Sleepy Fest '25

ABOUT

Sleepy Cat Records is thrilled to be joining The Haw River Ballroom again in presenting our 4th Annual Sleepy Fest in the beloved community of Saxapahaw, NC on October 11th, 2025! Sleepy Fest provides an important platform for emerging North Carolina-based artists, creates opportunities for our community to connect, and helps raise the funds we rely on to stay in operation. We take pride in using Sleepy Fest as a platform to promote the social justice work that is already happening in our community as well as the kind of thoughtful work we hope to encourage moving forward – including but not limited to racial and environmental justice, anti-colonial/imperialist organizing and discourse for non-western nations, and queer representation/platforming.

The day will kick off with free-to-the-public performances at the Haywagon Stage and  Artisan Market in the spirit of the long-running Saturdays in Saxapahaw series. Ticket holders will have access to the main festival grounds near the Ballroom, enjoying performances between the Haywagon Stage, Ballroom Main Stage, and the Amphitheater. In addition to the shops in town, we’ll have food and beverage vendors, as well special programming by participating local businesses.

As in Sleepy Fest’s past, you can expect a diverse lineup of Sleepy Cat and other artists and one-time collaborations and improvisations. We’re planning visual installations and other non-music arts elements similar to last year’s quadraphonic performances, projections by dance artist Brooks Emanuel and Dye Vat DJs, as well as our Vendor and Artisan Market, Kids Zone, and more! We believe that this event will once again bring a day of joy and music-immersion to attendees, and will continue to foster a deeper appreciation for the wealth of culture and community in our area.

SCHEDULE

• 11am-430pm // Free-to-the-public Arts Market & Show at the Haywagon Stage

• 1pm-10pm // Ticketed access to festival grounds – Ballroom & Amphitheater

  Exact schedule subject to change

LINEUP

This year’s festival will feature a blend of performances from our Sleepy Cat Artists as well as non-label artists and friends. So far the lineup includes folk, oldtime, americana, cumbia, immersive electronic, a drag show, a puppet show, twangy punk rock, and more:

Alice Gerrard, Made of Oak, Hard Drive, Magic Al DJ set, Stormie Daie, Joseph Terrell, Quran Karriem, Delver, Josh Moore, Lonnie Walker, Trippers & Askers, Sugaree String Society, Slow Teeth, Kill the Buddha, Stella Rosalie Rosen, Quilla, Ancestor Piratas, Brooks Emanuel