Top Indie Festivals To Perform At

Indie music festivals offer a unique vibe that you simply can’t find anywhere else. If you like options, festivals like these have a bunch of genres to choose from, all in one place. Fans can bounce from a reggae set to an alternative rock set or lay back at a dreamy indie pop set if that’s what their hearts desire. But as an artist, this variety gives you tons of opportunities to get booked for one (or more) of these unique festivals.

Here are the best Indie Festivals to check out this year:

Desert Daze

When: October

Where: Southern California

In the valley of the unbroken horizon, aka Moreno Beach, California, you’ll find majestic mountain ranges, a soothing lake, and rolling hills that come together to create an otherworldly environment. There’s nothing like playing a set and seeing your fans peacefully drift along the water while jammin’ to your tunes. For any and all inquiries, whether it’s how you can get booked or what type of food they’ll have, email them here.

Firefly Music Festival

When: June

Where: Dover, Delaware

This fest is the largest music and camping festival on the east coast and always has an amazing lineup. Why not try and get yourself on it! Artists range from rappers to pop icons to underground sensations. This year, artists like Travis Scott, Brockhampton, Death Cab For Cutie, Allison Wonderland, Post Malone and Vampire Weekend are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to just how dope the lineup is every year. In 2017, Bob Dylan even played an amazing set. *cue fangirling* But Firefly is more than just music. It offers a creative environment with gourmet food vendors, hammocks and chill spots galore, and fans from all over the country enjoying every kind of vibe. If you’d like to get in touch with them, contact them here. 

Bonnaroo

When: June

Where: Manchester, Tennessee

Keeping up with the trend of diverse lineups, Bonnaroo is one for the books. Everyone has that one friend who never stops talking about how Bonaroo changed their life. And truthfully, I get it. This beautiful festival always keeps positivity and quality at the highest level of importance, and as it grows every year, so do the acts. Bonnaroo is a mix of EDM greats, indie legends and alternative icons all mixed into one jam packed, 3 day event. You’ll find people like The Avett Brothers, Phish, Odesza and sooooo many other amazing artists all playing incredible sets back to back. Not to mention Bonnaroo is also a camping festival known for being a welcoming community for ravers and hippies alike to dance their hearts out all day and all night. Interested in trying to get booked for this one? You can reach out directly here. For questions concerning publicity or press, send your inquiries here instead.

Shaky Knees

When: May

Where: Atlanta, GA

Experience some good ole southern fun in Atlanta, GA for this one. Shaky Knees has more than 60 bands playing at this event each year, so if you stay on top of this one, the odds are in your favor. Some artists you’ll find on these stages include Tame Impala, Tash Sultana, Cage The Elephant, Beck and more. The alternative rock gods really came through when they created Shaky Knees. Test your luck and finesse your way into this one by hitting them up here.

Pitchfork Music Festival

When: July

Where: Chicago, IL

This year will be Pitchfork Music Festival’s 14th year going strong. Over 3 days, this fest presents over 40 artists in Chicago’s Union Park. This one sets itself apart by offering a lot more than just the concerts. They’ve got a Record Fair where fans can shop for records (including yours) in between sets, a Renegade Craft Fair that’s the world’s largest curated showcase of independent craft and design, a Poster Fair that offers prints by your favorite artists, a Book Fort, and even a Kid’s Zone for the little ones. Get in touch with them here.

Outside Lands 

When: August

Where: San Francisco, California

Over the past decade, Outside Lands has been a staple event in the Bay area. This fest transforms the beautiful woods of Golden Gate Park into the ultimate wonderland of great music, amazing food and an environment like no other. Outside Lands utilizes the tall, towering trees of the park to accentuate its naturally laid back vibe. The music is a mix of a bunch of different genres from alternative rock to laid-back indie to rap. If all this seems like a perfect fit, you can reach out to get more info here.

House of Creatives Music & Arts Festival

When: November

Where: Miami, Florida

Among the tropical landscape of historic Virginia Key Beach Park lies a pocket of paradise also known as HOC fest. Virginia Key Beach Park is the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the Florida vibes at this laid back fest. Stroll along the stretch of pristine beach and clear blue waters as you listen to artists like Foster the People, Chromeo, M.I.A, Little Dragon and more. If you’re just starting out, a more intimate setting like this could be the one for you.  Get in touch with them here.

Bottle Rock Napa Valley 

When: May

Where: Napa Valley, California

Bruno Mars called this fest “the fancy Coachella” and he’s not far off. While it may not be as big as Coachella, this festival has a lot to offer. Bottle Rock is known for their supply of extensive variations of wines and craft beers from all around Napa Valley. This years lineup was jam packed with artists like Logic, Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, Sylvan Esso, Flogging Molly and many others. Last year, attendees even got lucky enough to catch Neil Young perform an iconic set for the ages. Think you’re ready for a festival like this one? For all inquiries, go here.

Mo Pop Festival 

When: July

Where: West Riverfront Park, Detroit

This festival hosts both underground and established artists alike. The boutique-y feeling festival prioritizes quality over quantity with not only the artists they choose to showcase, but the additional events they hold all around the festival. Along with seeing artists like Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, Ella Mai and Kali Uchis, you’ll find a bunch of activities spread throughout the park. Beyond the music, Mo Pop has a plethora of restaurants, an arcade pop-up with authentic arcade games, a Craft Bazaar, and other fun activities to keep you and your fans going. For more info, reach out here.

Whether you’re looking for a packed festival or a chill ambiance in an intimate setting, one of these festivals could be exactly what you’re looking for.