Save money. See the best music.
You could take out a personal loan to travel to a megafest. But why not go to something better a single tank of gas away? Or maybe just a T ride away? And why not have that fest feature an A+ lineup of locals and international stars?
Green River Festival
Greenfield; June 23-25
Miles from Boston: 95
I have said in the past that this is our Coachella, but that’s an insult, an insult to Green River. This is more like our Bonnaroo, Newport Folk and Newport Jazz all in one. The Franklin County Fairgrounds host St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Little Feat, the Wood Brothers, the Felice Brothers, GA-20, the Glen David Andrews Band, and many more. Greenriverfestival.com
Boston GuitarFest
Cambridge; June 27-July 2
Miles from Boston: Less than one
The theme of the 18th fest is “transformation.” And these performances will show off plenty of artists who have transformed the guitar (and the renaissance lute!). Grammy-winner Sharon Isbin will open the master class series. The Bach Cello Suites will be reinvented for classical guitar. Your mind will be expanded. The fest features workshops, lectures, performance classes, private lessons and performances both online and in person at the Foundry and Multicultural Arts Center. Bostonguitarfest.org
Levitate Music Festival
Marshfield; July 7-9
Miles from Boston: 30
It’s time to celebrate 10 years of Levitate with the best line up in the event’s history. Skeptical? The headliners are Brandi Carlile, Trey Anastasio Band and Stick Figure. The undercard features Goose, Ziggy Marley, Lucius, Larkin Poe, the California Honeydrops, G. Love & Special Sauce, and many more on three stages. levitatemusicfestival.com
• Nice!, a fest
Somerville; July 20-23
Miles from Boston: Two-ish
The Massachusetts-centric festival of underground rock ‘n’ roll returns for edition three at Somerville’s Crystal Ballroom and the Rockwell in Davis Square. Come for Karate, Swirlies, Guerilla Toss, Valleyheart, Bent Knee, Izzy Heltai, and Will Dailey. Stay for about 70 other acts. niceafest.com
Lowell Folk Festival
Lowell; July 28-30
Miles from Boston: 31
Lowell Folk Festival executive director Kevin Dwyer has a wide definition of folk, one that includes bluegrass, Argentine tango, Manouche jazz, West African balafon and dozens of other styles. The oldest free – yes, free – folk fest in the country returns with arts, crafts and can’t-miss music from Chicago blues sensation Melody Angel to western swing champs Hot Club of Cowtown to tap dance phenom Jason Samuels Smith. Lowellfolkfestival.org
The Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, Rhode Island; Aug. 4-6
Miles from Boston: 71
Newport Folk gets most of the buzz. But that’s changing, and that’s as it should be. Yes, Newport Jazz has the old masters – Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, John Scofield. But the event has started leaning hard on improvisational music of every kind, so you can see hard bop and jam bands, soul jazz, electronica and more. newportjazzfest.net
In Between Days Festival
Quincy; Aug. 19-20
Miles from Boston: 11
How successful was the 2022 debut of In Between Days at Veterans Memorial Stadium? This summer’s addition is double the size. Typically, when hyping a festival I’d crow about the headliners. And yes, they’re good (including Modest Mouse, Trampled by Turtles, and Sunny Day Real Estate). But the locals that play earlier are better: Weakened Friends, Dwight and Nicole, Dutch Tulips, Carissa Johnson, Mint Green… inbetweendaysfestival.com
