10 Under-the-Radar Music Festivals You Can't Miss

Every spring, we seem to come across a new batch of music festivals, vying with verdant eagerness for our attendance. There are the tried and true festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Sasquatch, and Pitchfork, which like almost any fest, are subject to the myriad of finicky conditions—booking complications, poor weather, stale programming—that can lead to one year not quite standing up to the last. But somewhere out there past the well-known fests, far beyond the countless indistinguishable “EDM” jubilees, lay some truly impressive under-the-radar music festivals.

In places like Brooklyn, Seattle, Asheville, and Boulder, musicians and fans are organizing events that reestablish the eclectic, community-oriented, and tasteful experiences that keep attendees returning every year. These festivals become that special date that attendees look forward to each year, counting down the days until they’re once again transported to a new yet familiar experience of music and community.

When: April 10-13
Where: Boulder, Colo.
Who: Deadbeat, Clark Warner, KiNK, and more

Boulder’s Communikey is a true alternative festival focusing on long-form performances by local artists, as well as other American and European artists who skew towards experimental and electronic music-making. Emphasizing cultural and social dialogue, this innovative festival is a member of the International Cities of Advanced Sound network, which honors progressive community-oriented festivals and organization, with fellow ICAS festivals including Decibel and Mutek, also on this list.

When: April 23-27
Where: Asheville, N.C.
Who: Kraftwerk 3D, Pet Shop Boys, MIA, Flying Lotus, CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, Moderat, Zed’s Dead, Janelle Monae, and more

Created in honor of the luminary synthesizer builder Robert Moog and his Moog brand of synths, Moogfest is an expansive music and technology festival that takes place in the beautiful artist haven of Asheville. Since 2004, the festival has showcased a vast array of electronic music across various venues and stages in downtown Asheville. And make no mistake, this is not one big gear advertisement—though we wouldn’t be mad at some free Moog swag—the artists who play Moogfest are selected for their forward-thinking creativity, reflecting Bob Moog’s innovative spirit back in the day. Moogfest’s cherries on top are their label showcases and expanded art and music technology installations.

When: Fall, 2014 TBA
Where: New York City
Who: TBA

Hosted by Downtown Records in (you guessed it) downtown Manhattan, the Downtown Festival aims to showcase forward-thinking acts in intimate spaces around the Lower East Side. Now in the festival’s fourth year, venues like Pianos, Mercury Lounge, Cake Shop, and Bowery Ballroom will host artists spanning plenty all sorts of genres. Last year everyone from Earl Sweatshirt to Sky Ferreira to Autre Ne Veut to Nguzunguzu performed. With plans to expand the festival to downtowns in other cities like Philadelphia, Toronto, Boston, Los Angeles, Denver and Las Vegas, Downtown Fest might just be the most ubiquitously cool festival on this list.

When: May 27-June 1
Where: Montreal
Who: Nicolas Jaar, Holly Herndon, Oneohtrix Point Never, and more

Since 2000, electronic music and art fans have been gathering in Montreal for a five-day festival known for its comprehensive, expertly curated events. MUTEK’s ever-growing popularity has allowed it to create additional annual festivals in Mexico City and Barcelona, as well as previous single day events in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. This year, MUTEK is joining forces with another Montreal digital arts festival, Elektra, to create a two-in-one festival called EM15, using the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art as it’s hub.

When: June 12-19
Where: Brooklyn
Who: Titus Andronicus, Mas Ysa, Omar Souleyman, F*** Buttons, Eagulls, and more

While music fans often complain of larger festivals losing that special something due to the standard over-saturation of sponsors and/or sloppy curation, the Northside Festival stands as a beacon of hope for up-and-coming and established bands and fans alike who wonder what the early South By days might’ve been like—venue hopping, revelry spilling out onto the streets, an overall sense of community. Spread among dozens of different venues in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick, Northside has become the kind of de-facto summer kick-off festival for many a music-loving Brooklynite. More recent iterations have included film and entrepreneur portions, making it an ideal focal point for a day or night out in Williamsburg, hopping from screening to show to pop-up-shop.

When: July 25-27
Where: Newport, R.I.
Who: Band of Horses, Mavis Staples, Dawes, Shovels & Rope, Hurray For The Riff Raff, and more

Any folk fan from New England knows about the Newport Folk Fest. Since 1959 (yeah, it’s that old), this festival has hosted icons like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, and Howlin’ Wolf. Nowadays, people flock to Fort Adams State Park in historic Newport to catch folk, Americana, indie rock, and country performances in an exceedingly picnic-friendly atmosphere. If you’re jonesing for a summer weekend getaway rife with food and music, this family-friendly fest is one of the best options out there.

When: August 16-17
Where: Portland
Who: TBA

While MusicfestNW’s stats put it up there alongside other regionally-loved festivals like Sasquatch, many people outside of the Pacific Northwest haven’t heard of this locally-oriented 19-year-old festival. Which is a shame, since MusicfestNW has played an important role in the vibrant Portland music scene, booking local heavyweights like The Decemberists and Modest Mouse to headline the festival. For 2014, MFNW is concentrating the whole festival at the waterfront in downtown Portland with two stages (instead of dozens of venues) and 15-20 bands (instead of hundreds), meaning you won’t miss a set and tickets will be cheaper—which is something we’ll never complain about.

When: September 24-28
Where: Seattle
Who: TBA

The Decibel Festival in Seattle is responsible for one of the most concentrated annual gatherings of electronic musicians in the U.S. Aside from hosting tons of artists in venues throughout Seattle’s Capitol Hill and Downtown neighborhoods, Decibel also hosts plenty of film screenings, exhibitions, panels, and workshops. While the artists featured in this year’s edition have yet to be announced, previous artists have included Diplo, Richie Hawtin, Deadmau5, James Blake, and Flying Lotus.

When: October 31-November 3
Where: Gainesville, Fla.
Who: TBA

It’s well-known that the punk community at-large thrives with anything that’s under-the-radar and D.I.Y. so Gainesville, Florida’s The Fest is an all-around win. The immense sense of community that bands and fans create here can’t be understated. Traditionally held on the weekend of the Florida-Georgia football game when most of the fine people of Gainesville are in nearby Jacksonville for the game, this punk festival hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of fans at their myriad house shows and venues. Plus everything’s generally real cheap.

When: November 7-9
Where: Austin
Who: TBA

South By Southwest and Austin City Limits don’t get to have all the fun in Austin’s annual concert calendar. Held in the Auditorium Shores park in downtown Austin, Fun Fun Fun Fest combines emerging artist showcases, reunion performances, comedy, and action sports into an event that always ends up feeling like the festival the locals prefer, despite the FFF’s wide scope of events. Ticket holders usually get free entry to a bunch of after shows held in different venues around Austin. Previous acts include Danny Brown, Black Moth Super Rainbow, X, Fidlar, Edward Sharpe, Bun B, Tanlines, De La Soul, and Atlas Sound.