North America welcomes festivals from the first days of January to the last day of December – and QRO’s got them all in our massive, constantly-updated year-round guide. See last year’s Festival Guide
Total festivals with dates: 150
Total festivals with full line-ups: 9
Updated continuously throughout the year with new acts, dates, festivals & coverage
January & February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November & December
View QRO Magazine 2014 Festival Guide in a larger map
January & February
What: Todos Santos
Where: Todos Santos, Mexico
When: January 16-25
Who: Peter Buck, The Minus 5, Ed Kowalcyzk, Joseph Arthur, Chuck Prophet, Drivin’ and Cryin’, and more
Why: Peter Buck of R.E.M. curates & performs a festival with friends like Scott McCaughey down Mexico way at the tip of Baja California, all to benefit The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, AC. Read QRO’s interview with Scott McCaughey at Todos Santos last year here
Web: todossantosmusicfestival.com
What: American Songbook
Where: Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: January 22 – April 5
Who: Jason Isbell, Beth Orton, Deer Tick, Sarah Jarosz, Mark Mulcahy, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and more
Why: Pretty much the classiest venue out there, Lincoln Center celebrates American songwriting, now in the first four months of 2014 at Allen Room (and the Atrium & Penthouse). See our venue review & photos of Lincoln Center’s Allen Room here
Web: www.americansongbook.org
What: Shivering Songs
Where: Fredericton, NB, Canada
When: January 23-26
Who: Wintersleep, Thom Swift, Steve Poltz, Ron Sexsmith, Kathleen Edwards, and more
Why: The Olymphic Symphonium’s hometown festival returns for a fourth year.
Web: shiveringsongs.com
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: January 31 – March 29
Who: Glenn Kotche, Saul Williams, Mirah, Colin Stetson, So Percussion, Buke and Gase, Hospitality, Dawn of Midi, Bright Wave, People Get Ready, and more
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the third year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Sunset Sessions
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 20-22
Who: Jeremy Messersmith, Ziggy Marley, Kodaline, Augustana, Vance Joy, Robert DeLong, NEEDTOBREATHE, John Butler Trio, and more
Why: KFOG brings Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions to The Grand Hyatt in Union Square.
Web: sunsetsessions.org
What: Noise Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 25 – March 2
Who: Dr. Dog, Real Estate, Mark Kozelek, Bob Mould, Lord Buron, Throwing Muses, Cold Cave, No Age, Bleached, Mark Mulcahy, Night Beds, Bottomless Pit, and many more
Why: Venues across San Francisco have a nice line-up of acts from the hottest in today’s indie-rock to ultra-vets & in between.
Web: www.noisepop.com/2014
What: Wanderlust Oahu
Where: Oahu, HI
When: February 27 – March 2
Who: Moby, Donavon Frankenreiter, MC Yogi, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders all the way to Hawaii. See more in our photo gallery from 2013 Wanderlust : California here
Web: oahu.wanderlustfestival.com
March
What: American Songbook
Where: Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: January 22 – April 5
Who: Jason Isbell, Beth Orton, Deer Tick, Sarah Jarosz, Mark Mulcahy, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and more
Why: Pretty much the classiest venue out there, Lincoln Center celebrates American songwriting, now in the first four months of 2014 at Allen Room (and the Atrium & Penthouse). See our venue review & photos of Lincoln Center’s Allen Room here
Web: www.americansongbook.org
What: Ecstatic
Where: Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
When: January 31 – March 29
Who: Glenn Kotche, Saul Williams, Mirah, Colin Stetson, So Percussion, Buke and Gase, Hospitality, Dawn of Midi, Bright Wave, People Get Ready, and more
Why: The burgeoning indie-classical genre gets Ecstatic with the third year of this two month series of events at Merkin Concert Hall.
Web: www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com
What: Noise Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 25 – March 2
Who: Dr. Dog, Real Estate, Mark Kozelek, Bob Mould, Lord Buron, Throwing Muses, Cold Cave, No Age, Bleached, Mark Mulcahy, Night Beds, Bottomless Pit, and many more
Why: Venues across San Francisco have a nice line-up of acts from the hottest in today’s indie-rock to ultra-vets & in between.
Web: www.noisepop.com/2014
What: Wanderlust Oahu
Where: Oahu, HI
When: February 27 – March 2
Who: Moby, Donavon Frankenreiter, MC Yogi, and more
Why: Yoga + music fest Wanderlust wanders all the way to Hawaii. See more in our photo gallery from 2013 Wanderlust : California here
Web: oahu.wanderlustfestival.com
What: Nrmal – Mexico City
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: March 1
Who: Hidrogenesse, Kelela, Silver Apples, Rancho Shampoo, Wolf Eyes, Anika, and more
Why: Head down Mexico way with now two Festival Nrmals, Mexico City & Monterrey (see below).
Web: www.festivalnrmal.net
What: Nrmal – Monterrey
Where: Monterrey, Mexico
When: March 5-9
Who: Poolside, DJ Rashad, Extraperlo, Kelela, Hidrogenesse, and more
Why: Head down Mexico way with now two Festival Nrmals, Monterrey & Mexico City (see above).
Web: www.festivalnrmal.net
What: Savannah Stopover
Where: Savannah, GA
When: March 6-8
Who: Small Black, Those Darlins, The Weeks, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Miniature Tigers, Weekend, Speedy Ortiz, Public Service Broadcasting, Bear Hands, Caitlin Rose, Ski Lodge, The Belle Game, Milagres, You Won’t, this mountain, Bleeding Rainbow, Weekender, The Teen Age, and more to be announced
Why: Before heading to SXSW (see below), stopover in Savannah. Read & see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: savannahstopover.com
What: Paste Untapped – Ft. Worth
Where: Ft. Worth, TX
When: March 8
Who: The Joy Formidable, Allen Stone, The Felice Brothers, and more to be announced
Why: Paste brings indie music & beer to Ft. Worth.
Web: untapped-festival.com
What: South-by-Southwest
Where: Austin, TX
When: March 11-16
Who: More than you count
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 our big 2013 recap here
Web: sxsw.com
What: Never Say Never
Where: Mission, TX
When: March 12
Who: Asking Alexandria, Bring Me the Horizon, Of Mice & Men, We Came As Romans, and more to be announced
Why: Has the temerity to overlap with South-by-Southwest (see above), in the same state, and share the same name as an emo band & Justin Bieber song/’movie’.
Web: www.neversayneverfestival.com
What: Valley of the Vapors
Where: Hot Springs National Park, AR
When: March 14-18
Who: To be announced
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: Electric Daisy Carnival Mexico
Where: Mexico City
When: March 15-16
Who: To be announced
Why: The massive Electric Daisy Carnival crosses the border to start 2014. See much more in our photo gallery of 2013 EDC NY here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/Mexico/en
What: Treefort
Where: Boise, ID
When: March 20-23
Who: Run the Jewels, The Joy Formidable, Built To Spill, Odesza, mr. Gnome, Breton, SubRosa, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!, Vikesh Kapoor, and more to be announced
Why: Go to your own private Idaho for Treefort.
Web: treefortmusicfest.com
What: The Buku Project
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: March 21-22
Who: The Flaming Lips, David Guetta, Kaskade, Explosions In the Sky, Ellie Goulding, Zeds Dead, Pusha T, Zedd, Tyler the Creator, Beats Antique, Chromeo, The Glitch Mob, Phantogram, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Baauer B2B RL Grime, Skream, Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, Wavves, Smallpools, Paper Diamond, Lotus, Big Freedia, Miami Horror, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Generationals, and more
Why: The Buku Project brings electronica & more to the Big Easy.
Web: thebukuproject.com
What: Maverick
Where: San Antonio, TX
When: March 21-22
Who: Psychedelic Furs, Phantogram, The Joy Formidable, Twin Shadow, Roky Erickson, SZA, YACHT, The Black Angels, Tamaryn, and more
Why: Some more mavericks of the Lone Star State.
Web: maverickmusicfestival.com
What: Music Now
Where: Cincinnati, OH
When: March 21-22
Who: To be announced
Why: One of the classiest music festivals out there.
Web: www.musicnowfestival.org
What: Slingshot
Where: Athens, GA
When: March 21-22
Who: To be announced
Why: Slingshot over to Athens.
Web: www.athensslingshot.com
What: Musink
Where: Costa Mesa, CA
When: March 21-23
Who: To be announced
Why: Punk meets tattoos in a pretty apt festival.
Web: www.musink.org
What: Winter Music Conference
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 21-30
Who: To be announced
Why: The Winter Music Conference hosts parties, panels & more – often pool-side.
Web: www.wintermusicconference.com
What: JunoFest
Where: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
When: March 28-29
Who: To be announced February 25th
Why: Venues around Winnipeg celebrate the Great White North’s Grammy, the Juno.
Web: junoawards.ca/events/juno-week-events/junofest
What: McDowell Mountain
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: March 28-30
Who: Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Dwight Yoakam, Gramatik, Disco Biscuits, G. Love and Special Sauce, Slightly Stoopid, Dispatch, Allen Stone, Lettuce, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, and more to be announced
Why: Phoenix gets a better jam-band festival.
Web: mmmf.com
What: Ultra
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 28-30
Who: MGMT, Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, M.I.A., AVICII, Empire of the Sun, David Guetta, Basement Jaxx, Diplo, Cut Copy, Kaskade, Dizzee Rascal, Zedd, Afrojack, Chase and Status, Alesso, 2manyDJs, Eric Prydz, Example, The Glitch Mob, Pusha T, Carl Cox, Sub Focus, trentemøller, Above & Beyond, and more to be announced
Why: Downtown Miami throws down the beats with America’s best electro-dance festival. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.ultramusicfestival.com
What: Extreme Thing
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 29
Who: To be announced
Why: ‘Extreme Thing’ is seriously it’s name – how much more UNextreme can you get?
Web: www.extremething.com
April
What: Mission Creek
Where: Iowa City, IA
When: April 1-6
Who: Philip Glass, Jason Isbell, Oneohtrix Point Never, Weekend, Wolf Eyes, The Pines, and more to be announced
Why: Iowa City kicks if off early with some interesting names.
Web: missionfreak.com
What: Moody Blues Cruise
Where: Grand Turk Island to Nassau, Bahamas
When: April 2-7
Who: The Moody Blues, Roger Daltrey, The Zombies, Starship, and more
Why: The Moody Blues get in on the ‘music festival cruise circuit’, and it makes more sense than any of the other ones.
Web: moodiescruise.com
What: Wanee
Where: Live Oak, FL
When: April 10-12
Who: The Allman Brothers Band and more to be announced
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 11-12
Who: To be announced
Why: Vanderbilt University knows how to book ‘em for its Rites of Spring (fling).
Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/ros
What: Coachella
Where: Indio, CA
When: April 11-13 & 18-20
Who: To be announced
Why: The biggest & best festival has grown so big as to have a second weekend, repeating it’s once again amazing line-up. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.coachella.com
What: Telus
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
When: April 11-20
Who: To be announced
Why: In addition to the snow, come for the sounds at Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
Web: www.wssf.com
What: Magnetic
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: April 12
Who: To be announced
Why: Atlanta’s drawing the DJs in like a Magnet.
Web: magneticmusicfestival.com
What: Tortuga
Where: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
When: April 12-13
Who: Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Train, Slightly Stoopid, Ziggy Marley, Delta Rae, Moon Taxi, White Denim, Brothers Osborne, Sons of Fathers, and more to be announced
Why: For spring break, go country in Ft. Lauderdale. Read & see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: www.tortugamusicfestival.com
What: Moogfest
Where: Asheville, NC
When: April 23-27
Who: Kraftwerk, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, Laurie Anderson, Avey Tare, Daedelus, Dan Deacon, Escort, The Gaslamp Killer, Le1f, RJD2, Wolf Eyes, and more to be announced
Why: After taking last year off, Moogest returns early in 2014 to celebrate Bob Moog and his wonderful instrument. See much more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.moogfest.net
What: Norman
Where: Norman, OK
When: April 24-26
Who: To be announced
Why: Now in its sixth year, Norman Oklahoma’s own free festival & QRO favorite stays sweet. Read & see more in 2010 our recap here
Web: www.normanmusicfestival.com
What: Rivers & Spires
Where: Clarksville, TN
When: April 24-26
Who: To be announced
Why: A country festival in Tennessee.
Web: riversandspires.com
What: MerleFest
Where: Wilkesboro, NC
When: April 24-27
Who: To be announced
Why: Wilkes Community College welcomes MerleFest.
Web: www.merlefest.org
What: Double Decker
Where: Oxford, MS
When: April 25-26
Who: To be announced
Why: Take the Double Decker to Oxford – Mississippi.
Web: www.doubledeckerfestival.com
What: Euphoria
Where: Austin, TX
When: April 25-26
Who: To be announced
Why: EDM comes to TEX.
Web: www.euphoriafest.com
What: Move
Where: Albany, NY
When: April 25-27
Who: To be announced
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: Texas Crawfish
Where: Spring, TX
When: April 25-27 & May 2-4
Who: To be announced
Why: Celebrate the southern crawfish & much more at this long-running music festival.
Web: texascrawfishfestival.com
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 25 – May 4
Who: To be announced
Why: The Big Easy’s big festival gets some big names.
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: Desert Daze
Where: Palm Springs, CA
When: April 26
Who: Liars, Autolux, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Disappears, Deap Vally, and more to be announced
Why: Head to the Sunset Ranch Oasis.
Web: moonblockparty.org
What: Fort Rock
Where: Fort Myers, FL
When: April 26
Who: To be announced
Why: Fort Myers Fort Rocks.
Web: www.fortrockfestival.com
What: Rockville
Where: Jacksonville, FL
When: April 26-27
Who: To be announced
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
What: SunFest
Where: West Palm Beach, FL
When: April 30 – May 4
Who: To be announced
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
May
What: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Where: New Orleans, LA
When: April 25 – May 4
Who: To be announced
Why: The Big Easy’s big festival gets some big names.
Web: www.nojazzfest.com
What: SunFest
Where: West Palm Beach, FL
When: April 30 – May 4
Who: To be announced
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: Austin Psychfest
Where: Austin, TX
When: May 2-4
Who: To be announced
Why: Carson Creek Ranch plays host to a mixture of indie & psych, thanks to The Black Angels (QRO spotlight on).
Web: www.austinpsychfest.com
What: Carolina Rebellion
Where: Rockingham, SC
When: May 3-4
Who: To be announced
Why: Last year was definite improvement for this hard rock festival.
Web: www.carolinarebellion.com
What: Electric Zoo Mexico
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: May 3-4
Who: To be announced
Why: Bringing European-style electronic craziness now to Mexico City is Electric Zoo.
Web: www.electriczoofestival.com/mexico/en
What: Canadian Music Fest
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada
When: May 6-10
Who: Cerebral Ballzy, Bearstronaut, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Bombay Show Pig, and more to be announced
Why: No longer 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!…).
Web: canadianmusicfest.com
What: Shaky Knees
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: May 9-11
Who: The Lumineers, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers, Jim James, Gary Clark Jr., Dr. Dog, The Joy Formidable, Lucero, Delta Spirit, Kurt Vile & The Violators, The Black Angels, The Antlers, The Heartless Bastards, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Murder By Death, Oberhofer, Vintage Trouble, and more
Why: Limbs quake for the second year of this Americana-heavy festival. Read & see much more in 2013 inaugural year our recap here
Web: shakykneesfestival.com
What: The Hangout
Where: Gulf Shores, AL
When: May 16-18
Who: To be announced
Why: Hangout on the Shores with usually an odd (but good) line-up.
Web: www.hangoutmusicfest.com
What: Skate & Surf
Where: Freehold, NJ
When: May 17-18
Who: To be announced
Why: Go to Jersey to Skate & Surf.
Web: www.skateandsurffest.com
What: Rock On the Range
Where: Columbus, OH
When: May 17-19
Who: To be announced
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: Lightning In a Bottle
Where: Temecula, CA
When: May 22-26
Who: To be announced
Why: Trance/electronica captures lightning in a bottle on Lake Skinner. See much more in our 2013 photo gallery here
Web: lightninginabottle.org
What: Boston Calling
Where: Boston, MA
When: May 23-25
Who: To be announced
Why: Boston is seriously Calling, expanding to three days in its second year – wicked pissah! Read & see much more in our big recap of Spring ’13 inaugural edition here Read & see much more in our big recap of Fall ’13 edition here
Web: bostoncalling.com
What: Rocklahoma
Where: Pryor, OK
When: May 23-25
Who: To be announced
Why: A bunch of hard rock acts? At least the name’s good (though it doesn’t pronounce right…).
Web: www.rocklahoma.com
What: Sasquatch! – May
Where: George, WA
When: May 23-25
Who: To be announced
Why: There’s gonna be two weekends – with totally different line-ups – of this top-tier festival. Read much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: www.sasquatchfestival.com
What: Summer Camp
Where: Chillicothe, IL
When: May 23-25
Who: moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Bassnectar, Trey Anastasio Band, Primus, Yonder Mountain String Band, Lotus, EOTO, Keller Williams, Lettuce, Beats Antique, and more to be announced
Why: Summer Camp usually mixes a little something more into its jam.
Web: www.summercampfestival.com
What: Punk Rock Bowling
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: May 23-26
Who: Cock Sparrer, Descendents, NOFX, Cerebral Ballzy, and more to be announced
Why: Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall takes the punks bowling.
Web: www.punkrockbowling.com
What: Electric Daisy Carnival New York
Where: East Rutherford, NJ
When: May 24-25
Who: To be announced
Why: After spending last year at CitiField, for its third go-round in NYC area the massive Electric Daisy Carnival returns to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (QRO inaugural year recap). See much more in our 2013 photo gallery here
Web: electricdaisycarnival.com/NewYork
What: Movement Electronic
Where: Detroit, MI
When: May 24-26
Who: To be announced
Why: Electronic music returns to the city where techno (and much more in music) was born.
Web: www.movement.us
What: Mutek Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: May 28 – June 4
Who: To be announced
Why: The international electronic music festival MUTEK comes to maybe the most international city in North America.
Web: www.mutek.org/en
What: Nelsonville
Where: Nelsonville, OH
When: May 29 – June 1
Who: The Avett Brothers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shakey Graves, Grupo Fantasma, The Men, and more to be announced
Why: Ohio needs more music – especially southeastern Ohio.
Web: www.nelsonvillefest.org
What: Free Press
Where: Houston, TX
When: May 31 – June 1
Who: To be announced
Why: Check this cheap & winning festival.
Web: www.freepresssummerfest.com
June
What: Mutek Montreal
Where: Montreal, PQ, Canada
When: May 28 – June 4
Who: To be announced
Why: The international electronic music festival MUTEK comes to maybe the most international city in North America.
Web: www.mutek.org/en
What: Nelsonville
Where: Nelsonville, OH
When: May 29 – June 1
Who: The Avett Brothers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shakey Graves, Grupo Fantasma, The Men, and more to be announced
Why: Ohio needs more music – especially southeastern Ohio.
Web: www.nelsonvillefest.org
What: Free Press
Where: Houston, TX
When: May 31 – June 1
Who: To be announced
Why: Check this cheap & winning festival.
Web: www.freepresssummerfest.com
What: Sunset Sessions – Rock!
Where: Carlsbad, CA
When: June 5-7
Who: To be announced
Why: Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions brings the Rock! to Carlsbad.
Web: sunsetsessions.org
What: Mountain Jam
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: June 5-8
Who: To be announced
Why: Despite the name, the festival at Hunter Mountain is more than just another jam-fest.
Web: mountainjam.com
What: Wakarusa
Where: Mulberry Mountain, AR
When: June 5-8
Who: STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dr. Dog, Lettuce, Papadosio, The Knocks, Moon Taxi, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Break Science, The Hood Internet, Wild Child, Moon Hooch, and more to be announced
Why: Now fully enscounced in the Ozarks (after having to exit Kansas after 2008 – QRO photos from last year in Kansas), Bill Clinton’s backwoods gets their jam (and more) on. See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here </