Nashville may still be known as the home of country music, but on Saturday, November 8, it felt like the center of a very different universe. The second annual Ceremony Music Festival returned to the newly renovated Cannery Hall, and before the doors even opened, a line of fans wrapped down the block, with their phones out, eyeliner sharp, and buzzing about who they were most excited to see. It was immediately clear that this year was going to outdo last year’s debut.

Cannery Hall turned into a full blown playground for the alt community. With music spread across The MIL, Row One, and the Main Stage, the festival had that rare quality where simply walking from room to room felt like flipping the channel to a completely different world. You could hear one band finishing their last chorus while another launched into a guitar break somewhere down the hall.

Ceremony packed in 19 artists over the course of the night, pulling from alternative, rock, indie, emo, and pop-punk, a lineup that didn’t feel thrown together but instead felt like a survey of where the genre is right now. And honestly, it’s in a really exciting place.

Outside of the music, the festival created it’s own little ecosystem. There were flash tattoos by KIND Tattoo, live art curated by Visual Minds, and the smell of food drifting in from vendors like Chivanada Empanada, The Pepper Pot, Livvi’s Lunchbox, Fab Pizza, Mason’s Hot Dogs, and Brewed Awakening.

What stood out the most wasn’t just the music, it was the people who filled every corner of the venue. Everyone seemed to have their own little backstory, their own connection to the artists or the scene. There were awesome outfits everywhere, strangers complimenting each other just because they felt like it, and this shared sense that something bigger is happening with Ceremony.

I had the opportunity to chat with an attendee named Kaitlyn, who shared what Ceremony meant to her:

“Ceremony Fest this year was unreal. The energy hit the second I walked in, and moving from one room to another felt like stepping into a new world every time. I discovered new artists that I can’t stop listening to and got to see some long-time favorites. I’m already counting down to next year!”

Having been there for year one, it was genuinely exciting to see how much the festival expanded without losing it’s heart. Ceremony still feels like a grassroots celebration, but one that’s beginning to gain real momentum. If this is only year two, it’s not hard to imagine it becoming one of the cornerstone events in Nashville’s alternative scene.

Here’s a look at some of the sets I captured throughout the night:

Emblem3

Emblem3’s set felt like stumbling into a warm pocket of nostalgia. To me, their sound is bright and sunny in a way that contrasted everything around it. People who probably haven’t heard of the band were suddenly shouting the words back at them. I can confidently say I left as a huge fan of this band.

Beauty School Dropout

Beauty School Dropout walked onstage like they owned the room, and honestly, it felt like everyone there agreed with them. Their set had this messy, high energy that made it impossible to stand still. People were jumping, yelling, grabbing friends by the shoulders during their favorite parts, just pure release. 

Chandler Leighton

Chandler’s set was a surprisingly emotional pause in the night. She was breathtaking, her voice filled Row One in a way that made the space feel much smaller than it actually is. People who came in out of curiosity ended up staying for the entire performance, myself included.

Weathers

Weathers wasted no time. They hit their first song hard and the whole room locked in with them. Their live sound has way more bite and urgency than you expect walking in, and the energy just kept climbing. A definite highlight was their cover of “Pink Pony Club,” an unexpected twist to the set. A few songs in, I instantly became a fan – and judging by the crowd around me, I wasn’t the only one.

Jutes

Jutes brought a slick mix of charm and attitude. Something about his live setup gave the songs extra punch, and the crowd fed off it immediately. It honestly felt like you could watch his fanbase grow minute by minute.

Huddy

Huddy drew one of the biggest crowds at The MIL. Shoulder to shoulder, sweaty, and loud — exactly the kind of setup that makes his set hit harder. Fast pacing, big energy, and a crowd that gave it right back. It always a great time seeing Huddy.

Sace6

Sace6 hit the stage louder and more locked in than last year, like a band that’s really settled into who they are. The room reacted instantly. Energy spiking, people yelling every word, total Ceremony chaos in the best way.

Sueco

Sueco was the headliner for the night. His set felt like the moment the entire night had been inching toward. He hit the stage already half charged, and the crowd matched him instantly. Nothing about it felt choreographed, he bounced between emotional grit and total mayhem in a way that kept everyone on their toes. At one point he stepped onto a board the crowd held up and quite literally surfed over everyone while still yelling into the mic. The whole room just kind of exploded with him. When he stepped offstage, people were still shouting like they weren’t ready for it to be over yet, and that’s when he hit the stage for an encore.