Music festivals Calendar

Music festivals have seen a steady surge in popularity over the past several years, with household names like Coachella and Bonnaroo tightening their grip on popular American culture while new multi-day music parties pop up every year. Already, 2015 seems to be the year of the country festival as event producers rush to meet the demand for hot-selling country artists in a way that’s increasingly inventive. From beachside vacations to downtown cityscapes, it’s never been easier to spend a weekend outside soaking up Southern-fried tunes (without skimping on showers).

Tortuga Music Festival: April 10-12 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
One of the first country festivals of the year, Tortuga Festival combines the beach vacation you’re already daydreaming about and pairs it with the soundtrack you’d probably have bumping through your speakers—only at Tortuga, the feel-good country tunes you’re swigging to will be live. Featuring headliners Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band along with up-and-comers Sam Hunt and Frankie Ballard, the concerts take place right on the beach.

Stagecoach Festival: April 24-26 – Indio, California
Arguably the most well-known country music festival, Stagecoach is run by Goldenvoice, the company behind mammoth two-weekend fest Coachella held at the same site in Indio. Headliners like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert may draw eyes for their arsenal of radio-friendly hits, but it’s the fest’s attention to less glitzy acts like Sturgill Simpson that will keep classic country music lovers coming back to the desert for this fest year after year.

Shaky Boots: May 16-17 – Atlanta, Georgia
The inaugural Shaky Boots Festival packs a hell of a lot of country music into two days, counting Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts among its ranks as headliners and fills in the lineup with appearances from Dwight Yoakam, Old Crow Medicine Show and Devil Makes Three. We’re holding out hope for some on-stage collaborations at this one, particularly between Americana Music Award winner Jason Isbell and wife Amanda Shires, both of whom grace the lineup for Friday.