Music festivals are a terrific excuse to plan a trip and make the most of the good summer time climate with out of doors performances. Whereas occasions like Bonnaroo and Burning Man sometimes draw essentially the most crowds and a focus, there are many different nice gatherings throughout the nation with less-pricey tickets, smaller crowds, nice meals, and superb artists. If you happen to’re in search of a extra low-key expertise to spherical out your late summer time plans, try a few of the occasions under.
AVL Fest (Asheville, North Carolina)
Asheville shines as a music vacation spot for being the house of luminaries – like Nina Simone, Invoice Monroe and Robert Moog – a trove of storied venues, and an abundance of music and report outlets. This summer time is poised to go down in Asheville music historical past, because the inaugural AVL Fest kicks off on August third and goes by August sixth. The three-day music competition options native and nationwide acts, acting at greater than 20 venues throughout city. Make an entire journey out of it and go mountaineering within the mountains, plan a motorbike trip, tour the Biltmore, and catch nice meals and drinks on the town.
Farmstead Roots Creek Dinner Collection (Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee)
Occurring this summer time till October seventh, the Farmstead Roots Creek Dinner Collection at Wines within the Fork are multi-course meals ready by native cooks paired with wine below the celebs, cocktails and cigar-rolling. Whereas the star of this competition is native delicacies, dinners are accompanied by dwell music and native artisan demonstrations. The placement additionally makes for a superb addition to any nation music lovers journey, as Leiper’s Fork is only a quick drive outdoors of Nashville. Add in plans to see an even bigger live performance on the town, tour the historic Ryman Auditorium, and take a stroll by the Nation Music Corridor of Fame to spherical out this low-key getaway to Music Metropolis.
The Colonial Oak Music Park Live performance Collection (St. Augustine, Florida)
Sailboats at sundown in St. Augustine, Florida by Kristin Wilson – Unsplash
The Live performance Collection at The Colonial Oak Music Park in St. Augustine, Florida continues by the summer time and into the autumn. These free concert events function native musicians and improv actors at an distinctive music venue. Music acts vary from nation, rock, pop, and dance. Improv reveals rely closely on viewers participation, so come prepared with some concepts. Tucked away on St. George Avenue, The Colonial Oak Music Park options towering oaks and loads of house to bounce or chill out. Meals and beverage from the adjoining St. Augustine Seafood Firm is on the market throughout all occasions. Concert events are free and supplied weekly, from Thursday by Sunday.
Glenville Competition’s Commemoration of Hip Hop’s fiftieth Anniversary (Cleveland, Ohio)
Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in Cleveland – courtesy of Vacation spot Cleveland
Past being generally known as a rock ‘n’ roll metropolis, Cleveland has a deep historical past with hip hop. The trailblazing Bone Thugs-N-Concord, Child Cudi and Machine Gun Kelly hail from The Land. MC Chill grew to become Cleveland’s first hip hop star within the Nineteen Eighties, and, right this moment, the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame honors hip hop artists and their contributions to the artform. This summer time, Cleveland presents a number of experiences to discover varied genres and attend signature music occasions. The Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame’s new exhibit commemorates 50 years of hip hop with never-before-seen and “new faculty” artifacts from artists like DJ Kool Herc, Roxanne Shante, The Sugarhill Gang, Salt-N-Pepa and Jay-Z.
An annual neighborhood occasion, Glenville Competition, takes on a hip hop theme this yr on August twelfth with a lineup of native hip hop artists and a DJ battle. The neighborhood is the place Bone Thugs-N-Concord and different Cleveland hip hop artists began out, and the occasion is thought for dwell music and shock headlining artists.
Blossom Live performance Collection (Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park, Ohio)
The famend Cleveland Orchestra returns July 1 – September 9 for a summer time lineup at Blossom Music Heart inside Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. The 2023 Blossom Live performance Collection includes a various array of musical performances and particular friends, together with Beethoven’s Ode to Pleasure, music from Last Fantasy, Jurassic Park and Lord of the Rings, in addition to Sibelius’ First Symphony and a night with six-time Tony award-winning artist Audra McDonald.
For the Tradition KS Fest (Topeka, Kansas)
A brand new first-of-its-kind competition celebrating African American tradition and heritage is coming to Kansas’ capital metropolis this summer time. “For the Tradition KS Fest” (FTC KS Fest) will run July 28-30, 2023, in Topeka, Kansas and embody musical performances and distributors, in addition to networking and panel classes targeted on skilled and private progress for Black people. The three-day occasion will function a number of musical performances from native artists: Kansas-native Justin Aarons, a Prime 8 contestant on The Voice; saxophonist JahVelle, who just lately carried out on the NFL Draft; Topeka-native rapper Brandon “Bizzy” Evans, and extra. Dialogue panels, hosted by a various group of consultants, will vary from enterprise improvement to private wellness. Further actions embody a choir hour with participation from 5 totally different church buildings; a two-hour African American historical past bus tour led by native Topeka historians Sherri Camp and Donna Rae Pearson; an artwork exhibit on the historic Jayhawk Theater; and scholarship giveaways of $1,000 to a few native highschool college students.
“We wished to create a sustainable artwork and cultural initiative for the state of Kansas that celebrates the constructive influences in our native communities,” mentioned co-founder Rodney Harmon, a Division of Justice – Bureau of Prisons retiree residing in Topeka who has since devoted his time to neighborhood volunteering and mentoring. “We’ve by no means seen Black tradition represented on this scale earlier than, and we wished it to be greater than a music competition. This is the reason we sought to incorporate actions specializing in extra than simply performances, bringing collectively the intersection of artwork, enterprise, well being, and historical past of the African American neighborhood.”
Sunflower Blues & Gospel Competition (Clarksdale, Mississippi)
Shut-up of a microphone by Israel Palacio – Unsplash
Happening August 11-13, the Sunflower Blues & Gospel Competition is without doubt one of the oldest festivals celebrating genuine blues music since 1988. This occasion is free to the general public and situated inClarksdale, in Coahoma County, sometimes called the “Birthplace of the Blues.” Guests will wish to be sure you add a go to to the Delta Blues Museum and historic websites that have been vital to the historical past of blues music akin to The Crossroads, W.C. Useful’s dwelling, Muddy Water’s dwelling, WROX Radio Station, the Riverside Lodge, and the Blues Alley Railroad Depot.
Hop Nation Music Competition (Yakima, Washington)
Hop Nation Music Competition returns on September 15 and 16 this yr, and options multi-Platinum sensation Neal Mccoy joined by stars Chris Janson and Easton Corbin. Chinook Fest has partnered with SOZO Sports activities of Central Washington to deliver the thrilling competition again to the enjoying fields. Hop Nation Music Competition is a brand new occasion for Central Washington with all proceeds going towards placing extra youth on the sector. For one weekend in September, nation music stars will likely be on the complicated for a competition stuffed with music, meals, and enjoyable! Discover the total 2023 lineup right here.