Haverford Music Festival Announces Headliners for 14th Annual Festival

Havertown, Pa.—WXPN welcomes the 14th Annual Haverford Music Festival on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 12 noon to 9 p.m.

The family-friendly music festival will feature a full day’s worth of entertainment, headlined by Grammy Award–nominated singer-songwriter Shannon McNally; the eclectic guitar virtuosity of blues artist Buffalo Nichols; and the inventive bluegrass harmonies of Demolition String Band.

The Haverford Music Festival is a family music festival that celebrates creativity, supports arts and education, and fosters a vibrant cultural landscape in Havertown. It draws visitors from Delaware County, Philadelphia, the Main Line, and beyond, to enjoy a day of diverse local, national, and international artists.

This year, the Festival falls just after a summer season that will be marked by national and local celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary. In honor of America’s birthday, the Festival’s headlining slate represents the vitality and variety of America’s rich musical traditions.

The HMF features two stages, behind and in front of the Oakmont School Building, 50 East Eagle Road, in Havertown, Pa. Area business sponsors and vendors will fill booths along the adjacent East Hathaway Lane. There will be food vendors, beer and wine gardens, children’s activities and much more end-of-summer fun for the entire family.

Traditionally held on the first Saturday after Labor Day, for 2026 the Festival will be held on September 26 in deference to the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

This Year’s Headliners

Shannon McNally earned a Grammy nomination for best traditional album for her 2010 record Onward and Upward. She has released 14 albums in total, including the recent studio album Black Irish and Live at Dee’s, a career retrospective recorded in Nashville with a revolving band of local musicians.

McNally’s sound, which has evolved over the course of her two-decade career, defies easy categorization. As her website puts it, McNally is “[a]t home across the American (Americana) music spectrum,” with a “live music career [that] began on the jam band circuit of the 1990s with bands like Robert Randolph and Derek Trucks.” Her repertoire includes original songs and rousing interpretations of standards, and features “a soul-stirring voice that immediately grabs one by the heart strings and a troubadour’s wanderlust; not to mention as it turns out, she is also an excellent electric guitar player.”

Also coming to the Barry Gutman Stage is Buffalo Nichols, a guitar virtuoso whose blues-inflected sound incorporates influences ranging from punk to West African folk music. Originally hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Carl Nichols—who performs under the stage name Buffalo Nichols—has earned rave reviews for his skilled technique on the six-string.

You can hear Nichols talk to NPR about his craft and play songs from his 2022 self-titled album here.

Last but not least, the headliners will be joined by Demolition String Band, a country-rock outfit based in Hoboken, NJ. They’ve opened up for the Avett Brothers and Joan Osborne, and will bring their rustic harmonies and “boho bluegrass” sound to the HMF stage.

More Performers Still to Come

Be sure to follow the Haverford Music Festival on social media for frequent updates, including the names of performers. More acts will be added as this year’s concert approaches.

Many of the most exciting acts that perform at the Haverford Music Festival are local acts from across the Greater Philadelphia area. For up-and-coming artists across all genres, the Festival is an invaluable chance to play for a sophisticated concert-going audience. Submissions are now open for volunteer performers interested in taking the stage on September 26. Visit https://haverfordmusicfestival.org/performers/ to learn more.

Volunteers Are the Heart of the Haverford Music Festival

The Festival is organized by a group made up entirely of volunteers—including the board of the Haverford Township Education, Arts & Music Society (HTEAMS), the nonprofit organization that presents the HMF.

This year’s Festival presents a terrific opportunity for volunteers from across the community, doing everything from setting up tents and tables to selling merchandise and assisting musicians in the green room.

“The festival is a lot of fun to put on, but we rely on help from volunteers for a few hours here or there throughout the day for it to succeed,” says HTEAMS president Jesse Hubley. “Anyone interested in volunteering will find a choice of options, such as stage and booth set up, take down, clean-up or band hospitality. Your help is greatly needed and will certainly be deeply appreciated!”

To volunteer for the option of your choice, visit

https://haverfordmusicfestival.org/volunteer/

The Haverford Music Festival could not take place without the generous support of our sponsors. Businesses and organizations interested in being sponsors or vendors, please visit our website at https://haverfordmusicfestival.org/sponsors/ or contact us at HaverfordMusicFestival@hteams.org.