In another thread, someone mentioned a music festival in their California area called Roll on the Mattole as well as Reggae on the River. Here in Macon, we have Braggjam going on in a few weeks. Where I grew up in Detroit there are music festivals of all kinds all summer long in Hart Plaza. I don’t remember there being any in the short time I lived in Charleston, SC. Austin, TX has Austin City Limits. What does your town/area have?
There are 3 big ones that I know of off the top of my head in this area.
In Guerneville - The Russian River Blues Festival and Jazz On The River.
Here in Santa Rosa we have the Harmony Festival. It’s at the fairgrounds, which I live less than a mile away from. It was just a few weeks ago. We can hear the music and crowd from our house.
Summerfest starts today in Milwaukee. My tolerance for the heat and the crowds becomes less and less every year, but I may try to go at least one day.
For a mid size Canadian city (Calgary) - it seems we have a lot going on for music this year in town!
Virgin Fest just finished: http://www.virginfestival.ca/calgary/
Jazz fest is winding down: http://www.calgaryjazz.com/
Today Sled Island starts: http://www.sledisland.com/
In July Ozzy’s mosters of rock: Ozzy Osbourne presents THE MONSTERS OF ROCK - Ozzy Osbourne Official Site
And of course the Folk Fest: http://www.calgaryfolkfest.com
Sled Island is only in its second year, but it seems like it is going to kick butt!
Our Jazz Fest starts July 18th and ends July 26th. Four of the days are on my street.
Shoot me now.
Toronto also has North by Northeast, Canadian Music Week, Edgefest, Virgin Festival, Toronto Jazz Fest (which is different than the Beaches Jazz Fest that Lissla Lissar is talking about) and the informally called “Olympic Island Festival”.
I’m sure there’s more but I’m blanking out right now.
I’m quite jealous, as my favorite band Okkervil River will be playing all 3 days, I believe. I much prefer their laidback street festival performances to their smoky club ones, when they’re drunker.
**Lissla ** no like the jazz??
There is no smoking in bars here luckily, and I think there are enough different venues, and all ages events to be a real interesting fest - the only problem is a couple nights, in order to see everyone you want to, you may have to race from one venue to the next!
Luther Wright is a god (if you doubt this you must pick up Rebuilding the Wall which is a blue grass cover album of PF’s The Wall) Luther Wright & the Wrongs
I also love Carolyn Mark - she’s one of the most fun Alt-Country artists I have ever seen.
I get to be a culture snob with the Aldeburgh Festival. I’m off to hear Stravinsky, Cage, Birtwistle and Stockhausen tomorrow.
[snooty on] Oh, pardon me Mater, I’m off to play the grand pie-ano. [snooty off]
Have fun! 
Here in the Rocky Mountains the Monolith Festival is coming in September to Red Rocks. One of the best places in the continental 48 to see a show.
A little more locally, the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase is taking over the South Broadway neighborhood in August. Notable for all the crazy bands that play around Denver, but most notable for the reunion final 3rd farewell performance of the Orangu-Tones, denver’s premier frat rock and surf punk band.
Omnis Cervisia Bona
Not in my city, but in my state (which has less people than many cities)-
Rocklahoma
Highlights include: Dokken, that guy from Poison, Night Ranger, Extreme, Warrant, that guy from Skid Row, Cindarella, Ace Frehly, Tesla, and Queensryche. Imagine 5 days in a field in July with every single big hair wank-rock band in the world.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I Hate It Here.
The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal starts tonight.
I’m only in town till early Saturday morning, so I hope I get time to check it out tomorrow.
I like jazz. I do like jazz. There isn’t a whole lot of jazz at the jazzfest anymore, but the thing I strongly dislike is that it’s on my street. Seriously. There will be a band directly outside my front window, plus, oh, 200,000 people. I also usually have to work in it, which sucks.
Yeah, I know, move. I like my street, except for those four days. I’m generally a crowd and summer hater, anyway.
We’ve got the Airwaves in October, but nothing big untill then.
Airwaves is usually pretty good. Lots of good local bands and some foreigners who are here for the experience.
And there are always a few outdoor concerts in the summer - not sure which ones, except “the usual suspects”, are playing this year.
Bonnaroo is about 30 minutes away from here, in Manchester. It still took me 7 hours to get there last year, from sitting in the car in line.
OMFG. I’ve been tempted by Bonnaroo a couple of times but never gone. Good to know I can park in Nashville and hike in!
I’ll be heading down tomorrow. Summerfest claims to be the “World’s largest music festival”, I wonder how true that is?
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
My bad, I thought it was a poll, but I see it’s more than that. More of a survey, really.
I want to mention that there’s also the Ocmulgee Indian Festival here in the fall that’s awesome. Along w/ musical performances there are storytellers that are just amazing. I love to watch the toddlers sitting quietly in rapt attention that you just know they don’t do at home.