Franklin, Kentucky will be on fire this summer with Plain White T’s headlining at Summer Vibes Music Festival. The festival is in its 5th year and will be held in the streets of downtown Franklin, Kentucky on August 23rd. Summer Vibes is not a genre-specific festival – we combine Americana, Rock, Pop, Country, and Punk Pop to give all attendees something to enjoy. The beer garden and food trucks will open at noon with the annual Songwriters Showcase beginning at 12:30pm. Local songwriters performing include Josh Thurman, Todd Caudill, and Tom McClure.
We are proud to present Plain White T’s as our 2025 Headliner. They are an American pop rock band formed in 1997, best known for their number-one hit song, “Hey There Delilah,” which achieved platinum status in 2007 and earned two Grammy nominations. The songs, “1, 2, 3, 4” and “Rhythm of Love” were also certified platinum in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Their songs have been featured in countless TV shows and movies.
Since forming in June 2024, Atlanta-based group The Paradox has become a force in the pop-punk scene. From their very first performance, The Paradox made waves online, capturing an audience that the internet wasn’t prepared for. Their debut video went viral, and within just three weeks of launching their social media presence, they amassed over 730K followers. The Paradox has opened for Green Day at Truist Park Stadium and opened for Jack White at The Basement East in Nashville. The Paradox will be the supporting act to Plain White T’s at Summer Vibes Music Festival.
Another 2025 Summer Vibes artist is Clayton Johnson, a Nashville-based country music artist originally from the farming town of Modesto, California. He has over 460K monthly Spotify listeners and has played guitar for notable artists, including American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter. Along the way, he continued to perfect his craft, writing songs for himself and other artists. His original music has garnered millions of streams.
To round out the lineup are local and regional bands. Clare Cunningham is an independent and award-winning singer-songwriter from the quaint village of Collon in Co. Louth, Ireland. Clare made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in March of 2023. Changing Direction is a Franklin, Kentucky rock band that has a reputation for rocking it out. Van Winkle and The Spirits is an Americana-style band that brings down-home musical roots to the stage, influenced by a mix of southern styles and artistry that leaves you feeling like you are on the front porch with family enjoying the rich warmth nestled in a glass of bourbon.
Yes, the rumors are correct! Tyler Hilton is coming to Franklin! He will double the vibes by being the official emcee for the day AND performing songs from the hit WB/CD series One Tree Hill in which he had a recurring role as Chris Keller. The fun fact is he played Elvis Presley in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. Johnny Cash and June Carter were married literally steps away from where Tyler will be performing.
There is no admission to the festival, which is being presented by Franklin-Simpson Renaissance, Simpson County Tourism, and Kentucky Downs. The City of Frankin is our stage sponsor for the second year in a row. Other sponsors that make this day happen are Hunt Ford Chrysler, Ohio Valley Insurance, Franklin Bank & Trust, Fritz Winter, Simpson County Fiscal Court, German American Bank, Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council.
For more information on Summer Vibes Music Festival go to www.summervibesfranklinky.com.
-by Kim Roberts, Executive Director
Franklin-Simpson Renaissance
