The Castellows Charm Railbird Festival 2025 with Sisterly Harmony

The Castellows, a trio of sisters from Georgetown, Georgia, stepped onto the Burl stage at Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 31, 2025, with a glow that felt like home. Eleanor (born 1999), Powell (born 2001), and Lily Balkcom (born 2003) wove their voices into a tapestry of country and folk, their matching braids swaying as they strummed. Their set, bathed in the golden afternoon light, turned the Red Mile infield into a front porch jam, drawing fans into their world of Southern simplicity.

Career and Band Affiliations

The Castellows burst onto the scene in 2023 with their debut EP, I Know It’ll Never End, followed by their 2024 album, Sisters in Song. The trio—Eleanor on guitar, Powell on banjo, and Lily on vocals and mandolin—performs as a self-contained unit, occasionally backed by drummer Caleb Edwards and bassist Nate Brooks. They’ve toured with Wyatt Flores and shared stages with Zach Bryan, who praised their harmonies on X. No major TV or film roles mark their resume, but their “Hound Dog” cover for an Elvis tribute special aired on CMT in 2024. In 2025, they earned a CMA nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, a nod to their rising star. Their music, rooted in sibling synergy, evokes The Chicks and The Carter Family.

Biggest Songs

• “No. 7 Road” – Written by The Castellows, a nostalgic ode to their Georgia roots.
• “Sober Sundays” – Co-written with Ella Langley, a heartfelt ballad about love and loss.
• “Hurricane” – Penned by Eleanor Balkcom, a fiery track with streaming success.

Railbird Performance

The sisters opened with “No. 7 Road,” their harmonies soaring over the crowd like a warm breeze. They transitioned to “Hurricane,” Powell’s banjo driving the tempo as fans clapped along. Lily’s lead on “Sober Sundays” hushed the audience, her voice tender yet powerful. However, a brief mic feedback squeal interrupted “Cowboy Kind of Love,” but Eleanor’s quick joke—“Guess the stage likes us too much!”—kept spirits high. They covered Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” their three-part harmony sparking cheers, then invited Maggie Antone for a surprise duet on “Heartline Hill.” For 60 minutes, their set felt like a family reunion, warm and inviting, closing with “I Know It’ll Never End” to a standing ovation.

Controversies and Connections

The Castellows have sidestepped major scandals, their wholesome image intact. Their vocal support for rural communities on social media, while broadly praised, drew minor flak from urban fans who called it “performative.” Romantically, the sisters keep their lives private, with no public relationships making headlines. Their friendship with Ella Langley, a co-writer and tourmate, has fueled rumors of a joint EP, though nothing’s confirmed. In 2024, a scheduling mix-up at a festival led to online chatter about their professionalism, but their Railbird performance—polished and heartfelt—silenced any doubters. Their set was a love letter to their roots, connecting deeply with the crowd.

Final Notes

As the sun rose higher, The Castellows waved goodbye, their smiles lighting up the Kentucky afternoon. Their performance was a reminder of country music’s power to unite, their harmonies lingering in the air. Photos of the sisters, arms linked, singing under the festival lights, are already elsewhere on this site, capturing a moment that felt timeless and true.

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