One of St. Louis’ most highly anticipated music events, Pines Fest, returns for its fourth year in a new location: Atomic by Jamo in the Grove. The single-day festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, beginning at 2 p.m. Hosted by St. Louis’ own The Mighty Pines, this fan-favorite event brings together top local, regional and national acts for a stellar day of roots and rock music.
Known for blending wildcat guitar with jazzgrass, three-part harmonies with zydeco-folk, and an irresistible mix of country, blues and jam influences, The Mighty Pines have built a national following through their dynamic live shows and collaborations with artists like Michael McDonald and Yonder Mountain String Band’s Allie Kral. Pines Fest is their signature celebration of that sound – a gathering of musical friends and fans that has grown each year since its inception.
This year marks a major step forward for the festival, which has nearly doubled its lineup since the early days. “When we started, we had maybe seven bands or so,” said frontman Neil Salsich. “This year there are 11 – more bands than ever before, and a higher number of national acts than ever before. We’ve always wanted this to be a sustainable festival, growing slowly but surely in solid increments.”
The new location adds to the excitement. After three years at the Big Top in Grand Center Arts District, Pines Fest moves to Atomic by Jamo in the Grove, where Talmage Avenue will be shut down for a full-on block party vibe. “It’s even more exciting because we’ll have this street-festival kind of thing going,” Salsich said. “We want this to be a foundation for our brand – literally a musical and cultural tradition in St. Louis.”
The 2025 lineup includes The Mighty Pines, The High Hawks (featuring Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, Adam Greuel of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and more), along with Armchair Boogie, Pert Near Sandstone, local Grateful Dead stalwarts Jake’s Leg, The Spooklights, Falling Fences, Hunter Peebles & The Moonlighters, Starwolf, Root Mod, and Taylor Steele & The Love Preachers.
“Having artists like The High Hawks and Jake’s Leg is really special for us,” Salsich said. “Jake’s Leg are legends; they were the first band I ever saw live as a 21-year-old at the Broadway Oyster Bar. [The Mighty Pines bassist and vocalist] John [Hussung] and I saw them and our lives were changed forever.”
In addition to the music, festivalgoers can enjoy food from Farm Spirit and Crush Cocktails & Food, with a dessert vendor currently in the works. There will also be an assortment of handmade goods from local makers and even live painting throughout the day.
When asked what gave the band the confidence to throw a festival of this magnitude, Salsich said, “You get the confidence after you throw something like this. We’re still small fries, but we’re confident in what we do. A festival like this only comes to fruition over many years. The first five are when you’re working in the dark, but that’s how you build the foundation that allows you to explode.”
Atomic by Jamo’s full bar will stay open until 3 a.m., with live music running until midnight. Tickets for Pines Fest 2025 are available now via TicketWeb. General admission tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the show. Reserved VIP seating is also available for $100.
The Mighty Pines are currently back in the studio working on a new album while touring nationwide in 2025, bringing their rousing anthems, intuitive musical chemistry, and warm stage presence to audiences across the country. For more information, visit themightypines.com.