

Zack Person is a young blues guitarist in the mold of Gary Clark, Jr, and it's a three-piece band. I saw him on Instagram, and I started DMing him all the time. It was just happenstance (that) the guy that books the festival with us, Jay Sweet, brought Zack up. It's funny when you book a festival, you all kind of want to take credit, like, 'Wait a second, I sent him first. It was my idea!'

Pilgrimage Festival 2022 lineup

Chris Stapleton

Brandi Carlile

Jon Batiste

The Avett Brothers 

Lake Street Dive

Elle King

Lennon Stella

Trampled by Turtles

Dawes

Better Than Ezra

Marty Stuart

Celisse

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Butch Walker

Black Joe Lewis

Adia Victoria

Bones Owens

Brittney Spencer

Jensen McRae

Yasmin Williams

Tigirlily

The Brummies

Marc Scibilia

Bexar

Allie Crow Buckley

Zach Person

Eiljah Wolf

Desure

Garrett T. Capps

Rosie Flores

Santiago Jimenez Jr.

Hog Slop String Band

The Peterson Brothers

Texas Hill

The FBR

People On The Porch