2023 Music Festival Guide
Are you passionate about music? Are you always on the lookout for musical events to attend, even if it means traveling to a different city or state?
If this sounds like you, then buckle up and get ready - there are so many amazing music festivals happening all over the country right now!
From pop superstars shaking it up to rock bands tearing it up, metal groups slaying away, and indie acts carving out their own unique sound. Whatever type of music speaks your language, there is something special for you out there.
So let's get into some details. We picked out some music festivals that range from large to small, east to west - and everywhere in between.
Innings Festival
March 18-19, 2023
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
https://www.inningsfestival.com/
Featuring 3 stages of rock, pop, and alternative artists with no overlapping sets, including appearances from baseball legends.
Featuring an all-star baseball jam hosted by Jake Peavy
Bands include: Dave Matthews Band, Imagine Dragons, Grouplove, the Breeders, Japanese Breakfast, Tai Verdes, Weezer, Pitbull.
French Quarter Fest
April 13-16, 2023
Woldenberg Park
New Orleans, LA
https://frenchquarterfest.org/
4-day festival showcasing New Orleans culture and heritage with everything from bluegrass to rock to blues to jazz.
Bands include: Ani DiFranco, Irma Thomas, Samantha Fish, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles, Tank and the Bangas, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, and so many more bands!!
Tortuga Music Festival
April 14-16, 2023
Ft. Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale, FL
https://tortugamusicfestival.com/
Beach side music festival raises awareness and support of marine conservation. Features everything from rap to country to rock and Americana.
Bands include: Wiz Khalifa, Eric Church, Shania Twain, Jake Owen, Brett Young, Kenny Chesney, The Wallflowers.
Coachella Music Festival
April 14-23, 2023
Empire Polo Club
Indio, CA
https://www.coachella.com
What started as a small electronic festival has grown to two weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) of fun in the desert!
Bands include: Gorillaz, Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean, Bjork, Blackpink, Chemical Brothers, The Breeders, Wet Leg, Charli XCX, Kali Uchis, Snail Mail, Sofi Tukker, the Linda Lindas.
98Rockfest
April 21, 2023
Amalie Arena
Tampa Bay. FL
https://98rock.iheart.com/featured/98rockfest/
Local Radio Station, 98ROCK, is hosting this rock festival.
Bands include: Breaking Benjamin, Falling in Reverse, The Pretty Reckless, Beartooth, Dorothy, New Years Day, Bad Wolves.
Shaky Knees Festival
May 5-7, 2023
Central Park
Atlanta, GA
https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/
In the heart of Downtown Atlanta, catch a full array of music from folk to rock to indie to alternative.
Bands include: the Killers, Greta Van Fleet, Muse, Tenacious D, the Mars Volta, Grouplove, the Lumineers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cypress Hill, Fidlar.
M3 Rock Festival
May 6-7, 2023
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, MD
https://m3rockfest.com/
Three days of 80’s arena rock music featuring rock and metal bands.
Bands include: Styx, Six, Warrant, Extreme, Slaughter, Lita Ford, Great White, Winger, LA Guns, Quiet Riot.
Welcome to Rockville
May 18-21, 2023
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL
https://welcometorockville.com/
A powerful lineup of rock and metal bands roar into Daytona Beach.
Bands include: Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Queens of the Stone Age, Avenged Sevenfold, Evanescence, Pantera, Godsmack, Alice Cooper, Tool, Deftones, Incubus, the Mars Volta, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, Alter Bridge, Sleeping with Sirens, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine.
Cruel World Festival
May 20, 2023
Brookside at the Rose Bowl
Pasadena, CA
https://www.cruelworldfest.com/
Relive pushing play on your cassette tape recorder at this one day event.
Bands include: Siouxsie, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Love and Rockets, Echo & the Bunnymen, Gary Numan, Modern English, the Human League, Gang of Four.
Sonic Temple Festival
May 25-28, 2023
Mapfre Stadium
Columbus, OH
https://sonictemplefestival.com/
One of the largest rock festivals happening features 60 bands across three stages over four days.
Bands include: Kiss, Foo Fighters, Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, Godsmack, Pennywise, Rob Zombie, Sublime with Rome, the Pretty Reckless, Queens of the Stone Age, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Veil Brides.
Cathead Jam
June 2-3, 2023
Cathead Distillery
Jackson, MS
https://catheadjam.com/
A weekend of fun with headliners and up-and-coming artists, Cathead Jam honors the music and culture of Mississippi. They have partnered with Dreamnote Foundation who pledges to improve access to music and art throughout Mississippi in underserved communities.
Bands include: The Flaming Lips, Goose, Larkin Poe, Cimafunk, Shaky Graves, The Band of Heathens, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country.
Fort Desolation Fest
June 8-10, 2023
Cougar Ridge Resort
Torrey, UT
https://fortdesolation.com/fest/
Three nights of live bands, food and drink in the great outdoors of Cougar Ridge Resort in Utah. After-hours jam to corn-hole throw-downs to campsite cooking.
Bands include: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Shakey Graves, The White Buffalo, Morgan Wade, Houndmouth, Jamestown Revival.
Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 15-18, 2023
Great Stage Park
Manchester, TN
https://www.bonnaroo.com/
Music and arts festival featuring four days of music from a diverse lineup of over 150 acts.
Bands include: Zeds Dead, Kendrick Lamar, Odessa, Foo Fighters, Paramore, Marcus Mumford, Lil Nas X, My Morning Jacket, Baby Keem, Fleet Foxes, Korn, Sheryl Crow, Pixies.
The Peach Music Festival
June 29-July 2, 2023
Montage Mountain Resorts
Scranton, PA
https://thepeachmusicfestival.com/
Started by the Allman Brothers in 2012, The Peach Music Festival proudly plays out the jams at Montage Mountain just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Bands include: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Goose, My Morning Jacket, Ween, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Lettuce, Mike Gordon, Umphrey’s McGee.
Rock Fest Wisconsin
July 13-15, 2023
Rock Fest Grounds
Cadott, WI
https://rock-fest.com/
Dubbed the largest rock and camping event in the U.S. Now in its 25th year, Rock Fest in Wisconsin features rock, metal, and alternative bands. 3 days, 5 stages, 70+ bands, 7,500 campsites.
Bands include: Pantera, Ice Cube, Slipknot, Falling in Reverse, Godsmack, Everclear, Papa Roach, Gwar, Cherry Bombs, Ice Nine Kills, Asking Alexandria, Jinjer.
Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival
July 13-16, 2023
Veterans Park
Milwaukee, WI
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/event-calendar/homecoming/venues.html
Eat, drink and rock out with four days of rock and motorcycles at the home of Harley-Davidson. 120th anniversary celebration.
Bands include: Foo Fighters, Green Day, Social Distortion, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Phantogram, Kennyhoopla, Cody Jinks.
Capital Hill Block Party
July 21-23, 2023
Capital Hill
Seattle, WA
https://www.capitolhillblockparty.com/
This three day music and arts festival celebrates the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle, with a 100 local and national acts performing at dozens of bars, outdoor stages, and restaurants.
Bands include: Empress Of, Drama, Sofi Tukker, Denzel Curry, Louis the Child, Goth Babe, Pinkpantheress, Madeon, Jean Dawson, Rebecca Black, Between Friends.
Ameriserv Flood City Music Festival
August 4-5, 2023
Peoples Natural Gas Park
Johnstown, PA
https://www.floodcitymusic.com/
Two-day celebration of American roots music attracting thousands of music fans to Johnstown, PA. Bluegrass, folk, rock, and jams.
Bands include: Los Lobos, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass featuring the Hillbenders, Trouble No More, Doom Flamingo, Melt, the Mallett Brothers Band, Dogs in a Pile, Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys.
Sturgis Rally Buffalo Chip
August 4-13, 2023
Buffalo Chip Campground
Sturgis, SD
https://sturgis.com
Hailed as the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®, Sturgis Buffalo Chip features concerts every night of the rally.
Bands include: Koe Wetzel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Styx, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, and more to be announced.
Outside Lands
August 11-13, 2023
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
https://www.sfoutsidelands.com/
A highlight of the San Francisco summer, Outside Lands takes place in the heart of Golden Gate park.
Bands include: Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odessa, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, ZEDD, Janelle Monae, Maggie Rogers, Fisher, Interpol, Cigarettes After Sex.
Blue Ridge Rock Fest
September 7-10, 2023
Virginia International Raceway
Alton, VA
https://blueridgerockfest.com/
4 days and 144 bands across 6 stages. I’d say there’s no shortage of rock-n-roll in Virginia!
Bands include: Pantera, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Evanescence, Megadeth, Chevelle, Black Label Society, Machine Head, Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm, Corey Taylor, Testament, Vince Neil, Cavalera Conspiracy, Static X, Dope, Pierce the Veil, Biohazard, with more to be announced.
Desertfest New York
September 14-16, 2023
Knockdown Center
New York City, NY
https://www.desertfestnewyork.com/
Leading independent stoner rock, doom, psych & heavy rock festival Desertfest returns to New York this September, alongside an exclusive pre-party at heavy metal institution, Saint Vitus Bar from 14thto 16th September 2023.
Bands include: the Melvins, Boris, Colour Haze, Lo-Pan, Duel, Truckfighters, 1000Mods, White Hills, White Hills, Ecstatic Vision.
Louder Than Life Festival
September 21-24, 2023
Highland Festival Grounds
Louisville, KY
https://louderthanlifefestival.com/
Proclaimed as being the “World’s Largest Rock ’N’ Roll Whiskey Festival, this 3-day festival highlights hard rock, punk, heavy metal and alternative headliners.
Bands include: Pantera, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Rancid, Tool, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Falling In Reverse, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Turnstile.
Sound On Sound Festival
September 30-October 1, 2023
Seaside Park
Bridgeport, CT
https://soundonsoundct.com/
Sound On Sound brings together world-class performing artists, renowned local eateries, craft breweries, a variety of wines and spirits. Featuring 2 stages, over 22 bands, and no overlapping sets, the festival allows attendees to catch every act on the lineup without having to pick and choose.
Bands include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Alanis Morissette, Trey Anastasio Band, Hozier, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Steel Pulse, Gin Blossoms, Margo Price, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Lord Huron.
Aftershock Festival
October 5-7, 2023
Discovery Park
Sacramento, CA
https://aftershockfestival.com/
California's biggest rock festival storms into Sacramento with a powerful lineup of rock and metal favorites.
Bands include: Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Incubus, Korn, 311, Rancid, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Avenged Sevenfold.
When We Were Young Festival
October 21-22, 2023
Las Vegas Festival Grounds
Las Vegas, NV
https://www.whenwewereyoungfestival.com/
Pop-punk emo throwback that will live in your heart forever.
Bands include: Green Day, Blink 182, Bowling for Soup, Rise Against, the Offspring, 5 Seconds of Summer, All Time Low, Less Than Jake, Sum 41, Good Charlette, Thrice, Pierce the Veil, Say Anything, Michelle Branch, The Wrecks, New Found Glory.
FESTIVALS WITH LINEUPS TO BE ANNOUNCED:
So What Music Festival
June 24-25, 2023
Fair Park
Dallas, TX
https://sowhatmusicfestival.com/
Red Ants Pants Music Festival
July 27-30, 2023
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
https://redantspantsmusicfestival.com/
Lollapalooza Chicago 2023
August 3-6, 2023
Grant Park
Chicago, IL
https://www.lollapalooza.com/
Rockin' the Rivers
August 10-12, 2023
The Bridge
Three Forks, MT
https://www.rockintherivers.com/
Breakaway Festival Grand Rapids
August 18-19, 2023
Belknap Park
Grand Rapids, MI
https://www.breakawayfestival.com/michigan
Wonderbus Festival
August 25-27, 2023
The Lawn at CAS
Columbus, Ohio
https://www.wonderbusfest.com/
There's something for everyone when it comes to music festivals! From punk to metal, rock to emo, there's a wide range of music genres represented across the country and no shortage of stars performing.
So, find yourself an excuse to get out and experience a festival!
Plus, you'll also have the chance to discover lesser-known bands and explore musical subcultures outside your own in a unique way.
All that being said, the most important takeaway is clear: what's your favorite music festival?
*Please note that artists and schedules are subject to change at any time. And a festival may be sold out by the time you read this post.
