New England Music Festivals

Although lesser known than national festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella, SXSW or even NXNE, New England is home to some great music festivals throughout the year. Since many are annual events, you should keep your eyes open in case you missed your favorite this year.

Many local festivals are held outdoors during the summer. For more info on some of the facilities, check out my post on Summertime Venues. 

Note that listings with this year's date have been confirmed, those with last year's date are still TBD

See my music calendar for upcoming shows in New England

January

• NYE, 2013 First Night Boston
• NYE, 1/1/2013 Hank Williams Night @ Lizard Lounge  
• 1/11-12, 2013 BCMFest (Celtic) @ Passim (Fri,Sat)

February

• 2/15-17, 2013 Joe Val Bluegrass @ Sheraton Framingham
• 2/18-19, 2012 Winter Campfire @ Passim
• 2/18, 2012 Wolf's Mardi Gras Ball @ TT the Bear's

Mar

• 3/9, 2012 New England Music Awards @ Hard Rock Cafe
• 3/14-18, 2012 Dropkick Murphys @ House of Blues, more
• 3/23-25, 2012 Tweed River Winter Carnival @ Pico Mtn, VT
• 3/31-4/1, 2012 FestEvol @ Mount Sunapee, NH

Apr

• 4/1-4/20, 2012 Rock 'n Roll Rumble @ TT the Bear's
• 4/20-22, 2012 NEFFA Festival @ Mansfield, MA
• 4/20-22, 2012 Singer Songwriter Festival @ The Music Hall
• 4/25-5/2, 2012 Independent Film Festival Boston
• 4/26-29, 2012 Jazzmouth @ The Music Hall 

May

• 5/6, 2012 Mayfair in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
• 5/19, 2012 PorchFest @ Somerville, MA
• 5/18-19, 2012 HarpoonFest @ Harpoon Brewery, Boston
• 5/25-28, 2012 Memorial Day Campfire @ Passim 

June

• 6/2, 2012 Cambridge River Festival, Memorial Drive
• 6/7-10, 2012 Roots on the River, Bellows Falls, VT
• 6/9, 2012 Market Square Day, Portsmouth, NH
• 6/10, 2012 Old Port Festival, Portland, ME
• 6/14-17, 2012 Blistered Fingers Bluegrass @ Litchfield, ME
• 6/15-17, 2012 Rock'n Ribfest, Merrimack, NH
• 6/16 African Festival Lowell @ Sampas Pavillion
• 6/21-23, 2013 Solid Sound Festival, North Adams, MA
• 6/23-24, 2012 Granite State Music Festival, Concord, NH
  

July

• 7/7, 2012 Showcase Festival @ Prescott Park (1-5pm)
• 7/7, 2012 Riverfront Festival, Newburyport, MA (noon-6pm)
• 7/8, 2012 Jazz Festival @ Prescott Park (noon-5pm)
• 7/14, 2012 Americana Festival @ Prescott Park (1-5pm)
• 7/14, 2012 Rochester Reggae Fest @ Governors Inn, NH
• 7/14, 2012 Camp-n-Jam @ Northwood, NH  
• 7/20-21, 2013 Green River Festival, Greenfield, MA
• 7/19-23, 2012 Market Days Music @ Concord, NH
• 7/19-22, 2012 Grey Fox Bluegrass @ Oak Hill, NY
• 7/20-21, 2012 ArtBeat, Somerville, MA
• 7/26-29, 2012 Ossipee Valley @ Cornish, ME
• 7/27-29, 2012 Falcon Ridge Folk @ Hillsdale, NY
• 7/27-29, 2012 Lowell Folk Festival, Lowell, MA
• 7/27-28, 2013 Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI
• 7/29-8/5, 2012 Yankee Homecoming, Newburyport

August

• 8/3, 2012 Folk Festival @ Prescott Park, NH
• 8/4, 2012 Gentlemen of the Road, Portland, ME
• 8/3-5, 2012 Tweed River Festival, Stockbridge, VT
• 8/4, 2012 WOKQ Country Festival @ Prescott Park (1-5pm) 
• 8/6-7, 2011 Northeast Kingdom Music Festival, Albany, VT
• 8/11, 2012 Naukabout Music Festival @ East Falmouth, MA
• 8/11, 2012 Roots and Rhythm Festival @ Prescott Park (1-5pm)
  
• 8/11-12, 2012 Saddleback Mountain Bluegrass @ Rangeley, ME
• 8/16-19, 2012 Boston Greenfest @ City Hall Plaza
• 8/17-19, 2011 White Mountain Boogie n' Blues @ Thornton, NH
• 8/18, 2012 Redhook Fest @ Portsmouth, NH  
• 8/18, 2012 Blues'n'Brews Festival @ Nashoba Valley Ski
• 8/18-21, 2011 Great Bay Music Festival @ Dover, NH
• 8/18-19, 2012 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival @ Salem, MA
• 8/20, 2011 Wetlands Jam @ Brunswick, ME
• 8/23-26, 2012 Blistered Fingers Bluegrass @ Litchfield, ME
• 8/25, 2012 Greenfield Blue-B-Que, Greenfield, NH (4-11pm)  
• 8/26-28, 2011 Javelina Festival @ Rehobeth, MA

September

• 8/31-9/2, 2012 Rhythm and Roots @ Charlestown, RI
• 8/30-9/2, 2012 Thomas Point Bluegrass @ Brunswick, ME
• 9/1, 2012 Keene Music Festival @ Keene, NH
• 9/1-3, 2012 Labor Day Campfire @ Club Passim 
  
• 9/4-5 Bennington Irish Music Festival @ Bennington, VT
• 9/7-8 Manchester Music Festival @ Manchester, NH
• 9/8, 2012 JP Music Festival @ Jamaica Plain, MA 
• 9/12 Allston Village Street Fair @ Allston
• 9/12-15, 2012 Americana Music Festival @ Nashville, TN
• 9/13-15, 2012 New England Americana Festival @ Cambridge, MA
• 9/14-15, 2012 Grand Point Festival @ Burlington, VT
• 9/??, 2013 New England Pop Music Festival (2012 hiatus)
• 9/21-23, 2012 Fresh Grass Bluegrass @ MASS MoCA
• 9/22,23, 2012 Life is Good Festival @ Canton, MA
• 9/24-26 Nor'easter by EMS @ Loon Mt, Lincoln, NH
• 9/29, 2012 Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival @ Boston

October

• 10/2, 2011 Oktoberfest @ Harvard Square
• 10/6, 2012 Honk! Festival @ Davis Square
• 10/8, 2011 Gram InterNational Boston @ Johnny D's

November

• 11/7, 2011 Eat Your Heart Out @ Paradise
• 11/14-17, 2012 International Pop Overthrow @ Precinct
• 11/17 Rock-n-Bowl 2012 @ Shooters Pub, Exeter 

December

• 12/2, 2012 Boston Music Awards @ Liberty Hotel