The oddly-numbered 2013 has come upon us, and North America welcomes festivals from the first days of January to the last day of December – and QRO’s got them all in our massive, constantly-updated year-round guide. See last year’s Festival Guide
Total festivals with dates: 345
Updated continuously throughout the year with new acts, dates, festivals & coverage
| January & February |
March | April | May | June |
| July | August | September | October | November & December |
View QRO Magazine 2013 Festival Guide in a larger map
January & February
What: Todos Santos
Where: Todos Santos, Mexico
When: January 10-26
Who: Peter Buck, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, Alejandro Escovedo, The Posies, The Baseball Project, The Minus 5, Joseph Arthur, The Elected, and more
Why: Peter Buck of R.E.M. curates & performs a festival with friends like Scott McCaughey down Mexico way at the tip of Baja California, all to benefit The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, AC. Read QRO’s interview with Scott McCaughey at Todos Santos here
Web: todossantosmusicfestival.com
What: American Songbook
Where: Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: January 30-April 20
Who: Mavis Staples, Tom Morello, Kristin Chenoweth, Ingrid Michaelson, Lost In the Trees, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Ben Sollee, Meow Meow, and more
Why: Pretty much the classiest venue out there, Lincoln Center celebrates American songwriting, now in the first four months of 2013 at Allen Room (and the Penthouse). See our venue review & photos of Lincoln Center’s Allen Room here
Web: www.americansongbook.org
What: Shivering Songs
Where: Fredericton, NB, Canada
When: January 25-27
Who: Sarah Harmer, Jian Ghomeshi, Royal Wood, Rose Cousins, Mo Kenny, Owen Steel, The Sadies, Acres & Acres, The Weather Station, and more
Why: The Olymphic Symphonium’s hometown festival returns for a third year.
Web: shiveringsongs.com
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: January 25-March 21
Who: Shara Worden, Clogs, Deerhoof, Tift Merritt, DJ/rupture, Megafaun, and more
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the third year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Sunset Sessions
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 21-23
Who: John Hiatt, Fitz & The Tantrums, Dido, Brett Dennen, Milo Greene, Alpha Rev, Matt Hires, Faulkner, The Parlotones, The Staves, Saints of Valory, Matt Costa, Doris Clay Priskorn, Whitebread, Faulkner, and more
Why: KFOG brings Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions to The Grand Hyatt in Union Square.
Web: sunsetsessions.org
What: Noise Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 26-March 3
Who: Toro y Moi, !!!, Body/Head, Amon Tobin, STRFKR, Rogue Wave, The Thermals, Damien Jurado, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Califone, Jason Lytle, DIIV, YACHT, The Fresh & Onlys, Free Energy, White Arrows, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Jukebox the Ghost, Matt Pond, Teen Daze, Wax Idols, Sinkane, R. Stevie Moore, and many more
Why: Venues across San Francisco have a nice line-up of acts from the hottest in today’s indie-rock to ultra-vets & in between.
Web: www.noisepop.com/2013
What: Wanderlust Oahu
Where: Oahu, HI
When: February 28-March 3
Who: ALO, Inna Vision, John Cruz, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders all the way to Hawaii. See more in our photo gallery from Wanderlust : California here
Web: oahu.wanderlustfestival.com
March
What: American Songbook
Where: Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: January 30-April 20
Who: Mavis Staples, Tom Morello, Kristin Chenoweth, Ingrid Michaelson, Lost In the Trees, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Ben Sollee, Meow Meow, and more
Why: Pretty much the classiest venue out there, Lincoln Center celebrates American songwriting, now in the first four months of 2013 at Allen Room (and the Penthouse). See our venue review & photos of Lincoln Center’s Allen Room here
Web: www.americansongbook.org
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: January 25-March 21
Who: Shara Worden, Clogs, Deerhoof, Tift Merritt, DJ/rupture, Megafaun, and more
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the third year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Noise Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 26-March 3
Who: Toro y Moi, !!!, Body/Head, Amon Tobin, STRFKR, Rogue Wave, The Thermals, Damien Jurado, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Califone, Jason Lytle, DIIV, YACHT, The Fresh & Onlys, Free Energy, White Arrows, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Jukebox the Ghost, Matt Pond, Teen Daze, Wax Idols, Sinkane, R. Stevie Moore, and many more
Why: Venues across San Francisco have a nice line-up of acts from the hottest in today’s indie-rock to ultra-vets & in between.
Web: www.noisepop.com/2013
What: Wanderlust Oahu
Where: Oahu, HI
When: February 28-March 3
Who: ALO, Inna Vision, John Cruz, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders all the way to Hawaii. See more in our photo gallery from Wanderlust : California here
Web: oahu.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Nrmal
Where: Monterrey, Mexico
When: March 6-10
Who: Ariel PInk’s Haunted Graffiti, Brujeria, Twin Shadow, DIIV, Sky Ferreira, Mykki Blanco, DIIV, Trash Talk, King Tuff, Milk Music, Main Attrakionz, Kitty Pryde, and more
Why: Head down Mexico way.
Web: www.festivalnrmal.net
What: Savannah Stopover
Where: Savannah, GA
When: March 7-9
Who: of Montreal, Chelsea Light Moving, The Whigs, Merchandise, Mac DeMarco, Ducktails, Jonathan Toubin, Dent May, Delicate Steve, Turbo Fruits, The Last Bison, Ben Sollee, BRAIDS, Ponderosa, Country Mice, Cheyenne Mize, VietNam, Sean Bones, Yip Deceiver, PUJOL, Little Tybee, You Won’t, Field Report, Talk Normal, The Suzan, Christopher Paul Stelling, Young Buffalo, The Dunwells, Diarrhea Planet, Chris Cohen, Pree, Shark?, and more
Why: Before heading to SXSW (see below), stopover in Savannah. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: savannahstopover.com
What: 35 Denton
Where: Denton, TX
When: March 7-10
Who: Sleep, Chelsea Light Moving, Roky Erickson, Killer Mike, Reigning Sound, Thee Oh Sees, Eyehategod, Astronautalis, The Spits, Silver Apples, Akron/Family, The Soft Moon, Merchandise, Jonathan Toubin, Marnie Stern, Mac DeMarco, You Won’t, The Last Bison, Ruby Sons, Prince Rama, Talk Normal, OBN IIIs, Sinkane,. Roomrunner, Gary War, The Coathangers, Delicate Steve, Valleys, Idiot Glee, Jamaica Queens, Ghost to Falco, TV Ghost, and more
Why: 35 Denton has about a million indie bands hitting the town in Texas before SXSW (see below).
Web: 35denton.com
What: The Buku Project
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: March 8-9
Who: Kid Cudi, Calvin Harris, Primus, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, STS9, Public Enemy, Nero, Zedd, Sander Van Doorn, Major Lazer, Best Coast, Flying Lotus, Big Gigantic, alt-J, Japandroids, Dillon Francis, STRFKR, Flosstradamus, Icona Pop, Action Bronson, Dragonette, St. Lucia, Big Freedia, Buku, and more
Why: The Buku Project brings electronica & more to the Big Easy.
Web: thebukuproject.com
What: Musink
Where: Costa Mesa, CA
When: March 8-10
Who: Bad Religion, Pennywise, Reverend Horton Heat, Lucero, The Vandals, Lagwagon, and more
Why: Punk meets tattoos in a pretty apt festival.
Web: www.musink.org
What: Snowball
Where: Vail Valley, CO
When: March 8-10
Who: Pretty Lights, STS9, Big Gigantic, Kendrick Lamar, Porter Robinson, Portugal. The Man, Datsik, Flying Lotus, The Presets, Japandroids, Poliça, Delta Spirit, Flosstradamus, Tennis, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Sufer Blood, Rubblebucket, and more
Why: A dancetronic-heavy line-up comes to Vail Valley for the skiing & the music.
Web: snowballmusicfestival.com
What: Athens Slingshot
Where: Athens, GA
When: March 9
Who: Miracles of Modern Science, Powerkompany, Harouki Zombi, The Suzan, and more
Why: Slingshot over to Athens.
Web: www.athensslingshot.com
What: New York Sound City
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: March 11
Who: The Enemy, Reverend & The Makers, The Tea Street Band and more
Why: Right before SXSW (see below) and a couple months before Liverpool’s Sound City, catch this special event in NYC with evening showcase at Knitting Factory (QRO venue review) – including keynote from Rolling Stones’ Manager/Producer Andrew Loog Oldham. See more in our photo gallery from 2012
Web: www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/home/business/new-york-sound-city-showcase.aspx
What: South-by-Southwest
Where: Austin, TX
When: March 12-17
Who: More than you count
Why: Still the bar by which all other of the multiplying indie music industry expos are judged by – and still the best. Read & see much, much more in our big recap here
Web: sxsw.com
What: Never Say Never
Where: Mission, TX
When: March 13
Who: Juicy J, The Maine, Chiodos, The Ready Set, Forever the Sickest Kids, Attack! Attack!, and more
Why: Has the temerity to overlap with South-by-Southwest (see above), in the same state, and share the same name as an emo band & Justin Bieber song/’movie’.
Web: www.neversayneverfestival.com
What: Lucky
Where: Seattle, WA
When: March 15
Who: Pretty Lights, BT, Bassjackers, R3HAB, The M Machine, and more
Why: Seattle gets Lucky.
Web: lucky-festival.com
What: Valley of the Vapors
Where: Hot Springs National Park, AR
When: March 15-19
Who: Sinkane, Peelander Z, Laura Stevenson, Grandchildren, So Many Dynamos, The Yellow Dogs, Idiot Glee, Jaill, My Gold Mask, Architects, Fol Chen, Roomrunner, Blacklist Royals, Jamaican Queens, Talk Normal, PUJOL, Dana Falconberry, Fol Chen, Water Liars, and more
Why: Those traveling from Austin’s SXSW (see above) can go to to the northeast for The Valley of the Vapors, ‘America’s most humble rock festival’, at Hot Springs National Park.
Web: www.valleyofthevapors.com
What: Ultra
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 15-17, & 22-24
Who: Snoop Dogg, Armin van Buuren, Hot Chip, Tiësto, deadmau5, Major Lazer, Swedish House Mafia, Matt & Kim, Fatboy Slim, AVICII, Sleigh Bells, The Weeknd, David Guetta, Crystal Castles, Thievery Corporation, Yeasayer, Bassnectar, Calvin Harris, Afrojack, Carl Cox, Knife Party, Azealia Banks, Pretty Lights, Steve Aoki, Porter Robinson, Zedd, Alesso, Benny Benassi, and many more
Why: Downtown Miami throws down the beats with America’s best electro-dance festival – this time extended to two weekends! See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.ultramusicfestival.com
What: Winter Music Conference
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 15-24
Who: Gary Wallace, Jen Lashes, Dan Chase, Miss Luna, Whitenoize, Tony Hatchett, Kristina Sky, and more
Why: The Winter Music Conference hosts parties, panels & more – often pool-side.
Web: www.wintermusicconference.com
What: Beyond Wonderland Southern California
Where: San Bernadino, CA
When: March 16
Who: David Guetta, Afrojack, R3hab, Damian Lazarus, Markus Schulz, Bassjackers, Crizzly, and more
Why: Usually the usual electo-DJ line-up.
Web: www.beyondwonderland.com
What: Canadian Music Fest
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: March 20-24
Who: Rihanna, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Metric, The Devil Wears Prada, Coheed & Cambria, Stars, Glen Matlock, Heart, A Place To Bury Strangers, Ron Sexsmith, Sharon Van Etten, Tommy Ramone, A$AP Rocky, Efterklang, A Place To Bury Strangers, Eight and a Half, Yukon Blonde, The Besnard Lakes, Said the Whale, Suuns, Two Hours Traffic, Elephant Stone, Javelin, Leif Vollebekk, Sóley, The Seedy Seeds, Mac DeMarco, Cultfever, Cadence Weapon, The Blue Van, Coldair, The Mohawk Lodge, Nightlands, Rah Rah, The Danks, X-Ray Eyeballs, and more
Why: Just after SXSW (see above), Toronto has it’s own multi-venue music industry fest (not to be confused with North-by-Northeast – see below), with about a billion Canadian bands that you’ve never heard of (let’s hear it for the Factor program!…) – plus Rihanna!
Web: canadianmusicfest.com
What: Neon Reverb
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 20-24
Who: Caveman, Milk Music, Sea of Bees, Radiation City, Acid Baby Jesus, and more
Why: Right after SXSW (see above), Las Vegas has it’s own festival in venues across the city (including Vegas’ own Beauty Bar).
Web: www.neonreverb.com
What: Moody Blues Cruise
Where: Grand Cayman to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
When: March 20-25
Who: The Moody Blues, Greg Lake, Little River Band, The Zombies, Ambrosia, Asia, Joe Williams, and more
Why: The Moody Blues get in on the ‘music festival cruise circuit’, and it makes more sense than any of the other ones.
Web: moodiescruise.com
What: Treefort
Where: Boise, ID
When: March 21-24
Who: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Walkmen, Animal Collective, Built To Spill, Earth, The Thermals, YACHT, Brother Ali, Camper Van Beethoven, Youth Lagoon, Gold Panda, Dan Deacon, Delicate Steve, Typhoon, Quasi, THEESatisfaction, K. Fly, El Ten Eleven, Widowspeak, Japanther, French Horn Rebellion, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen, Grass Widow, Slam Dunk, Y La Bamba, The Last Bison, The Pharmacy, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, Wax Idols, Dead Winter Carpenters, and more
Why: Go to your own private Idaho for Treefort.
Web: treefortmusicfest.com
What: McDowell Mountain
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: March 22-24
Who: The Shins, The Roots, Umphrey’s McGee, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Les Claypool, Dr. Dog, Iration, Deer Tick, Balkan Beat Box, Heartless Bastards, Orgone, and more
Why: Phoenix gets a better jam-band festival.
Web: mmmf.com
What: Anacortes Unknown
Where: Anacortes, WA
When: March 23
Who: Broken Water, Lori Goldston, Allyson Foster, and more
Why: What the Heck? Fest morphs into Anacortes Unknown.
Web: www.anacortesunknown.com
What: Maverick
Where: San Antonio, TX
When: March 23
Who: Gary Clark Jr., The Toadies, Girl In a Coma, and more
Why: Some mavericks of the Lone Star State.
Web: maverickmusicfestival.com
What: Extreme Thing
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 30
Who: New Found Glory, 3OH!3, The Aquabats!, The Birthday Massacre, Youngblood Hawke, iwrestledabearonce, The Summer Set, We Are the in Crowd, and more
Why: ‘Extreme Thing’ is seriously it’s name – how much more UNextreme can you get?
Web: www.extremething.com
What: Paid Dues
Where: San Bernadino, CA
When: March 30
Who: Black Hippy, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Jean Grae, The Internet, Killer Mike, The Internet, and more
Why: Hip-hop acts who have paid their dues.
Web: www.paidduesfestival.com
April
What: Mission Creek
Where: Iowa City, IA
When: April 2-7
Who: Grizzly Bear, Deerhoof, Tig Notaro, Killer Mike, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Owen Pallett, Zammuto, Ducktails, Joe Pug, The Pines, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, and more
Why: Iowa City kicks if off early with some interesting names.
Web: missionfreak.com
What: Middle of the Map
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: April 4-6
Who: Grizzly Bear, The Joy Formidable, Tennis, Deerhoof, JEFF The Brotherhood, Iceage, The Whigs, Wovenhand, The Appleseed Cast, Guards, Owen Pallett, The Last Bison, PUJOL, Thee Water Moccasins, and more
Why: Head to the middle of the Google Map. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.middleofthemapfest.com
What: Brain-Cave
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: April 11-14
Who: Peelander-Z, The Suzan, Hooray For Earth, Lemonade, Black Cobra, EULA, GunFight!, Quiet Loudly, Backwords, Mrs. Adam Schatz, and more
Why: Four days straight of Brooklyn at Europa (QRO venue review).
Web: www.facebook.com/braincavefestival
What: Crossroads Guitar
Where: New York, NY
When: April 12-13
Who: Eric Clapton, John Mayer, B.B. King, Allman Brothers Band, Los Lobos, Keith Urban, Jimmie Vaughn, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark Jr., Vince Gill, Robert Randolph, Brad Paisley, Citizen Cope, Keb’ Mo’, Booker T, and more
Why: Eric Clapton brings his Crossroads Guitar Festival to Madison Square Garden (QRO venue review).
Web: www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com
What: Euphoria
Where: New Braunfels, TX
When: April 12-13
Who: Datsik, Tommy Trash, EOTO, Conspirator, Le Castle Vania, and more
Why: EDM comes to TEX.
Web: www.euphoriafest.com
What: Music Now
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: April 12-14
Who: Steve Reich, Glen Hansard, Tinariwen, Richard Reed Parry, Shara Worden, Buke & Gase, and more
Why: One of the classiest music festivals out there.
Web: www.musicnowfestival.org
What: Coachella
Where: Indio, CA
When: April 12-14 & 19-21
Who: Blur, The Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nick Cave, The xx, The Postal Service, Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse, Lou Reed, Sigur Ros, Social Distortion, Wu-Tang Clan, New Order, Jurassic 5, Hot Chip, Grinderman, Grizzly Bear, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Knife Party, How To Destroy Angels, Passion Pit, Two Door Cinema Club, The Lumineers, Tegan & Sara, Moby, Band of Horses, Descendents, Yeasayer, James Blake, Beach House, Franz Ferdinand, Metric, Violent Femmes, Grimes, The Gaslight Anthem, Simian Mobile Disco, Local Natives, Spiritualized, Of Monsters & Men, The Faint, Japandroids, Paul Oakenfold, Dinosaur Jr., Divine Fits, Portugal. The Man, Stars, The Make-Up, OMD, Johnny Marr, Bat For Lashes, Major Lazer, Dropkick Murphys, Janelle Monae, Four Tet, Wild Nothing, Aesop Rock, alt-J, Jello Biafra, El-P, Biffy Clyro, Cloud Nothings, Thee Oh Sees, Theophilus London, JEFF the Brotherhood, Poliça, Smith Westerns, DIIV, Kurt Vile, White Arrows, Wild Belle, and oh so many, many more
Why: The biggest & best festival has grown so big as to have a second weekend, repeating it’s once again amazing line-up. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.coachella.com
What: Telus
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
When: April 12-21
Who: Nas, Keller Williams, K-OS, Rich Aucoin, Beats Antique, Arkells, and more
Why: In addition to the snow, come for the sounds at Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
Web: www.wssf.com
What: Tortuga
Where: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
When: April 13-14
Who: Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, The Avett Brothers, Ben Harper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Clark Jr., Michael Franti & Spearhead, G. Love & Special Sauce, The Wailers, The Bright Light Social Hour, and more
Why: For spring break, go country in Ft. Lauderdale. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.tortugamusicfestival.com
What: Fort Rock
Where: Fort Myers, FL
When: April 14
Who: The Offspring, 3 Doors Down, Stone Sour, Papa Roach, Volbeat, Escape the Fate, Danko Jones, and more
Why: Fort Myers Fort Rocks.
Web: www.fortrockfestival.com
What: L.A. Philharmonic Brooklyn
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: April 16-22
Who: Sufjan Stevens, Tyondai Braxton, The Antlers, Bryce Dessner, Cameron Carpenter, Nico Muhly, Chairlift, and more
Why: The Los Angeles Philharmonic crosses the fly over states and the East River to celebrate Brooklyn.
Web: laphil.com/BrooklynFest
What: Portsmouth Singer-Songwriter
Where: Portsmouth, ME
When: April 17-21
Who: Dirty Projectors, Aimee Mann, Sharon Van Etten, John Prine, Paul Muldoon Sarah Jarosz, and more
Why: Singer-songwriters come to Portsmouth’s Music Hall.
Web: www.themusichall.org/calendar/program/portsmouth_singer_songwriter_festival
What: Rivers & Spires
Where: Clarksville, TN
When: April 18-20
Who: JoDee Messina, Cowboy Mouth, Sean Shaver, Kopecky Family Band, Lydia Walker, and more
Why: A country festival in Tennessee.
Web: riversandspires.com
What: Wanee
Where: Live Oak, FL
When: April 18-20
Who: The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Leon Russell, Les Claypool, North Mississippi Allstars, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more
Why: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Florida hosts a jam-band festival.
Web: www.waneefestival.com
What: Rites of Spring
Where: Nashville, TN
When: April 19-20
Who: NEEDTOBREATHE, Rusko, Miguel, Mat Kearney, Delta Spirit, The Apache Relay, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and more
Why: Vanderbilt University knows how to book ’em for its Rites of Spring (fling).
Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/ros
What: JunoFest
Where: Regina & Moose Jaw, SK, Canada
When: April 19-20
Who: Great Lake Swimmers, Hey Ocean!, Rah Rah, The Barr Brothers, The Pack AD, Two Hours Traffic, and more
Why: Venues around Regina & Moosejaw the Great White North’s Grammy, the Juno.
Web: junoawards.ca/events/juno-week-events/junofest
What: Texas Crawfish
Where: Spring, TX
When: April 19-20 & 26-28
Who: Randy Rogers Band, Robert Earl Keen, The Toadies, Los Lonely Boys, Jack Ingram, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Grupo Fantasma, Will Hoge, Sarah Jaffe, Theresa Andersson, and more
Why: Celebrate the southern crawfish & much more at this long-running music festival – which includes special guest ‘Uncle Si’ of Duck Dynasty.
Web: texascrawfishfestival.com
What: BuzzFest
Where: Houston, TX
When: April 20
Who: Shinedown, P.O.D., Bush, Hollywood Undead, Stone Sour, The Dirty Heads, Papa Roach, Youngblood Hawke, and more
Why: Buzz comes to Houston.
Web: buzzfest.thebuzz.com/main.html
What: Desert Daze
Where: Mecca, CA
When: April 20
Who: Tinariwen, Warpaint, Chelsea Wolfe, The Entrance Band, Night Beats, Lumerians, Mini Mansions, Incan Abraham, and more
Why: Head to that other Mecca in the desert.
Web: moonblockparty.org
What: Magnetic
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: April 20
Who: Kid Cudi, Flux Pavilion, Dash Berlin, Zeds Dead, Markus Schulz, Flosstradamus, and more
Why: Atlanta’s drawing the DJs in like a Magnet.
Web: magneticmusicfestival.com
What: Paste Untapped – Ft. Worth
Where: Ft. Worth, TX
When: April 20
Who: Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick, Sarah Jaffe, Tennis, The Orbans, and more
Why: Paste brings indie music & beer to Ft. Worth.
Web: untapped-festival.com
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: April 25-27
Who: The Roots, Solange, TV On the Radio, Phosphorescent, David Longstreth, Parquet Courts, Antibalas, Clare & The Reasons, Dan Friel, Doveman, Eleanor Friedberger, EXITMUSIC, Here We Go Magic, Japanther, This Is the Kit, and more
Why: The National’s (QRO spotlight on) Dessner Brothers curate this artiste festival at Brooklyn Academy of Music. See our venue review & photos of Brooklyn Academy of Music here
Web: www.crossingbrooklynferry.com
What: Norman
Where: Norman, OK
When: April 25-27
Who: The Joy Formidable, Taddy Porter, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, King Khan & The BBQ Show, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, IO ECHO, White Mystery, Colourmusic, Sherree Chamberlin, and more
Why: Now in its sixth year, Norman Oklahoma’s own free festival & QRO favorite stays sweet. Read & see more in 2010 our recap here
Web: www.normanmusicfestival.com
What: MerleFest
Where: Wilkesboro, NC
When: April 25-28
Who: The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Delta Rae, Del McCoury & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Leon Russell, Tift Merritt, The New Familiars, and more
Why: Wilkes Community College welcomes MerleFest.
Web: www.merlefest.org
What: Double Decker
Where: Oxford, MS
When: April 26-27
Who: Drive-By Truckers, Lee Fields & The Expressions, J Roddy Walston & The Business, Kopecky Family Band, Shannon McNally, and more
Why: Take the Double Decker to Oxford – Mississippi.
Web: www.doubledeckerfestival.com
What: Move
Where: Albany, NY
When: April 26-27
Who: Black Light Dinner Party, Art Decade, Hurrah! A Bolt of Light!, and more
Why: Be like Andrew Cuomo and Move up to the town’s that played host to David Patterson, Elliott Spitzer, and papa Cuomo.
Web: www.movemusicfest.com
What: Austin Psychfest
Where: Austin, TX
When: April 26-28
Who: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Moving Sidewalks (featuring Billy Gibbons), Deerhunter, The Raveonettes, The Black Angels, Clinic, Warpaint, Black Mountain, Boris, Os Mutantes, Tinariwen, Roky Erickson, Man or Astro-Man?, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Acid Mothers Temple, The Soft Moon, White Fence, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Tamaryn, Suuns, The Besnard Lakes, Bass Drum of Death, Night Beats, VietNam, Black Bananas, Elephant Stone, and more
Why: Carson Creek Ranch plays host to a mixture of indie & psych, thanks to The Black Angels (QRO spotlight on).
Web: www.austinpsychfest.com
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 26-May 5
Who: Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, The Black Keys, Maroon 5, Willie Nelson, Hall & Oates, Dave Matthews Band, Phoenix, Earth, Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Frank Ocean, Aaron Neville, Widespread Panic, Patti Smith, Jill Scott, Allen Toussaint, Los Lobos, Jimmy Cliff, Marc Broussard, Gary Clark Jr., Ben Harper, George Benson, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, Maze, Dr. John, MUTEMATH, Theresa Andersson, Calexico, Charles Bradley, Jon Cleary, and many, many more
Why: The Big Easy’s big festival gets some big names.
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: Edgefest
Where: Frisco, TX
When: April 27
Who: Phoenix, Bush, Deftones, Paramore, A Day To Remember, AWOLNATION, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event, twenty one pilots, Fitz & The Tantrums, Robert DeLong, Atlas Genius, The Neighbourhood, Capital Cities, Youngblood Hawke, A Silent Film, and more
Why: 102.1 ‘The Edge’ holds a festival outside of Dallas.
Web: edgefest.kdge.com
What: Meltdown
Where: Grand Pairie, TX
When: April 27
Who: Justice, Flux Pavilion, 12th Planet, Adventure Club, and more
Why: Melt down under the heat.
Web: www.meltdowndallas.com
What: Rockville
Where: Jacksonville, FL
When: April 27
Who: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice In Chains, 3 Doors Down, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Stone Sour, Three Days Grace, Paparoach, Buckcherry, Filter, Saving Abel, Nonpoint, and more
Why: Unfortunately, the festival named ‘Rockville’ is just about what you’d expect from that name (and not the R.E.M. song…).
Web: www.welcometorockvillefestival.com
What: Red Bull Music Academy
Where: New York, NY
When: April 28 – May 31
Who: Brian Eno, ?uestlove, Andrew Bird, James Murphy, Kim Gordon, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Mykke Blanco, Blondes, Le1f, Four Tet, Afrika Bambaata, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Skream, Oneohtrix Point Never, Factory Floor, and more
Why: Red Bull’s Music Academy returns to NYC. Read & see more in event review here
Web: www.redbullmusicacademy.com
May
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 26-May 5
Who: Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, The Black Keys, Maroon 5, Willie Nelson, Hall & Oates, Dave Matthews Band, Phoenix, Earth, Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Frank Ocean, Aaron Neville, Widespread Panic, Patti Smith, Jill Scott, Allen Toussaint, Los Lobos, Jimmy Cliff, Marc Broussard, Gary Clark Jr., Ben Harper, George Benson, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, Maze, Dr. John, MUTEMATH, Theresa Andersson, Calexico, Charles Bradley, Jon Cleary, and many, many more
Why: The Big Easy’s big festival gets some big names.
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: Red Bull Music Academy
Where: New York, NY
When: April 28 – May 31
Who: Brian Eno, ?uestlove, Andrew Bird, James Murphy, Kim Gordon, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Mykke Blanco, Blondes, Le1f, Four Tet, Afrika Bambaata, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Skream, Oneohtrix Point Never, Factory Floor, and more
Why: Red Bull’s Music Academy returns to NYC. Read & see more in event review here
Web: www.redbullmusicacademy.com
What: SunFest
Where: West Palm Beach, FL
When: May 1-5
Who: Train, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Ed Sheeran, The Black Crowes, Slightly Stoopid, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Big Sean, Gavin DeGraw, Boz Scaggs, Barenaked Ladies, Jimmy Cliff, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Airborne Toxic Event, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Yellowcard, Gary Clark Jr., Molly Hatchet, The Chevin, The Lone Bellow, and more
Why: The sun always shines on Palm Beach with this diverse festival. Read & see much more in our 2010 recap here
Web: www.sunfest.com
What: Beale Street
Where: Memphis, TN
When: May 3-5
Who: The Black Keys, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, The Flaming Lips, ZZ Top, Bassnectar, Phoenix, The Roots, Hall & Oates, The Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, Dwight Yoakam, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Deftones, Gary Clark Jr., The Wallflowers, Big Boi, The Joy Formidable, AWOLNATION, Gov’t Mule, Patti Smith, Yngwie Malmsteen, Public Enemy, Mavis Staples, Charles Bradley, Cracker, Lucero, Deer Tick, Jake Bugg, Heartless Bastards, Porter Robinson, and many more
Why: Beale Street’s alive with music – and one of the strongest line-ups of 2013.
Web: www.thebealestreetmusicfestival.com
What: D.C. 101 Chili Cook-Off
Where: Washington, D.C.
When: May 4
Who: Soundgarden, AWOLNATION, Silversun Pickups, Capital Cities, Beware of Darkness, and more
Why: Have some chili with your rock.
Web: www.dc101.com/pages/chili-cook-off
What: Carolina Rebellion
Where: Rockingham, SC
When: May 4-5
Who: Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against, Bush, Deftones, 3 Doors Down, Three Days Grace, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Volbeat, Nonpoint, and more
Why: A definite improvement for this hard rock festival.
Web: www.carolinarebellion.com
What: Shaky Knees
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: May 4-5
Who: The Lumineers, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers, Jim James, Gary Clark Jr., Dr. Dog, The Joy Formidable, Lucero, Delta Spirit, Kurt Vile & The Violators, The Black Angels, The Antlers, The Heartless Bastards, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Murder By Death, Oberhofer, Vintage Trouble, and more
Why: Limbs quake for this new Americana-heavy festival. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: shakykneesfestival.com
What: Psycho de Mayo
Where: Santa Ana, CA
When: May 5
Who: Black Mountain, Dead Skeletons, A Place To Bury Strangers, Dead Meadow, Sleepy Sun, MMOSS, Blank Tapes, Rose Windows, and more
Why: Celebrate Mexico with some psych.
Web: www.facebook.com/events/393524224059631
What: BottleRock
Where: Napa Valley, CA
When: May 9-12
Who: Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Furthur, Jane’s Addiction, The Shins, The Avett Brothers, Train, The Flaming Lips, Jackson Browne, Primus, Ben Harper, Cake, Alabama Shakes, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Delta Spirit, Jim Gaffigan, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Black Crowes, Wyatt Cenac, Kristen Schaal, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Dwight Yoakam, Sharon Van Etten, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dirty Projectors, Violent Femmes, The Wallflowers, Andrew Bird, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, X, Blues Traveler, Rogue Wave, ALO, Grouplove, Tift Merritt, Mavis Staples, Richard Thompson, Justin Townes Earle, Brandi Carlile, Best Coast, Family of the Year, Iron & Wine, Bad Religion, and more
Why: The Napa Valley welcomes a great new festival (to go with its great old wine). See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: bottlerocknapavalley.com
What: LazerFest
Where: Boone, IA
When: May 10
Who: Alice In Chains, Papa Roach, Bush, Volbeat, Device, All That Remains, and more
Why: Lazer 103.3 hits the Central Iowa Expo. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: lazerfest.lazer1033.com
What: Downtown – New York
Where: New York, NY
When: May 10-11
Who: Black Hippy, Purity Ring, Earl Sweatshirt, DIIV, Sky Ferreira, Trash Talk, Palma Violets, Andrew Wyatt, Beach Fossils, Teengirl Fantasy, Guards, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, The Chevin, TEEN, and more
Why: Downtown Events brings a series of festivals across the country – starting in New York, of course. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: downtownmusicfestivals.com
What: Gulfport
Where: Gulfport, MS
When: May 10-11
Who: The Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Wiz Khalifa, Shinedown, AWOLNATION, The Wallflowers, and more
Why: The Gulf Coast rocks.
Web: www.gulfportmusicfestival.com
What: Sweet Life
Where: Baltimore, MD
When: May 11
Who: Phoenix, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gary Clark Jr., Solange, Lindsey Sterling, Holy Ghost!, Youth Lagoon, Robert DeLong, MS MR, and more
Why: An early festival comes to Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Web: sweetlifefestival.com
What: Together
Where: Boston, MA
When: May 12-19
Who: !!!, Crystal Castles, Flying Lotus, Four Tet, Gold Panda, Le1f, Pictureplane, Sinkane, Biz Markie, Kool Moe Dee, and more
Why: The Together New England Electronic Music Festival goes bigger and better.
Web: www.togetherboston.com
What: HoZac Blackout
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 16-19
Who: Chrome, Unnatural Axe, Dwight Twilley, Mike Rep & Tommy Jay, Tyvek, Eat Skull, and more
Why: HOZAC Records takes over Chicago’s Empty Bottle for four nights. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: hozacrecords.com/2013/04/hozac-blackout-fest-2013
What: Electric Daisy Carnival New York
Where: Queens, NY
When: May 17-18
Who: Empire of the Sun, La Roux, Calvin Harris, Afrojack, Porter Robinson, R3hab, 12th Planet, Borgore, Bassjackers, Steve Angello, Zeds Dead, Crizzly, Danny Avila, and more
Why: After its first year at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (QRO recap), the massive Electric Daisy Carnival returns to NYC for a second year – and now at CitiField (go Mets!). See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/NewYork
What: Fort Worth
Where: Fort Worth, TX
When: May 17-18
Who: Drive-By Truckers, Galactic, Old 97’s, The Walkmen, Allen Stone, Delta Spirit, ZZ Ward, The Sheepdogs, and more
Why: Fort Worth gets in on the music festival game with this country-rock fest.
Web: www.fwfest.com
What: Great Googa Mooga
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: May 17-19
Who: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Flaming Lips, Matt & Kim, Kool & The Gang, The Darkness, De La Soul, Father John Misty, Cults, Sharon Van Etten, Chairlift, The Soul Rebels, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Delicate Steve, and more
Why: After an inauspicious start in its last year (2012 photo gallery), The Great Googa Mooga returns to Prospect Park even greater. See more in our photo gallery here
Web: googamooga.com
What: The Hangout
Where: Gulf Shores, AL
When: May 17-19
Who: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Kings of Leon, Trey Anastasio, The Shins, Bassnectar, Kendrick Lamar, The Black Crowes, Slightly Stoopid, The Roots, Steve Aoki, Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, Bloc Party, Gov’t Mule, Jim James, Porter Robinson, Public Enemy, moe., Galactic, Dirty Projectors, Grouplove, Toots & The Maytals, Lissie, The Breeders, Best COast, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Twin Sister, Ryan Bingham, The Sheepdogs, Delta Rae, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, and more
Why: Hangout on the Shores with this odd (but good) line-up.
Web: www.hangoutmusicfest.com
What: Rock On the Range
Where: Columbus, OH
When: May 17-19
Who: Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Bush, Stone Sour, Three Days Grace, Papa Roach, Cheap Trick, Volbeat, Buckcherry, Sevendust, The Sword, Middle Class Rut, Beware of Darkness, and more
Why: How is Columbus, Ohio “where rock lives” (or a “range”, for that matter?)? Thought that was Cleveland’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame…
Web: www.rockontherange.com
What: KROQ Weenie Roast
Where: Irvine, CA
When: May 18
Who: The Black Keys, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Vampire Weekend, Of Monsters and Men, Jimmy Eat World, Silversun Pickups, Imagine Dragons, AWOLNATION, Atlas Genius, Fits & The Tantrums, The Neighbourhood, Capital Cities, twenty one pilots, and more
Why: Put another weenie on the roast.
Web: kroq.cbslocal.com/kroq-weenie-roast-2013-lineup-and-details
What: Skate & Surf
Where: Freehold, NJ
When: May 18-19
Who: Fall Out Boy, A Day To Remember, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Timefliets, Streetlight Manifesto, Glassjaw, RX Bandits, Saves the Day, Bayside, Andrew W.K., Of Mice and Men, Breathe Carolina, Escape the Fate, Hostage Calm, Miss May I, and more
Why: New Jersey’s got no Bamboozle this year, but there is Skate & Surf.
Web: www.skateandsurffest.com
What: BFD
Where: Mountain View, CA
When: May 19
Who: Thirty Seconds To Mars, Jimmy Eat World, Diplo, Passion Pit, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Crystal Method, Silversun Pickups, Fitz & The Tantrums, DJ Shadow, Of Monsters and Men, Atlas Genius, AWOLNATION, Youngblood Hawke, twenty one pilots, Robert DeLong, The Neighborhood, Wavves, and more
Why: Live 105 makes a Big Fucking Deal.
Web: live105.cbslocal.com/show/bfd
What: Electric Daisy Carnival Chicago
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 24-26
Who: Armin Van Buuren, Tiësto, AVICII, Empire of the Sun, David Guetta, Sander Van Doorn, Kaskade, Benny Benassi, Borgore, Above & Beyond, Crizzly, Markus Schultz, Sebastian Ingrosso, Martin Solveig, Mimosa, and more
Why: After doing NYC last year (QRO recap), Electric Daisy Carnival comes to Chi-town for before heading to Vegas & beyond (see below). See much more in our photo gallery of EDC NY here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/Chicago
What: Rocklahoma
Where: Pryor, OK
When: May 24-26
Who: Guns n’ Roses, Alice In Chains, Korn, Bush, Cheap Trick, Bullet For My Valentine, Papa Roach, Ratt, All That Remains, Escape the Fate, Dokken, The Sword, and more
Why: A bunch of hard rock acts? At least the name’s good (though it doesn’t pronounce right…).
Web: www.rocklahoma.com
What: Summer Camp
Where: Chillicothe, IL
When: May 24-26
Who: moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Trey Anastasio, STS9, The Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Medeski Martin & Wood, Keller Williams, Diplo, EOTO, Big Boi, Conspirator, The Wailers, Lettuce, Break Science with Chali 2na, Tea Leaf Green, Bright Light Social Hour, Apache Relay, The Soul Rebels, Maps & Atlases, Quixotic, The Werks, Filligar, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Zoogma, The Giving Tree Band, Spirit Family Reunion, and more
Why: Summer Camp mixes a little something more into its jam.
Web: www.summercampfestival.com
What: Punk Rock Bowling
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: May 24-27
Who: DEVO, Flag, Bad Religion, The Damned, Turbonegro, D.R.I., Subhumans, Lagwagon, Bouncing Souls, Swingin’ Utters, and more
Why: Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall takes the punks bowling.
Web: www.punkrockbowling.com
What: Sasquatch!
Where: George, WA
When: May 24-27
Who: Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Sigur Rós, Vampire Weekend, The xx, Elvis Costello, The Lumineers, Arctic Monkeys, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Cake, Primus, Empire of the Sun, Imagine Dragons, Bloc Party, Andrew Bird, Grimes, Dropkick Murphys, Built To Spill, alt-J, Steve Aoki, Azealia Banks, Tame Impala, Father John Misty, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Tallest Man On Earth, Devendra Banhart, The Presets, Killer Mike, Death Grips, El-P, Michael Kiwanuka, Twin Shadow, Divine Fits, Dirty Projectors, Japandroids, Menomena, Ryan Bingham, Porcelain Raft, Youth Lagoon, Ariel Pink, Holy Ghost!, Toro Y Moi, Shout Out Louds, Surfer Blood, DIIV, Torche, Atlas Genius, Youngblood Hawke, Fang Island, Radical Face, Akron/Family, Caveman, Telekinesis, Wild Belle, Suuns, Sea Wolf, ZZ Ward, Hundred Waters, Nick Offerman, and many more
Why: Another amazing line-up from this top-tier festival. Read much more in our recap here
Web: www.sasquatchfestival.com
What: Neon Desert
Where: El Paso, TX
When: May 25
Who: Molotov, Martin Solveig, Wolfgang Garnter, PXNDX, Best Coast, Bosnian Rainbows, Dragonette, Paul Banks, STRFKR, and more
Why: Electronica and more in the Neon Desert on the Rio Grande.
Web: www.neondesertmusicfestival.com
What: River City Rockfest
Where: San Antonio, TX
When: May 25
Who: Guns n’ Roses, Alice In Chains, All That Remains, Bullet For My Valentine, Clutch, The Sword, Halestorm, Asking Alexandria, Young Guns, and more
Why: The River City rocks. See more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.rivercityrockfest.com
What: Boston Calling
Where: Boston, MA
When: May 25-26
Who: The National, fun., The Shins, Of Monsters & Men, Young the Giant, Marina & The Diamonds, Matt & Kim, Andrew Bird, Dirty Projectors, Portugal. The Man, Ra Ra Riot, Cults, The Walkmen, MS MR, St. Lucia, Youth Lagoon, Caspian, and more
Why: Boston is seriously Calling with this great line-up – wicked pissah! Read & see much more in our big recap here
Web: bostoncalling.com
What: Santa Cruz Blues
Where: Santa Cruz, CA
When: May 25-26
Who: Steve Miller Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jimmy Vaughn, John Mayall, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, California Honeydrops, and more
Why: Go bluesin’ in Santa Cruz.
Web: santacruzbluesfestival.com
What: Movement Electronic
Where: Detroit, MI
When: May 25-27
Who: Big Gigantic, Moby, Ellen Allien, Gramatik, Nicolas Jaar, Paper Diamond, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Shigeto, Azari & III, Break Science, Brodinski, John Digweed, Richie Hawtin, Deastro, and more
Why: Electronic music returns to the city where techno (and much more in music) was born.
Web: www.movement.us
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 25 – August 28
Who: Dwight Yoakam, Hanson, Brandi Carlile, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Dark Star Orchestra, Slightly Stoopid, Owl City, Atmosphere, The Lone Bellow, and more
Why: Nite falls over the Simon Estes Amphitheater on the Des Moines river. See more in our photo galleries from Simon Estes Amphitheater here
Web: nitefalldsm.com
What: Downtown Sound
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 27 – July 29
Who: Lee Ranaldo Band, Sharon Van Etten, Glen Hansard, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Dawes, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Daniel Lanois, Lisa Hannigan, and more
Why: Chicago’s Millennium Park hosts some great outdoor shows all summer – for free! See more in our photo galleries from Millennium Park here
Web: millenniumpark.org
What: Mutek Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: May 29 – June 2
Who: The Field, Jamie Lidell, John Talabot, Brandt Brauer Frick, and more
Why: The international electronic music festival MUTEK comes to maybe the most international city in North America.
Web: www.mutek.org/en/festival/montreal/2013
What: Chaos In Tejas
Where: Austin, TX
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: The Damned, Mobb Deep, Baroness, Bolt Thrower, Framtid, Infest, The Bats, Iceage, Screaming Females, DIIV, Joyce Manor, and more
Why: Tejas rocks hard.
Web: www.chaosintejas.com
What: Nelsonville
Where: Nelsonville, OH
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Wilco, Cat Power, John Prine, Gogol Bordello, Mavis Staples, Sharon Van Etten, Calexico, Jonathan Richman, Tift Merritt, Wild Belle, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Screaming Females, Brown Bird, Field Report, Shilpa Ray, Lucius, Cotton Jones, Catherine Maclellan, Joe Pug, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and more
Why: Ohio needs more music – especially southeastern Ohio.
Web: www.nelsonvillefest.org
What: NYC Popfest
Where: New York, NY
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Ringo Deathstarr, My Teenage Stride, The Secret History, The Bats, Swiss Alps, and more
Why: Artists from around the world come to NYC to go pop.
Web: www.nycpopfest.org
What: Wakarusa
Where: Mulberry Mountain, AR
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Widespread Panic, Dispatch, STS9, The Black Crowes, Amon Tobin, Snoop Lion, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Gogol Bordello, Zeds Dead, Of Monsters & Men, Grouplove, SOJA, Rebelution, Quixotic, Galactic, Shpongle, MUTEMATH, Son Volt, Ozomatli, EOTO, SAVOY, RJD2, Calexico, Del the Funky Homosapien, Allen Stone, AraabMUZIK, Icona Pop, Wallpaper., Milo Greene, ZOOGMA, Delta Rae, Langhorne Slim, ZZ Ward, The Motet, The Bright Light Social Hour, Band of Heathens, The Whigs, Half Moon Run, Lord T & Eloise, The Apache Relay, The Last Bison, and many more
Why: Now fully enscounced in the Ozarks (after having to exit Kansas after 2008 – QRO photos from last year in Kansas), Bill Clinton’s backwoods gets their jam (and more) on. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.wakarusa.com
What: Do Division
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 31 – June 2
Who: Tilly & The Wall, Disappears, Torche, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Ariel Pink, JEFF The Brotherhood, Gaslamp Killer, Brown Bird, Ex-Cops, Suuns, and more
Why: Held on ten blocks of Chicago’s Division Street, Ashland to Leavitt, the Do-Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale features Chicago indie rock thanks to local music clubs The Empty Bottle & Subterranean.
Web: do-divisionstreetfest.com
June
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 25 – August 28
Who: Dwight Yoakam, Hanson, Brandi Carlile, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Dark Star Orchestra, Slightly Stoopid, Owl City, Atmosphere, The Lone Bellow, and more
Why: Nite falls over the Simon Estes Amphitheater on the Des Moines river. See more in our photo galleries from Simon Estes Amphitheater here
Web: nitefalldsm.com
What: Downtown Sound
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 27 – July 29
Who: Lee Ranaldo Band, Sharon Van Etten, Glen Hansard, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Dawes, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Daniel Lanois, Lisa Hannigan, and more
Why: Chicago’s Millennium Park hosts some great outdoor shows all summer – for free! See more in our photo galleries from Millennium Park here
Web: millenniumpark.org
What: Mutek Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: May 29 – June 2
Who: The Field, Jamie Lidell, John Talabot, Brandt Brauer Frick, and more
Why: The international electronic music festival MUTEK comes to maybe the most international city in North America.
Web: www.mutek.org/en/festival/montreal/2013
What: Chaos In Tejas
Where: Austin, TX
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: The Damned, Mobb Deep, Baroness, Bolt Thrower, Framtid, Infest, The Bats, Iceage, Screaming Females, DIIV, Joyce Manor, and more
Why: Tejas rocks hard.
Web: www.chaosintejas.com
What: Nelsonville
Where: Nelsonville, OH
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Wilco, Cat Power, John Prine, Gogol Bordello, Mavis Staples, Sharon Van Etten, Calexico, Jonathan Richman, Tift Merritt, Wild Belle, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Screaming Females, Brown Bird, Field Report, Shilpa Ray, Lucius, Cotton Jones, Catherine Maclellan, Joe Pug, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and more
Why: Ohio needs more music – especially southeastern Ohio.
Web: www.nelsonvillefest.org
What: NYC Popfest
Where: New York, NY
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Ringo Deathstarr, My Teenage Stride, The Secret History, The Bats, Swiss Alps, and more
Why: Artists from around the world come to NYC to go pop.
Web: www.nycpopfest.org
What: Wakarusa
Where: Mulberry Mountain, AR
When: May 30 – June 2
Who: Widespread Panic, Dispatch, STS9, The Black Crowes, Amon Tobin, Snoop Lion, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Gogol Bordello, Zeds Dead, Of Monsters & Men, Grouplove, SOJA, Rebelution, Quixotic, Galactic, Shpongle, MUTEMATH, Son Volt, Ozomatli, EOTO, SAVOY, RJD2, Calexico, Del the Funky Homosapien, Allen Stone, AraabMUZIK, Icona Pop, Wallpaper., Milo Greene, ZOOGMA, Delta Rae, Langhorne Slim, ZZ Ward, The Motet, The Bright Light Social Hour, Band of Heathens, The Whigs, Half Moon Run, Lord T & Eloise, The Apache Relay, The Last Bison, and many more
Why: Now fully enscounced in the Ozarks (after having to exit Kansas after 2008 – QRO photos from last year in Kansas), Bill Clinton’s backwoods gets their jam (and more) on. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.wakarusa.com
What: Do Division
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 31 – June 2
Who: Tilly & The Wall, Disappears, Torche, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Ariel Pink, JEFF The Brotherhood, Gaslamp Killer, Brown Bird, Ex-Cops, Suuns, and more
Why: Held on ten blocks of Chicago’s Division Street, Ashland to Leavitt, the Do-Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale features Chicago indie rock thanks to local music clubs The Empty Bottle & Subterranean.
Web: do-divisionstreetfest.com
What: KXT Summer Cut
Where: Dallas, TX
When: June 1
Who: The Avett Brothers, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matt & Kim, Dawes, Hayes Carll, Milo Green, and more
Why: KXT brings their Cut in for the Summer.
Web: kxt.org/summercut
What: Make Music Pasadena
Where: Pasadena, CA
When: June 1
Who: Tanlines, YACHT, We Are Scientists, Robert DeLong, Superhumanoids, Taken by Trees, High Places, Radar Brothers, SoKo, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, and more
Why: Pasadena’s free fest mixes indie, world & more.
Web: www.makemusicpasadena.org
What: Roots Picnic
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: June 1
Who: The Roots, Gary Clark Jr., Grimes, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Naughty by Natures, AraabMUZIK, Solange, The Gaslamp Killer, Trinidad Jame$, Joey Bada$$, How To Dress Well, and more
Why: The best band in late night brings their annual picnic to Penns Landing.
Web: www.okayplayer.com/rootspicnic
What: Free Press
Where: Houston, TX
When: June 1-2
Who: The Postal Service, Bassnectar, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Passion Pit, TV On the Radio, Calvin Harris, Alabama Shakes, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Of Monsters and Men, Arctic Monkeys, Gogol Bordello, Social Distortion, 2chainz, Cat Power, The Head and the Heart, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matt & Kim, Borgore, Dawes, Mavis Staples, The Bronx, Paul Banks, Japandroids, Chairlift, Baroness, Machine Gun Kelly, Super Mash Bros., Milo Greene, Half Moon Run, The Octopus Project, The Men, Ume, Kitty Pryde, and many more
Why: Check this cheap & winning festival, with another great line-up.
Web: www.freepresssummerfest.com
What: Ann Arbor Summer
Where: Ann Arbor, MI
When: June 1 – July 7
Who: A Prairie Home Companion, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Django Django, Amadou & Mariam, Pink Martini, Wild Belle, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, The Dunwells, The Macpodz, and more
Why: Home of the University of Michigan (and The Dharma Initiative…), all those kind of guys who are hailing from Ann Arbot get a much-needed reason to smile with this three-week Summer Fest.
Web: www.annarborsummerfestival.org
What: Surf Lodge Summer Concert Series
Where: Montauk, NY
When: June 1 – September 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Blonde Redhead, G. Love, Ra Ra Riot, Jamie Lidell, YACHT, Youngblood Hawke, Father John Misty, Phosphorescent, Django Django, Small Black, Donovan Frankenriter, Kopecky Family Band, MS MR, Cayucas, Dan Croll, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: Get out of the city and head to the Surf at Montauk.
Web: www.thesurflodge.com/concerts.html
What: Hot 97 Summer Jam
Where: East Rutherford, NJ
When: June 2
Who: Wu-Tang Clan, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, 2Chainz, Miguel, Wale, A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, Smoke DZA, and more
Why: Radio station Hot 87 puts on a hip-hop Summer Jam at MetLife Stadium.
Web: www.hot97.com/summerjam
What: SummerStage
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 10
Who: Joan Baez, She & Him, Ben Howard, Big Star’s Third, The Zombies, Yasiin Bey, Bobby McFerrin, Airborne Toxic Event, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Lianne La Havas, Rakim, Indigo Girls, Camera Obscura, Michael Kiwanuka, Django Django, Big Daddy Kane, LP, The Calder Quartet, Adam Green & Binki Shaprio, Brasstronaut, Quadron, and more
Why: A mixture of paid benefit shows and free shows receiving those benefits are a staple every summer in the Big Apple at the iconic Central Park – as well as other parks in all five boroughs! See our venue review & photos of Central Park SummerStage here
Web: www.summerstage.org
What: Hudson Square Music & Wine
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 27
Who: Dave Davies, Los Straitjackets, The English Beat, Rasputina, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more
Why: City Winery mixes wine with free music all summer long. See our venue review & photos of City Winery here
Web: www.citywinery.com
What: Twangfest
Where: St. Louis, MO
When: June 5-8
Who: Todd Snider, Asleep at the Wheel, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Marshal Crenshaw, Joe Pug, Brown Bird, and more
Why: 88.1 KDHX brings some twang to Middle America.
Web: twangfest.com
What: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 – August 10
Who: Robert Plant, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, The Roots, Barenaked Ladies, Patti Griffin, Mavis Staples, Grouplove, They Might Be Giants, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaggy, Big Boi, Jamie Lidell, Theophilus London, Trampled By Turtles, The Lone Bellow, Amadou & Mariam, Os Mutantes, Calexico, Yo La Tengo, Ben Folds Five, Jim James, The Low Anthem, Dan Deacon, Cody Chestnutt, The Devil Makes Three, Javelin, Bombino, Kishi Bashi, Guster, The Stepkids, Joe Purdy, Brown Bird, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell’s Celebrate Brooklyn! delivers all summer long. See our venue review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: Sunset Sessions – Rock!
Where: Carlsbad, CA
When: June 6-8
Who: Sammy Hagar, Semi Previous Weapons, The Boxer Rebellion, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Big B, and more
Why: Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions brings the Rock! to Carslbad.
Web: sunsetsessions.org
What: Mountain Jam
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: June 6-9
Who: Phil Lesh & Friends, Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Primus, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Dispatch, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Big Gigantic, Gary Clark Jr., The Gaslight Anthem, Soulive, Deer Tick, ALO, White Denim, Rubblebucket, The London Souls, Holy Ghost!, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Futurebirds, Filligar, and more
Why: Despite the name, the festival at Hunter Mountain is more than just another jam-fest.
Web: mountainjam.com
What: Smoky Hill River
Where: Salina, KS
When: June 6-9
Who: Delta Rae, Mingo Fishtrap, Delta Mae, That 1 Guy, and more
Why: Family-friendly on Smoky Hill RIver.
Web: www.riverfestival.com
What: R&B at Metrotech
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 6 – August 8
Who: Shuggle Otis, Bombino, Bobbie Rush, Stooges Brass Band, and more
Why: R&B Festival through Brooklyn Academy of Music at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues.
Web: www.bam.org/music/2013/r-and-b-festival-at-metrotech
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: June 6 – September 15
Who: Sting, Tony Bennett, Jewel, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett, Josh Groban, Willie Nelson, Journey, Jackson Browne, Chicago, A Prairie Home Companion, Joan Baez, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Melissa Etheridge, Alabama, Heart, Indigo Girls, The Go-Gos, The B-52s, Buddy Guy, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Matchbox Twenty, Gary Sinise, Los Lonely Boys, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Snowmass Mammoth
Where: Snowmass, CO
When: June 7-8
Who: AWOLNATION, The Joy Formidable, JJ Grey & Mofro, Return to Dark Side of the Moon, STRFKR, Lord Huron, twenty one pilots, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and more
Why: Head up into Snowmass Village.
Web: snowmassmammothfest.com
What: Governors Ball
Where: Randalls Island, NY
When: June 7-9
Who: Kanye West, Guns n’ Roses, Kings of Leon, NAS, Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Grizzly Bear, The xx, Feist, Kendrick Lamar, Beach House, The Lumineers, Thievery Corporation, Animal Collective, Cut Copy, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Erykah Baduo, Young the Giant, Bloc Party, Beirut, Of Monsters & Men, Local Natives, Foals, Crystal Castles, Azealia Banks, Yeaayer, Gary Clark Jr., Best Coast, Dirty Projectors, Portugal. The Man, Cold War Kids, Dinosaur Jr., Holy Ghost!, Japandroids, Twin Shadow, Divine Fits, alt-J, Deerhunter, The Vaccines, Poliça, Fucked Up, Wild Nothing, Icona Pop, The Knocks, HAIM, MS MR, St. Lucia, Freddie Gibbs, Robert DeLong, On and On, Pacific Air, and more
Why: From a one-day electro-fest on Governors Island in its first year (QRO recap) to a two-day electro/indie festival on Randalls Island in its second (QRO recap) to a third year over three days & many genres (Kanye and Axl?!?), Governors Ball is NYC’s biggest, best music festival in 2013. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: governorsballmusicfestival.com
What: Ladyfest Philly
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: June 7-9
Who: U.S. Girls, Screaming Females, Potty Mouth, Parasol, Black Wine, Shady Hawkins, and more
Why: This grassroots events supports women in music through performances, workshops, panels, and more.
Web: www.ladyfestphilly.com
What: Seaport
Where: South Street Seaport, NY
When: June 7-28
Who: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Fear of Men, PAWS, The Oblivians, Ex-Cult, and more
Why: South Street Seaport emerges from Sandy with the always-reliable Seaport Music Festival. See our venue review & photos of South Street Seaport here
Web: www.seaportmusicfestival.com
What: Cultivate San Francisco
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: June 8
Who: Mayer Hawthorne, The Walkmen, Walk the Moon, LP, Matt Costa, and more
Why: Chipotle hosts three food + music events, starting in San Francisco.
Web: chipotle.com/cultivate/SanFrancisco.aspx
What: Field Trip
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: June 8
Who: Broken Social Scene, Feist, Stars, Bloc Party, Hayden, Timber Timbre, Trust, Ra Ra Riot, Zeus, Jason Collett, The Darcys, Still Life Still, and more
Why: Toronto’s Arts & Crafts Records celebrates its tenth anniversary with a great event. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: fieldtriplife.com
What: Orion
Where: Detroit, MI
When: June 8-9
Who: Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rise Against, Deftones, Bassnectar, Dropkick Murphys, Gogol Bordello, FLAG, Silversun Pickups, Foals, Tomahawk, The Joy Formidable, Datsik, Borgore, Japandroids, Dillon Francis, 12th Planet, Death Grips, The Dillinger Escape Plan, DEATH, The Bronx, FIDLAR, and more
Why: Metallica headlines two nights again for Orion, this time in Detroit.
Web: www.orionmusicandmore.com
What: New Music Seminar
Where: New York, NY
When: June 9-11
Who: The Drums, Soul Rebels, Pearl & The Beard, Avan Lava, and more
Why: A New Music Seminar in New York.
Web: newmusicseminar.com
What: North by Northeast
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: June 10-16
Who: The National, Social Distortion, FLAG, Big Boi, Fucked Up, WHY?, Calexico, Joey Bada$$, Iceage, Mikal Cronin, Mickey Avalon, Buke & Gase, PEACE, Merchandise, The Soft Moon, Milk Music, and many more
Why: State support has given Canada a ton of great alternative acts, and even their own version of South by Southwest (see above) in North by Northeast. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.nxne.com
What: Burlington Steamboat Days
Where: Burlington, IA
When: June 11-16
Who: Kid Rock, Eli Young Band, Hinder, and more
Why: Burlington Steamboat Days is past fifty years old – and so are its acts.
Web: www.steamboatdays.com
What: Bonnaroo
Where: Manchester, TN
When: June 13-16
Who: Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, Tom Petty, Björk, Wilco, Pretty Lights, R. Kelly, Wu-Tang Clan, Daniel Tosh, The National, The Lumineers, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Passion Pit, The xx, Kendrick Lamar, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Of Monsters & Men, Ed Helms, Nas, ZZ Top, Beach House, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Cat Power, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, A$AP Rocky, Jim James, Weird Al Yankovic, Tame Impala, Glen Hansard, Empire of the Sun, Gaslight Anthem, Solange, Portugal. The Man, Billy Idol, Dwight Yoakam, Foals, ALO, Polyphonic Spree, Porter Robinson, Local Natives, Matt & Kim, Dirty Projectors, alt-J, Father John Misty, Baroness, Tallest Man On Earth, Walk the Moon, The Vaccines, Holy Ghost!, Divine Fits, Purity Ring, Swans, Cults, Two Gallants, The Sheepdogs, Four Tet, Japandroids, Wild Nothing, AraabMUZIK, Django Django, Ariel Pink, Lord Huron, Charli XCX, JEFF The Brotherhood, Sea Wolf, Patrick Watson, and many, many more
Why: The granddaddy of indie-meets-jam & more music festivals celebrates its 12th genre-crossing year.
Web: www.bonnaroo.com
What: Northside
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 13-20
Who: The Walkmen, Solange, Subhumans, The Toasters, Phosphorescent, FLAG, Swans, Body/Head, Iceage, Lambchop, Torche, Son Volt, Weekend, BRAIDS, The Men, Ivan & Alyosha, Sinkane, The Spinto Band, Suuns, Jonathan Toubin, WHY?, Twin Sister, Born Ruffians, The So So Glos, Chad Valley, ARMS, Light Asylum, Ratking, Ravens & Chimes, Widowspeak, Sarah Jaffe, The Soft Moon, Mac DeMarco, MiniBoone, Milk Music, Har Mar Superstar, Heloise & The Savoir Faire, Courtesy Tier, Shark?, Shilpa Ray, The Luyas, Ava Luna, Yellow Ostrich, Merchandise, backwords, Quiet Loudly, The Everymen, GunFight!, Hank & Cupcakes, pow wow!, and more
Why: L Magazine‘s Northside Festival returns for a fourth year, taking place in venues across the Williamsburg & Greenpoint neighborhoods, with showcases curated by all sorts of New York City music industry players. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.northsidefestival.com
What: Jazz Winnipeg
Where: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
When: June 13-22
Who: The Roots, Preservation Jazz Hall band, The Gaslamp Killer, Betty LaVette, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Revered Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Orgone, Hollerado, Peanut Butter Wolf, DJ ?uestlove, and more
Why: Instead of another Canadian city’s folk music festival, a jazz one.
Web: www.jazzwinnipeg.com
What: Huichica
Where: Sonoma, CA
When: June 14-15
Who: Blitzen Trapper, Fruit Bats, Jonathan Wilson, Cass McCombs, Damien Jurado, Jessica Pratt, and more
Why: Gundlach Bundschu Winery gives you some music to go with you wine-tasting. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: huichica.com
What: Spring Awakening
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 14-16
Who: Calvin Harris, Bassnectar, Moby, Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk, Nero, Porter Robinson, The Crystal Method, Flosstradmus, Gramatik, Dirty South, Zeds Dead, Felix da Housecat, Boys Noize, 12th Planet, Mord Fustang, Zedd, and more
Why: Spring starts in Chicago with electrodance at Soldier Field.
Web: springawakeningfestival.com
What: Taste of Randolph Street
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 14-16
Who: Divine Fits, The Joy Formidable, Milo Greene, Lord Huron, Greensky Bluegrass, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Escort, Bear In Heaven, American Royalty, and more
Why: Middle America gives Randolph Street a taste.
Web: tasterandolph.com
What: Clearwater
Where: Croton Point Park, NY
When: June 15-16
Who: Pete Seeger & Lorre Wyatt, Son Volt, Mavis Staples, Kris Kristofferson, Keller Williams & The Travelin’ McCourys, Patterson Hood, Antibalas, Buffy Saint-Marie, Jason Isbell, Nicole Atkins, The Lone Bellow, Tift Merritt, The Last Bison, Jill Sobule, and more
Why: Head upstate for the Clearwater of the Hudson River and all the folk you can shake a stick at. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.clearwaterfestival.org
What: River to River
Where: Downtown Manhattan, NY
When: June 15 – July 14
Who: Laurie Anderson, Leon Russell, So Percussion, JG Thirlwell, and more
Why: Every year, River to River brings free art to downtown Manhattan, starting with the Bang On a Can Marathon (QRO photos), with free shows at Castle Clinton, World Financial Center, and more. See our venue review & photos of Castle Clinton here – See our venue review & photos of World Financial Center here
Web: www.rivertorivernyc.com
What: Britt
Where: Jacksonville, OR
When: June 15 – September 14
Who: Robert Plant, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Miller Band, REO Speedwagon, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Doobie Brothers, Tegan & Sara, Kenny Loggins, Jeff Bridges & The Abiders, CAKE, The Human League, Brandi Carlile, Ziggy Marley, Scott McCreery, Pink Martini, Rebelution, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Matisyahu, Ivan & Alyosha, and more
Why: Jacksonville’s Britt Pavilion welcomes big (mostly old) names all summer long.
Web: www.brittfest.org
What: Sled Island
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: June 19-22
Who: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Explosions In the Sky, Swans, Divine Fits, Iceage, Colin Stetson, OFF!, Akron/Family, The Thermals, Superchunk, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, METZ, Superchunk, Torche, Thee Oh Sees, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mac DeMarco, Peace, The Besnard Lakes, Javelin, The Gaslamp Killer, Jamaican Queens, Mac DeMarco, Night Marchers, Dent May, Fist City, Ghostkeeper, and more
Why: The mammoth & varied Sled Island returns to Calgary.
Web: www.sledisland.com
What: AthFest
Where: Athens, GA
When: June 19-23
Who: Patterson Hood, Modern Skirts, Twin Tigers, White Violet, Zoogma, powerkompany, and more
Why: The home of R.E.M. & The B-52s throw another year of local & imported acts in AthFest.
Web: www.athfest.com
What: Noise For the Needy
Where: Seattle, WA
When: June 20-23
Who: Said the Whale, Horse Feathers, Kris Orlowski, and more
Why: Seattle’s benefit-cum-festival returns at venues across the city.
Web: www.noisefortheneedy.org
What: Telluride Bluegrass
Where: Telluride, CO
When: June 20-23
Who: Mumford & Sons, Jackson Browne, Dispatch, Leftover Salmon, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, The Masters of Bluegrass, Feist, Richard Thompson, The String Cheese Incident, Punch Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, The Infamous Stringdusters, Béla Fleck, Sarah Jarosz, and more
Why: The ski resort of Telluride’s bluegrass festival always brings some big names in along with the jam – and is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary!
Web: www.bluegrass.com/telluride
What: Wanderlust Vermont
Where: Stratton, VT
When: June 20-23
Who: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, MC Yogi, Quixotic, Adam Bauer, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders into Vermont. See more in our photo gallery from Wanderlust : California here
Web: stratton.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Ottawa Jazz
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
When: June 20 – July 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Dr. John, Glen Hansard, Mavis Staples, Boz Scaggs, The Heavy, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Young Galaxy, The Bad Plus, and more
Why: Jazz & more in the capital of Canada.
Web: ottawajazzfestival.com
What: Electric Daisy Carnival
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: June 21-23
Who: Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Afrojack, AVICII, Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Borgore, Dada Life, Zeds Dead, Knife Party, Steve Angello, Porter Robinson, Carl Cox, Sander Van Doorn, Richie Hawtin, A-Trak, The Bloody Beetroots, Boys Noize, Major Lazer, Empire of the Sun, Kill the Noise, Fake Blood, AraabMUZIK, Fatboy Slim, Laidback Luke, Benny Benassi, Madeon, Wolfgang Gartner, La Roux, Pete Tong, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, 12th Planet, Sub Focus, Crizzly, and more
Why: After NYC and now Chicago (see above), Electric Daisy Carnival comes back to Vegas for three days. See much more in our photo gallery of EDC NY here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/LasVegas
What: Firefly
Where: Dover, DE
When: June 21-23
Who: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Vampire Weekend, Foster the People, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Grizzly Bear, Alabama Shakes, Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Japandroids, Public Enemy, The Walkmen, Dan Deacon, Toro y Moi, Azealia Banks, HAIM, Wild Belle, The Lumineers, Amanda Palmer, Matt & Kim, Ellie Goulding, Calvin Harris, Dr. Dog, The Joy Formidable, Atlas Genius, Big Gigantic, Django Django, St. Lucia, The Neighbourhood, Imagine Dragons, and many more
Why: Last year’s newest entry into the festival game was a strong one in Firefly – and it’s in Delaware?!?!
Web: fireflyfestival.com
What: Hillstock
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 21-23
Who: What Cheer? Brigade, Aa, GunFight!, pow wow!, ARMS, Conveyor & more
Why: Three-day Brooklyn D.I.Y. block party. See more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.neverbreakdown.com/hillstock
What: Solid Sound
Where: North Adams, MA
When: June 21-23
Who: Wilco, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Neko Case, Yo La Tengo, Low, Mark Mulcahy, Nels Cline & Julian Lage, Os Mutantes, The Autumn Defense, Reggie Watts, Sam Amidon, White Denim, Foxygen, and more
Why: Alt-country all-stars Wilco return to Mass MoCa for their Solid Sound Festival.
Web: solidsoundfestival.com
What: Saskatchewan Jazz
Where: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
When: June 21 – July 1
Who: Metric, Dr. John, Michael Frani & Spearhead, Jimmie Vaughn, Herbie Hancock, Ziggy Marley, City and Colour, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Yukon Blonde, Preservation Jazz Hall Band, Wake Owl, Larry and His Flask, and more
Why: (Sa)Skat it up, jazz-cat.
Web: saskjazz.com
What: Full Moon
Where: Governors Island, NY
When: June 22
Who: Miami Horror, Wild Belle, Tanlines, Haerts, Yuksek, The Knocks, Little Daylight, The Dolls, and more
Why: A full moon shines on New York City’s Governors Island (QRO venue review). See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: fullmoon-nyc.com
What: Rockapalooza
Where: Jackson, MI
When: June 22
Who: Candlebox, Saliva, Taproot, 12 Stones, Surrender the Fall, and more
Why: Someone needs to trademark that ‘apalooza’ suffix…
Web: www.rockapalooza.net
What: Green Music
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 22-23
Who: Manchester Orchestra, This Must Be the Band, Snowden, Joe Pug, Into It. Over It., Ha Ha Tonka, Everest, and more
Why: The eco-friendly Green Music fest comes to Chicago Ave for only a five dollar donation.
Web: www.greenmusicfestchicago.com
What: Monterey Americana
Where: Monterey, CA
When: June 22-23
Who: Jason Isbell, Todd Snider, Victor Krummenacher, and more
Why: Monterey is quintessentially Americana.
Web: www.montereyamericanafestival.com
What: Hollywood Bowl
Where: Hollywood, CA
When: June 22 – September 28
Who: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, She & Him, Vampire Weekend, M83, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Damien Marley, Patti Austin, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Beirut, John Legend, DeVotchKa, Phanogram, Lord Huron, and more
Why: Spend the summer at the famed Hollywood Bowl. See more in our photo galleries from Hollywood Bowl here
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com
What: Summerfest
Where: Milwaukee, WI
When: June 26-30 & July 2-7
Who: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eagles, John Mayer, New Kids On the Block, Tim McGraw, Rush, fun., The Avett Brothers, Pitbull, Violent Femmes, Jason Aldean, REO Speedwagon, Blues Traveler, Alice Copper, Billy Idol, Styx, Dr. John, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dropkick Murphys, Lewis Black, LL Cool J, Barenaked Ladies, AWOLNATION, Gavin DeGraw, Foreigner, MGMT, Bad Religion, Imagine Dragons, Grouplove, Airborne Toxic Event, Brandi Carlile, Buddy Guy, Yeasayer, Dispatch, Silversun Pickups, Pretty Lights, Trampled by Turtles, Diplo, Empire of the Sun, Atlas Genius, Social Distortion, Cake, Neon Trees, Switchfoot, The Neighborhood, Morris Day & The Time, Youngblood Hawke, The Features, Less Than Jake, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Walk the Moon, Ivan & Alyosha, and many more
Why: The biggest music festival in the world is also the most mainstream, but there’s so many bands over so many days, bound to be someone you want to see.
Web: www.summerfest.com
What: Electric Forest
Where: Rothbury, MI
When: June 27-30
Who: The String Cheese Incident, Pretty Lights, Passion Pit, Empire of the Sun, Knife Party, Dispatch, Lotus, Benny Benassi, Yeasayer, Beats Antique, Madeon, A-Trak, Tommy Trash, Grimes, Holy Ghost!, EOTO, Railroad Earth, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Flosstradamus, Danny Brown, Greensky Bluegrass, Lettuce, Orchard Lounge, Reptar, Nick Catchdubs, Quixotic, Robert DeLong, The Stepkids, and more
Why: Double JJ Resort in Rothbury gets its own music festival (QRO photos of final year of Rothbury Festival).
Web: www.electricforestfestival.com
What: Vans House Parties
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 27 – August 29
Who: Fucked Up, !!!, Les Savy Fav, Toro y Moi, The Melvins, Baroness, Joyce Manor, Delorean, and more
Why: In addition to the Warped Tour (QRO 2012 recap), Vans is also hosting a series of free Brooklyn house parties at the House of Vans. See our venue review & photos of House of Vans here
Web: www.vans.com/microsites/houseparties
What: Friendly Gathering
Where: Windham, VT
When: June 28-29
Who: Beats Antique, Keller Williams, Rubblebucket, Paper Diamond, Conspirator, Assembly of Dust, Tea Leaf Green, Toubab Krewe, Delicate Steve, and more
Why: Gather some friends for a Friendly Gathering.
Web: frendlygathering.com
What: Paradiso
Where: George, WA
When: June 28-29
Who: Tiësto, Kaskade, Porter Robinson, Zeds Dead, Adventure Club, Borgore, Crizzly, Destructo, Figure, Gramatik, Infected Mushroom, Kill the Noise, Madeon, Markus Schultz, Morgan Page, and more
Why: Dance beats hits the great outdoors.
Web: paradisofestival.com
What: Kate Wolf
Where: Laytonville, CA
When: June 28-30
Who: Taj Mahal, Smokehouse Gamblers, Dave Alvin, Marianne Faithfull, John Prine, Madeleine Peyroux, Irma Thomas, Rebirth Brass Band, Iris DeMent, and more
Why: Ladies & gents are welcome at Kate Wolf.
Web: katewolfmusicfestival.com
What: Tall Trees
Where: Port Renfrew, BC, Canada
When: June 28-30
Who: Hollerado, Hey Ocean!, A Tribe Called Red, Bend Sinister, Wake Owl, Gold and Youth, Mullet Man, and more
Why: Enjoy Canadian music among the Tall Trees of British Columbia.
Web: www.talltreemusicfestival.com
What: 4Knots
Where: New York, NY
When: June 29
Who: Kurt Vile & The Violators, The Men, Parquet Courts, Marnie Stern, Reigning Sound, White Lung, Babies, Fat Tony, and more
Why: With Coney Island’s Siren no more (QRO recap of final year), The Village Voice returns to Manhattan’s South Street Seaport (QRO venue review). Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: microapp.villagevoice.com/4knots/2013
What: Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series
Where: Napa, CA
When: June 29 – July 20
Who: Martina McBride, Huey Lewis & The News, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, ZZ Ward, Delta Rae, Lifehouse, and more
Why: Robert Mondavi Winery has some older-appealing acts for the wine-tasters (& winos) out there.
Web: www.robertmondaviwinery.com/Visit-Us/Concerts
July
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 25 – August 28
Who: Dwight Yoakam, Hanson, Brandi Carlile, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Dark Star Orchestra, Slightly Stoopid, Owl City, Atmosphere, The Lone Bellow, and more
Why: Nite falls over the Simon Estes Amphitheater on the Des Moines river. See more in our photo galleries from Simon Estes Amphitheater here
Web: nitefalldsm.com
What: Downtown Sound
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 27 – July 29
Who: Lee Ranaldo Band, Sharon Van Etten, Glen Hansard, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Dawes, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Daniel Lanois, Lisa Hannigan, and more
Why: Chicago’s Millennium Park hosts some great outdoor shows all summer – for free! See more in our photo galleries from Millennium Park here
Web: millenniumpark.org
What: Ann Arbor Summer
Where: Ann Arbor, MI
When: June 1 – July 7
Who: A Prairie Home Companion, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Django Django, Amadou & Mariam, Pink Martini, Wild Belle, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, The Dunwells, The Macpodz, and more
Why: Home of the University of Michigan (and The Dharma Initiative…), all those kind of guys who are hailing from Ann Arbot get a much-needed reason to smile with this three-week Summer Fest.
Web: www.annarborsummerfestival.org
What: Surf Lodge Summer Concert Series
Where: Montauk, NY
When: June 1 – September 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Blonde Redhead, G. Love, Ra Ra Riot, Jamie Lidell, YACHT, Youngblood Hawke, Father John Misty, Phosphorescent, Django Django, Small Black, Donovan Frankenriter, Kopecky Family Band, MS MR, Cayucas, Dan Croll, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: Get out of the city and head to the Surf at Montauk.
Web: www.thesurflodge.com/concerts.html
What: SummerStage
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 10
Who: Joan Baez, She & Him, Ben Howard, Big Star’s Third, The Zombies, Yasiin Bey, Bobby McFerrin, Airborne Toxic Event, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Lianne La Havas, Rakim, Indigo Girls, Camera Obscura, Michael Kiwanuka, Django Django, Big Daddy Kane, LP, The Calder Quartet, Adam Green & Binki Shaprio, Brasstronaut, Quadron, and more
Why: A mixture of paid benefit shows and free shows receiving those benefits are a staple every summer in the Big Apple at the iconic Central Park – as well as other parks in all five boroughs! See our venue review & photos of Central Park SummerStage here
Web: www.summerstage.org
What: Hudson Square Music & Wine
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 27
Who: Dave Davies, Los Straitjackets, The English Beat, Rasputina, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more
Why: City Winery mixes wine with free music all summer long. See our venue review & photos of City Winery here
Web: www.citywinery.com
What: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 – August 10
Who: Robert Plant, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, The Roots, Barenaked Ladies, Patti Griffin, Mavis Staples, Grouplove, They Might Be Giants, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaggy, Big Boi, Jamie Lidell, Theophilus London, Trampled By Turtles, The Lone Bellow, Amadou & Mariam, Os Mutantes, Calexico, Yo La Tengo, Ben Folds Five, Jim James, The Low Anthem, Dan Deacon, Cody Chestnutt, The Devil Makes Three, Javelin, Bombino, Kishi Bashi, Guster, The Stepkids, Joe Purdy, Brown Bird, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell’s Celebrate Brooklyn! delivers all summer long. See our venue review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: R&B at Metrotech
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 6 – August 8
Who: Shuggle Otis, Bombino, Bobbie Rush, Stooges Brass Band, and more
Why: R&B Festival through Brooklyn Academy of Music at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues.
Web: www.bam.org/music/2013/r-and-b-festival-at-metrotech
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: June 6 – September 15
Who: Sting, Tony Bennett, Jewel, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett, Josh Groban, Willie Nelson, Journey, Jackson Browne, Chicago, A Prairie Home Companion, Joan Baez, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Melissa Etheridge, Alabama, Heart, Indigo Girls, The Go-Gos, The B-52s, Buddy Guy, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Matchbox Twenty, Gary Sinise, Los Lonely Boys, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: River to River
Where: Downtown Manhattan, NY
When: June 15 – July 14
Who: Laurie Anderson, Leon Russell, So Percussion, JG Thirlwell, and more
Why: Every year, River to River brings free art to downtown Manhattan, starting with the Bang On a Can Marathon (QRO photos), with free shows at Castle Clinton, World Financial Center, and more. See our venue review & photos of Castle Clinton here – See our venue review & photos of World Financial Center here
Web: www.rivertorivernyc.com
What: Britt
Where: Jacksonville, OR
When: June 15 – September 14
Who: Robert Plant, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Miller Band, REO Speedwagon, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Doobie Brothers, Tegan & Sara, Kenny Loggins, Jeff Bridges & The Abiders, CAKE, The Human League, Brandi Carlile, Ziggy Marley, Scott McCreery, Pink Martini, Rebelution, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Matisyahu, Ivan & Alyosha, and more
Why: Jacksonville’s Britt Pavilion welcomes big (mostly old) names all summer long.
Web: www.brittfest.org
What: Ottawa Jazz
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
When: June 20 – July 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Dr. John, Glen Hansard, Mavis Staples, Boz Scaggs, The Heavy, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Young Galaxy, The Bad Plus, and more
Why: Jazz & more in the capital of Canada.
Web: ottawajazzfestival.com
What: Saskatchewan Jazz
Where: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
When: June 21 – July 1
Who: Metric, Dr. John, Michael Frani & Spearhead, Jimmie Vaughn, Herbie Hancock, Ziggy Marley, City and Colour, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Yukon Blonde, Preservation Jazz Hall Band, Wake Owl, Larry and His Flask, and more
Why: (Sa)Skat it up, jazz-cat.
Web: saskjazz.com
What: Hollywood Bowl
Where: Hollywood, CA
When: June 22 – September 28
Who: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, She & Him, Vampire Weekend, M83, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Damien Marley, Patti Austin, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Beirut, John Legend, DeVotchKa, Phanogram, Lord Huron, and more
Why: Spend the summer at the famed Hollywood Bowl. See more in our photo galleries from Hollywood Bowl here
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com
What: Summerfest
Where: Milwaukee, WI
When: June 26-30 & July 2-7
Who: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eagles, John Mayer, New Kids On the Block, Tim McGraw, Rush, fun., The Avett Brothers, Pitbull, Violent Femmes, Jason Aldean, REO Speedwagon, Blues Traveler, Alice Copper, Billy Idol, Styx, Dr. John, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dropkick Murphys, Lewis Black, LL Cool J, Barenaked Ladies, AWOLNATION, Gavin DeGraw, Foreigner, MGMT, Bad Religion, Imagine Dragons, Grouplove, Airborne Toxic Event, Brandi Carlile, Buddy Guy, Yeasayer, Dispatch, Silversun Pickups, Pretty Lights, Trampled by Turtles, Diplo, Empire of the Sun, Atlas Genius, Social Distortion, Cake, Neon Trees, Switchfoot, The Neighborhood, Morris Day & The Time, Youngblood Hawke, The Features, Less Than Jake, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Walk the Moon, Ivan & Alyosha, and many more
Why: The biggest music festival in the world is also the most mainstream, but there’s so many bands over so many days, bound to be someone you want to see.
Web: www.summerfest.com
What: Vans House Parties
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 27 – August 29
Who: Fucked Up, !!!, Les Savy Fav, Toro y Moi, The Melvins, Baroness, Joyce Manor, Delorean, and more
Why: In addition to the Warped Tour (QRO 2012 recap), Vans is also hosting a series of free Brooklyn house parties at the House of Vans. See our venue review & photos of House of Vans here
Web: www.vans.com/microsites/houseparties
What: Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Concert Series
Where: Napa, CA
When: June 29 – July 20
Who: Martina McBride, Huey Lewis & The News, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, ZZ Ward, Delta Rae, Lifehouse, and more
Why: Robert Mondavi Winery has some older-appealing acts for the wine-tasters (& winos) out there.
Web: www.robertmondaviwinery.com/Visit-Us/Concerts
What: High Sierra
Where: Quincy, CA
When: July 4-7
Who: Robert Plant, Primus, Thievery Corporation, moe., Steel Pulse, Leftover Salmon, Gramatik, Emancipator, The Infamous Stringdusters, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Allen Stone, North Mississippi Allstars, Lord Huron, White Denim, Rubblebucket, The Barr Brothers, Papadosio, Sarah Jarosz, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Futurebirds, The California Honeydrops, and more
Why: California’s High Sierra Music Festival, up in the mountains, is stocked with festival staples. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.highsierramusic.com
What: Wanderlust Colorado
Where: Copper, CO
When: July 4-7
Who: Moby, MC Yogi, Quixotic, Blue Canyon Boys, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders into Colorado. See more in our photo gallery from Wanderlust : California here
Web: colorado.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Waterfront Blues
Where: Portland, OR
When: July 4-7
Who: Robert Plant, Taj Mahal Trio, Eric Burdon, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, North Mississippi Allstars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Allen Stone, and more
Why: Head to Tom McCall Waterfront Park for some Blues.
Web: www.waterfrontbluesfest.com
What: Ottawa Blues
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
When: July 4-14
Who: B.B. King, Rush, Weezer, fun., Neko Case, The Tragically Hip, Tegan & Sara, Wu-Tang Clan, Stars, The Cat Empire, Dixie Chicks, Skrillex, Ra Ra Riot, Zac Brown Band, She & Him, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Belle & Sebastian, Animal Collective, Alejandro Escovedo, Amadou & Mariam, Atlas Genius, Bahamas, Zeds Dead, Camera Obscura, Sharon Van Etten, Solange, The Knocks, Dawes, El-P, Fitz & The Tantrums, Flogging Molly, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Joy Formidable, Justin Townes Earle, Passion Pit, Diamond Rings, Los Lobos, Grand Funk Railroad, and more
Why: Cisco Systems & RBC Royal Bank treat the capital of Canada to a wide span of acts over a wide span of days at a wide span of stages.
Web: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
What: Québec City Summer
Where: Québec City, QC, Canada
When: July 4-14
Who: Rush, Weezer, Wu-Tang Clan, The Black Keys, Tiësto, Def Leppard, Belle & Sebastian, Bruno Mars, Eagles of Death Metal, Ellie Goulding, Passion Pit, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Wiz Khalifa, MGMT, Foreigner, Bad Religion, Solange, Ra Ra Riot, Madeleine Peyroux, The Raveonettes, Bassnectar, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Joy Formidable, Balkan Beat Box, PS I Love You, Young Galaxy, Father John Misty, The Besnard Lakes, Diamond Rings, Born Ruffians, Here We Go Magic, Justin Townes Earle, Leif Vollebekk, The Sheepdogs, Mac DeMarco, Madeon, Bahamas, and more
Why: The capital of Francophone America hosts a wise but odd collection of acts, from old to young, mainstream to indie, jazz to metal, folk to electronica.
Web: www.infofestival.com/?lang=en-CA
What: 80/35
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: July 5-6
Who: David Byrne & St. Vincent, Wu-Tang Clan, Deerhunter, Yeasayer, Umphrey’s McGee, Wavves, Tea Leaf Green, Menomena, Kitty, and more
Why: Better known for corn & presidential primaries, Iowa has also been holding hold a sweet & diverse 80/35 festival, now in its sixth year. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.80-35.com
What: Keloha
Where: Kelowna, BC, Canada
When: July 5-7
Who: MGMT, Matt & Kim, MUTEMATH, Atlas Genius, Arkells, Capital Cities, Cults, Tanlines, Shad, Yukon Blonde, Wake Owl, Gold & Youth, and more
Why: Say aloha to Keloha (in Kelowna – Canada…).
Web: www.keloha.com
What: Northern Lights Festival Boréal
Where: Sudbury, ON, Canada
When: July 5-7
Who: Serena Ryder, The Good Family, Buck 65, Lynn Miles, and more
Why: Sudbury’s Northern Lights Festival Boréal is basically a few Canadian heavy-hitters and others only Canadians have ever even heard of.
Web: nlfbsudbury.com
What: The Hootenanny
Where: Silverado, CA
When: July 6
Who: Social Distortion, Face To Face, Old 97’s, Murder by Death, Nashville Pussy, Phil Alvin & Exene Cervenka, The Wheeler Brothers, Dave Hause, Not In the Face!, and more
Why: A punk hootenanny.
Web: thehootenanny.com
What: Lincoln Center
Where: New York, NY
When: July 6-28
Who: Gorillaz, Sinéad O’Connor, Zorn@60, and more
Why: The famed Lincoln Center welcomes Gorillaz’ Monkey: A Journey To the West and a gospel Sinéad O’Connor.
Web: www.lincolncenterfestival.com
What: Common Ground
Where: Lansing, MI
When: July 8-15
Who: Slash, The Avett Brothers, AWOLNATION, Barenaked Ladies, Little Big Town, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Ben Folds Five, Josh Ritter, Shooter Jennings, Sevendust, twenty one pilots, Randy Houser, Guster, The Sheepdogs, Foxy Shazam, Murder by Death, Xavier Rudd, Tokyo Police Club, ZZ Ward, Wilson, and more
Why: At this lengthy festival, find some Common Ground.
Web: www.commongroundfest.com
What: Brooklyn Hip-Hop
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: July 10-14
Who: Redman, EPMD, Pusha T, Dizzy Wright, F. Stokes, and more
Why: The most name-checked place in the world justly deserves its own hip-hop festival. Read & see more in our 2012 recap here
Web: www.bkhiphopfestival.com
What: Winnipeg Folk
Where: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
When: July 10-14
Who: Indigo Girls, The Avett Brothers, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Colin Meloy, Dr. Dog, Martin Sexton, Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Jason Collett, Kaki King, The Cat Empire, Patrick Watson, Xavier Rudd, City and Colour, Galactic, Hayes Carll, Sara Watkins, The Dunwells, Bombino, Cold Specks, Rich Aucoin, and more
Why: Every city in the Great White North has a folk festival – this one’s at Winnipeg’s Birds Hill Park, and is pretty damn good.
Web: www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca
What: Camp Bisco
Where: Mariaville, NY
When: July 11-13
Who: The Disco Biscuits, Bassnectar, Passion Pit, STS9, Animal Collective, Umphrey’s McGee, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Madeon, Danny Brown, Flux Pavilion, Lotus, Wolfgang Gartner, Boys Noize, Com Truise, Dan Deacon, El-P, Flosstradamus, Free Energy, Killer Mike, Rubblebucket, Toro Y Moi, Vacationer, VHS or Beta, Zoogma, Com Truise, Dan Deacon, Free Energy, and more
Why: Electro-jam festival regulars hold a better electro-jam festival in upstate New York. Read & see more in our recap here
Web: campbisco.net
What: Lightning In a Bottle
Where: Temecula, CA
When: July 11-15
Who: Nicolas Jaar, Griz, Rusko, Emancipato, Eskmo, Papadosio, and more
Why: Trance/electronica captures lightning in a bottle on Lake Skinner. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: lightninginabottle.org
What: RiverRocks
Where: Hudson River Park, NY
When: July 11 – August 8
Who: Titus Andronicus, Foxygen, Generationals, Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Ducktails, Waxahatchee and more
Why: Hudson River Park’s RiverRocks comes to Pier 84, in the shadow of The Intrepid, for another great season of free shows out on the water. See our venue review & photos of Pier 84 here
Web: www.riverrocksnyc.com
What: Basilica Block Party
Where: Minneapolis, MN
When: July 12-13
Who: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matchbox Twenty, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Matt Nathanson. Goo Goo Dolls, Father John Misty, Walk the Moon, ZZ Ward, Mayer Hawthorne, Kate Earl, Cloud Cult, and more
Why: Minneapolis holds a music festival – to raise money to renovate The Basilica of St. Mary?…
Web: basilicablockparty.org
What: Camp Euforia
Where: Lone Tree, IA
When: July 12-13
Who: Eufórquestra, Greensky Bluegrass, Ivan Neville, and more
Why: Go camp on the farm.
Web: www.campeuforia.com
What: Bunbury
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: July 12-14
Who: The National, MGMT, fun., Belle & Sebastian, Cake, Walk the Moon, Tegan & Sara, Yo La Tengo, Twenty One Pilots, DeVotchka, Tokyo Police Club, Camera Obscura, Atlas Genius, Youngblood Hawke, Black Joe Lewis, Chairlift, We Are Scientists, Savoir Adore, Gringo Star, Delta Rae, Oberhofer, Sky Ferreira, The Features, Robert DeLong, Vacationer, Everest, Bear Hands, Those Darlins, You You’re Awesome, and many more
Why: Nice mix of mainstream & alternative – and no bees!
Web: bunburyfestival.com
What: Forecastle
Where: Louisville, KY
When: July 12-14
Who: The Black Keys, Robert Plant, The Avett Brothers, The String Cheese Incident, The Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, Jim James, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Animal Collective, Young the Giant, Old Crow Medicine Show, Matt & Kim, Big Boi, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Purity Ring, The Joy Formidable, Dawes, Bob Mould Band, Toro Y Moi, Kurt Vile, El-P & Killer Mike, Rubblebucket, Foxygen, Wild Belle, Tift Merritt, MNDR, The Wheeler Brothers, and more
Why: Forecastle returns with a vengeance.
Web: www.forecastlefest.com
What: Phono Del Sol
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: July 13
Who: YACHT, Thee Oh Sees, Bleached, K. Flay, Marnie Stern, and more
Why: Phone the sun.
Web: www.phonodelsol.com
What: Sub Pop Silver Jubilee
Where: Seattle, WA
When: July 13
Who: Built To Spill, J Mascis, Mudhoney, Greg Dulli, Father John Misty, Shabazz Palaces, Shearwater, METZ, King Tuff, Pissed Jeans, Chad VanGaalen, and more
Why: Famed indie imprint Sub Pop celebrates twenty-five years with a free fest.
Web: silverjubilee.subpop.com
What: Rock the Shores
Where: Victoria, BC, Canada
When: July 13-14
Who: Weezer, City and Colour, Sam Roberts Band, Matthew Good, Mother Moter, The Sheepdogs, Jimmy Eat World, AWOLNATION, and more
Why: Rock the (western) Shores of Canada.
Web: www.rocktheshores.com
What: WestFest
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 13-14
Who: The Oblivians, Tortoise, Javelin, Born Ruffians, Those Darlins, and more
Why: Chicago’s West Town has its own free fest.
Web: westfestchicago.com
What: Sonshine
Where: Willmar, MN
When: July 17-20
Who: LeCrae, Toby Mac, Skillet, Family Forces, David Crowder, For Today, I the Breather, and more
Why: Eventually, the Festival Guide was going to include a Christian rock festival.
Web: sonshinefestival.com
What: All Good
Where: Thornville, OH
When: July 18-21
Who: Further, Pretty Lights, Primus, Yonder Mountain String Band, STS9, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, John Butler Trio, Keller WIlliams with The Travelin’ McCourts, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Beats Antique, Leftover Salmon, Papadosio, Lettuce, North Mississippi Allstars, The Infamous Stringdusters, Trobab Krewe, The Soul Rebels, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Bright Light Social Hour, The Sheepdogs, The Stepkids, and more
Why: It’s all good, brah…
Web: www.allgoodfestival.com
What: Folk On the Rocks
Where: Yellowknife, NT, Canada
When: July 18-21
Who: Hayden, Grapes of Wrath, Hey Ocean!, and more
Why: Head all the way up to the Northwest Territories to get your Folk On the Rocks.
Web: folkontherocks.com
What: Underground Music Showcase
Where: Denver, CO
When: July 18-21
Who: Mudhoney, Cults, Goldenboy, Born In the Flood, Dressy Bessy, Lord Huron, Bleached, Small Black, The Fresh & Onlys, Fat Tony, A Shoreline Dream, Hockey, and more
Why: Go underground in the Mile High City.
Web: www.theums.com
What: Wanderlust California
Where: North Lake Tahoe, CA
When: July 18-21
Who: Moby, Gramatik, MC Yogi, Quixotic, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust returns to its Lake Tahoe home. See more in our photo gallery here
Web: squaw.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Twilight
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
When: July 18 – September 5
Who: The Flaming Lips, The National, Belle & Sebastian, Kid Cudi, Empire of the Sun, Ludacris, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Erykah Badu, Sharon Van Etten, CSS, Blitzen Trapper, Foxygen, THEESatisfaction, Youth Lagoon, Alpine, and more
Why: Defying your stereotypes about Utah and anything with the world ‘Twilight’ in it, Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park holds a Big Apple-worthy series of free concerts.
Web: twilightconcertseries.com
What: Center of the Universe
Where: Tulsa, OK
When: July 19-21
Who: OneRepublic, Neon Trees, OK Go, MUTEMATH, Mayer Hawthorne, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Wheeler Brothers, Colourmusic, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Taddy Porter, and more
Why: Since when is Tulsa the center of the universe?
Web: centeroftheuniversefestival.com
What: Anacortes Unknown
Where: Anacortes, WA
When: July 19-21
Who: LAKE, Karl Blau, Mount Eerie, and more
Why: Anacortes Unknown comes back for a second time in 2013.
Web: www.anacortesunknown.com
What: Dawson City
Where: Dawson City, YT, Canada
When: July 19-21
Who: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Dawn McCarthy, Cadence Weapon, The Sojourners, Zeus, and more
Why: We are leaving, Yukon ho!
Web: www.dcmf.com
What: Evolve
Where: Antigonish, NS, Canada
When: July 19-21
Who: Xavier Rudd, Classified, Keys n Krates, A Tribe Called Red, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!, The Elwins, and more
Why: Ever-imperiled by being cut off from the rest of Anglophone Canada by Quebec independence, Atlantic provinces like Nova Scotia have to jump at what they can, like Evolve.
Web: www.evolvefestival.com
What: Great South Bay
Where: Patchogue, NY
When: July 19-21
Who: The Doobie Brothers, Electric Hot Tuna, Dark Star Orchestra, Soulive, The Infamous Stringdusters, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and more
Why: Jam fest on Long Island.
Web: www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
What: Home County Folk
Where: London, ON, Canada
When: July 19-21
Who: Sarah Harmer, Great Lake Swimmers, Basia Bulat, The Sadies, and more
Why: Victoria Park in London, Canada, has its own festival.
Web: www.homecounty.ca
What: PDX Pop Now!
Where: Portland, OR
When: July 19-21
Who: Y La Bamba, With Mountain, Ramona Falls, Richmond Fontaine, and more
Why: Portland celebrates its music scene with this free event.
Web: www.pdxpopnow.com
What: Pitchfork
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 19-21
Who: R. Kelly, Björk, Belle & Sebastian, M.I.A., Joanna Newsom, Solange, The Breeders, Yo La Tengo, Swans, Toro y Moi, Low, El-P, Killer Mike, Wire, …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Chairlift, Foxygen, Phosphorescent, Sky Ferreira, Glass Candy, Woods, Mikal Cronin, Mac DeMarco, Pissed Jeans, Trash Talk, Merchandise, METZ, Blood Orange, White Lung, Daughn Gibson, Frankie Rose, and more
Why: The mother of all online indie music magazines returns for another festival with all the bands they’ve been telling you that you have to hear.
Web: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com
What: Vancouver Folk
Where: Vancouver, BC, Canada
When: July 19-21
Who: Loudon Wainwright III, Sierre Leone’s Refugee All Stars, The Waterboys, Hannah Georgas, DeVotchKa, Hayden, Natalie Maines, Kathleen Edwards, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Kaki King, Cold Specks, The Cat Empire, Martha Redbone, and more
Why: Music from all over the world is celebrated at Vancouver’s Jericho Beach Park.
Web: thefestival.bc.ca
What: 8-Track Relay
Where: Portland, OR
When: July 20-21
Who: Blitzen Trapper, THEESatisfaction, Menomena, Talkdemonic, Quasi, AgesandAges, and more
Why: 24 houts of music & running at Portland International Speedway. Read & see much more here in our recap
Web: 8trackrelay.com
What: Green River
Where: Greenfield, MA
When: July 20-21
Who: Gogol Bordello, Brandi Carlile, The Devil Makes Three, Todd Snider, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Spirit Family Reunion, The Skatalites, Joe Pug, and more
Why: This lighter jam-folk fest has hot air balloon rides.
Web: www.greenriverfestival.com
What: Lincoln Center Out of Doors
Where: New York, NY
When: July 24 – August 11
Who: Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra, Bobby Rush, Allen Toussaint, My Brightest Diamond, Ozomatli, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Martha Redbone, Dan Deacon, Kronos Quartet, and more
Why: The famed venue heads Out of Doors at Damrosch Park Bandshell.
Web: lcoutofdoors.org
What: Calgary Folk
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: July 25-28
Who: Alabama Shakes, Steve Earle, Thievery Corporation, M. Ward, Grant Lee Phillips, World Party, Sharon Van Etten, Kurt Vile, Hayden, Heartless Bastards, My Brightest Diamond, Elliot Brood, Bahamas, Hayes Carll, Sarah Neufeld, The Cat Empire, Royal Canoe, The Dunwells, Elliott BROOD, and more
Why: Another Canadian folk festival, this time in the country’s prairie heartland with some surprisingly big acts.
Web: www.calgaryfolkfest.com
What: FloydFest
Where: Floyd, VA
When: July 25-28
Who: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, John Butler Trio, Brandi Carlile, Gogol Bordello, Citizen Cope, Trampled by Turtles, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Xavier Rudd, Blitzen Trapper, Michael Kiwanuka, North Mississippi Allstars, The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Bombino, Delta Rae, Ben Sollee, The Last Bison, Bright Light Social Hour, The Field Report, Spirit Family Reunion, and more
Why: Americana-jam at the twelfth FloydFest.
Web: www.floydfest.com
What: Gathering of Vibes
Where: Bridgeport, CT
When: July 25-28
Who: Phil Lesh & Friends, The Black Crowes, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Roots, John Butler Trio, Galactic, Dark Star Orchestra, Railroad Earth, Blues Traveler, Fishbone, Assembly of Dust, Lord Huron, Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real, and more
Why: Gathering of Vibes is about as jam band-y as the title would suggest – but New England gets precious few festivals.
Web: www.gatheringofthevibes.com
What: Capitol Hill Block Party
Where: Seattle, WA
When: July 26-28
Who: The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk, Pickwick, Purity Ring, A-Trak, STRFKR, Frightened Rabbit, Dillon Francis, Cults, Dirty Projectors, Hey Marseilles, El-P & Killer Mike, Star Slinger, Danny Brown, Telekinesis, Glass Candy, Big Freedia, Daughn Gibson, Wild Cub, Bleached, Doldrums, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: The Capitol Hill Block Party returns.
Web: www.capitolhillblockparty.com
What: Hillside
Where: Guelph, ON, Canada
When: July 26-28
Who: Martha Wainwright, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Dawn McCarthy, Lee Ranaldo Band, Colin Stetson, Fucked Up, Hayden, Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet, METZ, Akron/Family, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Diamond Rings, Two Hours Traffic, Kopecky Family Band, World Party, Eight and a Half, The Darcys, Yukon Blonde, Said the Whale, and more
Why: While many Canadian festivals have flamed out, Hillside has passed its quarter century mark and is still going strong.
Web: www.hillsidefestival.ca
What: Newport Folk
Where: Newport, RI
When: July 26-28
Who: Beck, The Avett Brothers, Feist, Jim James, Colin Meloy, Andrew Bird, The Mountain Goats, Father John Misty, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Dawn McCarthy, Justin Townes Earle, Felice Brothers, Jason Isbell, Amanda Palmer, Phosphorescent, Beth Orton, John McCauley, Michael Kiwanuka, Lord Huron, Langhorne Slim, Tift Merritt, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Lumineers, Trombone Shorty, Sarah Jarosz, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Elizabeth Mitchell, The Last Bison, The Wheeler Brothers, and many more
Why: The festival where Bob ‘Judas’ Dylan is still going strong.
Web: www.newportfolkfest.net
What: What The Festival
Where: Dufur, OR
When: July 26-28
Who: A-Trak, Purity Ring, Flosstradamus, Gramatik, RJD2, Tycho, YACHT, El Ten Eleven, Classixx, Anomie Belle, and more
Why: Head to the Wolf Run Ranch to ask, “WTF?”.
Web: whatthefestival.com
What: XPoNential
Where: Camden, NJ
When: July 26-28
Who: Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, The Lumineers, Dr. Dog, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Dawes, Dr. John, Ryan Bingham, Trampled By Turtles, Michael Kiwanuka, Lianne Le Havas, Justin Townes Earle, The Last Bison, Kopecky Family Band, Lord Huron, Matt Pond, Phosphorescent, Poliça, Wake Owl, and more
Why: WXPN 88.5 holds an Americana alt-country fest at Camden’s Waterfront.
Web: xpn.org/xponential-music-festival
What: Far West
Where: Marin Co., CA
When: July 27
Who: Zigaboo Modeliste, John Doe, The Sam Chase, and more
Why: Head very far to the west for some Marin County jam. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: farwestfest.org
What: Wicker Park Fest
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 27-28
Who: Roky Erickson, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Man Man, Meat Puppets, Cults, Mucca Pazza, Delicate Steve, Bahamas, and more
Why: Way better than the crappy movie of the same name (though it did have a good soundtrack)… See much more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.wickerparkfest.com
What: Edgefest
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: July 31
Who: The Lumineers, Band of Horses, The Neighbourhood, Mother Mother, Dinosaur Bones, Capital Cities, Wake Owl, Hey Marseilles, You Won’t, Imaginary Cities, Lucius, and more
Why: Another Edgefest, this time in Canada.
Web: www.edge.ca/edgefest
August
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 25 – August 28
Who: Dwight Yoakam, Hanson, Brandi Carlile, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Dark Star Orchestra, Slightly Stoopid, Owl City, Atmosphere, The Lone Bellow, and more
Why: Nite falls over the Simon Estes Amphitheater on the Des Moines river. See more in our photo galleries from Simon Estes Amphitheater here
Web: nitefalldsm.com
What: Surf Lodge Summer Concert Series
Where: Montauk, NY
When: June 1 – September 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Blonde Redhead, G. Love, Ra Ra Riot, Jamie Lidell, YACHT, Youngblood Hawke, Father John Misty, Phosphorescent, Django Django, Small Black, Donovan Frankenriter, Kopecky Family Band, MS MR, Cayucas, Dan Croll, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: Get out of the city and head to the Surf at Montauk.
Web: www.thesurflodge.com/concerts.html
What: SummerStage
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 10
Who: Joan Baez, She & Him, Ben Howard, Big Star’s Third, The Zombies, Yasiin Bey, Bobby McFerrin, Airborne Toxic Event, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Lianne La Havas, Rakim, Indigo Girls, Camera Obscura, Michael Kiwanuka, Django Django, Big Daddy Kane, LP, The Calder Quartet, Adam Green & Binki Shaprio, Brasstronaut, Quadron, and more
Why: A mixture of paid benefit shows and free shows receiving those benefits are a staple every summer in the Big Apple at the iconic Central Park – as well as other parks in all five boroughs! See our venue review & photos of Central Park SummerStage here
Web: www.summerstage.org
What: Hudson Square Music & Wine
Where: New York, NY
When: June 4 – August 27
Who: Dave Davies, Los Straitjackets, The English Beat, Rasputina, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more
Why: City Winery mixes wine with free music all summer long. See our venue review & photos of City Winery here
Web: www.citywinery.com
What: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 – August 10
Who: Robert Plant, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, The Roots, Barenaked Ladies, Patti Griffin, Mavis Staples, Grouplove, They Might Be Giants, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaggy, Big Boi, Jamie Lidell, Theophilus London, Trampled By Turtles, The Lone Bellow, Amadou & Mariam, Os Mutantes, Calexico, Yo La Tengo, Ben Folds Five, Jim James, The Low Anthem, Dan Deacon, Cody Chestnutt, The Devil Makes Three, Javelin, Bombino, Kishi Bashi, Guster, The Stepkids, Joe Purdy, Brown Bird, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell’s Celebrate Brooklyn! delivers all summer long. See our venue review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: R&B at Metrotech
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 6 – August 8
Who: Shuggle Otis, Bombino, Bobbie Rush, Stooges Brass Band, and more
Why: R&B Festival through Brooklyn Academy of Music at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues.
Web: www.bam.org/music/2013/r-and-b-festival-at-metrotech
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: June 6 – September 15
Who: Sting, Tony Bennett, Jewel, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett, Josh Groban, Willie Nelson, Journey, Jackson Browne, Chicago, A Prairie Home Companion, Joan Baez, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Melissa Etheridge, Alabama, Heart, Indigo Girls, The Go-Gos, The B-52s, Buddy Guy, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Matchbox Twenty, Gary Sinise, Los Lonely Boys, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Britt
Where: Jacksonville, OR
When: June 15 – September 14
Who: Robert Plant, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Miller Band, REO Speedwagon, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Doobie Brothers, Tegan & Sara, Kenny Loggins, Jeff Bridges & The Abiders, CAKE, The Human League, Brandi Carlile, Ziggy Marley, Scott McCreery, Pink Martini, Rebelution, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Matisyahu, Ivan & Alyosha, and more
Why: Jacksonville’s Britt Pavilion welcomes big (mostly old) names all summer long.
Web: www.brittfest.org
What: Hollywood Bowl
Where: Hollywood, CA
When: June 22 – September 28
Who: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, She & Him, Vampire Weekend, M83, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Damien Marley, Patti Austin, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Beirut, John Legend, DeVotchKa, Phanogram, Lord Huron, and more
Why: Spend the summer at the famed Hollywood Bowl. See more in our photo galleries from Hollywood Bowl here
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com
What: Vans House Parties
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 27 – August 29
Who: Fucked Up, !!!, Les Savy Fav, Toro y Moi, The Melvins, Baroness, Joyce Manor, Delorean, and more
Why: In addition to the Warped Tour (QRO 2012 recap), Vans is also hosting a series of free Brooklyn house parties at the House of Vans. See our venue review & photos of House of Vans here
Web: www.vans.com/microsites/houseparties
What: RiverRocks
Where: Hudson River Park, NY
When: July 11 – August 8
Who: Titus Andronicus, Foxygen, Generationals, Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Ducktails, Waxahatchee and more
Why: Hudson River Park’s RiverRocks comes to Pier 84, in the shadow of The Intrepid, for another great season of free shows out on the water. See our venue review & photos of Pier 84 here
Web: www.riverrocksnyc.com
What: Twilight
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
When: July 18 – September 5
Who: The Flaming Lips, The National, Belle & Sebastian, Kid Cudi, Empire of the Sun, Ludacris, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Erykah Badu, Sharon Van Etten, CSS, Blitzen Trapper, Foxygen, THEESatisfaction, Youth Lagoon, Alpine, and more
Why: Defying your stereotypes about Utah and anything with the world ‘Twilight’ in it, Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park holds a Big Apple-worthy series of free concerts.
Web: twilightconcertseries.com
What: Lincoln Center Out of Doors
Where: New York, NY
When: July 24 – August 11
Who: Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra, Bobby Rush, Allen Toussaint, My Brightest Diamond, Ozomatli, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Martha Redbone, Dan Deacon, Kronos Quartet, and more
Why: The famed venue heads Out of Doors at Damrosch Park Bandshell.
Web: lcoutofdoors.org
What: Wanderlust Whistler
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
When: August 1-4
Who: Moby, MC Yogi, Quixotic, Caravan Palace, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders into Canada. See more in our 2012 photo gallery from Wanderlust : California here
Web: whistler.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Secret Stages
Where: Birmingham, AL
When: August 2-3
Who: Gringo Star, Vulture Whale, Through the Sparks, Dead Gaze, Silver Tongue, and more
Why: A mostly free event in Birmingham’s Historic Loft District.
Web: www.secretstages.net
What: Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, IL
When: August 2-4
Who: The Cure, Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix, The Postal Service, Vampire Weekend, New Order, Queens of the Stone Age, The National, The Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Knife Party, Steve Aoki, Ellie Goulding, Thievery Corporation, Grizzly Bear, Imagine Dragons, Band of Horses, Major Lazer, Hot Chip, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Castles, Dada Life, Tegan & Sara, Lana Del Rey, Beach House, Cat Power, Frightened Rabbit, 2chainz, Matt & Kim, alt-J, Foals, Death Grips, Smith Westerns, Ben Howard, The Vaccines, Father John Misty, Charles Bradley, DIIV, Heartless Bastards, Baroness, Wild Nothing, Atlas Genius, HAIM, Angel Haze, Theophilus London, Wavves, IO ECHO, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Icona Pop, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, MS MR, St. Lucia, Guards, PUJOL, The Neighborhood, Half Moon Run, Pacific Air, Wake Owl, Wild Cub, and many, many more
Why: The granddaddy of today’s indie fests still brings a hell of a line-up right to Chicago’s Grant Park.
Web: www.lollapalooza.com
What: Newport Jazz
Where: Newport, RI
When: August 2-4
Who: Natalie Cole, Esperanza Spalding, Terene Blanchard, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more
Why: While best known for its storied folk festival (see above), little Newport in little Rhode Island has a jazz fest the following weekend to boot!
Web: www.newportjazzfest.net
What: Osheaga
Where: Montréal, QC, Canada
When: August 2-4
Who: The Cure, Beck, Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, New Order, Vampire Weekend, Frank Ocean, The Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Hot Chip, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Imagine Dragons, Tegan & Sara, alt-J, Ellie Goulding, Beach House, Stars, Pretty Lights, Imagine Dragons, Two Door Cinema Club, Porter Robinson, Ben Howard, Flogging Molly, Bonobo, Explosions In the Sky, Silversun Pickups, Big Boi, Azealia Banks, The Breeders, Bob Mould, The Gaslight Anthem, Father John Misty, Jimmy Eat World, Tricky, Charles Bradley, Yelawolf, Lianne La Havas, Mac DeMarco, Rich Aucoin, Robert DeLong, Frightened Rabbit, Angel Haze, Death Grips, Grouplove, The Heavy, Holy Ghost!, Icona Pop, Wild Nothing, Jake Bugg, The Head & The Heart, The Neighborhood, DIIV, Atlas Genius, Capital Cities, The Knocks, Oberhofer, Wild Belle, Hannah Georgas, MNDR, Guards, and many, many more
Why: Osheaga will stay in the top-tier in 2013 with another killer line-up. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.osheaga.com/en
What: Pickathon
Where: Happy Valley, OR
When: August 2-4
Who: Feist, Andrew Bird, Divine Fits, The Devil Makes Three, Ty Segall, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Sharon Van Etten, Shabazz Palaces, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, The Felice Brothers, Tift Merritt, The Lone Bellow, Foxygen, Marco Benevento, King Tuff, White Fence, and more
Why: Pick up a guitar for the fifteenth anniversary of Pickathon.
Web: pickathon.com
What: Sappyfest
Where: Sackville, NB, Canada
When: August 2-4
Who: Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, Colin Stetson, Chain & The Gang, The Luyas, Doldrums, and more
Why: Sackville gets Sappy.
Web: sappyfest.com
What: Musikfest
Where: Bethlehem, PA
When: August 2-11
Who: Carly Rae Jepsen, Styx, Darius Rucker, Ke$ha, Foreigner, and more
Why: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has a bunch of shows in August, the many smaller of which are free, but the bands that are those that were big twenty to forty years ago, with only a few younger acts.
Web: www.musikfest.org
What: The Grove
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: August 3
Who: Phoenix, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, The Gaslight Anthem, Earl Sweatshirt, Wavves, Icona Pop, and more
Why: Fort York in Toronto welcomes a nice day of music.
Web: thegrovefest.com
What: HARD Summer
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: August 3-4
Who: Skrillex, deadmau5, Lil Jon, Perry Farrell, M.I.A., Justice, Sleigh Bells, Underwold, 2 Live Crew, Simian Mobile Disco, Odd Future, Steve Aoki, Chromeo, Fatboy Slim, Crystal Castles, LFMAO, Santigold, Yelawolf, Spank Rock, Kid Sister, Major Lazer, Ratatat, SBTRKT, Basement Jaxx, Die Antwoord, Flying Lotus, Diplo, Miike Snow, MSTRKFT, Nero, Theophilus London, Ninjasonik, Boys Noize, A-Trak, Special Disco Version, Amanda Blank, Rye Rye, Juan MacLean, Little Dragon, Holy Ghost!, Blondes, Nick Catchdubs, The Gaslamp Killer, 12th Planet, Annie Mac, Borgore, and more
Why: The dancetronic HARD expands to a second day & and an even bigger line-up. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.hardfest.com
What: Shambhala
Where: Salmo, BC, Canada
When: August 7-12
Who: People Under the Stairs, Opiuo, Vibesquad, Kastle, Clicks & Whistles, Kairo Kingdom, and more
Why: Electro-DJs come to Canada – Shambhala!
Web: www.shambhalamusicfestival.com
What: The Big Up
Where: Claverack, NY
When: August 8-10
Who: Beats Antique, Holy Fuck, Gaudi, Escort, Abakus Live, Chris Keating, Orchard Lounge, and more
Why: The Big (electro) Up on the Hemlock Hollow Farm.
Web: thebigup.com
What: Squamish
Where: Squamish, BC, Canada
When: August 8-10
Who: Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Childish Gambino, Gogol Bordello, Young the Giant, Dan Mangan, Divine Fits, Fitz & The Tantrums, Pretty Lights, Jurassic 5, Yukon Blonde, Said the Whale, Diamond Rings, Deep Vally, The Heavy, and more
Why: A surprisingly good festival that you hadn’t heard of.
Web: squamishfestival.com
What: Edmonton Folk
Where: Edmonton, AB, Canada
When: August 8-11
Who: Feist, Loreena McKennitt, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Cockburn, The Avett Brothers, Charles Bradley, Elvis Perkins, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Cold Specks, The Head & The Heart, Neko Case, Martin Sexton, Langhorne Slim & The Law, Lisa Hannigan, LP, and more
Why: Some nice names come to Edmonton.
Web: www.edmontonfolkfest.org
What: KahBang
Where: Bangor, ME
When: August 8-11
Who: Earl Sweatshirt, Dr. Dog, Lights, Paper Diamond, St. Lucia, Oberhofer, 12th Planet, Vacationer, Lady Lamb & The Beekeepers, Lucius, The Knocks, Mean Creek, and more
Why: Little ol’ Bangor, Maine’s KahBang is in its fifth year.
Web: www.kahbang.com
What: Mile of Music
Where: Appleton, WI
When: August 8-11
Who: Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons, The Candles, Rodney Crowell, Justin Townes Earle, Nicole Atkins, Swear and Shake, Jonny Fritz, Field Report, Those Darlins, Nikki Lane, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, and more
Why: A Mile of Music comes to Appleton.
Web: mileofmusic.com
What: This Is Hardcore
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: August 8-11
Who: GWAR, Kid Dynamite, Modern Life is War, Sick Of It All, 7 Seconds, H2O, Ceremony, Paint It Black, Tragedy, Nails, Negative Approach, and more
Why: Phiadelphia’s Electric Factory holds four days of hardcore.
Web: thisishardcorefest.com
What: Wolfe Island
Where: Wolfe Island, ON, Canada
When: August 9-10
Who: Joel Plaskett Emergency, Born Ruffians, Bahamas, Hannah Georgas, The Wooden Sky, Buck 65, Diana, Two Hours Traffic, Leif Vollebekk, and more
Why: Located on the largest of the 1,000 islands in the St. Lawrence River, Wolfe Island is accessible to Yanks & Canucks alike.
Web: www.wolfeislandmusicfestival.com
What: moe.down
Where: Turin, NY
When: August 9-11
Who: moe., Dr. Dog, Del McCoury Band, Conspirator, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Savoy, The Stepkids, and more
Why: moe.’s annual shindig in Upstate New York mixes acts you want to see with acts that you don’t.
Web: www.moedown.com
What: Outside Lands
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: August 9-11
Who: Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix, Kaskade, Vampire Weekend, Pretty Lights, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The National, Jurassic 5, Willie Nelson, Grizzly Bear, Hall & Oates, Young the Giant, Band of Horses, A-Trak, The Head & The Heart, Yeasayer, Matt & Kim, Zedd, Tallest Man On Earth, Foals, Dawes, Youth Lagoon, Gary Clark Jr., Kurt Vile, Surfer Blood, Rudimental, Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down, Camper Van Beethoven, Smith Westerns, Wavves, Fishbone, Atlas Genius, The Heavy, Wild Belle, King Tuff, MS MR, Little Green Cars, The Men, Kopecky Family Band, The Easy Leaves, and more
Why: San Francisco’s gorgeous Golden Gate Park plays host to another year of Outside Lands, with three days of an incredible line-up.
Web: www.sfoutsidelands.com
What: Summer Set
Where: Somerset, WI
When: August 9-11
Who: Passion Pit, Girl Talk, Big Gigantic, STS9, Big Boi, Common, Diplo, Wolfgang, Zedd, Flosstradamus, Beats Antique, Doomtree, Poliça, The Wailers, Madeon, STRFKR, Blackalicious, Greensky Bluegrass, and more
Why: More than just another electro-jam festival.
Web: www.summersetfestival.com
What: Burnaby Blues & Roots
Where: Burnaby, BC, Canada
When: August 10
Who: Blue Rodeo, Charles Bradley, ZZ Ward, The Sojourners, and more
Why: The Blues has deep Roots in Canada.
Web: www.burnabybluesfestival.com
What: The Nines
Where: Devens, MA
When: August 10
Who: Explosions In the Sky, Dr. Dog, Delta Spirit, Walk Off the Earth, Shuggie Otis, Matt Pond, and more
Why: The Nines comes on 8/10.
Web: theninesfestival.com
What: Heavy MTL
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: August 10-11
Who: Rob Zombie, Megadeath, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Danzig with Doyle, A Day To Remember, Mastodon, GWAR, Baroness, and more
Why: MonTreaL gets some Heavy MeTaL.
Web: heavymtl.com/en
What: Everything Is Terrible
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: August 12-21
Who: Tenacious D, Chris Elliott, Mike Judge, Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, Doug Benson, YACHT, Scott Adsit, Adam Goldberg, Andy Dick, Joey Buttafuoco, Wham City, and more
Why: Comedy across L.A. is anything but terrible.
Web: www.cinefamily.org/films/everything-is-festival-iv-the-dreamquest
What: Arise
Where: Loveland, CO
When: August 14-18
Who: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Xavier Rudd, Keller & The Keels, Zap Mama, Greensky Bluegrass, Freelance Whales, Chali 2na, The Motet, Toubab Krewe, Quixotic, and more
Why: Arise in Loveland.
Web: arisefestival.com/2013
What: Peach
Where: Scranton, PA
When: August 15-18
Who: The Allman Brothers Band, Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Black Crowes, Gov’t Mule, Lotus, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Railroad Earth, Galactic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Rusted Root, Donavon Frankenreiter, Greensky Bluegrass, and more
Why: Bringing the jam to the home of Joe Biden & Dunder-Mifflin.
Web: www.thepeachmusicfestival.com
What: Equifunk
Where: Equinunk, PA
When: August 16-18
Who: Soulive, Maceo Parker, The New Mastersounds, Keller Williams, JJ Grey & Mofro, Anders Osborne, Marco Benevento, The Revivalists, The London Souls, Superhuman Happiness, and more
Why: Equinunk welcomes the Equifunk.
Web: www.equifunk.com/index.html
What: Rocky Mt Folks
Where: Lyons, CO
When: August 16-18
Who: John Prine, John Butler Trio, Loreena McKennitt, Patty Griffin, Colin Meloy, Colin Hay, Lucius, Nathaniel Rateliff, Seryn, and more
Why: Folks go up in the Rocky Mt.
Web: www.bluegrass.com/folks
What: Salmon Arm Roots & Blues
Where: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
When: August 16-18
Who: Bruce Cockburn, Jason Collett, City and Colour, Daniel Lanois, The Bright Light Social Hour, Daniel Lanois, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Selah Sue, Horse Feathers, The Belle Game, and more
Why: British Columbia opens its Salmon Arms for artists from around the world.
Web: www.rootsandblues.ca
What: Cultivate Denver
Where: Denver, CO
When: August 17
Who: Cold War Kids, Blitzen Trapper, Allen Stone, Good Old War, and more
Why: Chipotle hosts three food + music events, including Denver.
Web: chipotle.com/cultivate/Denver.aspx
What: Maha
Where: Omaha, NE
When: August 17
Who: The Flaming Lips, Matt & Kim, Bob Mould, The Thermals, Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down, and more
Why: Drop the O, keep the Maha.
Web: www.mahamusicfestival.com
What: Throttle
Where: Kansas City, KS
When: August 23-25
Who: Jackyl, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman, Ugly Kid Joe, Papa Roach, Pop Eveil, and more
Why: Tru-TV show Full Throttle Saloon holds a hard rock festival.
Web: www.throttlefestkc.com
What: Kaleidoscope
Where: Eugene, OR
When: August 23-25
Who: Nas, Empire of the Sun, Bassnectar, Neon Indian, Minus the Bear, ScHoolboy Q, Aesop Rock, Pat Mahoney, Com Truise, Capital Cities, Beat Antique, Ratking, Daedelus, DJ Shadow, Felix Cartal, Hockey, Mimosa, The Thermals, and more
Why: A kaleidoscope of electronica.
Web: kaleidoscopemusicfestival.com
What: CD 102.5 Summerfest
Where: Columbus, OH
When: August 24
Who: Matt & Kim, Cold War Kids, Ra Ra Riot, Smith Westerns, J Roddy Walston & The Business, Cayucas, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and more
Why: CD 102.5 throws a great summerfest at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.
Web: cd1025.com/summerfest
What: 20th Street Block Party
Where: San Francisco, CO
When: August 24
Who: Two Gallants, Mac DeMarco, and more
Why: 20th Street in San Francisco throws a Block Party.
Web: www.20thstreetblockparty.com
What: Afropunk
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: August 24-45
Who: Chuck D & DJ Lord, ?uestlove, Living Colour, Death, The Heavy, Trash Talk, Danny Brown, Saul Williams, Theophilus London, Vintage Trouble, The London Souls, Mykki Blanco, Big Freedia, Rye Rye, Jean Grae, Pyyramids, and more
Why: Commodore Barry Park is the site for Afropunk, with another great line-up. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: afropunkfest.com
What: First City
Where: Monterey, CA
When: August 24-25
Who: Modest Mouse, Passion Pit, MGMT, Neko Case, Beach House, Toro y Moi, Devendra Banhart, Washed Out, Okkervil River, Deerhunter, Purity Ring, Dr. Dog, The Hold Steady, Delta Spirit, The Black Angels, Father John Misty, Capital CIties, Lucero, The Antlers, Blitzen Trapper, Civil Twilight, Electric Guest, Delta Rae, The Dodos, Tennis, Akron/Family, Bleached, Generationals, Guards, and more
Why: Yet another strong, new festival in northern California.
Web: www.firstcityfestival.com
What: FYF Fest
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: August 24-25
Who: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Bloody Valentine, TV On the Radio, MGMT, Beach House, Flag, Solange, Yo La Tengo, Deerhunter, Washed Out, Devendra Banhart, The Breeders, Holy Ghost!, The Melvins, Les Savy Fav, Toro y Moi, Death Grips, Rock Erickson, Kurt Vile, STRFKR, Thee Oh Sees, !!!, Simian Mobile Disco, Jonathan Richman, Baroness, Charles Bradley, Mac DeMarco, Ty Segall, Dan Deacon, Glasser, How To Dress Well, METZ, Crystal Antlers, Guards, Rob Huebel & Paul Scheer, Doug Benson, Brett Gelman, and more
Why: Altamont brings downtown L.A. the FYF Fest on Labor Day Weekend – fuck yeah! See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: fyffest.com
What: Riot Fest Toronto
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: August 24-25
Who: The Replacements, Iggy & The Stooges, A Day To Remember, Pierce the Veil, Rocket From the Crypt, Dinosaur Jr., Best Coast, and more
Why: Riot Fest brings its fest & ‘traveling exposition’ to Toronto – and the reunion of The Replacements! See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.riotfest.org
What: Electric Zoo
Where: Randall’s Island, NY
When: August 30-September 1
Who: AVICCI, Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Sebastian Ingross, Above & Beyond, Steve Aoki, Bassnectar, Knife Party, Dada Life, Benny Benassi, Laidback Luke, Zedd, Diplo, Alesso, Martin Solveig, Sander Van Doorn, Madeon, Tommy Trash, Excision, Rusko, Chase & Status, John Digweed, Boys Noize, A-Trak, Moderat, Baauer, Kill the Noise, Markus Schulz, AraabMUZIK, Big Gigantic, Azari & III, Sub Focus, Four Tet, Gramatik, Nick Catchdubs, Skream, and more
Why: Bringing European-style electronic craziness is Electric Zoo on New York City’s Randall’s Island.
Web: www.madeevent.com/ElectricZoo
What: North Coast
Where: Chicago, IL
When: August 30 – September 1
Who: Passion Pit, Wu-Tang Clan, Afrojack, Big Gigantic, Nas, The Disco Biscuits, Lotus, Mac Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Rebelution, Purity Ring, A-Trak, Datsik, Gramatik, Madeon, Skream, Paper Diamond, Emancipator, AlunaGeorge, Capital Cities, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, El Ten Eleven, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, On an On, K. Flay, The Knocks, Zoogma, and more
Why: “Summer’s last stand” returns for a fourth year to Chicago’s Union Park. Read & see much more in our recap of the inaugural 2010 edition here
Web: www.northcoastfestival.com
What: Calgary X
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Blink-182, City and Colour, Weezer, Passion Pit, Mother Mother, AWOLNATION, Dan Mangan, The Weakerthans, The Sheepdogs, Death From Above 1979, Cold War Kids, Capital Cities, Yukon Blonde, Half Moon Run, Phantogram, and more
Why: The Calgary twin to Edmonton’s Sonic Boom (see below).
Web: www.xfestcalgary.com
What: CT5
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Wild Nothing, DIIV, Beach Fossils, Mac DeMarco, Widowspeak, Chris Cohen, and more
Why: Captured Tracks label celebrates its five-year anniversary at The Well. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: capturedtracks.com
What: Made In America
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Nine Inch Nails, Beyoncé, Phoenix, deadmau5, Queens of the Stone Age, Public Enemy, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Solange, The Gaslight Anthem, Calvin Harris, Florence Welch, Skrillex, Miguel, Emelie Sandé, ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky, Walk the Moon, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Fitz & The Tantrums, Wolfgang Gartner, AlunaGeorge, HAIM, Wiz Khalifa, Nero, Crystal Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Rudimental, 2Chainz, and more
Why: Jay-Z’s doing everything from sports agenting to festivals.
Web: www.madeinamericafest.com
What: Sonic Boom
Where: Edmonton, AB, Canada
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Blink-182, City and Colour, Weezer, Passion Pit, Mother Mother, AWOLNATION, Dan Mangan, The Weakerthans, The Sheepdogs, Death From Above 1979, Cold War Kids, Yukon Blonde, Half Moon Run, Phantogram, and more
Why: Some of the better names in mainstream-ish punk & more make for a better line-up.
Web: www.sonicboomfestival.com
What: Bumbershoot
Where: Seattle, WA
When: August 31 – September 2
Who: Death Cab for Cutie, Bassnectar, Heart, MGMT, fun., Kendrick Lamar, Tegan & Sara, Allen Stone, Crystal Castles, Matt & Kim, Gary Numan, alt-J, The Joy Formidable, The Breeders, !!!, Ra Ra Riot, Icona Pop, Trampled by Turtles, Deerhunter, Beats Antique, Joey Bada$$, Washed Out, Vintage Trouble, Justin Townes Earle, The Zombies, Baroness, Charles Bradley, Bob Mould, Thao, Delta Rae, Superchunk, Mates of State, ZZ Ward, Lissie, Charlie XCX, Diamond Rings, Redd Kross, FIDLAR, The Men, Tamaryn, Matt Pond, Ivan & Alyosha, The Sheepdogs, Kopecky Family Band, and many more
Why: Seattle’s Bumbershoot heads into its 43nd year with another incredibly diverse line-up. See much more here in our photo gallery here
Web: bumbershoot.org
September
What: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 24 – September 25
Who: Ra Ra Riot, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sons of Fathers, Laura Marling, The Lone Bellow, Little Green Cars, The Staves, Vandaveer, and more
Why: Louisville’s Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day. See more in our photo galleries from Louisville Waterfront here
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Surf Lodge Summer Concert Series
Where: Montauk, NY
When: June 1 – September 1
Who: Willie Nelson, Blonde Redhead, G. Love, Ra Ra Riot, Jamie Lidell, YACHT, Youngblood Hawke, Father John Misty, Phosphorescent, Django Django, Small Black, Donovan Frankenriter, Kopecky Family Band, MS MR, Cayucas, Dan Croll, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: Get out of the city and head to the Surf at Montauk.
Web: www.thesurflodge.com/concerts.html
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: June 6 – September 15
Who: Sting, Tony Bennett, Jewel, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett, Josh Groban, Willie Nelson, Journey, Jackson Browne, Chicago, A Prairie Home Companion, Joan Baez, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Melissa Etheridge, Alabama, Heart, Indigo Girls, The Go-Gos, The B-52s, Buddy Guy, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Matchbox Twenty, Gary Sinise, Los Lonely Boys, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Britt
Where: Jacksonville, OR
When: June 15 – September 14
Who: Robert Plant, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Miller Band, REO Speedwagon, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Doobie Brothers, Tegan & Sara, Kenny Loggins, Jeff Bridges & The Abiders, CAKE, The Human League, Brandi Carlile, Ziggy Marley, Scott McCreery, Pink Martini, Rebelution, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Matisyahu, Ivan & Alyosha, and more
Why: Jacksonville’s Britt Pavilion welcomes big (mostly old) names all summer long.
Web: www.brittfest.org
What: Hollywood Bowl
Where: Hollywood, CA
When: June 22 – September 28
Who: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, She & Him, Vampire Weekend, M83, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Damien Marley, Patti Austin, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Beirut, John Legend, DeVotchKa, Phanogram, Lord Huron, and more
Why: Spend the summer at the famed Hollywood Bowl. See more in our photo galleries from Hollywood Bowl here
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com
What: Twilight
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
When: July 18 – September 5
Who: The Flaming Lips, The National, Belle & Sebastian, Kid Cudi, Empire of the Sun, Ludacris, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Erykah Badu, Sharon Van Etten, CSS, Blitzen Trapper, Foxygen, THEESatisfaction, Youth Lagoon, Alpine, and more
Why: Defying your stereotypes about Utah and anything with the world ‘Twilight’ in it, Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park holds a Big Apple-worthy series of free concerts.
Web: twilightconcertseries.com
What: Electric Zoo
Where: Randall’s Island, NY
When: August 30-September 1
Who: AVICCI, Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Sebastian Ingross, Above & Beyond, Steve Aoki, Bassnectar, Knife Party, Dada Life, Benny Benassi, Laidback Luke, Zedd, Diplo, Alesso, Martin Solveig, Sander Van Doorn, Madeon, Tommy Trash, Excision, Rusko, Chase & Status, John Digweed, Boys Noize, A-Trak, Moderat, Baauer, Kill the Noise, Markus Schulz, AraabMUZIK, Big Gigantic, Azari & III, Sub Focus, Four Tet, Gramatik, Nick Catchdubs, Skream, and more
Why: Bringing European-style electronic craziness is Electric Zoo on New York City’s Randall’s Island.
Web: www.madeevent.com/ElectricZoo
What: North Coast
Where: Chicago, IL
When: August 30 – September 1
Who: Passion Pit, Wu-Tang Clan, Afrojack, Big Gigantic, Nas, The Disco Biscuits, Lotus, Mac Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Rebelution, Purity Ring, A-Trak, Datsik, Gramatik, Madeon, Skream, Paper Diamond, Emancipator, AlunaGeorge, Capital Cities, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, El Ten Eleven, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, On an On, K. Flay, The Knocks, Zoogma, and more
Why: “Summer’s last stand” returns for a fourth year to Chicago’s Union Park. Read & see much more in our recap of the inaugural 2010 edition here
Web: www.northcoastfestival.com
What: Calgary X
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Blink-182, City and Colour, Weezer, Passion Pit, Mother Mother, AWOLNATION, Dan Mangan, The Weakerthans, The Sheepdogs, Death From Above 1979, Cold War Kids, Capital Cities, Yukon Blonde, Half Moon Run, Phantogram, and more
Why: The Calgary twin to Edmonton’s Sonic Boom (see below).
Web: www.xfestcalgary.com
What: CT5
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Wild Nothing, DIIV, Beach Fossils, Mac DeMarco, Widowspeak, Chris Cohen, and more See much more in our photo gallery here
Why: Captured Tracks label celebrates its five-year anniversary at The Well.
Web: capturedtracks.com
What: Made In America
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Nine Inch Nails, Beyoncé, Phoenix, deadmau5, Queens of the Stone Age, Public Enemy, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Solange, The Gaslight Anthem, Calvin Harris, Florence Welch, Skrillex, Miguel, Emelie Sandé, ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky, Walk the Moon, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Fitz & The Tantrums, Wolfgang Gartner, AlunaGeorge, HAIM, Wiz Khalifa, Nero, Crystal Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Rudimental, 2Chainz, and more
Why: Jay-Z’s doing everything from sports agenting to festivals.
Web: www.madeinamericafest.com
What: Sonic Boom
Where: Edmonton, AB, Canada
When: August 31 – September 1
Who: Blink-182, City and Colour, Weezer, Passion Pit, Mother Mother, AWOLNATION, Dan Mangan, The Weakerthans, The Sheepdogs, Death From Above 1979, Cold War Kids, Yukon Blonde, Half Moon Run, Phantogram, and more
Why: Some of the better names in mainstream-ish punk & more make for a better line-up.
Web: www.sonicboomfestival.com
What: Bumbershoot
Where: Seattle, WA
When: August 31 – September 2
Who: Death Cab for Cutie, Bassnectar, Heart, MGMT, fun., Kendrick Lamar, Tegan & Sara, Allen Stone, Crystal Castles, Matt & Kim, Gary Numan, alt-J, The Joy Formidable, The Breeders, !!!, Ra Ra Riot, Icona Pop, Trampled by Turtles, Deerhunter, Beats Antique, Joey Bada$$, Washed Out, Vintage Trouble, Justin Townes Earle, The Zombies, Baroness, Charles Bradley, Bob Mould, Thao, Delta Rae, Superchunk, Mates of State, ZZ Ward, Lissie, Charlie XCX, Diamond Rings, Redd Kross, FIDLAR, The Men, Tamaryn, Matt Pond, Ivan & Alyosha, The Sheepdogs, Kopecky Family Band, and many more
Why: Seattle’s Bumbershoot heads into its 43nd year with another incredibly diverse line-up. See much more here in our photo gallery here
Web: bumbershoot.org
What: Musicfest NW
Where: Portland, OR
When: September 3-8
Who: Animal Collective, Neko Case, Young the Giant, The Head and The Heart, Bob Mould, Diplo, Ra Ra Riot, Austra, Surfer Blood, The Dodos, Ty Segall, Washed Out, Saves the Day, !!!, Titus Andronicus, Baroness, The Helio Sequence, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Thermals, Joey Bada$$, Mariachi El Bronx, Justin Townes Earle, Youth Lagoon, Dan Deacon, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, and more
Why: Head to Portlandia for Music Fest NW. Read & see much more here in our recap here
Web: musicfestnw.com
What: Hopscotch
Where: Raleigh, NC
When: September 5-7
Who: Big Boi, Spiritualized, The Breeders, Local Natives, John Cale, Sleep, Earl Sweatshirt, Low, Kurt Vile, Future Islands, Action Bronson, Matthew Dear, The Rosebuds, Califone, Mikal Cronin, Pere Ubu, Marnie Stern, Pissed Jeans, Matmos, Grouper, Mount Moriah, Night Beds, Kopecky Family Band, Ex Cops, Suuns, Ex Cult, Dan Friel, Villages, The Everymen, Jamaican Queens, Turf War, and more
Why: The Independent Weekly throws a great fest at venues across Raleigh for a fourth year.
Web: hopscotchmusicfest.com
What: Fall Line
Where: Richmond, VA
When: September 6-7
Who: Big Freedia, Neon Indian, Cold Cave, Kopecky Family Band, Helado Negro, Inter Arma, and more
Why: Fall Lines up in Richmond.
Web: falllinefest.com/2013
What: Catskill Chill
Where: Hancock, NY
When: September 6-8
Who: The Meter Men, Lotus, Galactic, Conspirator, Lettuce, Papadosio, Tea Leaf Green, The Motet, Orchard Lounge, Consider the Source, and more
Why: Rock the Catskills!
Web: www.catskillchill.com
What: Electric Aruba
Where: Oranjestad, Aruba
When: September 6-8
Who: Hardwell, Nero, Boris, Chuckie, Slash, and more
Why: EDM comes to the Dutch Antilles.
Web: electricfestival.com
What: Cultivate Chicago
Where: Denver, CO
When: September 7
Who: Walk the Moon, Youngblood Hawke, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., The Mowglis, and more
Why: Chipotle hosts three food + music events, ending in Chicago.
Web: chipotle.com/cultivate/Chicago.aspx
What: Paste Untapped – Dallas
Where: Dallas, TX
When: September 7
Who: Delta Spirit, Freelance Whales, Cults, Blackalicious, and more
Why: Paste brings indie music & beer to Dallas.
Web: untapped-festival.com
What: Boston Calling
Where: Boston, MA
When: September 7-8
Who: Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event, Wolfgang Gartner, Solange, Bat For Lashes, Flosstradamus, Deer Tick, Okkervil River, Bearstronaut, and more
Why: Beantown welcomed Boston Calling on Memorial Day Weekend (QRO recap – see above) – and will welcome a second edition right after Labor Day! Read & see much more in our big recap here
Web: bostoncalling.com
What: Launch
Where: Sacramento, CA
When: September 7-8
Who: Girl Talk, Imagine Dragons, Rocket From the Crypt, Minus the Bear, Blonde Redhead, Washed Out, Cults, St. Lucia, Doomtree, Surfer Blood, Family of the Year, Dredg, and more
Why: Launch into the fall in Sacramento.
Web: launchsacramento.com
What: LouFest
Where: St. Louis, MO
When: September 7-8
Who: The Killers, Wilco, The National, Alabama Shakes, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Jim James, Local Natives, Fitz & The Tantrums, Toro y Moi, Twin Shadow, Trample by Turtles, Walk the Moon, Ra Ra Riot, Court Yard Hounds, Icona Pop, Youngblood Hawke, Robert DeLong, Jukebox the Ghost, Wild Belle, Wild Cub, and more
Why: Not a celebration of the bassist from Dinosaur Jr. (though they played last year…), LouFest celebrates the spirit of St. Louis. Read and see much more in our 2012 recap here
Web: www.loufest.com
What: Harvest Jazz & Blues
Where: Fredericton, NB, Canada
When: September 10-15
Who: The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, World Party, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Wailers, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Ivan Neville, Hey Rosetta!, Two Hours Traffic, JJ Grey & Mofro, Rich Aucoin, The Pimps of Joytime, and more
Why: New Brunswick’s Harvest mixes the folk festivals of Canada with the jazz & blues of Acadia’s lineal descendants, Cajun country.
Web: www.harvestjazzandblues.com
What: Trans-Pecos
Where: Marfa, TX
When: September 12-14
Who: David Garza, M. Ward, Hayes Carll, Junior Brown, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Tift Merrit, and more
Why: See the Marfa Mystery Lights from the El Cosmico at Trans-Pecos Festival.
Web: elcosmico.com/stay/happenings/trans-pecos-festival
What: Rifflandia
Where: Victoria, BC, Canada
When: September 12-15
Who: Courtney Love, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Big Boi, Death From Above 1979, James Murphy & Pat Mahoney, Stars, Matt & Kim, Beats Antique, Z-Trip, Danny Brown, Wavves, Beth Orton, Hot Hot Heat, The Orb, Wintersleep, Holy Fuck, Dåm-Funk, St. Lucia, Cold Specks, Chali 2na, Mykki Blanco, Bosnian Rainbows, BRAIDS, Hannah Georgas, Bear Mountain, and more
Why: Rifflandia returns to the Garden City at Royal Athletic Park.
Web: www.rifflandia.com
What: Dancefestopia
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: September 13-14
Who: Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Porter Robinson, EOTO, Infected Mushroom, Lotus, Adventure Club, Gramatik, 3LAU, RJD2, Break Science, Jesse Jamz, and more
Why: Get your dance on in the middle of the country.
Web: www.dancefestopia.com
What: San Diego Music Thing
Where: San Diego, CA
When: September 13-14
Who: Ra Ra Riot, Body/Head, Titus Andronicus, The Album Leaf, Body/Head, Weekend, The Big Pink, The Bleeding Rainbow, The Valley Below, The Features, Caveman, Titus Andronicus, Wild Nothing, Girl In a Coma, New Politics, FIDLAR, In the Valley Below, Orgone, Palma Violets, Pictureplane, and more
Why: San Diego explores this music ‘thing’.
Web: www.sandiegomusicthing.com
What: Riot Fest
Where: Chicago, IL
When: September 13-15
Who: The Replacements, Fall Out Boy, Blink-182, The Pixies, Violent Femmes, Rancid, Blondie, Sublime with Rome, Danzig, Guided by Voices, Brand New, Public Enemy, AFI, FLAG, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low, Pierce the Veil, Joan Jett, Rocket From the Crypt, Bad Religion, Atmosphere, The Dismemberment Plan, Dinosaur Jr., X, DeVotchKa, Yellowcard, Screeching Weasel, Pennywise, Andrew W.K., Against Me!, Bob Mould, GWAR, Suicidal Tendencies, Best Coast, The Selecter, Mission of Burma, The Devil Wears Prada, Saves the Day, Bad Books, Peter Hook & The Light, Bayside, Maps & Atlases, Stars, The Dear Hunter, Surfer Blood, Chuck Ragan, Saul Williams, Mephiskapheles, TouchŽ AmorŽ, Peelander-Z, Twin Peaks, Kitten, White Mystery, The Flatliners, Off With Their Heads, and more
Why: Riot Fest collects punks & more, old & young – and the reunion of The Replacements! Read & see much more in our big recap here
Web: www.riotfest.org
What: Breakaway Columbus
Where: Columbus, OH
When: September 14
Who: Bassnectar, Empire of the Sun, Kendrick Lamar, Porter Robinson, twenty-one pilots, Tokyo Police Club, ScHoolboy Q, Juicy J, Robert DeLong, The Knocks, Alpine, and more
Why: Music festivals come to soccer stadiums in Columbus and Dallas (see below).
Web: breakawayfestival.com
What: 99X Festapalooza
Where: Shreveport, LA
When: September 14
Who: Filter, Sevendust, Pop Evil, and more
Why: 99X finds a new way to use both ‘fest’ and ‘apalooza’.
Web: therockstation99x.com/festapalooza
What: St. Jerome’s Laneway
Where: Rochester Hills, MI
When: September 14
Who: Sigur Rós, The National, My Brightest Diamond, Solange, Washed Out, Charli XCX, Deerhunter, Frightened Rabbit, Phosphorescent, Icona Pop, The Dismemberment Plan, Matthew Dear, CHVRCHES, Savages, Warpaint, Youth Lagoon, AlunaGeorge, HAERTS, and more
Why: Australian traveling festival Laneway (QRO 2012 Melbourne recap) comes to Detroit with a great line-up.
Web: www.lanewayfestival.com.au
What: Aftershock
Where: Sacramento, CA
When: September 14-15
Who: Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, A Day To Remember, Paparoach, All That Remains, Buckcherry, Volbeat, P.O.D., Asking Alexandria, Miss May I, and more
Why: Today’s hard rock comes to the capitol of the Bear Republic.
Web: www.aftershockconcert.com
What: Francofolies New York
Where: New York, NY
When: September 19
Who: Harry Connick Jr., Marianne Faithfull, Madeleine Peyroux, Duffy, Patricia Kaas, Angelique Kidjo, Alex Hepburn, Coeur de Pirate, and more
Why: Francofolies comes to Beacon Theatre (QRO venue review).
Web: www.francofolies.fr
What: Utopia
Where: Utopia, TX
When: September 19-21
Who: Galactic, !!!, EOTO, Aaron Freeman, Blackalicious, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Grupo Fantasma, Wheeler Brothers, Lucius, UME, Bernie Worell with Brownout!, Hooray For Earth, Orgone, and more
Why: Head to Utopia (TX) – but BYOB!
Web: www.utopiafest.com
What: 91X
Where: Chula Vista, CA
When: September 20
Who: Blink-182, Thirty Second to Mars, The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World, Silversun Pickups, The Dirty Heads, Fitz & The Tantrums, Wavves, Atlas Genius, New Politics, and more
Why: 91X brings a fest to Chula Vista.
Web: www.91x.com/xfest2013
What: iHeartRadio
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: September 20-21
Who: Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, J. Cole, Elton John, Muse, Tïesto, Chris Brown, Keith Urban, fun., Miguel, Bruno Mars, Phoenix, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Ke$ha, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and more
Why: iHeartRadio, the conglomeration of 750+ radio stations streaming online (and host of events at their own iHeartRadio Theater – QRO venue review) throws the biggest live music event in radio history – again.
Web: festival.iheart.com
What: Boomslang
Where: Lexington, KY
When: September 20-22
Who: Blonde Redhead, Clinic, Body/Head, Saul Williams, Youth Lagoon, Com Truise, The Blow, Bleached, Chelsea Wolfe, Grails, Grails, Marnie Stern, Scout Niblett, No Joy, Dent May, Jamaican Queens, Idiot Glee, and more
Why: WRFL 88.1 FM presents Boomslang.
Web: boomslangfest.com
What: Breakaway Dallas
Where: Dallas, OH
When: September 21
Who: Empire of the Sun, Wu-Tang Clan, Big Gigantic, Matt & Kim, Explosions In the Sky, Ra Ra Riot, Juicy J, Crizzly, and more
Why: Music festivals come to soccer stadiums in Dallas and Columbus (see above).
Web: breakawayfestival.com
What: Rockwave
Where: Ft. Myers, FL
When: September 21
Who: Jane’s Addition, Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington, Chevelle, Anberlin, Filter, Beware of Darkness, and more
Why: Ride the (Rock)wave in Florida.
Web: www.rockwavefest.com
What: Sonoma Stampede
Where: Windsor, CA
When: September 21
Who: Tate Stevens, E Minor & The Dirty Diamonds, Frankie Ballard, Bad Apple String Band, and more
Why: There’s a country Stampede in Sonoma. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.sonomastampede.com
What: Virgin Mobile Free
Where: Columbia, MD
When: September 21
Who: City and Colour, MGMT, CHVRCHES, Madeon, Robin Thicke, Vampire Weekend, Washed Out, The Avett Brothers, Pretty Lights, Black Joe Lewis, Little Green Cars, Icona Pop, Sky Ferreira, The Knocks, and more
Why: Virgin holds a free festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Web: www.virginmobilefestival.com
What: Life Is Good
Where: Canton, MA
When: September 21-22
Who: Jack Johnson, Hall & Oates, Yo Gabba Gabba!, The Roots, Amos Lee, Trampled by Turtles, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dawes, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Good Old War, Delta Rae, Bahamas and more
Why: Boston’s Life is Good is holding a two-day fest to raise money for kids.
Web: www.lifeisgood.com/festivals
What: Riot Fest Denver
Where: Denver, CO
When: September 21-22
Who: The Replacements, Blink-182, Iggy & The Stooges, Rancid, AFI, Public Enemy, Brand New, DeVotchKa, Airborne Toxic Event, AWOLNATION, Rocket From The Crypt, Matt & Kim, Guided by Voices, FLAG, The Dismemberment Plan, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, Yo La Tengo, Superchunk, Against Me!, Stars, Best Coast, Capital Cities, Minus the Bear, Breathe Carolina, The Dear Hunter, Wovenhand, Chuck Ragan, Bosnian Rainbows, Peelander-Z, This Will Destroy You, Off With Their Heads, and more
Why: Riot Fest brings its fest & ‘travelling exposition’ to Denver – and the reunion of The Replacements!
Web: www.riotfest.org
What: Woodsist
Where: Big Sur, CA
When: September 22-28
Who: Real Estate, Fresh & Onlys, Woods, White Fence, Foxygen, The Babes, and more
Why: Woodsist Records has a little festival up in Big Sur (with many of the same acts as prior years).
Web: www.folkyeah.com
What: Decibel
Where: Seattle, WA
When: September 25-29
Who: Moby, Nicolas Jarr, Zedd, Flostradamus, The Orb, Peter Hook & The Light, Neon Indian, Gold Panda, Little Boots, Wax Tailor, Zola Jesus, Olafur Arnalds, Mount Kimbie, Shabazz Palaces, Nosaj Thing, Hauschka, The Helio Sequence, THEESatisfaction, Shigeto, Dirty Beaches, MNDR, Teen Daze, Young Galaxy, Light Asylum, Beacon, Big Black Delta, and more
Why: Electronica comes to venues across Seattle.
Web: dbfestival.com
What: Pop Montréal
Where: Montréal, QC, Canada
When: September 25-29
Who: Portugal. The Man, The Dodos, Brendan Canning, Bernie Worrell, Local Natives, Wild Nothing, Fat Tony, Patrick Watson, Typhoon, Colin Stetson, Dent May, DIANA, Julianna Barwick, Born Gold, Miracle Fortress, and more
Why: The artistic alt-CMJ (see below) showcases acts based on artistic style, not commercial viability, in the snowly but beautifully European Montreal.
Web: www.popmontreal.com
What: Midpoint
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: September 26-28
Who: The Breeders, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Head & The Heart, Kurt Vile, The Thermals, Murder By Death, Warpaint, Foxygen, Cody Chesnutt, Daughter, METZ, Kishi Bashi, Julianne Barwick, Baths, On An On, Bleached, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Dent May, Caveman, Ha Ha Tonka, Perfume Genius, Youth Lagoon, American Royalty, Bad Veins, Bear’s Den, and more
Why: Queen City’s festival-cum-industry showcase returns to the Over-the-Rhine district.
Web: www.mpmf.com
What: Pygmalion
Where: Champaign-Urbana, IL
When: September 26-28
Who: The Breeders, The Head & The Heart, Major Lazer, Dawes, Kurt Vile, Warpaint, Daughter, Foxygen, Youth Lagoon, Kishi Bashi, Bleached, METZ, Damien Jurado, Cory Chisel, Murder By Death, Caveman, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Jonathan Rice, On An On, Little Green Cars, and more
Why: Central Illinois’s Pygmalion Music Festival returns for an eighth year.
Web: pygmalionmusicfestival.com
What: Goner
Where: Memphis, TN
When: September 26-29
Who: Mudhoney, Cosmic Psychos, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Guitar Wolf, Ex-Cult, Tyvek, The Onyas, and more
Why: Goner Fest brings a weekend of rock ‘n’ roll to Memphis for a tenth year.
Web: www.goner-records.com/gonerfest
What: Cropped Out
Where: Louisville, KY
When: September 27-29
Who: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, The Endtables, Lambchop, Endless Boogie, Wolf Eyes, CAVE, Steve Gunn, and more
Why: This DIY fest keeps artists from being Cropped Out.
Web: croppedoutmusic.com/fest
What: Global Citizen
Where: New York, NY
When: September 28
Who: Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon, Alicia Keys, and John Mayer, and more
Why: Four big names take to the Great Lawn in Central Park for a free (ticketed) concert to fight global poverty.
Web: globalfestival.com
What: Abbot Kinney
Where: Venice, CA
When: September 29
Who: Nite Jewel, Slow Magic, Living Things, American Royalty, and more
Why: Venice-on-the-Pacific gets a festival.
Web: abbotkinney.org
What: Mutek Mexico City
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: September 30 – October 6
Who: Amon Tobin, Jamie Lidell, The Field, Delorean, Matmos, Mount Kimbie, Falty DL, and more
Why: After hitting up Montreal (see above), the international electronic music festival Mutek goes to the other side of NAFTA (and completes skips the ol’ U.S. of A…).
Web: www.mutek.mx/mutekmx2013
October
What: Mutek Mexico City
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: September 30 – October 6
Who: Amon Tobin, Jamie Lidell, The Field, Delorean, Matmos, Mount Kimbie, Falty DL, and more
Why: After hitting up Montreal (see above), the international electronic music festival Mutek goes to the other side of NAFTA (and completes skips the ol’ U.S. of A…).
Web: www.mutek.mx/mutekmx2013
What: III Points
Where: Miami, FL
When: October 3-5
Who: James Murphy, Jamie XX, DJ Shadow, Miami Horror, Hercules & Love Affair, The Juan Maclean, and more
Why: Big-name alt-DJs and more at home in Miami.
Web: iiipoints.com
What: Eagle Rock
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: October 4
Who: Bosnian Rainbows, Nguzunguzu b2b Kingdom, Poolside, Dub Club, Young Adults, and more
Why: Music comes to Los Angeles’ Eagle Rock Plaza.
Web: ermf.dola.com
What: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: October 4-6
Who: Chris Isaak, Robert Earl Keen, Manchester Orchestra, Richard Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Justin Townes Earle, Los Lobos, Ryan Bingham, Shovels & Rope, Spirit Family Reunion, Calexico, G. Love & Special Sauce, The Devil Makes Three, Trampled By Turtles, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Gogol Bordello, Moonalice, The String Cheese Incident, Billy Bragg, Father John Misty, Nick Lowe, Conor Oberst, The Felice Brothers, First Aid Kit, Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, MC Hammer, Mark Lanegan, Patty Griffin, Low, LP, Natalie Maines, Tift Merritt, and more
Why: Golden Gate Park welcomes big names that may not be strictly bluegrass, but is free!
Web: www.strictlybluegrass.com
What: Austin City Limits
Where: Austin, TX
When: October 4-6 & 11-13
Who: Depeche Mode, The Cure, Muse, Kings of Leon, Atoms For Peace, Lionel Richie, Phoenix, Wilco, Vampire Weekend, The National, Eric Church, Passion Pit, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, fun., Kendrick Lamar, Franz Ferdinand, Tame Impala, Local Natives, Toro y Moi, Grimes, Portugal. The Man, Silversun Pickups, The Joy Formidable, Neko Case, Divine Fits, Grouplove, Jimmy Eat World, The Black Angels, Okkervil River, Purity Ring, Dawes, HAIM, Smith Westerns, Junip, Walk the Moon, Vintage Trouble, Noah & The Whale, Lissie, Pinback, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Wild Belle, Phosphorescent, Thao, FIDLAR, White Denim, Jake Bugg, Electric Guest, Wild Nothing, Typhoon, Hundred Waters, Electric Six, MS MR, Widowspeak, and many, many more
Why: ‘The Live Music Capital of the World’ & America’s longest-running live music show bring their festival back to Zilker Park with another ridiculously stocked line-up of both old & new, mainstream & not – for two weekends! Read much more in our recap here
Web: www.aclfestival.com
What: Canned
Where: Denton, TX
When: October 5
Who: Menomena, The Helio Sequence, Joe Pug, and more
Why: Beer + music.
Web: untapped-festival.com/canned/
What: CBGB
Where: New York, NY
When: October 8-12
Who: My Morning Jacket, The Wallflowers, Grizzly Bear, Divine Fits, Tommy Ramone, Meat Puppets, Spank Rock, Amanda Blank, Atlas Genius, Jesse Malin, Bell X1, Lisa Loeb, Obits, Dale Eartnhardt Jr. Jr., Hanni El Khatib, Bass Drum of Death, Reid Paley, Clementine & The Galaxy, Zulu Wave, and more
Why: Venues across the Big Apple celebrate the classic one that ain’t there no more. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: www.cbgb.com
What: Culture Collide
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: October 9-12
Who: Liars, King Khan & The Shrines, The Raveonettes, Miami Horror, Iceage, The Men, Bleached, Rob Crow, Fuck Buttons, No Joy, Gliss, Incan Abraham, Heliotropes, and more
Why: Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide festival returns to venues across Los Angeles for a fourth year. Read & see much more in our 2012 recap here
Web: culturecollide.com
What: Mexican Summer
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: October 11-12
Who: Spiritualized, Ariel Pink, No Joy, Tamaryn, The Fresh & Onlys, and more
Why: Mexican Summer Records celebrates five years.
Web: www.mexicansummer.com
What: Corona Capital
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: October 12-13
Who: Queens of the Stone Age, deadmau5, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Sigur Rós, The xx, Vampire Weekend, fun., M.I.A., The Breeders, Travis, Imagine Dragons, Jimmy Eat World, Blondie, The Crystal Method, Stereophonics, Dinosaur Jr., Conor Oberst, Miles Kane, Matt & Kim, Grimes, White Lies, The Dandy Warhols, Portugal. The Man, Gary Clark Jr., The Presets, Palma Violets, Kurt Vile, Fuck Buttons, Jake Bugg, Death Grips, The Black Angels, Capital Cities, Savages, IO ECHO, Toy, MS MR, Iceage, Robert DeLong, Deap Vally, Perfume Genius, The Postelles, and more
Why: Head down Mexico way for a festival as good as any north of the Rio Grande.
Web: www.coronacapital.com.mx
What: CMJ
Where: New York, NY
When: October 15-19
Who: Placebo, The Dismemberment Plan, Menomena, Fuck Buttons, Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Neighborhood, The Helio Sequence, Obits, Saul Williams, Savages, DIANA, Half Moon Run, HAERTS, Glasser, Eleanor Friedberger, Shigeto, RatKing, In the Valley Below, JBM, Bear Mountain, Pictureplane, The History of Apple Pie, Still Corners, Big Black Delta, Magic Man, Orgone, Royal Bangs, and more
Why: Even the collapse of Wall Street can’t stop the rock, as everyone in the industry comes to New York’s plethora of venues, from Bowery to Brooklyn to MSG and beyond. Read & see much more in our big day-by-day recap here
Web: www.cmj.com/marathon
What: New Noise
Where: Santa Barbara, CA
When: October 17-19
Who: HAIM, Holy Ghost!, Andrew W.K., The White Buffalo, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, and more
Why: Here some New Noise in Santa Barbara. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: newnoisesb.org
What: Yonder Harvest
Where: Ozark, AR
When: October 17-19
Who: Yonder Mountain String Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Les Claypool, Railroad Earth, Beats Antique, JJ Grey and Mofro, Kavey Musgraves, Justin Townes Earle, Greensky Bluegrass, Steep Canyon Rangers, The California Honeydrops, Kopecky Family Band, Ha Ha Tonka, Wheeler Brothers, Star & Micey, Quiet Corral, Roadkill Ghost Choir, and more
Why: Jam festival favorite Yonder Mountain String Band put on their own.
Web: yonderharvestfestival.com
What: Index
Where: Dallas, TX
When: October 18-19
Who: Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, DeVotchKa, Real Estate, Lucero, El-P & Killer Mike, Rogue Wave, Sarah Jaffe, Titus Andronicus, Jason Isbell, The Boxer Rebellion, Warpaint, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Kopecky Family Band, and more
Why: Get deep in Deep Ellum.
Web: spune.com/index-fest-2
What: U+N
Where: Baltimore, MD
When: October 18-19
Who: The Gories, Pissed Jeans, Roomrunner, Weekend, Ex-Cult, Hunters, Jaill, Ed Schrader, and more
Why: Unregistered Nurse Booking brings ’em to Baltimore.
Web: unfest.tumblr.com
What: Festival Supreme
Where: Santa Monica, CA
When: October 19
Who: Tenacious D, Tim & Eric, The Mr. Show Experience, The Mighty Boosh, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galikfianakis, Adam Sandler, Tig Notaro, Hannibal Buress, Eric Idle, Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Demetri Martin, Reggie Watts, Beardyman, Craig Robinson, Triumph the Insult Comid Dog, Garfunkel & Oates, Neil Hamburger Band, Nancy & Beth, and more
Why: The greatest band in the world brings a (mostly) comedy festival to the Santa Monica Pier.
Web: festivalsupreme.com
What: Treasure Island
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: October 19-20
Who: Atoms For Peace, Beck, Animal Collective, Major Lazer, James Blake, Little Dragon, Sleigh Bells, Phantogram, Disclosure, STRFKR, Holy Ghost!, Japandroids, Tricky, Real Estate, Lord Huron, HAIM, Palma Violets, Cayucas, Robert DeLong, IO ECHO, Deep Sea Diver, and more
Why: One of the most interesting new festivals, with a Saturday of electronica & a Sunday of indie, continues in one of the most interesting settings. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.treasureislandfestival.com
What: Halifax Pop Explosion
Where: Halifax, NS, Canada
When: October 22-26
Who: The Walkmen, Japandroids, Killer Mike, Fucked Up, Wavves, Shad, By Divine Right, METZ, Suuns, Action Bronson, The Besnard Lakes, Still Life Still, Young Galaxy, Zeus, Royal Canoe, Obits, Great Lake Swimmers, Rah Rah, We Are Wolves, Chad VanGaalen, Hollerado, Dirty Beaches, No Joy, Ghostkeeper, Leif Vollebekk, Hannah Georgas, and more
Why: Who knew little ol’ Halifax had enough venues for a Pop Explosion?
Web: halifaxpopexplosion.com
What: Life Is Beautiful
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: October 25-26
Who: The Killers, Kings of Leon, Beck, Vampire Weekend, Imagine Dragons, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Passion Pit, Jurassic 5, Alabama Shakes, Childish Gambino, Zedd, STS9, Janelle Monae, Purity Ring, Big Gigantic, Portugal. The Man, Danny Brown, Dawes, Cults, Andrew McMahon, The Joy Formidable, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Bada$$, Charli XCX, Living Colour, Allen Stone, HAIM, Capital Cities, Smith Westerns, Youngblood Hawke, twenty one pilots, ZZ Ward, Robert DeLong, Wallpaper., Five Knives, Nico Vega, Cayucas, The Dig, and more
Why: Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas.
Web: www.lifeisbeautifulfestival.com
What: Mountain Oasis
Where: Asheville, NC
When: October 25-27
Who: Nine Inch Nails, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Neutral Milk Hotel, How To Destroy Angels, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Animal Collective, Deltron 3030, Disclosure, Gary Numan, The Orb, Tricky, Zola Jesus, Baths, Mount Kimbie, Jessie Ware, Rudimental, Bosnian Rainbows, Daniel Johnston, How To Dress Well, Ulrich Schnauss, Delorean, and more
Why: While Asheville’s Moogfest (QRO 2011 photos) takes the year off, the city instead welcomes the new Mountain Oasis – including Trent Reznor doing double-duty in both his old & new band, and the return of Neutral Milk Hotel.
Web: mountainoasisfestival.com
What: Pier of Fear
Where: New York, NY
When: October 25-26, 31 – November 1
Who: Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Laidback Luke, Krewella, Waka Flocka, R3HAB, Borgore, Pharrell Williams, and more
Why: Top DJs haunt New York’s Pier 94. Read and see much more in recap of Pier of Fear 2012 here
Web: pieroffear.com
What: Something Wicked
Where: Houston, TX
When: October 26
Who: Tiësto, Wolfgang Gartner, Tommy Trash, Crizzly, Adventure Club, ATB, and more
Why: Something Wicked this way comes.
Web: somethingwickedfestival.com
What: Fest 12
Where: Gainesville, FL
When: October 31 – November 3
Who: ALL, Lucero, Bouncing Souls, Titus Andronicus, Torche, Obits, Mustard Plug, Tim Barry, Tim Kasher, Off With Their Heads, A Wilhelm Scream, The Night Marchers, Laura Stevenson, Look Mexico, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Flatliners, Fake Problems, The Menzingers, Paint It Black, Smoke or Fire, Larry & His Flask, Blacklist Royals, Cobra Skulls, Banner Pilot, and more
Why: Punk of all stripes returns to north Florida over Halloween.
Web: www.thefestfl.com
November & December
What: Fest 12
Where: Gainesville, FL
When: October 31 – November 3
Who: ALL, Lucero, Bouncing Souls, Titus Andronicus, Torche, Obits, Mustard Plug, Tim Barry, Tim Kasher, Off With Their Heads, A Wilhelm Scream, The Night Marchers, Laura Stevenson, Look Mexico, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Flatliners, Fake Problems, The Menzingers, Paint It Black, Smoke or Fire, Larry & His Flask, Blacklist Royals, Cobra Skulls, Banner Pilot, and more
Why: Punk of all stripes returns to north Florida over Halloween.
Web: www.thefestfl.com
What: Tinderbox
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: November 1
Who: Deerhoof, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Elizabeth & Catapult, Dynasty Electric, Alyson Greenfield, and more
Why: Leading NYC indie ladies get together at Music Hall of Williamsburg (QRO venue review) to support charities Girls Write Now & Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls. Read & see more in our 2011 recap here
Web: tinderboxmusicfestival.com
What: Voodoo Experience
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: November 1-3
Who: Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Kid Rock, Calvin Harris, Bassnectar, Paramore, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Afrojack, Boys Noize, The Gaslight Anthem, Big Gigantic, How To Destroy Angels, Matt & Kim, Alkaline Trio, Desaparecidos, Beats Antique, New Found Glory, Cults, Delta Rae, Anamanaguchi, Allen Stone, Youngblood Hawke, ZZ Ward, Destructo, Rudimental, Shovels & Rope, LP, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Hockey, A Silent Film, Robert DeLong, The Virginmarys, The Apache Relay, Those Darlins, Reignwolf, and more
Why: Though the calendar forces it to start after All Hallow’s Eve, expect sights & sounds that you won’t/can’t forget in the Big Easy. See much more in our 2009 photo gallery here
Web: thevoodooexperience.com
What: BuzzFest
Where: The Woodlands, TX
When: November 2
Who: Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Pennington, Cage the Elephant, Chevelle, and more
Why: Buzz comes to Houston.
Web: www.thebuzz.com/pages/buzzfest-31.html
What: Barsuk Records 15th Anniversary
Where: Seattle, WA
When: November 7-10
Who: Nada Surf, Menomena, The Long Winters, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Mates of State, Maps & Atlases, David Bazan, Rocky Votolato, Yellow Ostrich, Chris Walla, Laura Gibson, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Minor Alps, and more
Why: Veteran Seattle indie imprint Barsuk celebrates fifteen years and counting.
Web: www.barsuk.com/home/xv
What: Brooklyn Electronic
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: November 8-10
Who: Pete Tong, Tod Terje, Skream, John Digweed, Star Slinger, Oneohtrix Point Never, and more
Why: Brooklyn + electronic music. Read and see much more in our recap of BEMF 2009 here
Web: brooklynemf.com
What: Fun Fun Fun Fest
Where: Austin, TX
When: November 8-10
Who: M.I.A., Slayer, MGMT, Snoop Dogg, Descendents, Tenacious D, Cut Copy, Jurassic 5, FLAG, Patton Oswalt, Bonobo, The Walkmen, Lupe Fiasco, Death Grips, Ice-T, Television, Craig Robinson, RJD2, Deltron 3030, Doug Benson, Big Freedia, Subhumans, Chromatics, Rob Delaney, Glass Candy, Deerhunter, Body Count, August Burns Red, Jenny Slate, Thee Oh Sees, Cloud Nothings, The Dismemberment Plan, Cro-Mags, Shlohmo, Washed Out, Johnny Marr, Little Boots, Kurt Vile, Delorean, The Men, Star Slinger, The Polyphonic Spree, Title Fight, Small Black, King Khan & The Shrines, The Julie Ruin, Chelsea Light Moving, Daniel Johnston, Raking, Mac DeMarco, Merchandise, Beach Fossils, Ola Podrida, Cayucas, Quasi, and more
Why: The worst-titled music festival in the world somehow moved down to the shores of Austin, with another stocked line-up. Read & see much more in our 2012 recap here
Web: www.funfunfunfest.com
What: Coastline
Where: Tampa, FL & West Palm, FL
When: November 9-10
Who: Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, Two Door Cinema Club, The Joy Formidable, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Neighbourhood, Surfer Blood, Capital Cities, The Mowgli’s, St. Lucia, Blondfire, and more
Why: Both Tampa and West Palm Beach get to experience Coastline.
Web: www.coastlinefestival.com
What: Paste Untapped – Houston
Where: Houston, TX
When: November 16
Who: The Walkmen, Heartless Bastards, Big Black Delta, Wild Moccasins, and more
Why: Paste brings indie music & beer to Houston.
Web: untapped-festival.com
What: M Is For Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: November 20-23
Who: Mac DeMarco, Thundercat, Magical Cloudz, Thus:Owls, A Tribe Called Red, Damien Robitaille, Laura Mvula, Gros MenŽ, Young Galaxy, A Wilhelm Scream, Paul Langlois, and more
Why: ‘M’ doesn’t just stand for ‘murder’.
Web: www.mformontreal.com/mformontreal
What: Not So Silent Night
Where: Oakland, CA
When: December 6-7
Who: Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, alt-J, Queens of the Stone Age, AFI, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, BÆstille, The Neighbourhood, Capital Cities, and more
Why: Live 105 hosts two not-so-silent nights.
Web: live105.cbslocal.com/show/not-so-silent-night
What: The Big Ticket
Where: Jacksonville, FL
When: December 8
Who: Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Jimmy Eat World, The Dirty Heads, A Day To Remember, Manchester Orchestra, twenty-one pilots, Frank Turner, The 1975, and more
Why: It’s a Big Ticket with big names in Jacksonville.
Web: www.thebigticketfest.com
What: Chris-Mix
Where: Santa Rosa, CA
When: December 12
Who: Matt Nathanson, Vicci Martinez, and more
Why: Mix 104.9 and Wells Fargo Center For the Arts hosts a benefit for The Redwood Empire Food Bank.
Web: www.mix1049fm.com/chrismix2013.aspx
What: True
Where: Scottsdale, AZ
When: December 14
Who: The Flaming Lips, Bassnectar, Wiz Khalifa, Capital Cities, Lord Huron, GRiZ, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, hello goodbye, Kopecky Family Band, and more
Why: Electronica & more come to Arizona.
Web: www.truemusicfestival.com
What: Lights All Night – Dallas
Where: Dallas, TX
When: December 27-28
Who: deadmau5, Kaskade, Fedde Le Grand, Nicky Romero, Above & Beyond, Krewella, R3HAB, Major Lazer, Icona Pop, A-Trak, Paper Diamond, The Knocks, and more
Why: The lights will be on all night in Dallas.
Web: lightsallnight.com/dallas/
What: Lights All Night – Mexico City
Where: Dallas, TX
When: December 31
Who: Nicky Romero and more
Why: The lights will be on all night on New Year’s Eve in Mexico City.
Web: lightsallnight.com/mexico-city/
