Ashland’s Summer Motion 2025A Star-Studded Celebration You Don’t Want to Miss

Ashland’s Summer Motion 2025

A Star-Studded Celebration You Don’t Want to Miss

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

Get ready, Ashland! The countdown is on for the biggest and most exciting summer celebration in the Tri-State: Summer Motion 2025. This year’s festival promises to be one of the most dynamic yet, overflowing with musical talent, heartfelt storytelling, and unforgettable performances. Set against the scenic backdrop of Ashland, Kentucky, from July 2nd to July 4th, this family-friendly event is packed with free entertainment, food, fireworks, and music that will move your soul and keep your feet tapping long into the night. “As always, we will have a fun three days of excitement on the Ashland Riverfront from July 2-4.  All concerts are free, a family-friendly festival and a great way to spend your July 4th holiday week,” explained Summer Motion President, Ruby Deerfield.

If you’re not planning to be there—you should be. Here’s everything you need to know about why Summer Motion 2025 is set to be the highlight of your summer.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Bluegrass Bliss with Wilson Banjo Co.

& The Infamous Stringdusters

The festival kicks off with a bluegrass explosion that will pluck at your heartstrings and strum your excitement to life.

At 7:30 p.m., the incomparable Wilson Banjo Co. takes the stage. Founded by the multi-talented Steve Wilson, this band is more than just a music group—it's a celebration of craftsmanship, storytelling, and bluegrass artistry. With roots as deep as the Appalachian Mountains, Steve Wilson brings decades of experience building and playing custom banjos for bluegrass legends and rising stars alike.

Wilson Banjo Co. isn’t just about music—it’s about a lifestyle and a community. The band’s latest album, Memory Lane, has spent weeks at #1 on the Roots Music Report Bluegrass and Contemporary Album charts. Their new project, Lonely As It Gets, is already topping charts and turning heads with hits like “Black Wedding Dress” and “Water,” which droped June 13—just in time to get you fired up for their Summer Motion set.

Expect a mix of high-energy picking, heartwarming harmonies, and songs that bridge the past and future of bluegrass. With players like Andrew Crawford, Brandi Colt, and Jason Fraley joining Steve Wilson, Wilson Banjo Co. is a powerhouse you don’t want to miss.

Then, at 9 p.m, the Grammy Award-winning acoustic phenoms The Infamous Stringdusters hit the stage—and they're bringing the thunder.

With their genre-defying sound and profound lyrical themes, the Stringdusters are here to make you think, feel, and dance. Their latest album, Toward the Fray, reflects a time of social awakening and personal growth. Featuring tracks like “I Didn’t Know” and “Revolution,” the album showcases their evolution not just as musicians, but as messengers.

This isn’t just a concert. It’s an experience. With a sound that's as intricate as it is inviting, the Stringdusters deliver a live show that pulses with authenticity, technical brilliance, and emotional depth. From the first bow stroke to the final banjo riff, their performance will leave you breathless.

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Faith, Power, and Praise with Worship Collective

& We Are Messengers

Thursday night at Summer Motion is all about the power of faith and music to uplift the soul. Starting at 7:30 p.m., Worship Collective will warm the stage and your spirit with passionate praise and worship music that turns the festival grounds into a revival of hope and connection.

Then, at 9:00 p.m, get ready for the electrifying, emotionally raw, and deeply moving performance of We Are Messengers.

Led by Darren Mulligan, this Irish-born frontman has a mission—to speak the truth of God’s love to broken, hurting people through powerful, real-life anthems. The band has racked up 11 consecutive Top 10 radio hits, including the #1 smash “Come What May” and the Gold-certified “Maybe It’s OK.”

Whether you’re new to their music or a longtime fan, We Are Messengers will take you on a rollercoaster of emotion with songs that explore joy, pain, faith, and healing. Their collaborations with legends like Vince Gill and Cory Asbury only scratch the surface of the powerful reach of this band. On stage, they’re a force of passion, vulnerability, and high-octane energy.

Their performance at Summer Motion promises to be a spiritual journey you won’t want to miss.

Friday, July 4, 2025

Hometown Pride, Patriotic Power

& Country Gold with THE FRONTMEN

You’ll want to arrive early on Friday, July 4, because the energy is going to be off the charts.

Barry Frazee, a local gem from South Point, Ohio, kicks off the evening at 7 p.m. Known for his heartfelt sound and connection to the community, Frazee brings a personal touch to the Summer Motion stage.

Next, at 8 p.m., it’s time for a Patriotic Tribute that will stir your heart and remind you what Independence Day is all about. The fireworks may come later, but this tribute will be a firework display for the soul—proud, powerful, and poignant.

And then… the main event. The grand finale. The show you’ll be talking about for years to come.

At 9 p.m, The Frontmen take the stage. This isn’t just a band—it’s a country music supergroup composed of three legendary frontmen from some of the biggest acts of the 90s and 2000s. Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Richie McDonald (Lonestar), and Tim Rushlow (Little Texas) have a combined 30 No. 1 hits, over 30 million albums sold, and enough iconic songs to soundtrack a generation.

From “Amazed” and “God Blessed Texas” to “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “What Might Have Been,” this setlist is pure gold. But The Frontmen aren’t just about nostalgia—they’re about evolution. Their brand-new self-titled album features original material produced by the powerhouse Mickey Jack Cones and is making waves in Nashville and beyond.

What makes The Frontmen so special is the synergy between these artists. They harmonize like a single voice, trade leads like pros, and bring the kind of experience only decades of touring and recording can produce. And their live shows? One word: EPIC.

Their performance is sure to be a boot-stompin’, heart-thumping, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs experience that ends Summer Motion 2025 with a bang—followed by one of the region’s most spectacular fireworks displays lighting up the Ashland night sky.

Ruby Deerfield, Summer Motion President, shared, “I am very excited about all three nights of our lineup but ready to hear We Are Messengers and The Frontmen.  The Frontmen will be a great show with an all hit show with three great artists – Richie McDonald formerly of Lonestar, Larry Stewart of Restless Heart and Tim Rushlow formerly of Little Texas.”

So come for the music, stay for the memories, and don’t be surprised if you leave with a funnel cake in one hand and a brand-new favorite band in the other—because Summer Motion 2025 is where the best summer memories are made!