Driving from Boston to Bonnaroo will cost you. Honestly, who can afford a trip to a monster festival this summer?
If you’re looking for music thrills on the cheap, how about heading to a festival that’s only a single tank of gas away? There are half a dozen summer music destinations you can get to in just a few hours.
Green River Festival
Greenfield; June 19-21
Miles from Boston: 122
Yes, some home state pride goes into cheering on this local festival. But you don’t have to love Mass. to love this lineup. This year’s edition includes some of the hippest, coolest, most awesome acts out there: the Beths, Charlie Crockett, Spoon, Geese, The War and the Treaty. The list goes on and on. And for the real homers, also on the bill: Amherst icon J Mascis, Vermont songwriter Lily Seabird and Berkshire theater company Tanglewood Marionettes.
greenriverfestival.com
Levitate Music Festival
Marshfield; July 18 -19
Miles from Boston: 30
Alanis Morissette people! Oh, sure, as usual Levitate features top talent. There’s Ziggy Marley, Trombone Shorty, and Larkin Poe. But only Alanis has one hand in her pocket and the other one givin’ a high five. Bonus: Any performance of “You Oughta Know” is worth the ticket price.
levitatemusicfestival.com
Lowell Folk Festival
Lowell; July 24-26
Miles from Boston: 31
First, the fest is free. All of it is free. That means zero cost to see Cape Verdean singer-songwriter Elida Almeida, Mississippi Delta bluesman James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Irish American guitarist John Doyle, and a score more acts. Second, well, there doesn’t need to be a second. That’s enough to go.
lowellfolkfestival.org
Jerry Jam
Concord, VT; July 24-26
Miles from Boston: 170
The Dead can’t die. Celebrate the legacy of the legends with this weekend tribute to Jerry and company. You can dive deep with Grateful Dub, Dead Undercover, Dead Sessions, and the Jerry Garcia Band-centric Sans Souci. Or you can jam to bands from the extended universe including reggae, country, and jazzy acts from the Samples to Hayley Jane and Ward Hayden & the Outliers.
jerryjam.com
Nice!, a fest
Somerville; July 24-26
Miles from Boston: 1
Nice! heads back to Davis Square for a locavore party centered around underground rock ‘n’ roll, garage rock, punk, noise, and lots of volume. Across three days and three venues (the Rockwell, Crystal Ballroom, and Dragon’s Lair ) you’ll get your ears blown out and your soul reinvigorated during sets from Somos, Twen, Mallcops, Coral Moons, and more Boston favs.
niceafest.com
The Rhythm & Roots Festival
Charlestown, RI; Sept. 4 – 6
Miles from Boston: 90
The Rhode Island institution takes an expansive view of both rhythm and roots. There will be country rhythms (Margo Price), bluegrass tempos (Yonder Mountain String Band), and soul grooves (St. Paul & the Broken Bones). There will be dozens of American roots subgenres thanks to the Devil Makes Three, Roomful of Blues, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and many more.
rhythmandroots.com
The War and the Treaty will perform at Green River Festival. (Photo Valfred Mendoza)