Noah Kahan Playing Rolling Stone’s Debut Festival

In a move that blurs the line between media brand and live event promoter, Rolling Stone is entering the festival business with the launch of its first-ever public-facing music event, Stateside — and it’s doing so with one of the biggest names in American music right now.

Set for none other than July 4 in New York’s Hudson Valley, the boutique festival will be headlined by Noah Kahan, who arrives at the inaugural event riding a wave of momentum with his just-released Mercury album The Great Divide and a forthcoming sold-out stadium tour. Landing Kahan gives the debut festival immediate credibility in an increasingly crowded live market.

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The event will take place at Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, with a deliberately scaled-back capacity of under 4,000 attendees. Beyond Kahan, its lineup leans into indie, folk, pop and country, with artists including Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Arcy Drive, Bo Staloch, Devon Gilfillian, Derby, Calder Allen, and Michaela Anne rounding out the bill. The programming culminates with — what else — a fireworks show following Kahan’s headlining set.

For Rolling Stone, the move is somewhat unconventional. While media brands have long partnered with festivals or hosted branded stages, launching a fully owned, consumer-facing event marks a deeper push into experiential territory.

Stateside sponsors include Boston Beer Company, which will feature its Dogfish Head, Sun Cruiser, and Angry Orchard lines, along with Scout Motors and Hertz. The Scout partnership will introduce “Tailgate Sessions,” an intimate performance and hangout space designed to merge music discovery with brand storytelling. Premium ticket tiers will offer upgraded amenities, while a limited number of guests can opt into a full weekend experience with on-site accommodations and curated programming running.

Produced and co-written by longtime collaborator Gabe Simon in tandem with the National’s Aaron Dessner, Kahan’s The Great Divide is expected to debut this week at #1 on the Billboard 200. It’s the follow-up to his slow-burn 2022 breakthrough Stick Season.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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