The leaves may be changing and falling off the trees, but the October music festival scene is looking stronger than ever—and seeing great music in a live setting is a surefire antidote to those post-summer blues. Here we preview four festivals this month that you won’t want to miss, so get on a plane, book a hotel and let your favorite artists usher in those cold winter months in style. Come on, you’ve got all of December to hibernate.
The New Yorker Festival: The New Yorker Festival may be best known for the political and literary luminaries the organizers assemble to pontificate on their era of expertise, however this year the musical section of the festival is anything but stuffy. Aside from a performance from indie icons the Dirty Projectors, the real draw will be the panel discussions that which include musical luminaries such as Loudon Wainwright II, Ian Hunter and Graham Parker, Neko Case, Steve Earle and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, each of which will undoubtedly offer a rare glimpse into the personality and creative process of these immensely talented artists. However if that sounds a little bit too highbrow for you, don’t worry, because the festival will be rounded out by something called Radical Opera featuring Lisa Bielawa, Nico Muhly, Peter Sellars, and Rufus Wainwright. We’re not sure exactly what that is, but it sounds like something that you won’t want to miss.
Dates: October 16 – 18
Location: New York City
More information: http://www.newyorker.com/festival
Treasure Island Music Festival: If you’re an indie rock fan then consider this year’s Treasure Island Music Festival to be your own personal Mecca. Featuring performances by the Flaming Lips, MGMT, MSTRKRFT, Girl Talk, the Streets, Passion Pit, the Decemberists, Beirut, Grizzly Bear, Yo La Tengo, the Walkmen and more, the festival is a healthy combination of grizzled veterans and buzzworthy up-and-comers with an emphasis on quality. However maybe the coolest part about Treasure Island festival is that it’s on an actual island in the Bay Area called Treasure Island, which is a magical place even if you’re not being sweetly serenaded by the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy. Additionally the festival is doing its part to help save the environment from utilizing recycling napkins to using refillable water stations and even hosting an eco-conscious carnival, so don’t forget to bring along an old cell phone that you can donate in exchange for a chance to win prizes!
Date: October 17 – 18
Location: Treasure Island (near San Francisco)
More information: www.treasureislandfestival.com
CMJ Music Marathon: Since 1980 the CMJ Music Marathon has been the definitive festival for industry tastemakers and college radio enthusiasts to discover the best up-and-coming bands from Nirvana to the Killers. This year 1,200 artists and 120,000 fans will descend on the Big Apple to commandeer 75 different venues for a five-day-long musical party. Notable acts this year include Eyehategod, Obits, Teenage Bottlerocket, Pig Destroyer and countless other acts you probably haven’t heard of who are on the cusp of mainstream domination. However in addition to the show fodder the festival will also feature parties, exhibit areas, lounges, a technology fair, meet-and-greets, panels, seminars, networking events and countless other tools to help keep enthusiasts as educated as they are entertained. If you haven’t bought your pass for this years’ festival yet, what are you waiting for?
Dates: October 20 – 24
Location: New York City
More Information: www.cmj.com/marathon/
Voodoo Experience: Let’s face it, you’re getting way too old to dress up for Halloween, so why not head down to New Orleans that weekend to check out one of the most star-studded and diverse festivals of the year? Friday night the headliners will include Eminem & D12, a DJ set by Justice, plus performances by Ween, Silversun Pickups, The Black Keys and countless others. Halloween the headliners will be Kiss, Jane’s Addiction, Gogol Bordello, Wolfmother and George Clinton And Parliament Funkadelic. And, not to be outdone, the final day will feature Lenny Kravitz, Widespread Panic, The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets and Brand New. However they don’t call the festival an “experience” for nothing and it will also feature art installations, a kids area and plenty of other eye candy that will help you pass the time if you need a break from the non-stop rock attack—not that we’re saying you will.
Dates: October 30 – November 1
Location: New Orleans
More information: www.thevoodooexperience.com