A comprehensive guide to the festivals within driving distance of Philadelphia from April through September.
Some Kind of Jam
Some Kind of Jam 11[1] returns to Schuylkill Haven, PA, April 22-24, a music and camping festival featuring Jam, Funk, Folk, Bluegrass, Americana, Rock & Roll, Blues, World, Reggae, and more. 31 musical acts on four stages outdoor and indoor include the New Mastersounds, RAQ, Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind, Mike Dillon Band, Banditos, Aqueous, The Big Dirty, Shokazoba, Gang of Thieves, Black Masala, On the Spot Trio, Yosemight, Desmond Jones. Expect food and craft vendors, workshops, and scheduled activities for adults and children. The 60 acre rustic fairground offers plenty of camping space, permanent restrooms and showers, nature trails, trout fishing waters, and electricity access for RVs. Presented by Jibberjazz Productions. Photo by Karl McWherter.
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
Exit Zero Jazz Festival[2] brings the New Orleans street party to the beach in Cape May, April 22-24 with more than 30 sets of jazz, blues, New Orleans jazz, and R&B. Performers including legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny (pictured), and Grammy-winning bassist Ron Carter, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer Grand Baton, Joey Alexander, John Scofield Joe Lovano Quartet, Lee Fields & the Expressions, at various venues in Cape May, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Exit Zero Jazz Festival.
New Jersey Folk Festival
The annual New Jersey Folk Festival[3] is Saturday, April 30, 10am to 6pm, rain or shine, celebrating its 42nd anniversary with a bluegrass showcase. Headliners include Tony Trischka, Dan O’Dea and Eagle Ride and Pete Seeger prot g Spook Handy. Check out the juried craft market of 100 vendors, food vendors, folk music marketplace, children’s area, jamming tent, storytelling tent and more all part of Rutgers Day at the Eagleton Institute Grounds on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Free. The NJFF is the only festival run entirely by students. Photo courtesy of the New Jersey Folk Festival.
M3 Rock Festival
The M3 Rock Festival[4] features Tesla (pictured), Kix, Vince Neil, Queensr che, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Night Ranger, LYNCH MOB, Quiet Riot, Slaughter, Britney Fox, L.A. Guns, Y&T, Firehouse, Steelheart, Enuff Z’nuff, Faster Pussycat, Gabbie Rae, ADLER, Bad Seed Rising, 86 Bullets, Heaven’s Edge, Every Mother’s Nightmare, and more, April 29-30, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. Photo courtesy of Tesla.
Center City Jazz Festival
Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month at the 5th annual Center City Jazz Festival[5], Saturday, April 30, 1pm-7pm, showcasing Philly’s jazz scene with a “festival crawl” offering 20 bands at five venues all within walking distance. Artists include Grammy-nominated singer Gretchen Parlato with Taylor Eigsti, Brandee Younger, Orrin Evans (pictured) and the Captain Black Big Band, Chris Oatts, and Tim Green, and many more at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street, Milkboy Philadelphia, 1100 Chestnut Street, Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor Street, U-Bahn Philly, 1320 Chestnut Street, and TIME, 1314 Sansom Street. All access ticket $20 in advance and $25 same day. Photo by Jimmy Katz.
Cape Bank Jazz @ the Point
The South Jersey Jazz Society hosts Cape Bank Jazz @ the Point[6], May 12-15, with a diverse range of music by Chico Freeman Plus+tet, George Cables Trio, Eddie Henderson, The Cookers (pictured), Donald Harrison, Benedetto Guitar Artists, Jimmy Bruno, Francesco Cafiso and Andreas Varady, John Beasley, The Atlantic City Jazz Band, Gina Roche and more at various locations in Somers Point and Ocean City, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Cape Bank Jazz @ the Point.
DelFest
The 8th annual DelFest[7] is Del McCoury and his musical family’s homage to all things bluegrass, May 26-29 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland, nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains. Artists include the Del McCoury Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, the Infamous Stringdusters with Nicki Bluhm, Keller Williams, and more along with crafts, children’s activities and camping. Photo by Type II Photography Roger Patteson.
Cape May Music Festival
The Cape May Music Festival[8] returns for the 27th year with a mix of music, May 29 through June 16, presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities. Enjoy Irish and brass band music, classical music, jazz and more from the 35 piece Atlantic Brass Band, New York Chamber Ensemble with soloist Stacy Shames, Deirdre Reilly (pictured), Bay-Atlantic Symphony, the J st Project, a Champagne Jazz Brunch, and more at various venues in Cape May, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Deirdre Reilly.
Crawfish Fest
The 27th annual Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest[9] offers a taste of New Orleans, June 3-5, with Big Sam’s Funky Nation (pictured), Bonerama, Papa Mali, funky Meters, and more, along with camping, crafts, and food, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest.
Capital Jazz Fest
The 24th annual Capital Jazz Fest[10] is June 3-5 with nearly 30 acts on two big stages including New Edition, En Vogue, Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, the Isley Brothers, Lalah Hathaway, David Sanborn, Toni Braxton, Brand New Heavies (pictured) and more at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. Photo courtesy of Capital Jazz Fest.
The Roots Picnic
The 9th annual Roots Picnic[11] brings the Roots back home to Philadelphia, Saturday, June 4, noon (doors open at 11am), with headliners such as Future, Usher, Leon Bridges and more including the Roots, Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia. Rain or shine. Photo courtesy of the Roots Picnic.
Mad Tea Party Jam
Mad Tea Party Jam[12] takes place June 16-19 with Papadosio, Twiddle, Tauk, Desert Dwellers and more, plus camping, artists and workshops, at Four Quarters Interfaith in Artemas, Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Mad Tea Party Jam.
DCJazzFest
DCJazzFest[13] at the Yards is back for two days, June 17-19, with C cile McLorin Salvant (pictured), Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet, The Chuck Brown Band, Kamasi Washington, Igmar Thomas & Revive Big Band with Talib Kweli, Bilal, and Ravi Coltrane, Yards Park at Capitol Riverfront, 355 Water Street, S.E. (off M Street near the Navy Yard), Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of C cile McLorin Salvant.
Firefly Music Festival
The annual 4 day summer music experience, the Firefly Music Festival[14] comes back to The Woodlands for a 5th year, June 16-19, with Mumford & Sons, Kings of Leon, Florence & the Machine, the Deadmau5, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, Blink-182, Death Cab for Cutie, M83, The 1975, Chvches, Earth Wind & Fire and more than 100 additional acts, along with the Beercade, Coffee House, Market, Thicket, and Hammock Hangout. The festival offers camping and is all ages, rain or shine in Dover, Delaware. Photo courtesy of Firefly Music Festival.
Madsummer Meltdown
Madsummer Meltdown 7[15] takes place June 24-26 in Schuylkill Haven, PA, a music and camping festival featuring more than 30 musical acts on four stages outdoor and indoor including Deep Banana Blackout, Red Baraat, Whitewater Ramble, Big Mean Sound Machine, and more. Expect food and craft vendors, workshops, and scheduled activities for adults and children. The 60 acre rustic fairground offers plenty of camping space, permanent restrooms and showers, nature trails, trout fishing waters, and electricity access for RVs. Presented by Jibberjazz Productions. Photo by Karl McWherter.
Hampton Jazz Festival
The 49th annual Hampton Jazz Festival[16] takes place June 24-26 with Gladys Knight, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (pictured), Michael McDonald, Charlie Wilson, Boney James, Stephanie Mills and more at the Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia. Photo courtesy of the Hampton Jazz Festival.
New York Hot Jazz Festival
The New York Hot Jazz Festival[17] features Butler, Bernstein & the Hot 9, a collaboration between Henry Butler and Steven Bernstein, the Hot Sardines, and trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg performing with the New York Hot Jazz All-Stars featuring Anat Cohen (pictured) on clarinet, Vince Giordano on bass, Joe Saylor (from Jon Batiste’s band) on drums, Dalton Ridenhour on piano and trombonist Wycliffe Gordone, June 25, 2pm-7pm, SummerStage in Central Park, New York City. Photo by Dragan Tasic.
Merryland Music Fest
The organizers of the All Good Festival bring you the inaugural Merryland Music Fest[18], July 9-10, at the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. Artists among the over 21 acts include Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, The String Cheese Incident, Grace Potter, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Greensky Bluegrass, Lotus, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, alternating on two stages, along with artisans, crowd performers, and more. Catch the kick-off concerts on Friday, July 8 in Baltimore and Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Merryland Music Fest.
Camp Bisco
The Disco Biscuits once again host Camp Bisco[19], three days of music, art, camping and water park fun at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain Waterpark, July 14-16, with the Disco Biscuits (pictured) Odesza, BigGrizMatik (Big Gigantic + GRiZ + Gramatik), Lotus, RL Grime, STS9, Zeds Dead, Hermitude, Jai Wolf, Josh Wink, Keys N Krates, Lettuce, and more, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo by Tim Dwenger.
The XPoNential Music Festival
The XPoNential Music Festival[20] is July 22-24, featuring a lineup of established and up-and-coming artists, including Ryan Adams (pictured), Kurt Vile and The Violators, Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark, Jr., Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine Show, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, and more along the Camden waterfront at Wiggins Park and on the Main Stage at BB&T Pavilion (formerly Susquehanna Bank Center). In addition to continuous music, the family-friendly festival offers food and craft vendors along with the Kids Corner area in the Children’s Garden. Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
Farm Fest
South Jersey’s Farm Fest[21] (Future of Artistic and Revolutionary Minds) is July 22-24. Held at Paradise Lake Campground in Hammonton, New Jersey, with a mix of jam, electronica, Americana and funk artists. Headliners include The Floozies, Emancipator, Savoy, Boombox, Liquid Stranger, and more. Plus, workshops and live visual art. Photo courtesy of Farm Fest.
Floyd Fest
Floyd Fest[22] offers nine stages of great music including Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Femi Kuti and Positive Force, Anders Osborne, Greensky Bluegrass, Pimps of Joytime, Monophonics, and more, July 27-31, along with artists, vendors, workshops, children’s activities and more, Floyd, Virginia. Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images.
People’s Festival
The 22nd annual People’s Festival[23] and tribute to Bob Marley takes place in his first American hometown, Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday, July 30 with live music, international food, worldwide arts and crafts, and performances by Ky-Mani Marley, Alika, Richard Raw, and more, Tubman-Garret Riverfront Park, Water Street. Photo courtesy of Peoples Festival.
Musikfest
Musikfest[24], the nation’s largest free music festival, is back for its 33rd year, August 5-14, with 500-plus shows on 16 indoor and outdoor stages (free concerts on 15 of 16 stages) throughout the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Among this year’s performers are Lady Antebellum, Don Henley, BOSTON, Lucky Chops, Here Come The Mummies, MarchFourth Marching Band, Jameson Rodgers, Ginkgoa, Gedeon Luke & the People, The Accidentals, Slingshot Dakota, Cold Fronts, Mariachi Flor de Toloache, Ceramic Animal, Chubby Carrier, Joe Grushecky, The Pine Leaf Boys, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Sierra Hull and The Insidious Rays. The festival also features 60 food vendors, 45 artisans, street performers and tons of family fun. Photo by Ted Colegrove.
Peach Festival
The Peach Festival[25] began five years ago as the first-ever Allman Brothers Band-inspired festival in the Northeast Pennsylvania region and has grown into a summer festival staple. Headliners include Gregg Allman, Trey Anastasio Band, The String Cheese Incident (pictured), Umphrey’s McGee, and many more including Anders Osborne and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, August 11-14, with music, art, camping and water park fun at Montage Mountain Waterpark, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo by Adam McCullough.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Philadelphia Folk Festival[26] celebrates its 55th year August 18-21 at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township near Schwenksville, PA. The seminal summer event the longest continuously-running outdoor music festival of its kind in North America features include Los Lobos, The Lone Bellow, Del & Dawg, The Wood Brothers, Anderson East, Darlingside, Buckwheat Zydeco, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Peter Yarrow, Pine Leaf Boys, and many more, with lots to do for families, including crafts, The Great Groove Band, jugglers, storytellers, kid-oriented musicians, food and more. Photo by Jon R. Luini/chime.
LOCKN’
LOCKN’ Festival[27] features headliner Phish (pictured), Ween, My Morning Jacket, Umphrey’s McGee, Twiddle, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lettuce, Galactic, Keller’s Grateful Grass/Gospel, Brandi Carlile, and more, August 25-28, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Arrington, Virginia. Photo by Rene Huemer.
Made In America Festival
The Budweiser Made In America Festival[28] makes its way to Philadelphia Labor Day weekend, September 3-4, with a lineup curated by Jay Z with concerts on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Lineup not yet published but tickets are available. Photo courtesy of the Budweiser Made In America Festival.
To submit an event to be considered for the Music Festival Guide, email Robin Bloom at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
References
^ Some Kind of Jam 11 (www.jibberjazz.com)
^ Exit Zero Jazz Festival (www.exit0jazzfest.com)
^ New Jersey Folk Festival (www.njfolkfest.org)
^ M3 Rock Festival (www.merriweathermusic.com)
^ Center City Jazz Festival (ccjazzfest.com)
^ Cape Bank Jazz @ the Point (southjerseyjazz.org)
^ DelFest (delfest.com)
^ Cape May Music Festival (www.capemaymac.org)
^ Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest (www.crawfishfest.com)
^ Capital Jazz Fest (www.capitaljazz.com)
^ Roots Picnic (rootspicnic.com)
^ Mad Tea Party Jam (www.themadteapartyjam.com)
^ DCJazzFest (dcjazzfest.org)
^ Firefly Music Festival (fireflyfestival.com)
^ Madsummer Meltdown 7 (www.jibberjazz.com)
^ Hampton Jazz Festival (www.hamptonjazzfestival.com)
^ New York Hot Jazz Festival (www.nyhotjazzfest.com)
^ Merryland Music Fest (www.merrylandmusicfest.com)
^ Camp Bisco (campbisco.com)
^ XPoNential Music Festival (xpnfest.org)
^ Farm Fest (www.farmmusicandarts.com)
^ Floyd Fest (floydfest.com)
^ People’s Festival (www.peoplesfestival.com)
^ Musikfest (www.muikfest.org)
^ Peach Festival (thepeachmusicfestival.com)
^ Philadelphia Folk Festival (www.pfs.org)
^ LOCKN’ Festival (www.locknfestival.com)
^ Budweiser Made In America Festival (madeinamericafest.com)