It’s been nearly five years since folk-rock band The Avett Brothers made their first appearance at the famed Musical and cultural festival of pilgrimage. The ensemble will make its triumphant return to the legendary fairground on Sunday, September 25.

The North Carolina-based band are set to release their tenth studio album, “closer than together,” and critically acclaimed EP “The third lightduring their must-see act on the Gold Record Road stage. Lead singer Seth Avett told CMT that playing the weekend show in Franklin, TN was a no-brainer, as family appeal drew the band .

“I realized early on that family festivals are really my jam — it’s my favorite kind of thing,” Avett shared exclusively ahead of her performance. “I love festivals that are kind of built around the experience for people of all ages. There’s a party vibe that happens at the festival, it’s good for everyone, it’s joyful , fun and healthy,” he said.

Although the Avett Brothers have cultivated a loyal fan base with their rich storytelling and raw sound, the singer confirmed that they have grown naturally as musicians since their debut at the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in 2017.

“You’re a different person than you were five years ago. We’re more focused on trying to be sincere with ourselves and people who are nice enough to come see us play. That takes over the variety factor. It will be a different experience than the last time they saw us in concert”, he clarified before discussing the evolution of the musical landscape. “If you look at my brother and I about 22 years ago, I feel like there was very little space and acceleration. But we still had the will to share who we were and to share what we wanted to do musically. It sped everything up. and turned it into this whirlwind. Things have changed, and I have to change. I feel like we’ve become a little more dynamic and a little more balanced. .God willing, we will become more comfortable in our own skin every year.”

After spending more than a decade in the music industry, the Avett Brothers have found their secret formula for a captivating show. Their carefree stage presence transcends their audience, creating a safe space for music lovers.

“You don’t really have to think about the presentation so much, just be there,” Avett revealed. “We’re having more fun than ever. We’re more technically capable, but just more forgiving when things don’t go to plan. The shows have had a lot of slack lately, which is good because it’s at the core of us. We are here [performing] for the same reason as them [the fans]which is to connect and seek sincere camaraderie and have fun,” he added.

The same mindset and purpose should drive their next record, which will drive inclusiveness. Avett did not confirm a release date for the project, but said the tracklist would consist of 10 or 14 songs.

“Lyrically, I think it’s relatively clear that Scott and I are both in the second half of life. I’m 42 and Scott is 46,” the artist clarified. “We’re at this really interesting time, where you’re really taking inventory of a lot of things and looking at big topics – what are you doing in this world? How do you serve? What hurts? is that helping? This stuff is hitting really hard right now, and the conversation about God is non-stop.”

He went on to mention that these wonders will be analyzed in the collection and their faith-centered beliefs will also be prevalent.

“There’s going to be a spiritual component, which I don’t think would be much different than what we’ve done before. I feel like it’s getting a little more pronounced,” Avett said. “Asonically, there are quite a few textures that happen.”

The highly anticipated LP was slow to arrive, as they began working on the writing and recording process in 2020. However, their plan of action was abruptly derailed when the global health crisis put a damper on the entertainment industry. Instead of working in a state-of-the-art studio in the dream city of Los Angeles, they stepped out of their comfort zone to keep their creative wheels turning.

The Avett Brothers worked tirelessly with their sound engineer in their home studio to cultivate the well-rounded collection.

“Everyone has their pandemic story. Our deal was that we had a nice big block of studio time booked for April 2020. We were all fired up and excited, we had it all planned out in California,” he explained. . “We sort of stripped it down. It was just me, Scott and Dana – our engineer controlling my computer.”

The seasoned musicians said they are now polishing some tracks in Nashville, before revealing the project to the public.

“We are very close to completing the new record,” he said excitedly. “We hope they [the fans] find something in it that falls under the category of evidence of connection – togetherness or feeling less alone. I believe that music is the perfect way to access this connection. If they don’t find that in our music, I hope they stop listening immediately and find it in other music.”