Looking for the best music festivals in Boston in 2024!? Well, look no further, because I’ve put together a solid list of upcoming Massachusetts music festivals to check out this year!
They may be a pivotal element of what makes Boston so distinct, but there’s so much more to this incredible city than sport, food and a native accent like no other.
Music is central to the beating heart of the Massachusetts capital, and locals love nothing more than sharing their love for good tunes. From massive block parties to grassroots shindigs, Boston music festivals are as fun as they are diverse.
The 18 Best Music Festivals in Boston & Massachusetts
And check out my articles on Festival Hydration Backpacks, Festival Camping Packing List, Festival Shoes, and Festival Gadgets to enhance your experience by having all the best gear!
So without further ado, enjoy my shortlist of the 21 best music festivals in Boston and Massachusetts to fill your summer schedule and beyond….
1) Boston Calling Festival 2024
When: May 24-26, 2024
Where: Allston, Massachusets
https://www.facebook.com/Bostoncalling/
Genre: Various
New England’s #1 Music Festival
“Across the street from Harvard Business School, a renowned music festival shakes up the scholarly vibes of nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, once a year. While most music festivals tend to focus on a few genres, Boston Calling doesn’t discriminate between all the sounds you love; this is the kind of festival you attend when you’re a fan of music, through and through. If you’re the type of person who can go from dancing to lively electronic beats to headbanging to gnarly guitar riffs without delay, consider Boston Calling your music mecca.”
2) Levitate Music & Arts Festival 2024
Credit: Levitate Music & Arts Festival
When: July 5-7 2024
Where: Marshfield, Massachusetts
https://www.levitatemusicfestival.com
https://www.facebook.com/levitatemusicfestival
Genre: Roots / Reggae / Folk
“This grassroots music and arts festival features roots, reggae, folk, rock, and funk. The organizers, a community oriented surf/skate shop, started the festival as an anniversary party in 2013, but it became such a success, it’s now an annual New England event. Held just 30 minutes south of Boston, the festival is an excellent reason to get out of the city for the weekend!”
3) Green River Festival 2024
When: June 21-23, 2024
Where: Greenfield, Massachusetts
https://www.greenriverfestival.com
https://www.facebook.com/greenriverfestival
Genre: Various
“The Green River Festival is Western Massachusetts’ signature summer event. For one weekend every July, Greenfield Community College hosts an outrageous celebration of world class music, great local food, beer & wine, a handmade craft fair, and lots of family games and activities. We top it all off with a spectacular Saturday night balloon glow.”
4) Freshgrass Festival 2024
When: May 17-18, 2024 (Bentonville) and September 20-22, 2024 (North Adams)
Where: Bentonville, Massachusetts & North Adams, Massachusetts (two dates)
Genre: Bluegrass / Folk / Rock
“Set amongst the beauty of the Ozarks, FreshGrass | Bentonville is a two-day, all-ages festival with the best in bluegrass and roots music filling multiple outdoor stages, courtyards, and galleries of the Momentary (exhibitions are always free to view!). Knockout performances and world premieres will be accompanied by fun family-friendly activities, great local food and drink, homegrown retail vendors, artist merchandise, and more.
Festival programming includes a world-class lineup, FreshScores, a silent film with original live music; FreshGrass commissions and world premieres; and FreshSongs, premier performances of new music created at The House of Songs for the festival.”
5) Lowell Folk Festival
When: July 26-28, 2024
Where: Lowell, Massachusetts
https://www.facebook.com/LowellFolkFestival/
Genre: Folk
“We cordially invite you to join us to celebrate and support the Lowell Festival Foundation for our Annual Fundraiser. Proceeds of this event will directly support the Lowell Folk Festival and the Lowell Summer Music Series, which is celebrating its’ 30th year this summer! This event will feature music, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, silent auction, and a raffle for locally donated goods and services. Come join us for a fun evening of food, music, and fun! Your generous support can help us offset the costs of producing both the Lowell Folk Festival & the Lowell Summer Music Series!”
6) BeanStock Music Festival
When: TBC, 2024
Where: Braintree, Massachusetts
http://www.thesunwillrise.org/beanstock-1
Genre: Various
“This is a fundraiser for The Sun Will Rise Foundation. The festival remembers the life of Nick Bean and all those we have lost to substance use disorder, supports those families with loved ones still with active substance use disorder and celebrates those in recovery. We hope to raise awareness about the ongoing opioid epidemic and lessened the stigma, while having a super fun sober event.”
7) DayWave Music Festival
When: June, 2024
Where: Lowell, Massachusetts
https://www.facebook.com/DayWaveLLc
Genre: Electronic / Dance / Techno / House“
“DJ Money along with an amazing team brings you the BIGGEST DAY PARTY to set the summer off, inside one of Lowells most talked about venues TREND RESTURANT & BAR ! The event will be held on the patio and in the back bar. Loud chest breaking music all day playing the Latest & Throwback hits from generes like: Top40, Hip-Hop, Dancehall, Latin Hits, Afrobeats, Trap & Much More . N.E TOP Djs will be playing from Sun up, to Sundown, A Few Host will be keeping you on your feet and ready to party and Guest walk through appearances from your local favorite Djs/Host/Personals.”
8) JP Music Festival
When: September, 2024
Where: Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
http://www.jpmusicfestival.com
https://www.facebook.com/jpmusicfest
Genre: Various
“The JP Music Festival is a celebration of the music and incredible musicians of Jamaica Plain. The festival runs from 12pm – 7pm on two stages. With food trucks and music for everyone, the festival is perfect for all ages, including children.
This is all made possible by our sponsors and generous donations. . The festival is fully inclusive and will prove to be a vibrant celebration of the music which is so alive in Jamaica Plain.”
9) Gloucester Blues Festival
When: August 10, 2024
Where: Gloucester, Massachusetts
Genre: Blues
https://gloucesterbluesfestival.com
“World-class blues reverberates through Stage Fort Park with some of the nation’s finest performers playing on the Gloucester Blues stage. Located right on the waterfront on beautiful Cressey’s beach, the event features a beer garden and outstanding food and craft vendors.”
10) Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
When: August, 2024
Where: Salem, Massachusetts
Genre: Jazz / Soul
“The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is recreating and renewing the vibrant jazz scene that began at the Salem Willows in the early 20th century, when Duke Ellington and other musicians from the Big Band era played at the seaside park in Salem, Mass. The festival builds on this rich jazz history — adding soul, blues and funk to the mix — by offering a series of annual free concerts to the public, concluding with our annual main festival at the Willows, the third weekend in August.”
11) Boston Jazz Fest
Credit: Boston Jazz Festival
When: September, 2024
Where: Maritime Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Genre: Jazz
“We welcome you to this FREE ground-breaking festival featuring the most musically diverse array of jazz artists performing at Boston’s Waterfront. Jazz is a true American art form, traditionally associated with several cities of the United States. Each summer the Boston Jazz Fest pays homage to the genre’s African American roots and also draws together many of the most innovative and exciting contemporary jazz artists from around the globe in a day of musical brotherhood. Take a stroll and enjoy GREAT MUSIC, GREAT FOOD & visit the vendors.”
12) South Shore Country Festival
When: August, 2024
Where: Marshfield, Massachusetts
http://www.southshorecountryfestival.com
Genre: Country
“The Marshfield Fair Grounds is teeming with country music talent and all kinds of southern fun at the South Shore Country Festival. From catchy country songs to mouth-watering appetizers and a wildly competitive cornhole tournament, you’ll have no trouble keeping yourself occupied. If you’re okay with deep-colored bruises the next morning, consider riding the angry mechanical bull before you call it a day.”
13) Solid Sound Festival
Credit: Chattman Photography
When: June 28-30, 2024
Where: North Adams, Massachusetts
https://solidsoundfestival.com
https://www.facebook.com/solidsoundfestival
Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock
Wilco’s Annual Music and Arts Festival
“Spanning three days and four stages, Solid Sound includes music by Wilco and its members’ side projects, as well as many other musical performers. It also features a full comedy lineup, family fun for all ages, local food, craft beer, camping, naturalist activities, and more. Concerts held rain or shine.”
14) Hot Stove Cool Music
When: July, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
Genre: Various
“Our signature fundraising event, Hot Stove Cool Music, celebrates music, baseball and giving. Held annually in Boston and Chicago, it unites our communities, raises funds for our programs, and allows us to have a lot of fun while doing a lot of good.
Since the first show in 2000, we have featured over 250 musical acts, including Grammy Award winning artists, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, indie rock stars, blues legends, up and coming talent, and even baseball players taking a swing at music.
Headliners have included Eddie Vedder, John Legend, Yo-Yo Ma, Liz Phair, Buddy Guy, Smashing Pumpkins, Common, James Taylor, Steven Tyler, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Tom Morello & Cheap Trick, among others.”
15) Sad Summer Festival
When: July, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Worcester, Massachusetts
Genre: Rock
“Sad Summer Festival is an inaugural nationwide run featuring sets from State Champs, Mayday Parade, the Maine, the Wonder Years, Mom Jeans, Stand Atlantic, Just Friends and L.I.F.T. Sad Summer Fest is more than a music festival, it is a way for the music community to make an impact across the U.S. We will be selecting 17 non-profit partners in all 17 cities across The Sad Summer Festival.”
16) Welcome Campers: Adult Summer Camp Music Festival
https://www.facebook.com/welcomecampersfestival
“Join The Wild Honey Pie at Camp Lenox in the Berkshires on Memorial Day weekend for an absolutely unreal adult summer camp meets music festival that brings together 400 people for three days and two nights of nostalgia with food, drinks, communal accommodations and live music all included.”
17) Cambridge Dance Party
When: June, 2024
Where: Cambridge, Massachusetts
https://www.cambridgema.gov/citycalendar/view.aspx?guid=bf3ab8712cda4ae68648df238b77ced2
Genre: Dance
“Join thousands of Cambridge residents and visitors who will gather on Mass. Ave. in front of Cambridge City Hall for the City’s annual Dance Party. This portion of the street, between Inman and Bigelow at the heart of Central Square, will be closed to traffic from 7-11 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. MBTA: Red Line to Central Square. The annual dance extravaganza with DJ spun music is a special opportunity for the entire Cambridge community to celebrate summer. After dark, colorful lights will be launched, adding to the magic of the evening.”
18) Wormtown Music Festival
When: September, 2024
Where: Greenfield, Massachusetts
“Wormtown Music Festival is a special gathering that serves as a Homecoming for Worms all over New England and beyond. 3 nights of wooded camping and music featuring 60+ bands over 3 stages, plus late night cabin jams every September in Greenfield MA.”
19) StrangeCreek Campout
When: May 24-27, 2024
Where: Greenfield, Massachusetts
“Welcome to StrangeCreek Campout thrown by the wonderful Worms of Wormtown Trading Company! The Creek features over 50 bands playing everything and anything from reggae to rock, electronic, funk, jam and much more. Music and family are the pride of this festival so come with a big smile and your boogie shoes. It’s always good to know the scoop on a fest before you get there so here are a few things to know about gettin’ strange at the Creek.”
20) HONK! Festival
Image: New York Times
When: October, 2024
Where: Somerville, Massachusetts
“An awesome annual 3-day free festival bringing brass bands from all over the United States and the world to Somerville for a celebration of music, community and activism. Organized entirely by volunteers and now in its 18th year, the festival kicks off on Friday night with a lantern parade in Davis Square neighborhoods and a band showcase. On Saturday more than 33 bands take over Davis Square for a giant music and dance party. On Sunday, local community groups, artists, and activists working for a variety of progressive causes — economic justice, protecting the environment, world peace, an end to racism — join the brass bands to make a spectacular parade from Davis Square to Harvard Square along Mass Avenue. Other HONK! Fest activities include a Day of Action, when bands convene to play on behalf of a cause, and roundtable discussions for participating musicians and organizers of other HONK! festivals around the country to gather and share experiences. HONK! in Somerville has inspired festivals near – Providence, Brooklyn, Seattle, Austin, Detroit, and far – Australia and Brazil.”
21) The Town And The City Festival
When: April 26-27, 2024
Where: Lowell, Massachusetts
https://www.thetownandthecityfestival.com
“THE TOWN AND THE CITY FESTIVAL is a 2-day music and arts festival that will take place in various event spaces, bars, cafes, and galleries throughout downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. The festival celebrates the spirit of Jack Kerouac in direct and indirect ways. It is named after Kerouac’s earliest novel which was primarily set in this historic mill city. The Town and The City Festival is inspired by the creativity and exploration for which the author was so famously known and will present a diverse mix of musical genres and artistic disciplines to inspire discovery and to celebrate a love of life. ”
Am I missing any epic music festivals in Boston & Massachusetts?
When putting this list together I was actually surprised by how few festivals there in the actual city of Boston, and decided to write about the whole state of Massachusetts! I’m sure I missed a few ones and would love for you to let me know so I can update this post with the most relevant and up-to-date information!
Looking for more festivals around the world?
I’ve spent countless hours putting together articles just like this that put together the best music festivals in the U.S.A, as well as around the world! Check out a few of my favorite blog posts below, and start planning your next music festival adventure!
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- 20 Vancouver Music Festivals To Add To Your BUcket List
Thanks for reading these about these Boston music festivals 2024!
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