Highlands Food & Wine Festival Unveils 2025 Artist Lineup: The Wallflowers, Railroad Earth, Blind Boys of Alabama and More

Highlands Food & Wine Festival has released the lineup for its 10th anniversary celebration. From Nov. 13-16, the beloved local affair will stage in the Nantahala National Forest of Highlands, N.C., combining top-tier musical talents and gourmet culinary experiences for a true cultural smorgasbord. The four-day anniversary bill features a spread of genres and styles, helmed by The Wallflowers.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, Highlands Food & Wine Festival’s musical programming will commence with a set from Charleston, S.C.-based outfit The Psycodelics, who will bring a blend of rock, blues, disco and funk to the stage to set the tone for the festival’s adventurous offerings. Nov. 14 will be the Smoke Signal Event, centering the fusion of Southern rock and Americana; to demonstrate the rich sonic history of the Southeast, folk-rockers Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves will open for jam giants Railroad Earth, whose sound bridges bluegrass instrumentation, folk storytelling and rock thrills.

Nov. 15 will feature a mix of country and rock, beginning with Nashville-based country singer-songwriter and rapidly rising star Nikki Lane. She’ll precede The Wallflowers, Jakob Dylan’s long-running, Grammy-winning roots rock project. Come Nov. 16, festival’s end will roll in with a performance from The Blind Boys of Alabama; the esteemed gospel choir, whose laurels include 5 Grammy wins in their 7-decade run, will be complemented by the festival’s A Shot of Redemption Brunch. 

For the past decade, Highlands Food & Wine Festival has dedicated itself to providing only the finest cuisine and entertainment for its attendees. By packing this year’s landmark stage with artists that run the range of bluegrass, soul, rock, Americana and folk, they continue to support the diverse wealth of sonic regions that have bloomed from their home region. 

VIP weekend tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 10 at 12 p.m. ET, with general admission tickets following on Thursday, June 12 at 12 p.m. ET.  For more information, visit highlandsfoodandwine.