2012 has come up on us, and as long as the Mayans are wrong,. that means another year full of festivals across North America. Keep track of them all with our massive, constantly-updated year-round guide. See last year's Festival Guide
Total festivals with line-up: 108
Total festivals with dates: 205
Updated continuously throughout the year with new acts, dates, festivals & coverage
View QRO Magazine 2012 Festival Guide in a larger map
January & February
What: American Songbook
Where: Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: January 11-February 11
Who: Thurston Moore, tUnE-yArDs, Ozomatli, Keren Ann, Jonatha Brooke, Bill Callahan, and more See dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Why: Pretty much the classiest venue out there, Lincoln Center celebrates American songwriting in the first two months of 2012 at Allen Room. See our venue review & photos of Lincoln Center's Allen Room here
Web: www.americansongbook.org
What: Ladyfest
Where: Cambridge, MA
When: February 3-5
Who: Girlfriends, Thick Shakes, Shoppers, This Is My Fist, Donna Lethal & Alice Bag, and
more
Why: Celebrate feminism at Ladyfest. Read more in our preview here
Web: ladyfestboston.blogspot.com
What: Shivering Songs
Where: Fredericton, NB, Canada
When: February 3-5
Who: Mark Kozelek, The Olymphic Symphonium, Hot Toddy, Postdata, David Myles, and
more
Why: The Olymphic Symphonium's hometown festival returns for a second year.
Web: shiveringsongs.com
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: February 4-March 28
Who: Richard Reed Parry, Dan Deacon, This Will Destroy You, Glasser, Oneida, Sxip Shirley, yMusic, Rhys Chatham, Calder Quartet, and more See February dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the second year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Bruise Cruise
Where: Miami, FL to the Bahamas
When: February 10-13
Who: Fucked Up, King Khan & The Shrines, Thee Oh Sees, The
Soft Pack, The Dirtbombs, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Neil Hamburger,
Jello Biafra, and more
Why: Garage-rock takes the high seas for a secon year at the Bruise Cruise returns to international waters?... See photos of 2011 kick-off party in Miami here
Web: www.bruisecruisefestival.com
What: Noise Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 21-26
Who: Flaming Lips, Built To Spill, Sleigh Bells, Bob Mould, Archers of Loaf, Die Antwoord, Atlas Sound, Porter Robinson, Surfer Blood, Cursive, The Dodos, Wye Oak, Matthew Dear, Craig Finn, Veronica Falls, Imperial Teen, Budos Band, The Soft Pack, Grimes, Papercuts, John Vanderslice, Big Freedia, Two Gallants, Laura Viers, The Fresh & Onlys, Bleached, Born Gold, Ume, Sea of Bees, Hollerado, Talkdemonic, The Lonely Forest, Hospitality, AU, Cate Le Bon, Chapter 24, Fidlar, Tropicle Popsicle, and many more
Why: Venues across San Francisco start the 2012 festival season, with a nice line-up of acts from the hottest in today's indie-rock to ultra-vets & in between for Noise Pop's 20th anniversary.
Web: 2012.noisepop.com/
March
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: February 4-March 28
Who: Richard Reed Parry, Dan Deacon, This Will Destroy You,
Glasser, Oneida, Sxip Shirley, yMusic, Rhys Chatham, Calder Quartet, and
more See March dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the
second year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Musink
Where: Costa Mesa, CA
When: March 2-4
Who: Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Tiger Army, Against Me!, Yellowcard, Bayside, and more
Why: An eclectic mix of acts come to Vail Valley for the skiing & the music.
Web: www.musink.org
What: Snowball
Where: Vail Valley, CO
When: March 2-4
Who: Snoop Dogg, TV On the Radio, Big Boi, The Kooks, Rusko, Major Lazer, Ghostland Observatory, Deer Tick, Beats Antique, Bassnecatar, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., The Head and The Heart, Tribes, Big Freedia, Princeton, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Princeton, Gardens & Villa, Small Black, Pictureplane, Gauntlet Hair, Bag Raiders, Nathaniel Rateliff, and more
Why: An eclectic mix of acts come to Vail Valley for the skiing & the music.
Web: snowballmusicfestival.com
What: Smokeout
Where: San Bernadino, CA
When: March 3
Who: Cypress Hill, Sublime with Rome, Korn, Thievery Corporation, Wiz Khalifa, Wolfgang Gartner, Rusko, Mobb Deep, Curren$y, and more
Why: Cypress Hill throws a Smokeout with herb-loving acts, a medical mairjuana expo, and even a "patient consumption area".
Web: www.smokeoutfestival.com
What: Savannah Stopover
Where: Savannah, GA
When: March 7-10
Who: The War On Drugs, The Love Language, Caveman, Grimes, Girl In a Coma, PUJOL, Jukebox the Ghost, Oberhofer, The Men, Zambri, Prince Rama, Royal Baths, Born Gold, Turbo Fruits, Eternal Summers, Savoir Adore, Delected Scenes, Delicate Steve, Dinosaur Feathers, The Suzan, The Big Sleep, Milagres, Christopher Paul Stelling, and
more
Why: Before heading to SXSW (see below), stopover in Savannah. Read & see much more in our recap here
Web: savannahstopover.com
What: Orange You Glad
Where: Orlando, FL
When: March 8-11
Who: Cults, Tennis, Caveman, Everything is Terrible!, Fake Problems, The Big Sleep, Zambri, Hospitality, Spectrals, Mr. Gnome, Grandchildren, Deleted Scenes, and
more
Why: Another warm city in the south schedules a small fest before SXSW (see below).
Web: www.orangeyougladfest.com
What: 35 Denton
Where: Denton, TX
When: March 8-11
Who: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Built To Spill, Mountain Goats, Devin the Dude, Atlas Sound, Dum Dum Girls, John Vanderslice, Thee Oh Sees, The Hood Internet, El Ten Eleven, Class Actress, Oberhofer, Light Asylum, Gardens & Villa, High Places, Bleached, Julianna Barwick, Evangelicals, Sleep ∞ Over, Dinosaur Feathers, Xray Eyeballs, Mannequin Men, Psychedelic Horseshit, Twin Tigers, Chapter 24, and
more
Why: 35 Conferette drops the 'Conferette', picks up the 'Denton' & about a million indie bands hitting the town before SXSW (see below).
Web: www.35conferette.com
What: Winter Music Conference
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 8-12
Who: Paul Oakenfold, Sander Kleinenberg, LA Riots, Felix Cartal, Treasure Fingers, Umek, Groove Junkies, Black Coffee, Stacy Kidd, Jamie Lewis, Todd Terry, Heavy Grinder, Robin S., Gramophonedzie, Luis Radio, Static Plastic, Alex Kenji, and more
Why: Right before SXSW (see below), the Winter Music Conference hosts parties, panels & more - often pool-side.
Web: www.wintermusicconference.com
What: Foburg
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: March 9-11
Who: Maps & Atlases, Japanther, J Roddy Walston & The Business, Big Freedia, David Vandervelde, The Men,The Pharmacy, The Features, Backwords, and more
Why: Frenchmen Street gives people a reason to stick around in
New Orleans the month after Mardi Gras (and the weekend before
South-by-Southwest - see below).
Web: foburgneworleans.com
What: 72180
Where: Puebla, Mexico
When: March 10
Who: Public Enemy, Modest Moust, Peter Murphy, Blonde Redhead, Z-Trip, Datarock, Kid Sister, VHS or Beta, and more
Why: Head down Mexico way to the 72810.
Web: www.72810.mx
What: Nrmal
Where: Monterrey, Mexico
When: March 10
Who: Girls, Davila 666, Bam Bam, Los Rakas, Astro, Liturgy, Grimes, Friends, James Ferraro, Javelin, Teengirl Fantasy, Pictureplane, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pricne Rama, Widowspeak, Coasting, and more
Why: Mexico has not one, but two festivals on March 10th...
Web: www.festivalnrmal.net
What: Never Say Never
Where: Mission, TX
When: March 13-14
Who: Wiz Khalifa, Asking Alexandra, The Early November,
hellogoodbye, I See Stars, Forever the Sickest Kids, We Are the In
Crowd, Outasight, and more
Why: Has the temerity to overlap with South-by-Southwest (see below), in the same state, and share the same name as an emo band & Justin Bieber song/'movie'.
Web: www.neversayneverfestival.com
What: South by Southwest
Where: Austin, TX
When: March 13-18
Who: A million-and-one forever - Read about everyone & everythign going down (official & unofficial) in our preview here
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 2011 our recap here
Web: sxsw.com
What: Beyond Wonderland
Where: San Bernadino, CA
When: March 17
Who: Armin van Buuren, Dirty South, Magnetic Man, Steve Aoki, Felix Cartal, and more
Why: The usual electo-DJ line-up.
Web: www.beyondwonderland.com
What: Valley of the Vapors
Where: Hot Springs National Park, AR
When: March 18-24
Who: Oberhofer, Maps and Atlases, The Big Sleep, Ume, Japanther, Jeffrey Lewis, The Black Belles, Cloud
Nothings, Maps & Atlases, Japanther, Girl In a Coma, Prince Rama, Grandchildren, Pujol, Wooden Wand, 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: Neon Reverb
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 20-25
Who: YACHT, VHS or Beta, Crystal Antlers, Nico Vega, Chapter 24, 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: Canadian Music Fest
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: March 21-25
Who: Slash, Jeff Beck, Passion Pit, Childish Gambino, Saul Williams, Temper Trap, Fanfarlo, Dan Mangan, The Cat Empire, Hot Panda, Dragonette, Rich Aucoin, Twin Atlantic, Housse de Racket, Oberhofer, Via Audio, Filigar, Cadence Weapon, The Big Sleep, The Sheepdogs, 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!...) - and Slash!
Web: canadianmusicfest.com
What: Fareveller
Where: Memphis, TN
When: March 22-24
Who: Maps & Atlases, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Those Darlins, The Hood Internet, The Black Belles, Canon Blue, Ume, and more
Why: Memphis music of today tries to step out of the shadow of Memphis music of yesterday in this new indie festival.
Web: www.fareveller.com
What: Ultra
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 23-25
Who: Tiësto, Kraftwerk, Justice, Avivii, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Skrillex, Afrojack, Miike Snow, Pretty Lights, New Order, Fatboy Slim, M83, 2manyjs, Kaskade, Bassnectar, Chase & Status, Bloody Beetroots, A-Trak, Porter Robinson, Neon Indian, Metronomy, Little Dragon, 12th Planet, Skream & Benga, Magnetic Man, Steve Aoki, Sander Van Doorn, Flying Lotus, SBTRKT, Benny Benassi, Gossip, DJ Shadow, and many more
Why: Downtown Miami throws down the beats with America's best electro-dance festival. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.ultramusicfestival.com
What: JunoFest
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
When: March 30-31
Who: Austra, Fucked Up, Hollerado, and more
Why: Venues around Canada's capital celebrate the Great White North's Grammy, the Juno.
Web: junoawards.ca/events/juno-week-events/junofest
What: Nowadays
Where: Bethlehem, PA
When: March 30-31
Who: RJD2, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., We Are Scientists, Jukebox the Ghost, Xylos, Ambassadors, Caveman, Maps & Atlases, Buried Beds, Bleeding Rainbow, Sun Airway, ARMS, and more
Why: Nowadays everyone's throwing a festival.
Web: www.artsquest.org/festivals/nowadays
What: Extreme Thing
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 31
Who: The Used, Underoath, Less Than Jake, Everlast, Unwritten Law, Mickey Avalon, Transit, and more
Why: 'Extreme Thing' is seriously it's name - how much more UNextreme can you get?
Web: www.extremething.com
What: Mission Creek
Where: Iowa City, IA
When: March 27 - April 1
Who: The Magnetic Fields, David Cross, Seun Kuti & Egypt 60, The Antlers, William Elliot Whitmore, Justin Townes Earle, Sharon Van Etten, Tim Hecker, Rhys Chatham, The War On Drugs, Kimya Dawson, Dirty Beaches, Bowerbirds, Mike Doughty, Oberhofer, Erase Errata, Like Pioneers, Rene Hell, The Poison Control Center, Gardens & Villa, and more
Why: Iowa City kicks if off early with some interesting names. Read & see more in our 2011 coverage here
Web: missionfreak.com
What: Music Now
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: March 29 - April 1
Who: Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Sam Amidon, and more
Why: One of the classiest music festivals out there.
Web: www.musicnowfestival.org
What: SnowMont
Where: Killington, VT
When: March 30 - April 1
Who: Kaskade, Snoop Dogg, The Flaming Lips, Slightly Stoopid, Big Boi, Chromeo, Diplo, Lotus, Porter Robinson, Railroad Earth, DJ Shadow, Kid Sister, and more
Why: Climb Killington for SnowMont.
Web: snowmontmusicfestival.com
April
What: Mission Creek
Where: Iowa City, IA
When: March 27 - April 1
Who: The Magnetic Fields, David Cross, Seun Kuti & Egypt 60,
The Antlers, William Elliot Whitmore, Justin Townes Earle, Sharon Van
Etten, Tim Hecker, Rhys Chatham, The War On Drugs, Kimya Dawson, Dirty
Beaches, Bowerbirds, Mike Doughty, Oberhofer, Erase Errata, Like
Pioneers, Rene Hell, The Poison Control Center, Gardens & Villa, and more
Why: Iowa City kicks if off early with some interesting names. Read & see more in our 2011 coverage here
Web: missionfreak.com
What: Music Now
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: March 29 - April 1
Who: Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Sam Amidon, and more
Why: One of the classiest music festivals out there.
Web: www.musicnowfestival.org
What: SnowMont
Where: Killington, VT
When: March 30 - April 1
Who: Kaskade, Snoop Dogg, The Flaming Lips, Slightly Stoopid,
Big Boi, Chromeo, Diplo, Lotus, Porter Robinson, Railroad Earth, DJ
Shadow, Kid Sister, and more
Why: Climb Killington for SnowMont.
Web: snowmontmusicfestival.com
What: Brain-Cave
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: April 5 & 7
Who: Monogold, She Keeps Bees, Caged Animals, Family Band, Shilpa Ray, Spanish Prisoners, Firehorse, Team Genius, Magentic Island, GunFight!, EULA, Quiet Loudly, backwords,
and more
Why: Two (non-consecutive) days at Bell House (QRO venue review) thanks to Paper Garden Records. See dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Web: papergardenrecords.com/brain-cave
What: Middle of the Map
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: April 5-7
Who: Mission of Burma, Neon Indian, fun., Fucked Up, Mates of State, Murder By Death, White Denim, Hooray For Earth, Deastro, El Ten Eleven, Owen, The Appleseed Cast, Jonquil, Chad Valley, Acid Mothers Temple, Mr. Gnome, Friends, Molly Mcguire, Old Canes, Minus Story, Unicycle Loves You, Sleeper Agent, The Loom, Christopher Paul Stelling, and many more
Why: Head to the middle of the Google Map.
Web: www.middleofthemapfest.com
What: Together
Where: Boston, MA
When: April 2-8
Who: Nero, RJD2, Big Freedia, Break Science, Fenster, Oneohtrix Point Never, Phill Niblock, RJD2, Treasure Fingers, and more
Why: The Together New England Electronic Music Festival expands as it criss-crosses Boston, graduating from colleges to venues across the city.
Web: www.togetherboston.com
What: Paid Dues
Where: San Bernadino, CA
When: April 7
Who: Wu Tang Clan, Odd Future, Living Legends, Dipset, Kendrick Lamar, Dilated Peoples, Doomtree, and more
Why: Hip-hop acts who have paid their dues.
Web: www.paidduesfestival.com
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Desert Daze
Where: Palm Springs, CA
When: April 12-22
Who: Dengue Fever, Akron/Family, Moving Units, Dead Meadow, Here We Go Magic, The Soft Pack, The Fresh & Onlys, Spindrift, The Entrance Band, Crystal Antlers, Bleached, Young Prisms, THe Henry Clay People, Mini Mansions, and many more
Why: 11 days of music with over 111 bands - all for free.
Web: moonblockparty.org
What: McDowell Mountain
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: April 13-15
Who: Galactic, Keller Williams, Ozomatli, Soulive, EOTO, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and more
Why: Phoenix gets a jam-band festival.
Web: www.mmmf.net/2012
What: Coachella
Where: Indio, CA
When: April 13-15 & 20-21
Who: Radiohead, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, The Black Keys, Bon Iver,
At the Drive-In, Swedish House Mafia, The Shins, Pulp, Justice,
Florence & The Machine, David Guetta, Noel Gallagher, Arctic
Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, La Roux, Explosions In the
Sky, Beirut, M83, Andrew Bird, The Weeknd, Feist, Girl Talk, fIREHOSE,
Cat Power, Calvin Harris, The Hives, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, St.
Vincent, Wild Flag, Girls, The Rapture, Porter Robinson, Santigold, M.
Ward, The Horrors, James, Manchester Orchestra, Neon Indian, Dawes, The
Black Angels, Buzzcocks, Real Estate, Kaiser Chiefs, Destroyer, The Head
and The Heart, Laura Marling, tUnE-yArDs, Grace Potter & The
Nocturnals, Black Lips, First Aid Kit, Oberhofer, Lissie, Metronomy,
Wild Beasts, Housse de Racket, Fanfarlo, and many, many more
Why: The biggest & best festival has grown so big as to
now have expanded to a second weekend, repeating it's once again amazing
line-up. See much more in our photo gallery here
Web: www.coachella.com
What: Telus
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
When: April 13-22
Who: Cat Empire, Michael Franti, Tea Leaf Green, Trouble Andrew, Dragonette, The Sheepdogs, and more
Why: In addition to the snow, come for the sounds at Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
Web: www.wssf.com
What: Wanee
Where: Live Oak, FL
When: April 19-21
Who: The Allman Brothers Band, Furthur, Gov't Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bruce Hornsby, Mickey Hart Band, Leftover Salmon, North Mississippi Allstars, Charles Bradley, 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 20-21
Who: Wiz Khalifa, MUTEMATH, Sleigh Bells, Fitz & The Tantrums, and more
Why: Vanderbilt University knows how to book 'em for its Rites of Spring (fling).
Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/ros
What: BuzzFest
Where: Houston, TX
When: April 21
Who: Korn, Evanescence, Blue October, Cage the Elephant, MUTEMATH, Foxy Shazam, The Features, Neon Trees, Band of Skulls, and more
Why: This counts for 'buzz' in Houston.
Web: www.woodlandscenter.org
What: Move
Where: Albany, NY
When: April 21
Who: The Wombats, Black Taxi, The Aviation Orange, Dead Leaf Echo, 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: Waterfront Wednesday
Where: Louisville, KY
When: April 25 - to be announced
Who: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound and more to be announced
Why: Louisville's Waterfront Wednesday has a show a month on hump day.
Web: www.louisvillewaterfront.com
What: Norman
Where: Norman, OK
When: April 26-28
Who: Portugal. The Man, Hayes Carll, Alejandro Escovedo, Olivia Tremor Control, Other Lives, The Skylar Brothers, Woods, The Giving Tree, MMOSS, Red Wanting Blue, and more
Why: Now in its fifth year, Norman Oklahoma's own free festival & QRO favorite stays sweet. Read & see more in 2010 our recap here
Web: www.normanmusicfestival.com
What: Nocturnal
Where: Apache Pass, TX
When: April 27-28
Who: Tiësto, Rüyksopp, Chromeo, STS9, 12th Planet, AraabMUSIK, AWOLNATION, Calvin Harris, CSS, EOTO, MiM0SA, Nero, Pendulum, Purity Ring, Steve Aoki, and more
Why: A dancetronic festival with many ümlauts & CAPS hits Apache Pass, Texas.
Web: www.nocturnalfestival.com
What: Austin Psychfest
Where: Austin, TX
When: April 27-29
Who: Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Black Angels, The Black Lips, Olivia Tremor Control, Dead Meadow, Woods, Prince Rama, Sleep Over, Ringo Deathstarr, and more
Why: The new Emo's East & Beauty Ballroom play host to a mixture of indie & psych.
Web: www.austinpsychfest.com
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 27-May 6
Who: Trombone Shorty, Eagles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys, Zac Brown Band, John Mayers, The Neville Brothers, Al Green, Herbie Hancock, Ne-Yo, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, Jill Scott, Florence & The Machine, Allen Toussaint, Feist, Bonnie Raitt, Maze, Janelle Monae, Iron & Wine, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Esperanza Spalding, Levon Helm, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Aaron Neville, Galactic, Ani DiFranco, Gomez, and many, many more
Why: My Morning Jacket, Florence & The Machine and Feist playing the
same festival as Eagles, Tom Petty, and The Beach Boys (plus a ton of jazz
& zydeco)? Only in the Big Easy...
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: Sweet Life
Where: Baltimore, MD
When: April 28
Who: Avicii, Kid Cudi, The Shins, Explosions In the Sky, Fitz & The Tantrums, A$AP Rocky, fun., Twin Shadow, Zola Jesus, Delta Spirit, U.S. Royalty, The Knocks, and more
Why: An early festival with some big names comes to Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Web: sweetlifefestival.com
What: Rockville
Where: Jacksonville, FL
When: April 29
Who: Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Shinedown, P.O.D., 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
May
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 27-May 6
Who: Trombone Shorty, Eagles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,
Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys, Zac Brown Band, John Mayers, The Neville
Brothers, Al Green, Herbie Hancock, Ne-Yo, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver,
Jill Scott, Florence & The Machine, Allen Toussaint, Feist, Bonnie
Raitt, Maze, Janelle Monae, Iron & Wine, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Grace
Potter & The Nocturnals, Esperanza Spalding, Levon Helm, Sharon
Jones & The Dap-Kings, Aaron Neville, Galactic, Ani DiFranco, Gomez,
and many, many more
Why: My Morning Jacket, Florence & The Machine and Feist playing the
same festival as Eagles, Tom Petty, and The Beach Boys (plus a ton of jazz
& zydeco)? Only in the Big Easy...
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: SunFest
Where: West Palm Beach, FL
When: May 2-6
Who: Counting Crows, Creed, Pitbull, The Fray, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Passion Pit, Foreigner, Third Eye Blind, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Girl Talk, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Herbie Hancock Matisyahu, Coheed & Cambria, All-American Rejects, NEEDTOBREATH, Jesse Baylin, Mean Creek, The Deep Dark Woods, 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: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: May 3-5
Who: The Walkmen, St. Vincent, Beirut, Sharon Van Etten, The Antlers, Atlas Sound, Ava Luna, Buke and Gase, Caveman, Muy Brightest Diamond, Oneohtrix Point Never, Twin Shadow, Tyondai Braxton, yMusic, and more See dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Why: The Roots' ?uestlove & The National's (QRO spotlight on) Dessner Brothers curate this festival at Brooklyn Academy of Music See our venue review & photos of Brooklyn Academy of Music here
Web: www.crossingbrooklynferry.com
What: Beale Street
Where: Memphis, TN
When: May 4-6
Who: Jane's Addiction, My Morning Jacket, Florence & The Machine, Wiz Khalifa, Evanescence, Primus, Girl Talk, Alison Krauss, Al Green, Megadeath, The Civil Wars, Bush, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Lupe Fiasco, The Cult, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Coheed & Cambria, NEEDTOBREATH, Childish Gambino, Cold War Kids, Three 6 Mafia, Son Volt, The Head and the Heart, Jerry Lee Lewis, Black Lips, Volbeat, Gary Clark Jr., Dr. Dog, Robert Randolph, Old 97's, and more
Why: Beale Street's alive with music.
Web: www.thebealestreetmusicfestival.com
What: Carolina Rebellion
Where: Rockingham, SC
When: May 5
Who: Shinedown, Korn, Evanescence, Staind, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Chevelle, P.O.D., Volbeat, and more
Why: This is why The North won.
Web: www.carolinarebellion.com
What: Secret Stages
Where: Birmingham, AL
When: May 11-12
Who: Lambchop, Cities Aviv, Dope Body, Cortney Tidwell, The Kid Daytona, The Deep Dark Woods, and more
Why: A mostly free event that includes a Third Man Rolling Record Store.
Web: www.secretstages.net
What: NYC Popfest
Where: New York, NY
When: May 17-20
Who: Saturday Looks Good To Me, Habibi, Allo' Darlin, The Ladybug Transistor, Wild Moccasins, The Wave Pictures, Seapony, and more
Why: Artists from around the world come to NYC to go pop. See dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Web: www.nycpopfest.org
What: Bamboozle
Where: Asbury Park, NJ
When: May 18-20
Who: Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Skrillex, Blink-182, Incubus, Mac
Miller,
Incubus, Jimmy Eat World, The Bouncing Souls, DJ Pauly D, Mike Posner,
Andrew Dice Clay, The All-American Rejects, Kreayshawn, Outasight, A$AP
Rocky, Miss May I, Bayside, Never Shout Never, The Maine, Motion City
Soundtrack, The Dear Hunter, Hot Water Music, Anti-Flag, and more
Why: Bamboozle leaves the Meadowlands and heads to the Jersey Shore for the Jersey-est line-up ever (it's t-shirt time!).
Web: thebamboozle.com
What: The Hangout
Where: Gulf Shores, AL
When: May 18-20
Who: Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, The String Cheese Incident, Wilco, Skrillex, The Flaming Lips, Chris Cornell, STS9, Gogol Bordello, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Flogging Molly, Coheed & Cambria, Paul Oakenfold, G. Love and Special Sauce, Randy Newman, Young the Giant, Dr. Dog, Cage the Elephant, Dawes, M. Ward, YelaWolf, Switchfoot, Big Freedia, Hey Rosetta!, Rich Aucoin, and more
Why: Hangout on the Shores with this odd line-up.
Web: www.hangoutmusicfest.com
What: HoZac Blackout
Where: Chicago, IL
When: May 18-20
Who: Roky Erikson, Red Kross, Davila 666, Fungi Girls, White Mystery, Estrogen Highs, and more
Why: HOZAC Records takes over Chicago's Empty Bottle for three nights. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: hozacrecords.com
What: Rock On the Range
Where: Columbus, OH
When: May 18-22
Who: Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeath, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon, Theory of a Dead Man, Volbeat, The Darkness, P.O.D., 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: Electric Daisy New York
Where: New York, NY
When: May 18-20
Who: Armin van Buuren, Avicii, Afrojack, Bassnectar, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Fatboy Slim, Pendulum, Erick Morillo, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, and more
Why: Before the big event in Las Vegas (see below), Electric Daisy comes to the East Coast for its first time ever. See dates in QRO NYC Show Preview here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/NewYork
What: Googa Mooga
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: May 19-20
Who: Hall & Oates, The Roots, Fitz & The Tantrums, Holy Ghost!, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Escort, Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, Bear Hands, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Peelander-Z, Fort Lean, and more Read more in our preview here
Why: The Bonnaroo (see below) people are heading to Brooklyn's Prospect Park. See our venue
review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: googamooga.com
What: Lightning In a Bottle
Where: Silverado, CA
When: May 24-28
Who: Bassnectar, The Glitch Mob, Shpongle, Tipper, Lucent Dossier Experience, Apparat, EOTO, Big Giantic, Gramatik, and many more
Why: Trance/electronica captures lightning in a bottle.
Web: lightninginabottle.org
What: I Love This City (San Francisco)
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: May 25-26
Who: Tïesto, Duck Sauce, Afro-Jack, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, James Murphy, Apparat,
Crystal Method, Holy Ghost!, Felix Cartal, Holy Fuck, Shit Robot,
Pictureplane, and more
Why: If you love San Fran & dancetronica.
Web: ilovethiscityfestival.com/wp
What: Bella Fiore
Where: Clarks Grove, MN
When: May 25-27
Who: Primus, Weir, Robinson & Greene Acoustic Trio, Big Gigantic, Shpongle, EOTO, Chali 2na, and more
Why: A smaller but nicer jam fest.
Web: bellafiore.bellamusicfest.com
What: Rocklahoma
Where: Pryor, OK
When: May 25-27
Who: Rod Zombie, Chickenfoot, Creed, Megadeath, Slash, Queensryche, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman, Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., Volbeat, The Darkness, Rival Sons, 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 25-27
Who: moe., Umphrey's McGee, Jane's Addiction, Pretty Lights, Primus, Weir/Robinson/Greene Acoustic Trio, Common, Gov't Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gogol Bordello, G. Love & Special Sauce, Lotus, Zeds Dead, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Shpondgle, EOTO, Ozomatli, 12th Planet, AraabMUSIK, Devil Makes Three, Rubblebucket, 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 25-28
Who: Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise, GBH, English Beat, 7 Seconds, Hepcat, The Adicts, Hot Water Music, and more
Why: Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall takes the punks bowling.
Web: www.punkrockbowling.com
What: Sasquatch!
Where:
George, WA
When:
May 25-28
Who: Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, The Head & The Heart, Explosions In the Sky, Mogwai, M Ward, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, The Joy Formidable, Little Dragon, tUnE-yArDs, Wild Flag, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Blitzen Trapper, Shabazz Palaces, Grouplove, Ted Loe & The Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Dum Dum Girls, Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Active Child, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, STRFKR, We Are Augustines, Hey Rosetta!, Gardens & Villa, Todd Barry, and many, many more
Why: Another amazing line-up from this top-tier festival Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.sasquatchfestival.com
What: Ann Arbor Summer
Where: Ann Arbor, MI
When: May 25-July 8
Who: Bonnie Raitt, Feist, Al Green, Rufus Wainwright, Esperanza Spalding, Nelie McKay, Ira Glass, The Low Anthem, The Infamous Stringdusters, 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 Arbor
get a much-needed reason to smile with this three-week Summer Fest.
Web: www.annarborsummerfestival.org
What: Homegrown
Where: Dallas, TX
When: May 26
Who: Hayes Carll, Centro-Matic, The Octopus Project, Ume, Girl In a Coma, and more
Why: A nice little fest in Dallas for only fifteen bucks.
Web: homegrownfest.com
What: I Love This City (San Diego)
Where: San Diego, CA
When: May 26-27
Who: Skrillex, A-Trak, The Crystal Method, 12th Planet, MiM0SA, and more
Why: If you love San D & dancetronica.
Web: www.ilovethiscityfestivalsd.com
What: Santa Cruz Blues
Where: Santa Cruz, CA
When: May 26-27
Who: The Doobie Brothers, Jonny Lang, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Joan Osbourne, The Holmes Brothers, and more
Why: Go bluesin' in Santa Cruz.
Web: santacruzbluesfestival.com
What: Movement Electronic
Where: Detroit, MI
When: May 26-28
Who: Public Enemy, Major Lazer, SBTRKT, Claude VonStroke, AraabMUSIK, Lindstrøm, Zeds Dead, and more
Why: Electronic music returns to the city where techno (and much more) was born.
Web: www.movement.us
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 26 - August 21
Who: Jimmy Cliff, Andrew Bird, Bruce Hornsby, Ingrid Michaelson, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matisyahu, Greg Laswell, and more to be announced
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 28 - July 30
Who: Charles Bradley, Jonathan Richman, Chico Trujillo, Cloud Cult, Joan of Arc, James Vincent McMorrow, and more to be announced
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: Chaos In Tejas
Where: Austin, TX
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, The Clean, No Age, A Place
To Bury Strangers, Big Freedia, Antisect, Japanther, The Mob, Best
Coast, Saint Vitus, Iceage, Xeno and Oaklander, This Will Destroy You,
Main Attrakionz, Municipal Waste, and more
Why: Tejas rocks hard.
Web: www.chaosintejas.com
What: Mountain Jam
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Steve Winwood, Gov't Mule, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Roots, Ben Folds Five, James Murphy, Lotus, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dawes, Gary Clark Jr., Carolina Chocolate Drops, Givers, Charles Bradley, Mariachi El Bronx, Simone Felice, The Sheepdogs, Kelli Scar, and more
Why: Despite the name, the festival at Hunter Mountain has been more than just another jam-fest.
Web: mountainjam.com
What: Wakarusa
Where: Mulberry Mountain, AR
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Primus, Weir/Robinson/Greene Acoustic Trio, Umphrey's McGee, Slightly Stoopid, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Girl Talk, Fitz & The Tantrums, Matisyahu, G. Love & Special Sauce, Ghostland Observatory, Beats Antique, Tinariwen, Tea Leaf Green, Gary Clark Jr., Blitzen Trapper, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, 12th Planet, Assembly of Dust, Toubab Krewe, The Sheepdogs, Heartless Bastards, Rubblebucket, Nathaniel Rateliff, and more Read more in our preview here
Why: Now fully enscounced in the Ozarks (after having to exit
Kansas after 2008), Bill Clinton's backwoods gets their jam on. See our photos from the last year in Kansas here
Web: www.wakarusa.com
June
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Ann Arbor Summer
Where: Ann Arbor, MI
When: May 25-July 8
Who: Bonnie Raitt, Feist, Al Green, Rufus Wainwright, Esperanza
Spalding, Nelie McKay, Ira Glass, The Low Anthem, The Infamous
Stringdusters, 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: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 26 - August 21
Who: Jimmy Cliff, Andrew Bird, Bruce Hornsby, Ingrid Michaelson,
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matisyahu, Greg Laswell, and more to
be announced
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 28 - July 30
Who: Charles Bradley, Jonathan Richman, Chico Trujillo, Cloud Cult, Joan of Arc, James Vincent McMorrow, and more to be announced
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: Chaos In Tejas
Where: Austin, TX
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Sham 69, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, The Clean, No Age,
Big Freedia, Antisect, Winter, The Mob, Best Coast, Saint Vitus, Iceage,
Xeno and Oaklander, Main Attrakionz, Municipal Waste, and more
Why: Tejas rocks hard.
Web: www.chaosintejas.com
What: Mountain Jam
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Steve Winwood, Gov't Mule, Michael Franti & Spearhead,
Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Roots, Ben Folds Five, James Murphy, Lotus,
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dawes, Gary Clark Jr., Carolina
Chocolate Drops, Givers, Charles Bradley, Mariachi El Bronx, Simone
Felice, The Sheepdogs, Kelli Scar, and more
Why: Despite the name, the festival at Hunter Mountain has been more than just another jam-fest.
Web: mountainjam.com
What: Wakarusa
Where: Mulberry Mountain, AR
When: May 31 - June 3
Who: Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Primus,
Weir/Robinson/Greene Acoustic Trio, Umphrey's McGee, Slightly Stoopid,
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Girl Talk, Fitz & The
Tantrums, Matisyahu, G. Love & Special Sauce, Ghostland Observatory,
Beats Antique, Tinariwen, Tea Leaf Green, Gary Clark Jr., Blitzen
Trapper, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, 12th Planet, Assembly of Dust,
Toubab Krewe, The Sheepdogs, Heartless Bastards, Rubblebucket,
Nathaniel Rateliff, and more Read more in our preview here
Why: Now fully enscounced in the Ozarks (after having to exit
Kansas after 2008), Bill Clinton's backwoods gets their jam on. See our photos from the last year in Kansas here
Web: www.wakarusa.com
What: Campout East
Where: Buena Vista, VA
When: June 1-2
Who: Cracker, Southern Culture On the Skids, Dexter Romweber Duo, and more
Why: Campout comes to David Lowery's home state on the East Coast - but can it be a Camp Out without Camper Van Beethoven?
Web: www.campouteast.com
What: Dancefestopia
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: June 1-2
Who: Wiz Khalifa, Flo Rida, 3OH!3, Matisyahu, DEV, Yelawolf, 2 Live Crew, Outasight, XV, and more to be announced
Why: Get your dance on in the middle of the country. Read more in our preview here
Web: www.dancefestopia.com
What: Do Division
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 1-3
Who: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Le Butcherettes, The Antlers, O'Death, Murder By Death, BBU, Mannequin Men, Chris Connelly, and more to be announced
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: Hockeyfest
Where: Brantford, ON, Canada
When: June 1-3
Who: Creed, Weezer, Foxy Shazam, Mariana's Trench, Theory of a Deadman, The Trews, Puddle of Mudd, Sloan, Foxy Shazam, and more
Why: "Country, Rock, and Bonus" makes for a painfully mainstream festival celebrating Canada's greatest pasttime.
Web: www.brantfordhockeyfest.com
What: Noise For the Needy
Where: Seattle, WA
When: June 1-10
Who: The Thermals, The Duke Spirit, Laura Gibson, David J, Emily Jane White, and more
Why: Seattle's benefit-cum-festival returns at venues across
the city.
Web: www.noisefortheneedy.org
What: Beach Ball
Where: Kansas City, KS
When: June 2
Who: Metric, The Shins, Foster the People, The Kooks, Flogging Molly, Sublime with Rome, The Joy Formidable, Kimbra, The Antlers, and more
Why: KBRZ throws a Ball about as far away from the Beach as you can get.
Web: beachballkc.com
What: Huichica
Where: Sonoma, CA
When: June 2
Who: Beachwood Sparks, Papercuts, Sonny & The Sunsets, Cotton Jones, The Donkeys, Sea of Bees, and more
Why: Gundlach Bundschu Winery gives you some music to go with you wine-tasting.
Web: huichica.com
What: Meltdown
Where: Grand Pairie, TX
When: June 2
Who: Pretty Lights, Passion Pit, Steve Angello, Sander Van Doorn, Flux Pavilion, Feed Me, Shiny Toy Guns, and more
Why: Melt down under the heat.
Web: www.meltdowndallas.com
What: Free Press
Where: Houston, TX
When: June 2-3
Who: The Avett Brothers, Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Pretty Lights, Afrojack, Flaming Lips, Primus, Erykah Badu, Descendents, Major Lazer, Young the Giant, Major Lazer, Fitz & The Tantrums, Portugal. The Man, Two Door Cinema Club, Best Coast, Diplo, Shabazz Palaces, Starfucker, JEFF: The Brotherhood, Wallpaper., Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Maps and Atlases, Valient Thorr, Big Freedia, Ume, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Girl In a Coma, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Bad Veins, Wild Moccasins, The Big Sleep, and more
Why: Check this cheap & winning festival. Read much more in our preview here
Web: www.freepresssummerfest.com
What: Roots Picnic
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: June 2-3
Who: The Roots, Kid Cudi, De La Soul, James Murphy, Wale, Major Lazer, Diplo, St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, Danny Brown, Shabazz Palaces, Flosstradamus, The Hood Internet, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, and more
Why: The best band in late night returns to Philly's Festival Pier & expands to two days (but will they slow jam the news?).
Web: www.okayplayer.com/rootspicnic
What: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 to August 11
Who: Wilco, M. Ward, Sigur Rós, Dirty Projectors, Hot Chip,
Jimmy Cliff, Lyle Lovett, Mission of Burma, Ghostface Killah, Trombone
Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Laura Marling, Keb' Mo', The Head and the
Heart, Balkan Beat Box, Little Dragon, Yo La Tengo, Gang Gang Dance, Wye
Oak, Wild Flag, Frankie Rose, Lee Fields, Purity Ring, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell's Celebrate Brooklyn!
delivers all summer long, starting with Jimmy Cliff on opening night. See our venue
review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: Central Park SummerStage
Where: Central Park, NY
When: June 5 to August 30
Who: Foster the People, M83, Young the Giant, Norah Jones,
Beach House, Childish Gambino, Guided by Voices, Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., Carolina
Chocolate Drops, Amadou & Mariam, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Dawes, AraabMUSIK, Deer Tick,
Tokyo Police Club, Ozomatli, Theophilus London, Cloud Nothings, Das Racist, EPMD, Kurt
Vile & The Violators, Givers, and more to be announced
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: Twangfest
Where: St. Louis, MO
When: June 6-9
Who: John Doe, Langhorne Slim, Ha Ha Tonka, and more
Why: 88.1 KDHX brings some twang to Middle America.
Web: twangfest.com
What: Bonnaroo
Where: Manchester, TN
When: June 7-10
Who: Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Beach Boys, Bon Iver, Avett Brothers, The Shins, Foster the People, Skrillex, Aziz Ansari, Feist, The Roots, Alice Cooper, Black Star, The Word, Ludacris, Ben Folds Five, Flogging Molly, Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Major Lazer, tUnE-yArDs, Flying Lotus, Umphrey's McGee, Little Dragon, St. Vincent, City and Colour, Civil Wars, Young the Giant, Two Door Cinema Club, NEEDTOBREATHE, Fitz & The Tantrums, Bad Brains, YelaWolf, Dawes, Battles, Black Lips, Phantogram, Charles Bradley, The Kooks, The Joy Formidable, The Antlers, Kurt Vile, Delta Spirit, Laura Marling, Mogwai, War On Drugs, Grouplove, White Denim, EMA, Here We Go Magic, Fruit Bats, Lonely Forest, Mariachi El Bronx, Big Freedia, Dale Earnhardt J. Jr., and many, many more
Why: The granddaddy of indie-meets-jam & more music festivals celebrates its 11th genre-crossing year.
Web: www.bonnaroo.com
What: Electric Daisy
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: June 8-10
Who: Armin Van Buuren, Tiësto, David Guetta, Moby, Avicii, MSTRKRFT, Blue Man Group, will.i.am, Pretty Lights, Calvin Harris, Digitalism, Bassnectar, Little Boots, Steve Aoki, Dada Life, Bassjackers, Martin Solveig, Sander Van Doorn, Erick Morillo, Tommy Trash, and more to be announced
Why: After going to the East Coast for its first time ever (see above), Electric Daisy consolidates to one location - but three days.
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/LasVegas
What: Higher Vision
Where: Santa Rosa, CA
When: June 9
Who: Burning Spear, Tinariwen, The Motet, and more to be announced
Why: While Harmony Festival takes the year off, Sonoma County still gets a day of Higher Vision.
Web: www.highervisionpresents.com
What: H20 - Dallas
Where: Dallas, TX
When: June 9
Who: Juanes, Snoop Dogg, Gym Class Heroes, Weezer, Damian Marley, Ozomatli, Yelawolf, and more to be announced
Why: Univision holds two muy bueno festivals in Dallas & Los Angeles (see below).
Web: h2omusicfestival.com/dallas
What: North by Northeast
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: June 11-17
Who: The Flaming Lips, Bad Religion, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Matthew Good, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, of Montreal, Purity Ring, The Men, No Use For a Name, Bleached, 2:54, Metz, The Death Set, Oberhofer, Plants and Animals, Rival Schools, Hayes Carll, The Black Belles, Grass Widow, Violens, Action Bronson, Eight and a Half, Bass Drum of Death, Porcelain Raft, DZ Deathrays, The Hundred In the Hands, Hollerado, and more to be announced
Why: State support has given Canada a ton of great
alternative acts, and even their own version of South by Southwest in
North by Northeast.
Web: www.nxne.com
What: Burlington Steamboat Days
Where: Burlington, IA
When: June 12-17
Who: Alice Cooper, Twister Sister, Chevelle, Blake Shelton, and more to be announced
Why: Burlington Steamboat Days celebrates its fiftieth year with acts that old.
Web: www.steamboatdays.com
What: Northside
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 14-17
Who: GZA, of Montreal, Jens Lekman, The Thermals, Beach Fossils, Grupo Fantasma, Tinariwen, Starfucker, Kool Keith, The Felice Brothers, Dåm-Funk, Future of the LEft, Screaming Females, Asobi Seksu, Crystal Stilts, Beach Fossils, Mucca Pazza, Chain & The Gang, Frankie Rose, Grass Widow, Buke and Gase, These United States, Neil Hamburger, Pontiak, Eternal Summers, Kid Sister, and more to be announced
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 2011 recap here
Web: www.northsidefestival.com
What: Jazz Winnipeg
Where:
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
When: June 14-23
Who: Robert Plant & The Band of Joy, Janelle Monae, Blonde Redhead, The Hold Steady, Wynton Marsalis, The Antlers, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dåm-Funk, Vijay Iyer, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Luyas, PUJOL, Born Ruffians, Pink Martini, and more
Why:
Instead of another Canadian city's folk music festival, a jazz one.
Web: www.jazzwinnipeg.com
What: Taste of Randolph Street
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 15-17
Who: To be announced
Why: Middle America gives Randolph Street a middling taste.
Web: tasterandolph.com
What: Make Music Pasadena
Where: Pasadena, CA
When: June 16
Who: Grouplove, Grimes, Cults, Dengue Fever, SoKo, Electric Guest, Dam-Funk, Mile Greene, and more to be announced
Why: Pasadena's free fest mixes world & more.
Web: www.makemusicpasadena.org
What: Bro-Am
Where: Encinitas, CA
When: June 16
Who: Switchfoot and more to be announced
Why: Switchfoot hold their eighth annual 'Bro-Am' at
Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, with all the proceeds going to StandUp For
Kids.
Web: www.switchfoot.com/c/bro-am
What: Clearwater
Where: Croton Point Park, NY
When: June 16-17
Who: Ani DiFranco, Martin Sexton, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Béla Fleck, Josh Ritter, Arlo Guthrie, Dawes, The Punch Brothers, Deer Tick, Balkan Beat Box, Alejandro Escovedo, Tinawiren, Ollabelle, Melissa Ferrick, Jill Sobule, Sara Watkins, The Chapin Sisters, Joe Purdy, Forro In the Dark, Elizabeth Mitchell, and more to be announced
Why: Head upstate for the Clearwater of the Hudson River and all the folk you can shake a stick at.
Web: www.clearwater.org/festival
What: Spring Awakening
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 16-17
Who: Skrillex, Afrojack, Benny Benasi, Moby, Carl Cox, Wolfgang Gartner, Diplo, A-Trak, Claude VonStroke, Destructo, Green Velvet, Nobody Beats the Drum, and more
Why: Spring starts in Chicago with electrodance at Soldier Field.
Web: springawakeningfestival.com
What: River to River
Where: Downtown Manhattan, NY
When: June 17-July 15
Who: George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Philip Glass Ensemble, Patrick Watson, Chico Mann, Veronica Falls, The Miracles Club, Loney, Dear, Body Language, The People's Temple, Ecstatic Summer, and more to be announced
Why: River to River celebrates a decade of bring free art to downtown Manhattan, starting with the Bang On a Can Marathon (QRO 2011 photos), with free shows at Castle Clinton, World Financial
Center, and especially South Street Seaport. See our venue review & photos of Castle Clinton here
- See our venue review & photos of South Street
Seaport here - See our venue review & photos of World Financial
Center here
Web: www.rivertorivernyc.com
What: Sled Island
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: June 20-23
Who: Feist, The Hold Steady, Archers of Loaf, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Hot Snakes, Andrew W.K., Thurston Moore, The Antlers, Lou Barlow, Craig Finn, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, The Strange Boys, Timber Timbre, Hayes Carll, Tim Hecker, Russian Circles, Todd Barry, Tim Heidecker, Neil Hamburger, and more
Why: The mammoth & varied Sled Island returns to Calgary.
Web: www.sledisland.com
What: AthFest
Where: Athens, GA
When: June 20-24
Who: Reptar, Yip Deceiver, Atlas Sound, and more to be announced
Why: The home of R.E.M. & The B-52s throw another year of local & imported acts in AthFest.
Web: www.athfest.com
What: Re:Generation
Where: North Plains, OR
When: June 21-24
Who: STS9, Ghostland Observatory, Big Gigantic, MiM0SA, and more to be announced
Why: Re:Generation has the usual electro-dance suspects.
Web: regenerationfestival.com
What: Telluride Bluegrass
Where: Telluride, CO
When: June 21-24
Who: Alison Kraus & Union Station, John Fogerty, Sam Bush Band, Glen Hansard, John Prine, k.d. lang, Bruce Hornsby, Laura Marling, Dan Mangan, and more to be announced
Why: The ski resort of Telluride's
bluegrass festival always brings some big names in along with the jam.
Web: www.bluegrass.com/telluride
What: Wanderlust Vermont
Where: Bondville, VT
When: June 21-24
Who: Ziggy Marley, Ani DiFranco, Beats Antique, The Barr Brothers, and more to be announced
Why: Lake Tahoe's yoga-sponsored music festival (see below) criss-crosses America.
Web: stratton.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Hillstock
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 22-24
Who: Ava Luna, Askalators, The Honey Dos, Math the Band, Pree, You Can Be a Wesley, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!, and more to be announced
Why: Three-day Brooklyn D.I.Y. block party - and the middle day is the best & free. See more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.neverbreakdown.com/hillstock
What: Green Music
Where: Chicago, IL
When: June 23-24
Who: Dinosaur Jr., The Raveonettes, Hey Rosetta!, and more to be announced
Why: The eco-friendly Green Music fest comes to Chicago Ave for only a five dollar donation.
Web: www.greenmusicfestchicago.com
What: Orion
Where: Atlantic City, NJ
When: June 23-24
Who: Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Cage the Elephant, Fucked Up, Jim Breuer, Best Coast, Hot Snakes, Titus Andronicus, Gary Clark Jr., Lucero, Roky Erickson, The Black Angels, the Sword, A Place To Bury Strangers, Liturgy, Torche, Red Fang, and more
Why: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Black Album, Metallica headlines two nights in Atlantic City playing Black & Ride the Lightning in their entireties.
Web: www.orionmusicandmore.com
What: KCRW World
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: June 24-September 9
Who: Hot Chip, Ziggy Marley, Animal Collective, Ben Harper, Glen Campbell, Passion Pit, Flying Lotus, Fitz & The Tantrums, Jackson Browne, Toots and the Maytals, Kris Krisofferson, Dawes, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Omar Souleyman, and more
Why: KCRW brings the world to the Hollywood Bowl.
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/series-detail.cfm?id=61
What: Governors Ball
Where: Randalls Island, NY
When: June 23-24
Who: Beck, Kid Cudi, Passion Pit, Modest Mouse, Duck Sauce, Explosions In the Sky, Chromeo, Fiona Apple, Devendra Banhart, Special Disco Version, Cage the Elephant, Atmosphere, Built To Spill, Major Lazer, Cults, Big Gigantic, Phantogram, Penguin Prison, Freelance Whales, Walk the Moon, Alberta Cross, and more to be announced
Why: In its second year, Governors Ball moves off of Governors Island - and seriously up its game to two days, one electro-dance, one indie-rock. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: governorsballmusicfestival.com
What: River's Edge
Where: St. Paul, MN
When: June 23-24
Who: Dave Matthews Band, Tool, The Flaming Lips, Sublime with Rome, Brand New, Poliça, Motion City Soundtrack, Puscifer, Coheed & Cambria, Scissor Sisters, MUTEMATH, Delta Spirit, Civil Twilight, An Horse, Gardens & Villa, AM & Shawn Lee, Hey Rosetta!, Yawn, and more
Why: Harriet Island welcomes St. Pauli girls & boys to a new festival.
Web: www.riversedgemusicfestival.com
What: Summerfest
Where: Milwaukee, WI
When: June 27-July 1 & July 3-8
Who: Iron Maiden, The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, Lady Antebellum, The Avett Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Common, Cake, Scorpions, Lupe Fiasco, Gary Clark Jr., The Head and The Heart, Robyn, Joss Stone, AWOLNATION, Gavin DeGraw, Atmosphere, Grace Ptter & The Nocturnals, Mutemath, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Joy Formidable, and many more to be announced
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 28 - July 1
Who: The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, STS9, Thievery Corporation, Girl Talk, Santigold, Steve Aoki, Ghostland Observatory, Wolfgang Gartner, Major Lazer, Dada Life, Beats Antique, 12th Planet, Das Racist, Reggie Watts, Gary Clark Jr., Big Freedia, Chali 2na, Glass Candy, Fruit Bats, Pictureplane, Nathaniel Rateliff, Franki Chan, The Knocks, and more to be announced
Why: Double JJ Resort in Rothbury gets its own music festival (QRO photos of final year of Rothbury Festival).
Web: www.electricforestfestival.com
What: Montreal Jazz
Where: Montreal, QC, Canada
When: June 28-July 7
Who: B.B. King, Beirut, George Thorogood & The Destroyer, Ben Harper, JJ Grey & Mofro, Lee Fields, Yann Tiersen, and more to be announced
Why: Jazz has always fit best in Francophone America.
Web: www.montrealjazzfest.com
What: Kate Wolf
Where: Laytonville, CA
When: June 29-July 1
Who: k.d. lang, Lucinda Williams, Texas Tornados, Richard Thompson, Leftover Salmon, Bluehouse, Justin Townes Earle, Loudon Wainwright III, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and more
Why: Ladies & gents are welcome at Kate Wolf.
Web: katewolfmusicfestival.com
July
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Ann Arbor Summer
Where: Ann Arbor, MI
When: May 25-July 8
Who: Bonnie Raitt, Feist, Al Green, Rufus Wainwright, Esperanza
Spalding, Nelie McKay, Ira Glass, The Low Anthem, The Infamous
Stringdusters, 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: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 26 - August 21
Who: Jimmy Cliff, Andrew Bird, Bruce Hornsby, Ingrid Michaelson,
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Matisyahu, Greg Laswell, and more to
be announced
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 28 - July 30
Who: Charles Bradley, Jonathan Richman, Chico Trujillo, Cloud Cult, Joan of Arc, James Vincent McMorrow, and more to be announced
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: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 to August 11
Who: Wilco, M. Ward, Sigur Rós, Dirty Projectors, Hot Chip,
Jimmy Cliff, Lyle Lovett, Mission of Burma, Ghostface Killah, Trombone
Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Laura Marling, Keb' Mo', The Head and the
Heart, Balkan Beat Box, Little Dragon, Yo La Tengo, Gang Gang Dance, Wye
Oak, Wild Flag, Frankie Rose, Lee Fields, Purity Ring, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell's Celebrate Brooklyn!
delivers all summer long, starting with Jimmy Cliff on opening night. See our venue
review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: Central Park SummerStage
Where: Central Park, NY
When: June 5 to August 30
Who: Foster the People, M83, Young the Giant, Norah Jones,
Beach House, Childish Gambino, Guided by Voices, Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., Carolina
Chocolate Drops, Amadou & Mariam, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Dawes, AraabMUSIK, Deer Tick,
Tokyo Police Club, Ozomatli, Theophilus London, Cloud Nothings, Das Racist, EPMD, Kurt
Vile & The Violators, Givers, and more to be announced
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: River to River
Where: Downtown Manhattan, NY
When: June 17-July 15
Who: George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Philip Glass
Ensemble, Patrick Watson, Chico Mann, Veronica Falls, The Miracles Club,
Loney, Dear, Body Language, The People's Temple, Ecstatic Summer, and
more to be announced
Why: River to River celebrates a decade of bring free art to downtown Manhattan, starting with the Bang On a Can Marathon (QRO 2011 photos), with free shows at Castle Clinton, World Financial
Center, and especially South Street Seaport. See our venue review & photos of Castle Clinton here
- See our venue review & photos of South Street
Seaport here - See our venue review & photos of World Financial
Center here
Web: www.rivertorivernyc.com
What: KCRW World
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: June 24-September 9
Who: Hot Chip, Ziggy Marley, Animal Collective, Ben Harper, Glen
Campbell, Passion Pit, Flying Lotus, Fitz & The Tantrums, Jackson
Browne, Toots and the Maytals, Kris Krisofferson, Dawes, Courtney
Taylor-Taylor, Omar Souleyman, and more
Why: KCRW brings the world to the Hollywood Bowl.
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/series-detail.cfm?id=61
What: Summerfest
Where: Milwaukee, WI
When: June 27-July 1 & July 3-8
Who: Iron Maiden, The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, Lady Antebellum,
The Avett Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Common, Cake, Scorpions, Lupe
Fiasco, Gary Clark Jr., The Head and The Heart, Robyn, Joss Stone,
AWOLNATION, Gavin DeGraw, Atmosphere, Grace Ptter & The Nocturnals,
Mutemath, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Joy Formidable, and many more to
be announced
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 28 - July 1
Who: The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, STS9, Thievery
Corporation, Girl Talk, Santigold, Steve Aoki, Ghostland Observatory,
Wolfgang Gartner, Major Lazer, Dada Life, Beats Antique, 12th Planet,
Das Racist, Reggie Watts, Gary Clark Jr., Big Freedia, Chali 2na, Glass
Candy, Fruit Bats, Pictureplane, Nathaniel Rateliff, Franki Chan, The
Knocks, and more to be announced
Why: Double JJ Resort in Rothbury gets its own music festival (QRO photos of final year of Rothbury Festival).
Web: www.electricforestfestival.com
What: Montreal Jazz
Where: Montreal, QC, Canada
When: June 28-July 7
Who: B.B. King, Beirut, George Thorogood & The Destroyer,
Ben Harper, JJ Grey & Mofro, Lee Fields, Yann Tiersen, and more to
be announced
Why: Jazz has always fit best in Francophone America.
Web: www.montrealjazzfest.com
What: Kate Wolf
Where: Laytonville, CA
When: June 29-July 1
Who: k.d. lang, Lucinda Williams, Texas Tornados, Richard
Thompson, Leftover Salmon, Bluehouse, Justin Townes Earle, Loudon
Wainwright III, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and more
Why: Ladies & gents are welcome at Kate Wolf.
Web: katewolfmusicfestival.com
What: Winnipeg Folk
Where:
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
When: July 4-8
Who: Feist, Iron & Wine, Billy Bragg, Beth Orton, Blitzen Trapper, Ozomatli, DeVotchKa, K'NAAN, Charles Bradley, The Head and The Heart, Good Old War, Sam Amidon, The Barr Brothers, Bahamas, Carolina Chocolate Drops, James Vincent McMorrow, Abigail Washburn, Adam Cohen, and more to be announced
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: Bluesfest Ottawa
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
When: July 4-15
Who: Alice Cooper, Tiësto, Conor Oberst, Skrillex, Snoop Dogg, John Mellencamp, Thievery Corporation, Beirut, K'Naan, Our Lady Peace, Metric, Norah Jones, Nickelback, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Iron Maiden, Dirty Projectors, The Weeknd, Charles Bradley, Young the Giant, Mastodon, Seal, Sam Roberts Band, The Postelles, Grimes, City and Colour, Freelance Whales, Zeus, AWOLNATION, Chali 2na, The Hold Steady, The Melvins, Paul Oakenfold, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Chromeo, Good Old War, MSTRKRFT, The Sheepdogs, Blitzen Trapper, Rich Aucoin, Billy Bragg, !!!, and many more
Why: Cisco Systems again treats the capital of Canada to a wide span of acts (Tiësto & Nickelback, together at last!...) over a wide span of days at a wide span of stages.
Web: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
What: High Sierra
Where: Quincy, CA
When: July 5-8
Who: Ben Harper, STS9, Railroad Earth, Galactic, Built to Spill, Toots & The Maytals, Ryan Bingham, ALO, Lotus, Delta Spirit, Soulive, Heartless Bastards, The Devil Makes Three, Deer Tick, The Slip, Surprise Me Mr. Davis, Grupo Fantasma, and more to be announced
Why: California's High Sierra Music Festival, up in the mountains, is stocked with festival staples.
Web: www.highsierramusic.com
What: Wanderlust Colorado
Where: Copper Mountain, CO
When: July 5-8
Who: Ziggy Marley, Beats Antique, Krishna Das, and more to be announced
Why: Lake Tahoe's yoga-sponsored music festival (see below) heads to the middle of the country.
Web: colorado.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Québec City Summer
Where: Québec City, QC, Canada
When: July 5-15
Who: Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metric, The Offspring, Mastodon, Skrillex, Our Lady Peace, LFMAO, Beirut, Big Boi, Patrick Watson, Tedeschi Trucks Band, !!!, Cults, Loney, Dear, Galactic, Grimes, City and Colour, Hey Rosetta!, Yuksek, The Barr Brothers, and many more
Why: The capital of Francophone America hosts an 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: Twilight
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
When: July 5 - August 30
Who: To be announced
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: Basilica Block Party
Where: Minneapolis, MN
When: July 6-7
Who: Train, The Avett Brothers, The Head and the Heart, Fitz & The Tantrums, CAKE, OAR, Mat Kearney, The Lumineers, Graffiti6, and more
Why: Minneapolis holds a music festival - to raise money to renovate The Basilica of St. Mary?...
Web: basilicablockparty.org
What: 80/35
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: July 6-7
Who: Death Cab For Cutie, The Avett Brothers, Dinosaur Jr., Leftover Salmon, Fucked Up, Dan Deacon, Freddie Gibbs, and more to be announced
Why: Better known for corn & presidential primaries, Iowa
has also been holding hold a sweet & diverse 80/35 festival, now in
its fifth year. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.80-35.com
What: Northern Lights Festival Boréal
Where: Sudbury, ON, Canada
When: July 6-8
Who: Daniel Lanois & Black Dub, The Hidden Cameras, Yukon Blonde, 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: WestFest
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 7-8
Who: To be announced in early June
Why: Chicago's West Town has its own free fest.
Web: westfestchicago.com
What: Sonshine
Where: Willmar, MN
When: July 11-14
Who: Switchfoot, Relient K, and more to be announced
Why: Eventually, the Festival Guide was going to include a Christian rock festival.
Web: sonshinefestival.com
What: Camp Bisco
Where: Mariaville, NY
When: July 12-14
Who: The Disco Biscuits, Basnectar, Skrillex, Amon Tobin ISAM, Crystal Castles, Atmosphere, Big Boi, Shpongle, A-Trak, Lotus, Simian Mobile Disco, Dada Life, Zeds Dead, Porter Robinson, Portugal. The Man, Holy Fuck, Chali 2na, Rubblebucket, Tycho, The Knocks, Nick Catchdubs, Codes, Rich Aucoin, and many more
Why: Festival mainstays jam & electro meet at The Disco Biscuits' eleventh year of Camp Bisco.
Web: www.campbisco.net
What: RiverRocks
Where: Hudson River Park, NY
When: July 12 - August 9
Who: Dan Deacon, Oberhofer, Wild Nothing, Grimes, The Soft Pack, John Maus and more
Why: Hudson River Park's RiverRocks moves from Pier 54 (QRO venue review) to Pier 84 for another great season of free shows out on the water.
Web: www.riverrocksnyc.com
What: Camp Euforia
Where: Lone Tree, IA
When: July 13-14
Who: Eufóquestra, William Elliot Whitmore, Split Lip Rayfield, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Future Rock, Head For the Hills, The Ragbirds, and
more
Why: Go camp on the farm.
Web: www.campeuforia.com
What: Bunbury
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: July 13-15
Who: Jane's Addiction, Death Cab for Cutie, Weezer, Airborne Toxic Event, Gym Class Heroes, Guided by Voices, Manchester Orchestra, Minus the Bear, City and Colour, Motion City Soundtrack, O.A.R., Grouplove, Ra Ra Riot, Foxy Shazam, Margot & The Nuclear So & So's, RJD2, Good Old War, Dan Deacon, Maps & Atlases, Jukebox the Ghost, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Now, Now, Kevin Devine, 1,2,3, The Seedy Seeds, and
more to be announced
Why: Nice mix of mainstream & alternative.
Web: bunburyfestival.com
What: Forecastle
Where: Louisville, KY
When: July 13-15
Who: My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Andrew Bird, Sleigh Bells, Atmosphere, Neko Case, A-Track, Flying Lotus, BeacH Hosue, The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog, Deer Tick, Charles Bradley, Beats Antique, Real Estate, Justin Townes Earle, Washed Out, Dean Wareham, Wye Oak, Atlas Sound, Fruit Bats, Ben Sollee, JEFF: The Brotherhood, The Features, Mike Doughty, Tanlines, Sleeper Agent, and more to be announced
Why: After taking last year off, Forecastle returns for its tenth anniversary.
Web: www.forecastlefest.com
What: Pitchfork
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 13-15
Who: Vampire Weekend, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, Sleigh Bells, Wild Flag, AraabMUSIK, Dirty Projectors, Beach House, A$AP Rocky, Chavez, The Field, Atlas Sound, Real Estate, Flying Lotus, Ty Segall, Liturgy, Kendrick Lamar, Grimes, Oneohtrix Point Never, Cults, Iceage, King Krule, Cloud Nothings, Thee Oh Sees, Lower Dens, The Men, Youth Lagoon, Tim Hecker, Dirty Beaches, Purity Ring, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 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 13-15
Who: Ani DiFranco, K'Naan, The Head and the Heart, The Barr Brothers, Dan Mangan, Hey Rosetta!, Blitz the Ambassador, River City Extension, and more to be announced
Why:
Music from all over the world is celebrated at Vancouver's Jericho Beach Park.
Web: thefestival.bc.ca
What: What the Heck?
Where: Anacortes, WA
When: July 13-15
Who: To be announced
Why: It's the eleventh year of asking, "What the Heck?"
Web: whattheheckfest.com
What: 4Knots
Where: New York, NY
When: July 14
Who: Crocodiles and more to be announced
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). See much more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.villagevoice.com/4knots
What: Green River
Where: Greenfield, MA
When: July 14-15
Who: Arlo Guthrie, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Richard Thompson, Rubblebucket, Charles Bradley, Winterpills, Lee Fields, and more to be announced
Why: This lighter jam-folk fest is has hot air balloon rides.
Web: www.greenriverfestival.com
What: Riot Fest East
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: July 19-21
Who: Refused, The Promise Ring, OFF!, and more to be announced
Why: Before the big shindig in Chicago in October, Riot Fest hits up the East Coast. See much more in 2011 our photo gallery here
Web: www.riotfest.org/east
What: All Good
Where: Thornville, OH
When: July 19-22
Who: The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Flaming Lips, Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby w/ Branford Marsalis, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Lotus, G. Love & Special Sauce, Big Gigantic, Galactic, Shpongle, Mickey Hart Band, Railroad Earth, Tea Leaf Green, The Macpodz, and more to be announced
Why: It's all good, brah...
Web: www.allgoodfestival.com
What: Gathering of Vibes
Where: Bridgeport, CT
When: July 19-22
Who: Primus, Phil Lesh, Bob Weird, Branford Marsalis, STS9, Mickey Hart, Zappa Plays Zappa, The Avett Brothers, Mates of State, Toubab Krewe, Outernational, and more to be announced
Why: Gathering of
Vibes is about as jam band-y as the title would suggest (seems like every living member of The Dead is there with their solo band) - but New
England gets precious few festivals.
Web: www.gatheringofthevibes.com
What: Capitol Hill Block Party
Where: Seattle, WA
When: July 20-22
Who: Neko Case, Major Lazer, Fitz & The Tantrums,
Phantogram, Aesop Rock, The Lumineers, Grimes, Diplo, Youth Lagoon, Thee
Oh Sees, Cloud Nothings, Twin Shadow, Dam-Funk, Doomtree, Porcelain
Raft, Whtie Arrows, Light Asylum, Crystal Stilts, Yukon Blonde, and more
Why: The Final? Capitol Hill Block Party.
Web: www.capitolhillblockparty.com
What: Evolve
Where: Antigonish, NS, Canada
When: July 20-22
Who: Break Science with Chali 2na, Dan Deacon, Deerhoof, Hey Rosetta!, Rich Aucoin, Shout Out Out Out Out, 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: Firefly
Where: Dover, DE
When: July 20-22
Who: The Killers, The Black Keys, Jack White, Death Cab For
Cutie, John Legend, The Flamings Lips, Passion Pit, CAKE, Lupe Fiasco,
Girl Talk, Young the Giant, OK Go, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Cold
War Kids, Tinie Tempah, The Wallflowers, AWOLNATION, The Head and the
Heart, Grouplove, Charles Bradley, Bombay Bicycle Club, Mayer Hawthorne
& The County, Cults, Walk the Moon, Blind Pilot, The Felice
Brothers, Heartless Bastards, Mariachi El Bronx, Matt Costa, Reptar, Ra
Ra Riot, Penguin Prison, and more to be announced
Why: The newest entry into the festival game is a strong one in Firefly - and it's in Delaware?!?!
Web: fireflyfestival.com
What: Home County Folk
Where: London, ON, Canada
When: July 20-22
Who: Bahamas, Cuff the Duke, and more to be announced
Why: Victoria Park in London, Canada, has its own festival.
Web: www.homecounty.ca
What: Milwaukee Avenue Arts
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 20-22
Who: To be announced
Why: Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago hosts some local acts.
Web: milwaukeeavenueartsfestival.org
What: XPoNential
Where: Camden, NJ
When: July 20-22
Who: Wilco, Counting Crows, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, The Hold Steady, Kathleen Edwards, The War On Drugs, John Wesley Harding, Patterson Hood, Mike Doughty, Ozomatli, Lee Ranaldo, The Lumineers, Good Old War, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, and more
Why: WXPN 88.5 holds an Americana alt-country fest at Camden's Waterfront.
Web: xpn.org/concerts-events/xponential-music-festival-2012
What: Calgary Folk
Where: Calgary, AB, Canada
When: July 21-24
Who: Chris Isaak, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Jeff Mangum, Rural Alberta Advantage, Randy Newman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Charles Bradley, John Doe, Justin Townes Earle, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Jim White, The Barr Brothers, Blitz the Ambassador, Dan Mangan, 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: SoundTown
Where:
Somerset, WI
When: July 26-28
Who: Jane's Addiction, Florence & The Machine, Weezer, Andrew Birl, Girl Talk, Common, Mayer Hawthorne, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Phantogram, Dr. Dog, Gomez, Best Coast, Heartless Bastards, Mariachi El Bronx, Hayes Carll, White Denim, Those Darlins, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, and more to be announced
Why: Somerset Amphitheater welcomes (now) three fine days of music to Middle America.
Web: somersetamphitheater.com/soundtown-festival
What: FloydFest
Where: Floyd, VA
When: July 26-29
Who: Alison Krauss & Union Station, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brandi Carlile, Matisyahu, Dawes, Bruce Hornsby, Ozomatli, Galactic, Ha Ha Tonka, and more to be announced
Why: Americana-jam at the eleventh FloydFest.
Web: www.floydfest.com
What: Wanderlust California
Where: Lake Tahoe, CA
When: July 26-29
Who: Ziggy Marley, Shpongle, Beats Antique, Krishna Das, Eskmo, and more to be announced
Why: Lake Tahoe's yoga-sponsored music festival comes back for a fourth year - after two satellites fests beforehand (see above).
Web: squaw.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Hillside
Where: Guelph, ON, Canada
When: July 27-29
Who: Bombay Bicycle Club, Memoryhouse, Ohbijou, Chad VanGaalen, Zeus, Great Lake Swimmers, Adam Cohen, Arkells, Bahamas, Rich Aucoin, Elliott BROOD, and more to be announced
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: Catalpa NYC
Where: Randall's Island, NY
When: July 28-29
Who: The Black Keys, Snoop Dogg, TV On the Radio, Girl Talk, Matt & Kim, Umphrey's McGee, City and Colour, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Hercules and Love Affair, AraabMUSIK, The Big Pink, The Sheepdogs, and more to be announced May 21st
Why: Yet another festival on Randall's Island, this new one includes Snoop Dogg playing Doggy Style.
Web: www.catalpanyc.com
What: Newport Folk
Where: Newport, RI
When: July 28-29
Who: My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst, Patty Griffin, The Head & The Heart, Guthrie Family Reunion, Punch Brothers, Dawes, Tallest Man On Earth, tUnE-yArDs, Deer Tick, City and Colour, Tom Morello, Alabama Shakes, Charles Bradley, Sharon Van Etten, Gary Clark Jr., Blind Pilot, First Aid Kit, New Multitudes, Jonathan Wilson, Ben Sollee, and many more
Why: The festival where Bob 'Judas' Dylan is still going strong.
Web: www.newportfolkfest.net
August
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: Nitefall On the River
Where: Des Moines, IA
When: May 26 - August 21
Who: Jimmy Cliff, Andrew Bird, Bruce Hornsby, Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Laswell, and more to be announced
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: Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Brooklyn, NY
When: June 5 to August 11
Who: Wilco, M. Ward, Sigur Rós, Dirty Projectors, Hot Chip,
Jimmy Cliff, Lyle Lovett, Mission of Burma, Ghostface Killah, Trombone
Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Laura Marling, Keb' Mo', The Head and the
Heart, Balkan Beat Box, Little Dragon, Yo La Tengo, Gang Gang Dance, Wye
Oak, Wild Flag, Frankie Rose, Lee Fields, Purity Ring, and more
Why: Once again, Prospect Park Bandshell's Celebrate Brooklyn!
delivers all summer long, starting with Jimmy Cliff on opening night. See our venue
review & photos of Prospect Park Bandshell here
Web: www.briconline.org/celebrate
What: Central Park SummerStage
Where: Central Park, NY
When: June 5 to August 30
Who: Foster the People, M83, Young the Giant, Norah Jones,
Beach House, Childish Gambino, Guided by Voices, Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., Carolina
Chocolate Drops, Amadou & Mariam, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Dawes, AraabMUSIK, Deer Tick,
Tokyo Police Club, Ozomatli, Theophilus London, Cloud Nothings, Das Racist, EPMD, Kurt
Vile & The Violators, Givers, and more to be announced
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: KCRW World
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: June 24-September 9
Who: Hot Chip, Ziggy Marley, Animal Collective, Ben Harper, Glen
Campbell, Passion Pit, Flying Lotus, Fitz & The Tantrums, Jackson
Browne, Toots and the Maytals, Kris Krisofferson, Dawes, Courtney
Taylor-Taylor, Omar Souleyman, and more
Why: KCRW brings the world to the Hollywood Bowl.
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/series-detail.cfm?id=61
What: Twilight
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
When: July 5 - August 30
Who: To be announced
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: RiverRocks
Where: Hudson River Park, NY
When: July 12 - August 9
Who: Dan Deacon, Oberhofer, Wild Nothing, Grimes, The Soft Pack, John Maus and more
Why: Hudson River Park's RiverRocks moves from Pier 54 (QRO venue review) to Pier 84 for another great season of free shows out on the water.
Web: www.riverrocksnyc.com
What: HARD Summer
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: August 3-4
Who: Skrillex, Bloc Party, Miike Snow, Boys Noize, Nero, A-Trak, Chromeo, Magnetic Man, James Murphy, Little Dragon, Bootsy Collins, Fake Blood, 12th Planet, and more to be announced
Why: The dancetronic HARD expands to a second day. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.hardfest.com
What: Gaia
Where: Laytonville, CA
When: August 3-5
Who: Michael Franti and Spearhead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Kinky, Dumpstaphunk, Sierra Leon Refugee All-Stars, Bomba Estereo, Orgone, and more to be announced
Why: Celebrate Mother Earth.
Web: www.thegaiafestival.com
What: Osheaga
Where: Montréal, QC, Canada
When: August 3-5
Who: The Black Keys, Snoop Dogg, Justice, Metric, Sigur Ros, Feist, Florence & The Machine, City and Colour, Garbage, The Shins, MGMT, The Weeknd, Bloc Party, M83, Franz Ferdinand, The Jesus & Mary Chain, A$AP Rocky, Yeasayer, fun., Young the Giant, Plants and Animals, Passion Pit, Of Monsters and Men, Santigold, The Raveonettes, The Sheepdogs, Black Lips, Portugal. The Man, The Walkmen, Bombay Bicycle Club, Zola Jesus, Wintersleep, The Airborne Toxic Event, Little Dragon, Arkells, Austra, Tame Impala, Yukon Blonde, Gary Clark Jr., Black Angels, Memoryhouse, Atlas Sound, Dum Dum Girls, Young Galaxy, Dan Mangan, Zeus, Freelance Whales, and many more
Why: Osheaga stays in the top-tier in 2012 with another killer line-up. Read & see much more in our 2012 recap here
Web: www.osheaga.com/en
What: Sappyfest
Where: Sackville, NB, Canada
When: August 3-5
Who: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Oneida, and more to be announced
Why: Sackville gets Sappy.
Web: sappyfest.com
What: Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, IL
When: August 3-5
Who: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Jack White, Florence & The Machine, At the Drive-In, Avicii, The Shins, Justice, Passion Pit, Sigur Ros, Bloc Party, Calvin Harris, Miike Snow, M83, Franz Ferdinand, Nero, Childish Gambino, Delta Spirit, Santigold, Metric, The Temper Trap, Die Antwoord, Dawes, tUnE-yArDs, The Head & The Heart, The Big Pink, Twin Shadow, Toro y Moi, fun., Little Dragon, Dr. Dog, Of Monsters and Men, Gary Clark Jr., Alabama Shakes, The Gaslight Anthem, The Walkmen, Neon Indian, Dum Dum Girls, Washed Out, Bear In Heaven, Chairlift, The Black Angels, Bombay Bicycle Club, Sharon Van Etten, White Rabbits, Oberhofer, The War On Drugs, First Aid Kit, 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: Newfoundland & Labrador Folk
Where: St. John's, NL, Canada
When: August 3-5
Who: To be announced
Why: Even the most distant of the Atlantic provinces has singer/songwriters of folk.
Web: www.nlfolk.com/fest2012/fest2012.html
What: Pickathon
Where: Happy Valley, OR
When: August 3-5
Who: Neko Case, Dr. Dog, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Blitzen Trapper, Heartless Bastards, Phosphorescent, The War On Drugs, The Cave Singers, Langhorne Slim, Cass McCombs, Alela Diane, Handsome Furs, Thee Oh Sees, Bowerbirds, Laura Gibson, White Denim, AA Bondy, The Mynabirds, Typhoon, Southeast Engine, The Barr Brothers, Y La Bamaba, Lonnie Walker, and more
Why: Pickathon's picks include some of the better indie-country/folk - on a farm, of course.
Web: pickathon.com
What: Musikfest
Where: Bethlehem, PA
When: August 3-12
Who: Sheryl Crow, Jane's Addiction, Daughtry, Boston, Joe Cocker, MGMT, Goo Goo Dolls, Young the Giant, Huey Lewis & The News, Sublime with Rome, Portugal. The Man, Atlas Sound, Spinto Band, and more to be announced
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: Woodsist
Where: Big Sur, CA
When: August 4-5
Who: Real Estate, Thee Oh Sees, Fresh & Onlys, Woods, White Fence, and more to be announced
Why: Woodsist Records has a little festival up in Big Sur (with many of the same acts as last year).
Web: www.folkyeah.com
What: Edmonton Folk
Where: Edmonton, AB, Canada
When: August 9-12
Who: Arrested Development, The Barr Brothers, James Vincent McMorrow, Geoff Berner and more to be announced
Why: Some nice names come to Edmonton.
Web: www.edmontonfolkfest.org
What: KahBang
Where: Bangor, ME
When: August 9-12
Who: To be announced
Why: Little ol' Bangor, Maine's KahBang is in its fourth year.
Web: www.kahbang.com
What: This Is Hardcore
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: August 9-12
Who: Terror, Ringworm, Cro-Mags, Gorilla Biscuits, Lifetime, H2O, Negative Approach, and more to be announced
Why: Phiadelphia's Electric Factory holds four days of hardcore.
Web: thisishardcorefest.com
What: Wolfe Island
Where: Wolfe Island, ON, Canada
When: August 10-11
Who: Sam Roberts Band, Zeus, Rich Aucoin, Elliott BROOD, Yukon Blonde, Hollerado, Eight and a Half, Parlovr, and more to be announced
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: Outside Lands
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: August 10-12
Who: Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Neil Young, Jack White, Foo Fighters, Beck, Skrillex, Sigur Rós, Justice, Norah Jones, The Kills, Regina Spektor, Passion Pit, Andrew Bird, Grandaddy, Big Boi, Bloc Party, Explosions In the Sky, Franz Ferdinand, MSTRKRFT, Die Antwoord, Fitz & The Tantrums, Portugal. The Man, fun., Dr. Dog, The Walkmen, Washed Out, City and Colour, Of Monsters and Men, Alabama Shakes, Trampled by Turtles, Tame Impala, Sharon Van Etten, YACHT, Thee Oh Sees, Tennis, Zola Jesus, White Denim, Tanlines, Caveman, Yellow Ostrich, and more to be announced
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: Maha
Where: Omaha, NE
When: August 11
Who: To be announced
Why: Drop the O, keep the Maha.
Web: www.mahamusicfestival.com
What: Sunset Strip
Where:
Los Angeles, CA
When: August 16-18
Who: To be announced
Why:
The iconic Sunset Strip holds another street festival. Read & see much more in our 2010 recap here
Web: www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com
What: Philadelphia Folk
Where:
Philadelphia, PA
When: August 17-19
Who: Justin Townes Earle, Hoots and Hellmouth, and more to be announced
Why:
Like the cities to the north in Canada (see above), Philly has a folk festival, now past fifty years old.
Web: www.pfs.org/PFF.php
What: Salmon Arm Roots & Blues
Where: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
When: August 17-19
Who: Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Hollerado, Cuff the Duke, The Trews, and more to be announced
Why: British Columbia opens its Salmon Arms for artists from around the world.
Web: www.rootsandblues.ca
What: Wanderlust Whistler
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
When: August 23-26
Who: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Thievery Corporation, Krishna Das, and more to be announced
Why: Lake Tahoe's yoga-sponsored music festival (see above) even crosses the border into Canada.
Web: whistler.wanderlustfestival.com
What: H20 - Los Angeles
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: August 25
Who: To be announced
Why: Univision holds two muy bueno festivals in Dallas (see above) & Los Angeles.
Web: h2omusicfestival.com/losangeles
What: LouFest
Where: St. Louis, MO
When: August 25-26
Who: The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk, Dinosaur Jr., Phantogram, Dr. Dog, SOn Volt, Dawes, Cults, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, and more to be announced
Why: Not a celebration of the bassist from Dinosaur Jr. (though they are playing...), LouFest celebrates the spirit of St. Louis.
Web: www.loufest.com
What: Electric Zoo
Where: Randall's Island, NY
When: August 31-September 2
Who: David Guetta, Tiësto, Dada Life, Skrillex, Sander Van Doorn, Pretty Lights, Porter Robinson, Tommy Trash, Steve Aoki, A-Trak, and more to be announced
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 31-September 2
Who: Pretty Lights, Axwell, Atmosphere, Big Boi, Steve Aoki, The Rapture, YACHT, Dan Deacon, King Khan & The Shines, Com Truise, and more to be announced
Why:
"Summer's last stand" returns for a third year to Chicago's Union Park. Read & see much more in our recap of the inaugural 2010 edition here
Web: www.northcoastfestival.com
September
What: Ravinia
Where: Highland Park, IL
When: April 7 - September 9
Who: Earth, Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Al Green, Jimmy
Cliff, Philip Glass, Steve Martin, Esperanza Spalding, Glen Campbell,
Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Idina Menzel, Santana,
Natalie Merchant, The Blues Brothers, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor,
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Train, Tony Benett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, and more
Why: Old-timers are at Ravinia.
Web: www.ravinia.org
What: KCRW World
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: June 24-September 9
Who: Hot Chip, Ziggy Marley, Animal Collective, Ben Harper, Glen
Campbell, Passion Pit, Flying Lotus, Fitz & The Tantrums, Jackson
Browne, Toots and the Maytals, Kris Krisofferson, Dawes, Courtney
Taylor-Taylor, Omar Souleyman, and more
Why: KCRW brings the world to the Hollywood Bowl.
Web: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/series-detail.cfm?id=61
What: Electric Zoo
Where: Randall's Island, NY
When: August 31-September 2
Who: David Guetta, Tiësto, Dada Life, Sander Van Doorn, Pretty
Lights, Porter Robinson, Tommy Trash, Steve Aoki, A-Trak, and more to be
announced
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 31-September 2
Who: Pretty Lights, Axwell, Atmosphere, Big Boi, Steve Aoki, The
Rapture, YACHT, Dan Deacon, King Khan & The Shines, Com Truise, and
more to be announced
Why:
"Summer's last stand" returns for a third year to Chicago's Union Park. Read & see much more in our recap of the inaugural 2010 edition here
Web: www.northcoastfestival.com
What: Made In America
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: September 1-2
Who: Jay-Z and more to be announced
Why: Jay-Z is curating a festival sponsored by Budweiser. Think that they'll tell us to 'expect everything'?
Web: www.madeinamericafest.com
What: Bumbershoot
Where: Seattle, WA
When: September 1-3
Who: Jane's Addiction, Tony Bennett, Skrillex, Mac Miller, M83, AWOLNATION, M. Ward, Passion Pit, Keane, The Jayhawks, Blitzen Trapper, The Helio Sequence, City and Colour, Yelawolf, Mudhoney, Low, The Heavy, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Wanda Jackson, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Vaselines, King Khan & The Shrines, Fujiya & Miyagi, Heartless Bastards, Fishbone, Civil Twilight, Oberhofer, Ty Segall, Fruit Bats, The Wombats, WHY?, Foxy Shazam, Lee Fields, JC Brooks, AM & Shawn Lee, thenewno2, The Barr Brothers, The Pharmacy, and more to be announced
Why: Seattle's Bumbershoot heads into its 42nd year with another incredibly diverse line-up (Tony Bennett and Skrillex?!?).
Web: bumbershoot.org
What: Hopscotch
Where: Raleigh, NC
When: September 6-8
Who: The Roots, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Built To Spill, Yo La Tengo, Liars, Zola Jesus, Thee Oh Sees, Deerhoof, Escort, The Mountain Goats, Wye Oak, Flosstradamus, Lambchop, Dan Deacon, Versus, Nobunny, EXITMUSIC, Oneida, Valient Thorr, J Roddy Walston, Class Actress, Screaming Females, Field Report, Zeus, and more to be announced
Why: The Independent Weekly throws a great fest at venues across Raleigh for a third year.
Web: hopscotchmusicfest.com
What: Music Fest NW
Where: Portland, OR
When: September 6-8
Who: To be announced
Why: Head to Portlandia for
Web: musicfestnw.com
What: Harvest Jazz & Blues
Where: Fredericton, NB, Canada
When: September 11-16
Who: The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaries, Rusted Root, and more to be announced
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: Rifflandia
Where: Victoria, BC, Canada
When: September 13-16
Who: The Flaming Lips, CAKE, Sloan, Dan Mangan, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Austra, Saul Williams, Rich Aucoin, and more to be announced
Why: Rifflandia returns to the Garden City at Royal Athletic Park.
Web: www.rifflandia.com
What: Pop Montréal
Where: Montréal, QC, Canada
When: September 19-23
Who: To be announced
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: ATP Asbury Park
Where: Asbury Park, NJ
When: September 21-23
Who: Afghan Whigs, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Make-Up, Louis C.K., The Roots, Hot Snakes, Jose Gonzalez, Mark Lanegan Band, Autolux, Dirty Three, The Antlers, Thee Oh Sees, I Break Horses, Sharon Van Etten, Vetiver, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Charles Bradley, and more to be announced
Why: Now in its fifth year in America, the Yankee wing of the U.K.'s famed All Tomorrow's Parties (QRO U.K. festival photo gallery) will be curated by Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs. See more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.atpfestival.com/events/ibymusa2012.php
What: DeLuna
Where: Pensacola Beach, FL
When: September 21-23
Who: Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Florence & The Machine, Band of Horses, Dwight Yoakam, Ben Folds Five, Guided by Voices, The Joy Formidable, The Gaslight Anthem, The Wallflowers, Superchunk, Joan Jett, Bad Brains, City and Colour, Band of Skulls, Mike Doughty, Fishbone, The Silos, Ben Sollee, and more to be announced
Why: It may be cold up north, but it's still very warm down on the Gulf shore with this hot line-up.
Web: www.delunafest.com
What: Goner
Where: Memphis, TN
When: September 27-29
Who: To be announced
Why: Goner Fest brings a weekend of rock 'n' roll to Memphis.
Web: www.goner-records.com/gonerfest
What: Midpoint
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: September 27-29
Who: To be announced
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 27-29
Who: Dinosaur Jr., Grizzly Bear, Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Hospitality, Frankie Rose, Big Freedia, Owen, Oh No Oh My, Zeus, and more to be announced
Why:
Central Illinois's Pygmalion Music Festival returns for an eighth year.
Web: pygmalionmusicfestival.com
What: CounterPoint
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: September 28-29
Who: Bassnectar, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, Avicii, M83, Crystal Castles, Big Boi, Ghostland Observatory, Big Gigantic, A-Trak, Atmosphere, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, MiM0SA, Theophilus London, Reptar, 12th Planet, Beats Antique, Super Mash Bros., Poliça, Com Truise, and more to be announced
Why: Team-up between the people who brought you Lollapalooza & Camp Bisco.
Web: www.counterpointfestival.com
What: Abbot Kinney
Where: Venice, CA
When: September 30
Who: To be announced
Why: Venice-on-the-Pacific gets a festival.
Web: abbotkinney.org
October
What: Soundland
Where:
Nashville, TN
When: October 3-6
Who: To be announced
Why: Next Big Nashville holds its Soundland across venues in the Country Music Capitol of the World.
Web: www.nbnsoundland.com
What: Culture Collide
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: October 4-7
Who: of Montreal, Junip, School of Seven Bells, Clinic, Penguin Prison, Class Actress, Dean Wareham, American Royality, Tribes, and more to be announced
Why: Filter Magazine's Culture Collide festival returns to venues across Los Angeles for a third year. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: culturecollide.com
What: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: October 5-7
Who: To be announced
Why: Golden Gate Park welcomes big names that may not be strictly bluegrass, but is free!
Web: www.strictlybluegrass.com
What: OohLaLA
Where: Los Angeles, CA
When: October 11-13
Who: To be announced
Why: OohLaLA returns for a fourth year, from The Consulate General of France in Los Angeles. See our photos from the inaugural 2009 festival here
Web: www.oohlalafestival.com
What: Austin City Limits
Where: Austin, TX
When: October 12-14
Who: To be announced
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. Read much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.aclfestival.com
What: CMJ
Where: New York, NY
When: October 16-20
Who: To be announced
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 2011 day-by-day recap here
Web: www.cmj.com/marathon
What: Halifax Pop Explosion
Where: Halifax, NS, Canada
When: October 16-20
Who: To be announced
Why: Who knew little ol' Halifax had enough venues for a Pop Explosion?
Web: halifaxpopexplosion.com
What: Fest 11
Where: Gainesville, FL
When: October 26-28
Who: To be announced
Why: Punk of all stripes returns to north Florida.
Web: www.thefestfl.com
What: Voodoo Experience
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: October 26-28
Who: To be announced
Why: Though the calendar forces it to end before 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
November & December
What: M for Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: November 14-17
Who: To be announced
Why: M doesn't just stand for 'murder'...
Web: www.mformontreal.com
What: Shiprocked
Where: Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Key West & Bahamas
When: November 27 - December 1
Who: Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Sevendust, Filter, Fuel, Lit, and more to be announced
Why: Hopefully this boat will be lost somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle.
Web: www.getshiprocked.com/2012
|
Fueled with Voodoo Doughnuts, Alcoholic Faith Mission
delivered to a rockin' crowd in Portland.
Those lucky enough to
enter the House of Blues Boston took a spacey journey
that felt like one long dream starting with opening act I Break Horses.
The student-filled O2 Academy in Manchester started heaving
forward the instant the visual art showed "The Cribs" on the backdrop.
