From brand-new festivals to established favorites, these are the music and arts festivals worth booking your plane ticket to now.
For those of us who ca n’t get enough of lively euphony , often nothing can liken to a festival . Whether it ’s a major result fix on fete grounds or held at locale across a urban center , it ’s exhilarating cramming as many shows as potential into just a affair of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. as you jam to your favorite acts and inescapably let on a handful of novel ducky , too . With resilient music for the most part back to what it was before the pandemic , just about every music festival has made its grand replication , and even several new ones have launch . Below , Thrillist is rounding up a fistful of music festival and their lineups that are worth knowing about in 2023 — crop from major fests and regional favorites to ones that just late launched and special , small - scale of measurement events . While you wo n’t line up every exclusive fest lineup here , you ’re definitely throttle to find some of the coolest one that you ’ll want to snag a mountain pass for and journey to .
Snail Mail’s Valentine Fest
When : Friday , February 10 - Tuesday , February 14Where : Baltimore , MarylandWhat to know : Indie - rock favourite Lindsey Jordan ofSnail Mailcame up in her hometown of Baltimore before break out in 2018 with her debut albumLush . While she may not be based in Maryland any more , the metropolis holds a especial place in her heart . Just last class , she tour with fellow Baltimore act JPEGMAFIA and Turnstile , and this year she ’s returning for a special event called Valentine Fest , named after her 2021 albumValentine , and obligate over Valentine ’s Day weekend . Every show is to be hold in at Ottobar , the venue where she play her first gig as Snail Mail , and her set is localize to bring every nighttime . The rest of the batting order is a secret — although clues on the fete poster might point to name likeMac DeMarco , Mannequin Pussy , Soccer Mommy — but no doubt it ’ll be a very indie , heartwarming Valentine ’s weekend .
Noise Pop
When : Monday , February 20 - Sunday , February 26Where : San Francisco , CaliforniaWhat to know : Noise Pop has come a prospicient way from its 1993 beginning in which it host " 5 bands for $ 5 " shows , going on to sport a broad variety of national acts over the age and helping to launch local turn ' calling . This year note its 30th anniversary , though , and the San Francisco institution is making sure to celebrate . As common , appearance will be hosted at venues across the metropolis — with some reunification shows and larger acts like FIDLAR playing their most intimate gig in year . For locals , it ’s an opportunity to come out and support their lively scene , and for visitant , it ’s a great way to swallow up yourself in everything in the art that the Bay Area has to offer in just one week . star : Yo La Tengo , Boy Harsher , DusterOther act to condition out : FIDLAR , No holiday , NoSo , White Reaper
Treefort Music Fest
When : Wednesday , March 22 - Sunday , March 26Where : Boise , IdahoWhat to sleep together : Go toTreefortand you ’re certain to fall in sexual love with the fest and its home city . Thecommunity - run festivalis all about bringing care to both rising creative person and the underrated arts hub that is Boise , receive 500 + local , national , and outside acts to perform at venues and pop - up stages around the mountain town . Beyond its music component , Treefort is filled out with a motley of " fort , " from food and wellness to drag and comedy , and so many others , urinate it an event where anybody can feel at family . Last twelvemonth , Treefort celebrate its 10th anniversary , but the 2023 fest will be bigger than ever , as they ’re moving the primary phase to a raw locale to conciliate its growth . gravely , if you ’re a music fan who prides themselves on have a go at it what ’s great in raw medicine , Treefort is the place for you . Headliners : Unknown Mortal Orchestra , Leikeli47,Margo Price , Surf Curse , Cautious Clay , Ani Defranco , Dinosaur Jr. ,Godspeed You ! Black EmperorOther act to hold back out : Big Joanie , illuminati hotties , Tanukichan , Whitney , Yaya Bey
The Great Escape
When : Wednesday , May 10 - Saturday , May 13Where : Brighton Beach , EnglandWhat to know : If you ’re curious about who the unspoilt raw band are in the UK , Europe , and beyond , you may just want to make a trip across the pool to the Great Escape . Considered the UK ’s version of SXSW , this multi - venue fete and medicine group discussion features case of 500 + emerging artists of all musical genre . It also includes headlining spotlight shows and secret gig across the quaint seaboard city of Brighton . It ’s considered a favorite festival among many Brits and one of the very best for uncovering , so if you consider yourself a tastemaker , it could very well be deserving a head trip . Spotlight shows : Arlo Parks , Maisie PetersOther acts to jibe out : Been Stellar , Blondshell , Grove
Kilby Block Party
When : Friday , May 12 - Sunday , May 14Where : Salt Lake City , UtahWhat to know : Kilby Block Party is steadily becoming one of the coolest , fastest - growing festivals in the US . This will be its quaternary iteration , but it ’s scheduled to be its crowing fest yet . Originally launch as a block party in 2019 to honor Salt Lake City ’s beloved longest - lead all - ages venueKilby Court , it ’s since expanded to multiple days and new venues , with 2023 being its first twelvemonth at the Utah State Fairpark . It ’s not just that it ’s one of the turgid live music events in Salt Lake City that makes it stand out : It ’s all about land care to the city ’s thriving arts prospect , with several local acts on the bill , as well as a really coolheaded , curated card overall . Headliners : The Strokes , Pavement , Yeah Yeah YeahsOther acts to check out : Ethel Cain , blessing Ives , Indigo De Souza , Momma
Hangout Festival
When : Friday , May 19 - Sunday , May 21Where : Gulf Shores , AlabamaWhat to know : As always , if your kind of music festival is one that ’s a giant beach political party bang — as in roller skating by the sea , volleyball in the sand , and taking a dip at your leisure kind of vibraphone — just as much as it is a medicine fest , then Hangout Festival is for you . The pop - centric event returns this spring for another cheerfulness - filled weekend to commend . This year notably make for together a writing style - spanning group of headliners that should make everyone happy . It notably include SZA , who released one of the upright album of 2022 withSOSand is do Hangout one of her only southerly headlining stops of the yr . star : Red Hot Chili Peppers , SZA , Calvin Harris , ParamoreOther act to check out : Sabrina Carpenter , Thundercat , Tove Lo
Adjacent Festival
When : Saturday , May 27 - Sunday , May 28Where : Atlantic City , New JerseyWhat to know : The ' 00s pop punk rock and emo revival has been go secure in the retiring couple of year , and it looks like 2023 will be no different . Adjacent Festival is an all - novel event that ’s going down in New Jersey , where lashings of MySpace band and soda water - punk purveyors launch their careers in the zippo . The card is an exciting mix of classic genre bands making their comeback in 2023 , like blink-182 and Paramore , as well as new acts who are making the scene what it is today . Taking place on the Atlantic City boardwalk , it ’s sure to be a great ( and very emo ) east coast summertime kick - off . Headliners : blink-182,ParamoreOther acts to watch out : Nipponese Breakfast , Mannequin Pussy , Slaughter Beach , Dog
Primavera Sound
When : Thursday , June 1 - Saturday , June 3 / Thursday , June 8 - Saturday , June 10Where : Barcelona , Spain / Madrid , SpainWhat to cognise : Leave it to Primavera Sound to consistently curate one of the best batting order in the planetary fete racing circuit . As always , the massive event , which helm several versions across the globe , kicks off in its homebase of Barcelona , followed by Madrid the undermentioned weekend with the same lineup . The biggest name across all genre and standout up - and - comers make full out the bill alongside several particularly exciting headlining sets , like Spain ’s own Rosalía , Kendrick Lamar , and a fully reunited Blur . Primavera Sound Porto in Portugal goes down June 7 - 10 with a alike , yet pared - down lineup , and then it ’ll make its direction to the Americas with a TBA lineup later this class . irrespective , there ’s no dream fete we ’d rather fly across the world to than Primavera ’s big weekends . headliner : Pet Shop Boys , Blur , Halsey , Kendrick Lamar , Depeche Mode , Rosalía , Calvin HarrisOther represent to check out : Alex G , Alvvays , Isabella Lovestory , Kelela , Nation of Language
80/35 Music Festival
When : Friday , July 7 - Saturday , July 8Where : Des Moines , IowaWhat to lie with : Nestled in the heart of the Midwest , you might not needs regard Des Moines as one of the sexy destinations , but no doubt it ’s anunderappreciated metropolis . That ’s partly because of its thrive arts community , which this fete is all about . Launched in 2008 , 80/35 is an upshot unionise by and in support of the non - profitGreater Des Moines Music Coalition , which aim to overdraw and radiate the urban center ’s music aspect . It ’s grown a great deal since then , institute in huge bit and making a triumphant return in 2022 after take a few year off . In 2023 , it continues to solidify itself as one of the most exciting event in Des Moines with an eclectic card , spanning from indie to rap . sport a handful of gratis shows from local acts and tickets only required for the primary stages , it ’s certainly a rationality to make a head trip to Iowa and see what their arts community has to volunteer . Headliners : The War On Drugs , Big BoiOther acts to check out : Disq , Gustaf , Sudan Archives
When We Were Young
When : Saturday , October 21Where : Las Vegas , NevadaWhat to know : You may think in former 2022 when the novel dad - strong-armer nostalgia festival When We Were Young was announced and it just about broke the cyberspace — selling out at once and afterwards expanding into multiple days to accommodate the demand . Well , because round one was a success ( despite one of its escort being cancel due to gamey wind ) , the festival is make out back for another , just - as - emo iteration . After all , it was never a phase!Headliners : blink-182,Green DayOther acts to check out : Beach Bunny , Joyce Manor , Michelle Branch , Turnover
III Points
When : October TBAWhere : Miami , FloridaWhat to recognize : III Points should unquestionably be on your radio detection and ranging if it is n’t already . 2023 will be its 7th looping , and it ’s quick becoming one of the most eclectic events held in Miami — and Miami certainly hosts a mickle of festivals . The lineup tends to favor genre - defying artists and the voguish names in electronic — last yr , for exercise , was toplined by LCD Soundsystem and Rosalía . Held in Wynwood , Miami ’s prowess and entertainment district , the event also prides itself on bring the visual art scene into the festival and developing immersive stage and lights exhibit .
Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist
