Music Fests Near and Far
Hop the MBTA to…
The Harvard Athletic Complex for Boston Calling | May 26-28
Boston Calling sets up shop in new digs in Allston, where substituting grass for concrete should help amp up the festival vibes for a solid, eclectic lineup including headliners Mumford & Sons, Chance the Rapper and Tool. bostoncalling.com
Jamaica Plain for JP Porchfest | July 8
If you missed Somerville’s edition of this grass-roots music movement in early May, stake out a rocking chair in JP for the afternoon, when residents across the ’hood will open their porches—and lawns and driveways—to host local bands for a day of free music. jpporchfest.org
Franklin Park Zoo for Reggae in the Park | July 14
Lion Entertainment picked a fitting venue for this celebration of Jamaican music, bringing artists like Grammy nominee Beres Hammond to the zoo for a 21+ festival where you can party like an animal all you want. reggaeintheparkboston.com
The Lawn on D for Briggs Fest | July 29
Briggs Original spiked cranberry seltzer—the recently debuted brainchild of former Porto beverage director Neil Quigley and friends—hosts this inaugural hip-hop fest, which brings some heavy hitters in the rap game to the Lawn on D, including Waka Flocka Flame, B.o.B. and hometown hero Sammy Adams. briggsfest.com
Take a short drive to…
Photo by Zach Weinberg
Marshfield for the Levitate Music and Arts Festival | July 8-9
This folk, funk, rock and reggae fest is a short 45-minute drive away, but attendees are also welcome to camp out for the two-day event, this year hosting Lake Street Dive, Deer Tick, Rubblebucket, Dispatch and Ziggy Marley, to name a few. levitatemusicfestival.com
Lowell for the Lowell Folk Festival | July 28-30
As always, Lowell’s annual fest is free of charge, so you can afford the gas money to head north for a full day of folk—and gospel, zydeco, bluegrass and more—from bands hailing from across the country. lowellfolkfestival.org
Book a hotel—or pitch a tent—for a weekend in…
Photo by Shervin Lainez
North Adams for Solid Sound | June 23-25
Wilco throws and headlines this alt-and-indie fest at MASS MoCA every other summer, and every other summer the lineup is tight. This year’s standouts include Kurt Vile and Peter Wolf and their bands—plus a comedy stage hosting big names in funny like Nick Offerman and Michael Ian Black. solidsoundfestival.com
Photo by Brian Lima
Newport for the Newport Folk Festival | July 28-30 for the Newport Jazz Festival | Aug. 4-6
Both are held on the water in scenic Fort Adams State Park, where the views are almost as good as the lineups. Highlights of this year’s Folk Fest include the Head and the Heart, Fleet Foxes, the Avett Brothers, Regina Spektor and Jim James. On the jazz front, don’t miss Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, the Roots, Andra Day and Maceo Parker. newportfolk.org / newportjazz.org
Photo by Ali Kaukas
Waitsfield, Vermont, for Frendly Gathering | June 29-July 1
This year, the hippie fest moves to a new location at Sugarbush, where skiers will cede the mountain to musicheads for a fest that, true to its name, encourages camping on the grounds for an ultra-communal vibe. The lineup follows suit, with jam bands like Twiddle and Yonder Mountain String Band headlining a bill that also includes standouts like funk-master Charles Bradley. frendlygathering.com
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Whether you’re sticking to the city or looking for a reason to take a road trip, this summer offers arts adventures aplenty.
By Improper Staff May 19, 2017
Music | ALEXANDRA CAVALLO
Music Fests Near and Far
Hop the MBTA to…
The Harvard Athletic Complex for Boston Calling | May 26-28
Boston Calling sets up shop in new digs in Allston, where substituting grass for concrete should help amp up the festival vibes for a solid, eclectic lineup including headliners Mumford & Sons, Chance the Rapper and Tool. bostoncalling.com
Jamaica Plain for JP Porchfest | July 8
If you missed Somerville’s edition of this grass-roots music movement in early May, stake out a rocking chair in JP for the afternoon, when residents across the ’hood will open their porches—and lawns and driveways—to host local bands for a day of free music. jpporchfest.org
Franklin Park Zoo for Reggae in the Park | July 14
Lion Entertainment picked a fitting venue for this celebration of Jamaican music, bringing artists like Grammy nominee Beres Hammond to the zoo for a 21+ festival where you can party like an animal all you want. reggaeintheparkboston.com
The Lawn on D for Briggs Fest | July 29
Briggs Original spiked cranberry seltzer—the recently debuted brainchild of former Porto beverage director Neil Quigley and friends—hosts this inaugural hip-hop fest, which brings some heavy hitters in the rap game to the Lawn on D, including Waka Flocka Flame, B.o.B. and hometown hero Sammy Adams. briggsfest.com
Take a short drive to…
Photo by Zach Weinberg
Marshfield for the Levitate Music and Arts Festival | July 8-9
This folk, funk, rock and reggae fest is a short 45-minute drive away, but attendees are also welcome to camp out for the two-day event, this year hosting Lake Street Dive, Deer Tick, Rubblebucket, Dispatch and Ziggy Marley, to name a few. levitatemusicfestival.com
Lowell for the Lowell Folk Festival | July 28-30
As always, Lowell’s annual fest is free of charge, so you can afford the gas money to head north for a full day of folk—and gospel, zydeco, bluegrass and more—from bands hailing from across the country. lowellfolkfestival.org
Book a hotel—or pitch a tent—for a weekend in…
Photo by Shervin Lainez
North Adams for Solid Sound | June 23-25
Wilco throws and headlines this alt-and-indie fest at MASS MoCA every other summer, and every other summer the lineup is tight. This year’s standouts include Kurt Vile and Peter Wolf and their bands—plus a comedy stage hosting big names in funny like Nick Offerman and Michael Ian Black. solidsoundfestival.com
Photo by Brian Lima
Newport for the Newport Folk Festival | July 28-30 for the Newport Jazz Festival | Aug. 4-6
Both are held on the water in scenic Fort Adams State Park, where the views are almost as good as the lineups. Highlights of this year’s Folk Fest include the Head and the Heart, Fleet Foxes, the Avett Brothers, Regina Spektor and Jim James. On the jazz front, don’t miss Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, the Roots, Andra Day and Maceo Parker. newportfolk.org / newportjazz.org
Photo by Ali Kaukas
Waitsfield, Vermont, for Frendly Gathering | June 29-July 1
This year, the hippie fest moves to a new location at Sugarbush, where skiers will cede the mountain to musicheads for a fest that, true to its name, encourages camping on the grounds for an ultra-communal vibe. The lineup follows suit, with jam bands like Twiddle and Yonder Mountain String Band headlining a bill that also includes standouts like funk-master Charles Bradley. frendlygathering.com
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