The 10 Best Cities in North America For Music Festivals

June 19, 2012 6
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4. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville and the CMA Music Festival

Live music is king here in Music City so it’s fitting that Nashville would have a festival or three during the year. The Americana and the CMA Fan Fair festivals are both reliable bets, but in a city that runs deep with music, expect new festivals to pop up during this year. Oh, and there’s a little show named Bonnaroo just down the road…

Nashville Music Festivals

Americana Music Festival
CMA Music Festival
Rites of Spring
Soundland (Unconfirmed)

Nearby Music Festivals
Bonnaroo
Riverbend Festival

6 Comments »

  1. Levi June 27, 2012 at 8:32 pm - Reply

    Wait I’m confused as to how Chicago is this low in the list…. Am I missing something because the lineups I’ve seen blow every other city on this list so far out of the water

  2. Saint Louis Kid July 7, 2012 at 10:37 am - Reply

    I’m with you Levi, I think the author may be bias. Why else would he begin his comment with the statement: “Typically locked in the icy grasp of a Great Lakes winter….” Truth is, Chicago does have a great four season climate and a real winter but the city is not typically locked in winter. The great advantage for Chicago’s outdoor concert season is the fact that along with the four season climate comes a typically moderate Chicago summer. This, for sure, trumps some of the cities on the list which typically have an oppressively hot or oppressively hot/humid summer concert season. In addition, I’ll take Chicago as a destination over most all the cities on the list music festival or no.

  3. Braj September 12, 2012 at 9:09 pm - Reply

    Let me just go ahead and fill in the ones you forgot for LA: Nocturnal Wonderland, Escape from Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, Hard Haunted Mansion, Hard: Day of the Dead, Rock the Bells, and nearby festivals EDC LV (only the biggest music festival in the country), Coachella and Stagecoach. LA is number one hands down.

  4. Andrew February 6, 2013 at 12:26 pm - Reply

    They used a picture of Escapade Music Festival to show Toronto’s festivals? Escapade is in Ottawa, a 5 hour drive away. Get your facts straight.

  5. Terry Liska March 8, 2013 at 5:01 pm - Reply

    If you FIBS would have read the beginning of the list it said the order does not mean a thing. The top ten were treated equal..The list did not include Milwaukee.. Summerfest is the top Music Fest in the USA hands down. Milwaukee is called the City of Festivals. Not even a mention.. Hey Braj: Summerfest in Milwaukee Is The Worlds Largest Music Festival but you said EDC LV “is the biggest music festival in the country” Braj .. You should get your facts straight..

  6. Alaina March 18, 2013 at 6:05 am - Reply

    How is New Orleans not on here?

    Jazzfest
    Soulfest
    Buku Music and Art Project
    Congo Square New Worlds Rhythm Festival
    Freret Street Festival
    Greek Festival
    LA Cajun Zydeco Festival
    Essence Music Festival
    Cutting Edge Music Festival
    Crescent City Blues and Barbeque Festival
    Words and Music Festival
    VooDoo Music Experience

    Plus hundreds of spots around the city playing live music every night!

    I know NOLA has a festival or parade almost every weekend but don’t hold it against us. Your list is invalid!

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