The Nebraska Folk & Roots Festival is eschewing the urbanness of the Railyard for a wide-open rural setting just north-west of Lincoln.

Friday, the two-day festival kicks off it’s sophomore year, now at its new home at Branched Oak Farm. It will host 23 total performers, a mix of local and national Americana acts, on the roughly five square acres of space.

“It’s a totally different beast from last year in regards to infrastructure,” says festival organizer Jeremy Buckley. Organizers have taken on additional challenges by moving Folk and Roots out of the city, including building two stages, providing electricity and even preventing mosquitos.

The change of scenery seems to be a welcome one leading up to the festival, and more befitting of its folk and roots genres. Folk singer-songwriter Joshua James, indie rock band Desert Noises and Memphis-based Motel Mirrors highlight the touring acts.

Lincoln’s Bud Heavy & the High Lifes and a reunited Kill County bolster a strong compilation of Nebraska Americana acts. With indie rock bands Desert Noises and Eros and the Eschaton, soul ensemble Mesonjixx and Bolzen Beer Band add variety to the folk-heavy fest.

Ahead of the weekend, we prepared a comprehensive guide to get you ready for the outdoor festival. In addition to live music, Nebraska Folk & Roots Festival will feature local food trucks, vendors and various artists and craft projects. Weekend passes are $20 now, and $25 on Friday. Tickets for each individual day are $10 now, and $15 at the door.

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Friday, July 31

Stage 1

5:00 p.m. – Mesonjixx (soul/jazz)

6:00 p.m. – All Young Girls Are Machine Guns (soul)

7:15 p.m. – Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival (honky tonk)

9:00 p.m. – Evan Bartels and the Stoney Lonesomes (folk/country)

 

Stage 2

5:30 p.m. – Violet and the Undercurrents (folk rock)

6:30 p.m. – The Way Down Wanderers (alternative folk)

8:00 p.m. – Joshua James (neo folk)

9:45 p.m. – Desert Noises (indie rock)

*Saturday, August 1

Stage 1

12:00 p.m. – The Wildwoods (folk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR-is_pGnEs

1:15 p.m. – Toasted Ponies (bluegrass)

2:30 p.m. – Dr. John Walker (country/blues)

3:45 p.m. – Bolzen Beer Band (punk polka)

5:00 p.m. – Union Specific (Americana/rock)

https://youtu.be/Ku5wj_0hgyA

6:15 p.m. – Eros and the Eschaton (dream pop)

7:45 p.m. – The Bottle Tops (folk/bluegrass)

9:15 p.m. – Bud Heavy & the High Lifes (bluegrass)

Stage 2

12:30 p.m. – Victor & Penny (prohibition-era folk)

1:45 p.m. – Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies (Americana-rock)

3:00 p.m. – Old Salt Union (folk)

4:15 p.m. – Jack Hotel (country blues)

5:30 p.m. – Kill County (alternative folk)

7:00 p.m. – Amy Lavere (indie folk)

*8:30 p.m. – Open

10:00 p.m. – Motel Mirrors (Americana)

*Times will be slightly adjusted due to open 8:30 p.m. slot