The 502s Bring Non-Stop Energy to Sound of Nashville Open Air 2026
The Sound Of Nashville Open Air took place at Die Kantine’s Freideck In Cologne. This year was reduced to a one day event on September 6, 2026, from 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM featuring Birdtalker, Zandi Holup, Rose Betts and The 502s.
The 502s are an American indie folk band from Maitland, Florida, widely celebrated as “the happiest band on Earth”. Formed by lead singer and banjo player Ed Isola, the group is famous for its infectious high energy performances. They describe their sound as “folk music that went to the beach”—a raucous, horn-and-banjo-fueled high-energy beach-folk sound, blend of roots rock, and bluegrass.
The 502s closed out Sound of Nashville Open Air 2026 with a relentless 75-minute headline set that rarely let up. From the opening chords to the final note, the band tore through an upbeat setlist with barely a breath between songs — the only exception being a single slower number halfway through the show, offering the crowd’s only real moment to catch its breath.
Onstage, the band matched its music with constant motion, bouncing through a set that felt more like a workout than a performance. That energy proved contagious: the audience jumped right along, matching the band beat for beat in a show defined by momentum from start to finish.
The six piece band looked well rehearsed and the clarinet & saxophone solos, even a harmonica solo for a song brought an extra oomph to the energy. Songs like ‘Your Nonsense Makes Sense’, Olivia’, ‘Enjoy The Ride’. Hey Julia’, ‘Like My Father’ brought not just energy but a positive tone to the night. An extended version of ‘Feels Good To Be Me’ saw all band members taking turn in vocal performances as well some instrument solos. An old school touch with band members got from the stage left the audience alone with the dummer for a drum solo.
For a grand finale the opening band members joined the headliner for a rendering of Wagon Wheel, which closed the night on high energy.
The German language review and photos for: CountryMusicNews.de
Accreditation: Semmel Concerts
