The 54th annual Kerrville Folk Festival opens May 21 at Quiet Valley Ranch with a four-act night at the Kennedy Outdoor Theater that moves from Texas plains to Texas dancehall before closing with one of the state’s most buzzed-about harmony bands.

Lubbock-born singer-songwriter Jamie Lin Wilson leads things off at 7 p.m. with the kind of plainspoken, emotionally honest country writing that has made her a quiet favorite on the Texas music circuit for more than a decade. She sets a tone — and a high bar — for everything that follows.

San Antonio’s Rich O’Toole steps up at 8 p.m. A working honky-tonk songwriter who has spent years earning his crowd the hard way, O’Toole brings a no-frills, working-class sensibility to the stage that fits the Kerrville crowd like a broken-in boot.

Asheville, N.C.-based Americana band Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters take the 9 p.m. slot. Platt’s reputation rests on her literary, sharply observed songwriting and a band sound rooted in classic country and folk; they are a natural fit for a festival that has long prized craft over flash.

The Wilder Blue close out opening night at 10 p.m. The Texas five-piece has spent the past few years building a devoted following through five-part harmonies and rock-influenced country arrangements that draw comparisons to the Eagles and ’80s-era Alabama. Their 2023 album Super Natural — produced by Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb and featuring Luke Combs on a cover of “Seven Bridges Road” — helped land them on Luke Combs’ 2025 stadium tour. They arrive at Quiet Valley Ranch with the wind at their backs.

The festival runs through June 7. Tickets are available at kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

7 p.m. Jamie Lin Wilson

Jamie Lin Wilson Lubbock-born Texas singer-songwriter, formerly of the Gougers, known for plainspoken, emotionally honest country and folk writing. Wilson has released several solo albums and is a respected fixture in the Texas singer-songwriter community.

8 p.m. Rich O’Toole

Rich O’Toole San Antonio-based country singer-songwriter known for working-class Texas storytelling and a no-frills honky-tonk sound. O’Toole has built a loyal following on the Texas country circuit through years of relentless road work and a catalog of plainspoken originals.

9 p.m. Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters

Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters Asheville, N.C.-based Americana band led by singer-songwriter Amanda Anne Platt; known for sharp, literary songwriting and a sound rooted in classic country, folk, and Western music. The Honeycutters have released a string of well-reviewed albums and are fixtures on the Americana festival circuit.

10 p.m. The Wilder Blue

The Wilder Blue Texas five-piece formed in 2019 by Zane Williams and lead guitarist Paul Eason, the Wilder Blue built their reputation on intricate five-part harmonies and a rock-influenced country sound that draws comparisons to the Eagles and ’80s-era Alabama. Their 2023 album Super Natural, produced by Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb, features Luke Combs on a cover of the Eagles’ “Seven Bridges Road.” The band has opened stadium dates for Combs and signed with the booking agency WME for global representation.