Middle Tennessee State University’s Walnut Grove, the traditional pre-game gathering spot for students, alumni and fans of Blue Raider Football, will be louder and prouder this season with the addition of Party in the Grove, which will feature live music, food trucks and other family fun activities.
Set again for the Walnut Grove area near Peck Hall, Party in the Grove will start two and a half hours before kickoff with the football team’s traditional Raider Walk.
The event will again include a main stage for performing artists, food trucks and a full slate of activities for the entire family — bounce houses, custom license plates, face painting, airbrush T-shirts, balloon and calligram photo stations and more. Space also remains for fraternities and sorority tents, as well as tailgating for alumni and others.
Guests artists this year include country artist Lauren Watkins; pop/rock band davvn (pronounced dawn); Grateful Dead tribute band The Stolen Faces; singer-songwriter Medium Build; a special military cover band to be announced; and R&B/funk band The Psycodelics.
2025 Party in the Grove lineup:
This year’s musical lineup has a heavy student influence, with a group of students in MTSU’s Concert Series Booking course, under the guidance of Recording Industry assistant professor Adam Caress, getting a taste of experiential learning by identifying and booking the following guest artists (other than the military cover band to be announced):
- Sept. 20: Davvn (pronounced dawn) is a Nashville-based pop/rock band
- Oct. 8: The Stolen Faces is a Nashville-based Grateful Dead tribute band
- Oct. 29: Medium Build is the stage name for Country singer-songwriter and MTSU alumnus Nick Carpenter
- Nov. 8: A military cover band (to be announced)
- Nov. 22: The Psycodelics is an R&B, funk band
Blue Raider Football began Saturday, Aug. 30 with a home opener at Floyd Stadium. Click here to purchase tickets to upcoming games.
