Most people still associate music festivals with summer, but these days, there is an overwhelming amount of amazing live music entertainment options in all four seasons. That’s why, with the start of spring just a few more weeks away, we went ahead compiled a short list of Live For Live Music‘s can’t-miss music festivals for spring 2024.
Resonate Suwannee (April 4th–6th in Live Oak, FL):
Since merging Resonance Music Festival and Resonate Festival under a unified banner and settling into its permanent home at the destination-worthy Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Resonate Suwannee has emerged as a frontrunner in the shrinking field of independent music festivals. Located at the cross-section of electronica, jam rock, and funk, the festival has grown organically since taking root at Suwannee, with organizers telling L4LM last year that they were intentional about “not trying to do too much too fast.”
Now, after forging a partnership with frequent Suwannee Music Park collaborator Paul Levine of Purple Hat Productions (organizers of Suwannee Hullaween, Fool’s Paradise, and more), the festival is poised for its biggest year yet, with host band STS9 leading a lineup topped by headliners Tycho, Papadosio, and Chromeo (DJ set). As in previous years, the lineup includes an eclectic undercard including Dimond Saints, Dumpstaphunk, Ghost-Note, K+Lab (two sets), KR3TURE, Late Night Radio, lespecial, Maddy O’Neal, Mark Farina (two sets), Megan Hamilton, Mindex, Moontricks, The New Mastersounds, Ott. (two sets), Sneezy, sub-ID, SunSquabi, Thought Process, Zach Velmer (STS9), Afrobeta, Vlad the Inhaler, and more.
For more information head here, and to purchase tickets click here. Revisit L4LM‘s coverage of Resonate Suwannee 2023 here.
Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie (May 24th–26th in Chillicothe, IL):
Another exciting independent festival, Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie, is set to debut at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL May 24th–26th. Carrying on the tradition of the long-running jam institution Summer Camp Music Festival, Solshine will be hosted by former Summer Camp co-hosts Umphrey’s McGee and moe. The event will feature an extensive lineup with headliners including veteran Summer Camp performers like Goose, Big Gigantic, STS9, and SLANDER, and exciting new additions like John Summit, The Strings Cheese Incident, and deadmau5.
“The spirit and community of Summer Camp will remain, but we are excited to again push boundaries, as we did when we started Summer Camp, and expand the festival’s mission by bringing the Solshine to the forefront,” said Ian Goldberg, founder of Summer Camp and Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie.
“Soulshine had been the house of our Make a Difference program and sustainability efforts, so elevating that intentionality to the overall festival was a big part of the plan,” Goldberg added. “Summer Camp had evolved into much more than a music festival, it was a community centered around music and art. I wanted to recognize that in the name by not calling it a festival but a Reverie full of music and arts, such that we all can create our experience together—and have that build intentionality in our actions once we leave.”
For more on Solshine Reverie, head here, and to purchase tickets, visit the event website.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 25th–28th & May 2nd–5th in New Orleans, LA):
Any list of can’t-miss spring festivals would be incomplete without New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. For lovers of live music, New Orleans Jazz Fest is the granddaddy of them all. With two weekends packed with legendary artists—from The Rolling Stones, Neil Young + Crazy Horse, and Foo Fighters, to Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Jon Batiste, and Widespread Panic—the festival grounds are an endless source of magic, not to mention world-class grub, and that’s only the start. The already vibrant city comes alive for Jazz Fest, with seemingly endless opportunities to revel in the spirit of New Orleans.
Those heading to New Orleans for Jazz Fest are invited to join the Live For Live Music Krewe for Daze Between New Orleans and the L4LM-hosted Fest By Nite late-night series. Augment your Jazz Fest experience with a lineup of once-in-a-lifetime events and time-honored traditions specially curated by Live For Live Music. Taking place during the week between Jazz Fest weekends, Daze Between will host a lineup stacked with NOLA-bred talent and festival favorites including headliners Lettuce (with special guest John Scofield) and Gov’t Mule (with special guests John Scofield, Chuck Leavell, Ivan Neville, Karl Denson, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Daniel Donato), plus Krasno-Moore Project, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Dogs in a Pile, Karina Rykman, and Cool Cool Cool. The Big Easy will be well-represented by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, The Iceman Special, and The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux.
In addition to Daze Between New Orleans, Live For Live Music and GMP Live will host the Fest By Nite late-night series, which includes Kitchen Dwellers Present A Bluegrass Tribute To Dr. John, Papa Plays The Nite Tripper: John “Papa” Gros Tribute To Dr. John, The Daze Between Band featuring John Scofield, Eric Krasno, Duane Betts, Chuck Leavell, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Jennifer Hartswick, Ryan Zoidis, and Raymond Weber, as well as shows by Andy Frasco & The U.N. with special guests, Tank And The Bangas, Lettuce, and Break Science.
For tickets to Daze Between New Orleans and the Fest By Nite series, click here.
Texas Eclipse Festival (April 5th–9th in Burnet, TX)
Not every music festival offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of a total solar eclipse, which is the highlight of Texas Eclipse Festival, but even with that unique selling point, the festival didn’t skimp on the lineup. Set for April 5th–9th, aligning with the last U.S. total solar eclipse for the next 20 years, the festival’s initial lineup announcement started strong with The Disco Biscuits, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Tipper, Vulpeck, STS9, Oteil & Friends, and more, and since then, organizers have added The String Cheese Incident, Neil Frances, SunSquabi, The Floozies, and an extensive electronic-heavy roster, plus visual artists including Alex Grey and Allison Grey and immersive experiences by Meow Wolf.
Click here for more on Texas Eclipse, and visit the festival website for tickets.
CaveJam (May 24th–26th in Pelham, TN):
After looking up to the heavens at Texas Eclipse Festival, you can get down underground at The Caverns‘ new spring festival, CaveJam. Set to debut Memorial Day Weekend (May 24th–26th) at the beloved concert venue and campground in Pelham, TN, CaveJam will feature two nights of headliners The String Cheese Incident, soul singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian, progtronic jam band Dopapod, New Orleans funk staple Dumpstaphunk, budding indie-psych bassist Karina Rykman, ubiquitous festival bard Keller Williams, viral DJ LP Giobbi who will play one of her lauded Dead House sets, and many more.
“CaveJam is a new signature festival at The Caverns and builds on everything we’ve learned from two successful years producing many festivals here,” The Caverns General Manager Joe Lurgio said. “CaveJam gives festival enthusiasts a new reason—and a new season—to visit us in Tennessee.”
Rounding out the lineup are Mo Lowda & The Humble, Neighbor, Pimps of Joytime, Pink Talking Fish, Space Bacon, Spafford, Susto, The Vegabonds, BareFuzz, BERTHA: Grateful Drag, Easy Honey, LadyCouch, and Love Rat.
For more on CaveJam, click here, and to purchase tickets, visit the festival website.
Honorable Mentions:
Suwannee Spring Reunion (March 21st–24th in Live Oak, FL)
Skull & Roses (April 19th–21st in Ventura, CA)
Big Ears Festival (March 21st–24th in Knoxville, TN)
Hogs for the Cause (April 5th–6th in New Orleans, LA)
Shaky Knees Music Festival (May 3rd–5th in Atlanta, GA)
DelFest (May 23rd–26th in Cumberland, MD)
Dark Star Jubilee (May 26th–28th in Thorniville, OH)
Strange Creek Campout (May 24th–27th in Greenfield, MA)
The post Five Can’t-Miss Music Festivals For Spring 2024 appeared first on L4LM.
