NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – Friday at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival featured performances by Liberian singer-songwriter Mon Rovîa, Americana duo Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Ohio garage rock band Space Kid, indie folk musician Emily Hines, legendary R&B and gospel singer Mavis Staples, and more. Festivalgoers also encountered stilt walkers, acrobats, and other performers from The Amazing Giants, whose appearances complemented the festival’s 2026 circus theme.
WOUB photographer Sophia Hoffman spent the day on site, capturing performances and scenes from throughout the festival grounds. Explore her photos from the day below.
Emily Hines and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Festivalgoers at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]A member of The Amazing Giants troupe at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]A member of The Amazing Giants troupe at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Ken Pomeroy and band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Mavis Staples and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Festival-goers enjoy a performance from Mavis Staples at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Mavis Staples and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Mon Rovîa performs at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Space Kid performs at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Thee Sinseers perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]Instrumentalist Emily Prince and Stuart’s Opera House poet in residence Wendy McVicker perform as another language altogether at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]
![A member of The Amazing Giants troupe at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-cover-image.jpg)
![Emily Hines and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/EmilyHines_20260619_0014_1.jpg)
![Festivalgoers at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FestivalBRoll_20260619_0096.jpg)
![A member of The Amazing Giants troupe at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FestivalBRoll_20260619_0153.jpg)
![A member of The Amazing Giants troupe at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FestivalBRoll_20260619_0159.jpg)
![Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GillianWelch_20260620_0002.jpg)
![Ken Pomeroy and band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KenPomeroy_20260619_0017.jpg)
![Mavis Staples and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MavisStaples_20260619_0002.jpg)
![Mavis Staples and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MavisStaples_20260619_0040.jpg)
![Mavis Staples and her band perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MavisStaples_20260619_0056.jpg)
![Mon Rovîa performs at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MonRovia_20260619_0014.jpg)
![Space Kid performs at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SpaceKid_20260619_0001.jpg)
![Thee Sinseers perform at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TheeSinseers20260619_0011.jpg)
![Instrumentalist Emily Prince and Stuart’s Opera House poet in residence Wendy McVicker perform as another language altogether at the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival on Friday, June 19, 2026. [Sophia Hoffman I WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WendyMcvicker_20260619_0006.jpg)