Coachella. Bonnaroo. Lollapalooza. These audio festivals are mythical, but if you’ve already been there and done that–or in case you need even more live music in your life–why not add several less famous festivals to your must-visit record?
Underrated Music Festivals from the U.S. and Canada
Each of the following underrated music festivals offers something particular, from theatres in a canyon to wine- along with bourbon-tasting bars. And they are all situated in Canadian or American destinations with plenty of other attractions for travelers, such as cities or neighboring national parks.
Hangout: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Summer started at Hangout. Held in mid-May, this festival features not just big-name acts like the Killers and Kendrick Lamar, but also beach volleyball games, a place with summer camp actions (think tug of war and s amore toasting), and just a booth where you can kiss and cuddle puppies.
Should you proceed: Turn it into a longer vacation by renting a beach home and soaking up the Gulf Shores sun for a couple of extra days.
Sled Island: Calgary, Alberta
Every year another guest curator selects a number of the artists that perform at this eclectic music festival in June. On the bill are all up-and-coming bands in a wide array of musical genres, so you’re almost guaranteed to get some new favorites at Sled Island. You might even take in comedy acts, movie screenings, and visual arts.
If you go: For a longer excursion, combine your own time at the festival with a trip to Banff National Park (approximately 90 minutes away).
Firefly: Dover, Delaware
Camping is part of the pleasure at Firefly, held every June at a mountainous area of Dover, Delaware. Sit on the grass and catch acts such as Eminem or the Arctic Monkeys, then grab a local craft boil in the onsite brewery and relax in the Nook (bring your own hammock!) .
If you go: Dover is within driving distance of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the Brandywine Valley, so there are loads of choices to turn your musical weekend into a mini-vacation.
Field Trip: Toronto, Ontario
Every June, Field Trip brings people to Toronto for more than simply music. Between sets you can have a laugh at the indoor comedy stage, explore a gallery of audio pictures, keep the children entertained in the family-friendly day camp, and nosh on diverse food from providers around the city. The musical lineup is nothing to sneeze at; previous acts comprise Feist, Broken Social Scene, along with A Tribe Called Red.
Should you go: Be sure to check out Toronto’s major sights, like the CN Tower and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Forecastle: Louisville, Kentucky
Visit the Louisville shore in July for great views, good music, and good bourbon in Forecastle. Past headliners include acts like My Morning Jacket, the Black Keys, and Beck, with Lots of emerging and local bands to round out the lineup. It’s possible to learn about–and, of course, sample–Kentucky’s famous whiskey at the on-site Bourbon Lodge.
Should you go: Extend the experience post-festival by driving along the state’s Bourbon Trail.
Essence Festival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Committed to African culture and music, the Essence Festival draws a number of the nation’s most popular entertainers to New Orleans every July. Past acts include John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Chaka Khan. Aside from memorable concerts, the festival also has empowerment seminars, networking events, along with a massive marketplace featuring handicrafts and other things.
Should you proceed: Require a few Additional times to soak up the Big Easy’s main attractions, from the French Quarter to the Garden District.
Outdoor Lands: San Francisco, California
External Lands, held each August, includes heavy-hitting lineups with headliners such as Who, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, and Lana Del Rey, along with an eclectic collection of up-and-comers. Between places you may sip local wines and enjoy foods that move far beyond the customary festival fare (think chicken tikka masala burritos, banh mi sandwiches, and Baja-style fish tacos).
If you go: The festival’s location in Golden Gate Park makes it simple to combine a few shows with sightseeing elsewhere in San Francisco.
Moab Music Festival: Moab, Utah
It is hard to find a more spectacular location to take in a concert than the red-rock canyons of Moab. When some performances in the late-summer Moab Music Festival have been at traditional places such as schools or halls, others are outdoors among sandstone rock formations accessible exclusively by hike, whitewater raft, or jet boat. The lineup features a mixture of jazz chamber music, Latin, and much more.
If you go: Do not forget a trip to nearby Arches National Park.
Festival de Musique Emergente (FME): Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
The creators of this late-summer music festival describe it as “inclusive,” an apt tag for an event where roughly half the shows are free and genres vary from folk-rock to rap and electronica. As its name implies, the Festival de Musique Emergente (or Emerging Music Festival, locally known as FME) concentrates on up-and-coming artists, most from Quebec. Some actors sing in French, others in English, and the venues are scattered around the small city of Rouyn-Noranda, such as romantic halls, outdoor stages, as well as the shores of Lake Osisko.
Should you go: Be time for a increase in neighboring Aiguebelle National Park.
Celtic Colours: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
For over 20 decades, the Celtic Colours festival has celebrated Cape Breton’s abundant history of Celtic music and dance. Fiddles, bagpipes, and Gaelic singers take the stage for as much as six concerts every day, against the background of Cape Breton’s vibrant autumn colours. (The festival is held in October.) You might also attend lectures on local history, choose a guided walk, also have a look at visual art displays.
Should you proceed: Do not forget a trip to Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where hiking trails lead to spectacular coastal views.