Over the past few years, there’s been an explosion of summer music festivals around New England. And we’re not just talking about Boston, which has seen an unexpected uptick in cool with the addition of Boston Calling Music Festival, the bi-annual City Hall Plaza bash that celebrates its seventh edition this Memorial Day with Robyn, Sia, Disclosure, and others. From Waking Windows in Winooski, Vermont to the legendary Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, large-scale music parties new and old are providing the perfect road trip excuse for idle New Englanders.
With summer fast approaching, here’s are a handful of upcoming fests certain to spice up your summer soundtrack and provide a sonic bop to the mid-year doldrums.
MayFair Festival
Website: harvardsquare.com
Dates: May 15
Where: Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Price: Free
Bands To See: The Sheila Divine, Vic Firecracker, Cask Mouse
What’s The Deal: A one-day shot to walk around Harvard Square without fear of getting run over by a lost Uber driver and catch some bands. Curated by nearby rock club the Sinclair, the two main stages this year (as in years past) feature a wealth of local talent, with genres ranging from electro-pop (Let’s Wait) to good old-fashioned Boston indie rock (Vic Firecracker, The Sheila Divine). Yeah it’s crowded and yeah kids are drawing on the sidewalks with chalk, but there’s also a Tasty Burger and Shake Shack within close proximity of all the stages and that’s worth going on its own.
