The 28th annual Double Decker Arts Festival, scheduled for Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, announced the 2025 musical artist lineup on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Lee Ann Stubbs, who has been the Double Decker Arts Festival Coordinator and special events coordinator for the past 10 years, explained the process for choosing performers.
Double Decker plans to continue its tradition of hosting a country-focused lineup for Friday night, with four bands performing including headliner Charley Crockett. Saturday has a diverse lineup that aims to appeal to a wide range of musical tastes, ending with headliner Grace Potter.
“Given our finite budget, we focus on finding artists who can deliver a fantastic performance while staying within those financial constraints,” Stubbs said. “What many people don’t realize is that booking fees for musicians vary depending on the type of event.”
Stubbs explained that Double Decker’s free admission policy limits the amount of funds artists can receive.
“For ticketed events, the booking fee is often lower because artists can also earn a share of ticket sales. However, for free festivals like Double Decker, those fees are significantly higher since there’s no additional revenue from ticket sales to supplement the artist’s income,” Stubbs said. “This dynamic plays a big role in shaping the lineup each year.”
As a result, the festival’s funding relies heavily on sponsorships, which comprises 60% of the total budget. Stubbs recognized the loyalty of Double Decker’s sponsors.
“Double Decker offers sponsors greater exposure compared to smaller events, making it an excellent opportunity for local businesses to engage with the community,” Stubbs said. “Over the years, the festival’s budget has naturally grown due to rising costs, which is reflective of the increasing expenses in hosting an event of this scale. This means I’ve had to work even harder to close the gap and ensure we can continue delivering a memorable event while keeping it sustainable.”
This year’s festival is presented by Ole Miss Athletics, the University of Mississippi Museum and Rowan Oak.
Public feedback and reaction is also an important part of selecting future lineups, Stubbs said.
“The public reaction to the music lineups over the past two Double Decker festivals has been overwhelmingly positive. While our headliners have received great feedback, one of the most rewarding aspects is hearing how much people enjoy discovering smaller, up-and-coming acts,” Stubbs said. “Many attendees have told us they became fans of opening acts they wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. This kind of feedback reassures us that we’re striking the right balance and curating performances that resonate with our community.”
Stubbs described some of the non-headlining performances attendees can expect.
“One special highlight is the Rust College A Cappella Choir, who I first heard at Thacker Mountain Radio Hour. Their performance will add a unique and inspiring touch to the day,” Stubbs said. “Throughout Saturday, attendees can look forward to a variety of genres. Cedric Burnside will deliver his signature Hill Country blues, Seratones bring a dynamic mix of rock and soul and Water Liars represent indie rock.”
Sophomore communications sciences and disorders major Christiana Davis is excited to enjoy the festival with her friends while also seeing art expressed in different ways.
“As one of (the museum’s) employees, it’s really cool to see that the campus museum gets to be so involved with the lineup and art aspect of the event,” Davis said. “I can’t wait to go, and I know it’ll live up to the hype.”
Sophomore music education major Kalie DeSherlia recalls Grace Potter as a nostalgic voice of her childhood, making her even more excited to attend.
“I love the texture of her voice and what it adds to her music. I just realized she sings ‘Something That I Want’ from the ‘Tangled’ soundtrack, so I really loved what I was hearing,” DeSherlia said.
Sarah Buzzell of Tupelo, Miss., holds the honor of being the official artist for the 2025 Double Decker Arts Festival.
“I always love using bright colors and jamming a lot of imagery into a piece. I took inspiration from an I-Spy book because I used to love those as a kid,” Buzzell said. “Art is my entire world, and this is such an honor to be recognized in this way.”
The full Double Decker Arts Festival lineup can be found online at the festival’s official website.
