MURFREESBORO, TN – After a successful debut in 2024, Gallagher Fest is set to return to downtown Murfreesboro on Saturday, May 17, 2025, offering a day-long celebration of live music, local culture, and community togetherness. The event takes place on North Walnut Street in front of Gallagher Guitar Co. and The Walnut House.
The 2025 festival will once again feature a free daytime street festival followed by a ticketed evening performance. This year’s headlining act is GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Trey Hensley, who will perform at The Walnut House. Hensley, recognized as the 2023 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, has shared the stage with musical legends including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Vince Gill.
The free, family-friendly street festival will feature performances from regional acts, with bluegrass group Shadowgrass leading the daytime entertainment. Additional festival activities include a guitar flatpicking contest with a Gallagher G-45 guitar as the grand prize, music workshops, pickin’ circles for all skill levels, and a variety of food trucks, craft beer, and vendors.
Gallagher Guitar Co., the event’s host, was originally founded in 1965 in Wartrace, Tennessee. After being acquired in 2019 by David Mathis, the company relocated to Murfreesboro in 2020. It continues to be known for producing high-quality handcrafted guitars, with many calling them among the finest in the world.
Festival organizers note that the goal of Gallagher Fest is not only to showcase exceptional musicianship but to celebrate the Murfreesboro community and its cultural roots. “This event isn’t just about great music—it’s about celebrating our town, reconnecting with our roots, and bringing people together,” they stated.
Gallagher Fest 2025 is free to attend during the day, while tickets for the evening performance can be purchased at www.GallagherFest.com. The event invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy the sounds, flavors, and shared spirit of Middle Tennessee. Scroll down to read more details as released by 2025 organizers.
Direct Release from Gallagher Fest Organizers: After a successful debut in 2024, Gallagher Fest is back for its second year on Saturday, May 17, 2025, bringing a full day of live music, community celebration, and unforgettable performances to historic downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee at North Walnut Street
The 2025 festival features incredible talent, kicking off with a free, family-friendly street festival during the day and wrapping up with a ticketed evening headliner performance by GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Trey Hensley inside The Walnut House.
About the Company: Gallagher Guitar Co. was established in May of 1965 and continues to build what many of their clients call the finest guitar in the world. What is equally positive is that the company is based in the Heart of Tennessee, right here in Murfreesboro.
In 2020, Gallagher Guitars made the move from Wartrace to Murfreesboro. The move was made shortly after the company was acquired from the Gallagher family in September of 2019 by David Mathis. At the time of the move Mathis said, "The legacy of outstanding craftsmanship begun by J.W. Gallagher in 1965 will continue."
Daytime Street Festival (Free to the Public) - The outdoor stage on Walnut Street—right in front of Gallagher Guitar Co. and The Walnut House—will showcase a variety of talented regional acts, highlighted by high-energy bluegrass favorites Shadowgrass, headlining the free daytime event.
Festivalgoers can also enjoy:
- A Guitar Flatpicking Contest, with the grand prize of a Gallagher G-45 Guitar
- Workshops and pickin’ circles open to all skill levels
- A variety of food trucks, vendors, and craft beer
- An inviting, family-friendly atmosphere for all ages
“This event isn’t just about great music—it’s about celebrating our town, reconnecting with our roots, and bringing people together,” say the organizers. “We're proud to serve Murfreesboro with a festival that highlights local culture and world-class talent.”
Evening Show Featuring Trey Hensley (Ticketed Event) - Inside The Walnut House, the evening winds up with a special performance from guitar phenom and GRAMMY winner Trey Hensley, named the 2023 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year. Known for his fiery flatpicking and soulful songwriting, Hensley has played with legends like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Vince Gill, and recently performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. Tickets for the evening show are on sale now at GallagherFest.com.
About Shadowgrass - Shadowgrass, who first bonded over bluegrass as kids at a fiddler’s convention, are now a rising force in progressive roots music. With a decade of experience and a newly released album All That Will, the band brings a fresh take on traditional music while exploring deeper themes of growth, identity, and togetherness. Their instrumental chops, tight harmonies, and sibling-like chemistry make them a standout act on any stage.
Join In on the Pickin' - Whether you're coming for the flatpicking, the local flavor, the beer, the bands—or just the community spirit—Gallagher Fest 2025 is shaping up to be a Southern celebration like no other.
Location: North Walnut Street, Downtown Murfreesboro, TN
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Tickets & Info: www.GallagherFest.com
Daytime Festival: FREE
Evening Show at The Walnut House: TICKETED
Come celebrate the music, the people, and the soul of Murfreesboro at Gallagher Fest 2025!
