I attended my first Hilberry Music Festival in 2017, and the back of my head was featured in someone’s photo overlooking the scenery and the stage. This past weekend, as the sun dipped low behind the Ozarks and a harvest moon rose over the trees, the 10th annual Hillberry Music Festival unfolded like a dream, especially to me as I was now on the other end of the camera.

There’s something magical about the moment you first catch sight of The Farm, nestled deep in the rolling hills outside Eureka Springs, AR. The smell of campfire smoke mixed with food truck aromas hit me while setting up my campsite, Michael Bont‘s banjo ringing out from Greensky Bluegrass‘ set on the main stage. Somewhere within this Kodak moment, I realized and eventually came to terms with the fact that I forgot my tent. Fortunately, I remembered to pack my camera (despite, or perhaps because of, the nightmare I had the night before about accidentally leaving home without it).

Deciding to forget my woes, I grabbed my camera and trudged to the stage. GSBG frontman and mandolinist Paul Hoffman seemed to sum up the whole comedy of errors and everyone’s chance to try again in “Living Over”, in a set that included diametrically opposed tributes to The Stanley Brothers and Ween, closing with an encore of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Dancing in the Dark”. In the midnight hour, Birmingham, AL’s Mountain Grass Unit blended progressive bluegrass with influences from jazz, funk, and rock. It was the perfect way to bring my first night of Hillberry to a close.

Greensky Bluegrass — Hillberry Music Festival — Eureka Springs, AR — 10/9/25 — Full Audio

[Video: stlanders23]

Friday morning started early as I had slept in the back of my car with a now-deflated mattress, my own breath coating the windows—not daring to roll down the windows for (legitimate) fear of bugs nestling up with me as I slept. I genuinely could not get out of there fast enough.

Kansas City hometown heroes Whiskey Mash Band got things going bright and early at noon on the Shrine sidestage. As the band started its set with a punctual “Bloody Mary Morning”, one of its biggest fans opened a cooler and began making Bloody Marys for everyone (of age) in sight.

While some of us waited out a passing rainstorm back at camp, that didn’t stop singer-songwriter Sophie Clark from delivering her afternoon set. She became the soundtrack as most people sought shelter, took advantage of the empty showers, or hung out in the rain with her. The fact that I couldn’t see her may have contributed to how much she sounded exactly like Patsy Cline.

After the rain cleared, Amy Helm soaked up the waning daylight, leading her soulful gospel with a raw, heartfelt, gritty Southern rock sound. The daughter of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for The Band, Levon Helm, she was destined to bring powerful vocals and deeply rooted talent, creating a live experience that felt both timeless and deeply personal.

The Infamous Stringdusters were one of the night’s biggest highlights, pushing the limits of bluegrass while honoring its roots. Their tight vocal harmonies wove through intricate and elongated jams, shifting seamlessly from hard-driving rhythms to soulful ballads or funky beats. Whether they were fast-picking traditional breakdowns or stretching out in extended instrumental passages, the Stringdusters created music that felt alive, spontaneous, and unbound by notions of what bluegrass “should” be.

One thing Hilberry has been known for over the last decade is its implementation of costumes and themed days. Friday was Animal Liberation Day, a theme festivalgoers took in a multitude of directions, showing up in harnesses and leather, cute and soft onsies, glitter skirts, unicorn headbands, you name it. It wasn’t until late in the evening that there was a communal consensus on the theme, if only for the two hours ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) were onstage.

ALO created a warm blend of rock, funk, jazz, and pop, wrapped in a laid-back, smooth California aesthetic. The band’s music is rich with melodic hooks, improvisational flair, and a jam band spirit that invites spontaneity and connection. Songs built organically, shifting from mellow soulfulness to infectious, danceable climaxes, making the show as much a communal celebration as it was a concert.

“It’s like I tell everyone,” Hillberry co-founder Chris Anderson later told Live For Live Music, “it’s the collective efforts of many that make this work, and the people truly do make the place.”

By the time Dirtwire took the stage around midnight, the moon was high, casting silver light over the dancing crowd. The duo’s set felt like a heartbeat: rhythmic, pulsing, alive. It wasn’t just the music; it was the way the music filled the space between people. Strangers became dance partners, laughter spilled between sets, and kids with glowing hula hoops spun circles under the stars. They even worked with an indigenous tribe to create authentic Native American music. For the encore, Dirtwire got off the stage and into the crowd, becoming one with both the Earth and the audience.

As the clock neared 2 a.m., the smaller Shrine stage was ready for The Heavy Pets‘ late-night show. Their groove-heavy, guitar-driven music was perfect for the late-night stage, as the South Florida jam band switched gears mid-song from laid-back reggae to soaring rock solos or funky breakdowns. It was well after 3 a.m. when they finally finished with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” as the evening’s closing credits rolled like it was the end of The Breakfast Club.

For those of us who refused to call it a night, we trekked down to a man-made camp stage, complete with a fake swamp and foam bridge. The festival used it as a practice space for the band competition later in the weekend. People simply showed up with their own instruments and got on the makeshift stage, made to look like an old shack. It really was as backwoods Arkansas as it could get, in the best way.

Hillberry Music Festival — Late-Night Jams

[Video: Eric Vrtis]

When I finally did make my way back to my car, I reluctantly crawled inside, heavily sighing at the circumstance of my own making, determined to sleep. With the morning brought the anticipation of the Community Chompdown, where everyone came together, encouraged to donate breakfast foods (I always bring a pound of bacon) and grab a plate. Chefs whisk up the eggs, grill pancakes, chop up fruit, and play music until the food runs out. This year, a jazz band brought us together as we all shared a meal and smiles.

The festival continued through Saturday and Sunday with Arkansauce, Andy Frasco, two nights of Railroad Earth, Del McCoury, and more, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I regretfully couldn’t stay. It’s the only time in my six years of attendance that I’ve ever had to leave early, and I missed every second. Next year? I’ll be back early, stay late, and bring extra of everything, including a tent.

Check out some photos from the 2025 Hillberry Music Festival courtesy of photographer Allison Scavo.

Arkansauce — Hillberry Music Festival — Eureka Springs, AR — 10/9/25 — Full Audio

[Video: stlanders23]

Kitchen Dwellers — Hillberry Music Festival — Eureka Springs, AR — 10/9/25 — Full Audio

[Video: stlanders23]

Steve Poltz — “Ripple” (Grateful Dead) — Eureka Springs, AR — 10/11/25

[Video: Tom Miale]