Memorial Day Weekend is almost here! The official start of the music festival summer season is looking solid this year with a stacked lineup of newcomers and classics returning after the forced hiatus of the past two years. Below, we share some of our favorites that are on the horizon and are very much looking forward to the return of live music.
Boston Calling 2023
May 26-28, 2023
Allston, MA
Boston's signature music festival takes place for three days over Memorial Day Weekend at the Harvard Athletic Complex. Over the years, Boston Calling has transformed into one of the premier music festivals of New England with a strong mix of indie rock, hip-hop, and legendary artists.
Featured Artists: Alanis Morissette, Bleachers, Foo Fighters, Maren Morris, Paramore, Queens of the Stone Age, The Flaming Lips, The Linda Lindas, The Lumineers, The National, The Walkmen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Photo Credit: Ty Johnson
Bottlerock Napa Valley 2023
May 26-28, 2023
Napa, CA
Wine meets music when artists from around the world descend on Napa Valley just north of San Francisco. The internationally renown wine region lets it all hang out during this Memorial Day Weekend Festival, putting out one of the best West Coast lineups of the season.
Featured Artists: Bastille, Billy Strings, Caamp, Carly Rae Jepsen, Duran Duran, Japanese Breakfast, Leon Bridges, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Los Lobos, Lupe Fiasco, Phantogram, Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, Starcrawler, The National, The Smashing Pumpkins, Thievery Corporation, Tom Odell, Tove Lo, Wu-Tang Clan
Punk Rock Bowling 2023
May 26-29, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
Combining mankind's three greatest creations (punk rock, bowling, and Las Vegas), this annual festival has grown popular enough to spin off editions across the country. But nothing compares to the flagship festival of Punk Rock Bowling in its downtown Las Vegas home over Memorial Day Weekend. 100 bands, 1000 bowlers, poker tournaments, movie screenings, and plenty of booze - sounds like the perfect weekend.
Featured Artists: Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies
Sonic Temple Festival 2023
May 25-28, 2023
Columbus, OH
America's largest rock festival tears up the Midwest every May in the most metal of cities -- Columbus, Ohio. 60 bands across three stages over four days makes this a must-stop festival for fans of rock and metal.
Featured Artists: Avenged Sevenfold, Awolnation, Bad Omens, Badflower, Beartooth, Black Veil Brides, Bullet For My Valentine, Chevelle, Converge, Deftones, Falling In Reverse, Foo Fighters, Godsmack, I Prevail, Jawbreaker, Kiss, Knocked Loose, Lilith Czar, Pennywise, Puscifer, Queens of the Stone Age, Rival Sons, Rob Zombie, Sleeping With Sirens, Starcrawler, Sublime with Rome, Suicidal Tendencies, The Bronx, The Pretty Reckless, Tool, Trivium
Photo Credit: Jason Squires
Summer Camp Festival 2023
May 26-28, 2023
Chillicothe, IL
From chilled out late night campfire jams to beat busting dance shows, the party at Summer Camp goes long past the end of scheduled performances. 'Scampers' can apply to become camp counselors which means free tickets, free camping, and free beer in exchange for being an official party ambassador to the other attendees. Our resident festival expert calls Summer Camp — 'the best festival of the Memorial Day Weekend.'
Featured Artists: Cory Wong, Excision, Girl Talk, Green Velvet, Keller Williams, Lotus, moe., Papadosio, The Disco Biscuits, The Floozies, The Funk Hunters, The Wailers, Umphrey's McGee, Vulfpeck, Willie Nelson, Yonder Mountain String Band
Photo Credit: Katie Mendez
Sunset Music Festival 2023
May 27-28, 2023
Tampa, FL
As a key player in the Florida electronic scene, Sunset Music Festival brings big name artists to Raymond James Stadium each Memorial Day weekend. As one of the largest events in Tampa Bay, Sunset brings in crowds of over 50,000 attendees to the area. With costumed-clad performing artists and colorful stages, Sunset Music Festival basks in the Florida sunshine.
Featured Artists: Adventure Club, Zomboy
Photo Credit: SMF
California Roots 2023
May 25-28, 2023
Monterey, CA
One of the largest reggae festivals in the country, Calforinia Roots delivers a cosmic blend of good vibes, true happiness, family, peace, love and joy to all who enter. The three-day festival takes place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, where Jimi Hendrix famously lit his guitar on fire in 1967.
Featured Artists: Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Matisyahu, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Shaggy, Sublime with Rome, Wu-Tang Clan
Photo Credit: Stage Media
Solid Sound Festival 2024
TBD May 2024
North Adams, MA
Nestled in the in foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, this 3-day festival hosted by Wilco takes place at the unique MASS MoCA venue. It's a beautiful spot to watch some beautiful music
Movement Detroit 2023
May 27-29, 2023
Detroit, MI
Long before the onslaught of the modern day electronic festival scene, the Movement Festival has brought the vibe to downtown Detroit over Memorial Day weekend. Running under a few different names since 2000, this festival brings in top talent to Hart Plaza and delivers an EDM urban experience far different than any other you’ll find over the summer.
Featured Artists: Caribou, Carl Craig, Charlotte De Witte, Chris Liebing, DJ Seinfeld, Fisher, Green Velvet, Kaskade, Maceo Plex, Seth Troxler, Skrillex, Three 6 Mafia, Underworld
Photo Credit: Chuck Manley
DelFest 2023
May 25-28, 2023
Cumberland, MD
The legendary bluegrass artist Del McCoury curates this annual festival at the picture perfect Allegany County Fairgrounds in Maryland. Camping, dancing, and of course, plenty of bluegrass set the stage for a Memorial Day weekend of world class collaborations, special guest sit-ins, informal workshops, and late night picking sessions.
Featured Artists: Keller Williams, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Sam Bush, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The California Honeydrops, The Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Trampled By Turtles
Photo Credit: Roli Breitenecker
Lightning in a Bottle 2023
May 24-29, 2023
Bakersfield, CA
The dedicated fans of this transformational festival have kept LiB at the top of its game for over ten years. It has changed venues more than a few times, but the incredible art, enthusiastic attendees, and top notch lineup at this boutique fest is a steady constant.
Featured Artists: 070 Shake, Beats Antique, Caribou, Diplo, Drama, Liquid Stranger, Phantogram, Rezz, Sofi Tukker, Tale of Us, The Floozies, The Polish Ambassador, Tokimonsta, ZHU
Photo Credit: Watchara Phomicinda
Rooster Walk 2023
May 25-28, 2023
Axton, VA
Making the most out of tragedy, Rooster Walk was started to celebrate the lives of two childhood friends that passed away. With a mission to create a festival that could fund a scholarship, the Rooster Walk Music and Arts was born. A decade later, this festival for charity has become a centerpiece event of the region.
Featured Artists: Greensky Bluegrass
Photo Credit: Roger Gupta
Dark Star Jubilee 2023
May 26-28, 2023
Thornville, OH
Returning to Thornville, Ohio each year, Dark Star Jubilee is hosted by Dark Star Orchestra who headline each of the three nights of the festival. The rest of the lineup features a wanton mix of artists reminiscing of the classic rock times - most notable the Grateful Dead whom Dark Star Jubilee Orchestra is known to recreate sets from. Set in the Legend Valley, a well known venue in the Midwest, festival attendees are surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
Featured Artists: Dark Star Orchestra, Sam Bush, The Wailers
Photo Credit: Dark Star Orchestra
Adjacent Music Festival 2023
May 27-28, 2023
Atlantic City, NJ
The all-new Adjacent Music Festival is coming to the beach in Atlantic City this Memorial Day Weekend.
Featured Artists: Bleachers, Coheed and Cambria, IDLES, Japanese Breakfast, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, The Linda Lindas, Turnstile
I Love RNB Festival 2023
May 27, 2023
Long Beach, CA
The 'I Love RnB Music Festival' will be hosting the biggest and best lineup of your favorite RnB performing artists, from classics to new hits.