Two Hellman family bands—Marco and the Polos and Purple Glaze—will celebrate their debut albums and honor the legacy of their father and grandfather, festival founder Warren Hellman, with performances at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the beloved free music festival he launched 25 years ago as a gift to San Francisco.

The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival has been on my radar for a few years. The festival is the only music event that promises “Every Jam Saves the Bay”. The annual festival is held at Sandy Point Park in Annapolis, MD, in the shadow of the Bay Bridge. The festival’s theme is a melding of a live music event and protecting, restoring & preserving our natural marine resources.

The 24th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, produced by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music (BCM), wrapped up another unforgettable weekend, bringing thousands of music lovers to the charming streets of Historic Downtown Bristol, straddling the state line of Tennessee and Virginia.

After weathering the devastation of Hurricane Helene and ongoing cuts to arts funding, LEAF Global Arts is launching a $300,000 “Keep LEAF Alive” fundraising campaign as it celebrates its 30th anniversary year. The beloved organization calls on its community to help sustain its mission of connecting cultures and creating community through music, arts education, and cultural preservation.

From January 14–18, 2026, the enchanting town of Todos Santos—just an hour north of Cabo San Lucas—will once again come alive with the Tropic of Cancer Festival. What began as a grassroots, SXSW-style gathering has grown into one of Baja’s most soulful music celebrations, and 2026 marks its most ambitious year yet: The Golden Jubilee.

On the heels of its fourth annual event, which drew a record turnout this Labor Day Weekend, Earl Scruggs Music Festival has been named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2025 Event of the Year. The award, presented as part of IBMA’s annual Industry Awards in Chattanooga, TN, recognizes outstanding achievement in non-performing categories that help sustain and grow the bluegrass community.

On this Autumn Equinox, a day that symbolizes balance and reflection, All Good Presents invites fans to mark their calendars for The All Good Trifesta 2026. Reflecting on an explosive first year, the Trifesta returns to celebrate the balance that music brings to our lives.

The All Good Trifesta: Three Festivals, Three Settings, Three Signatures, Three Essentials

There are plenty of music festivals out there, but there’s only one Boogiedown. The 5th annual fest took place September 11–13 at Driftless Music Gardens, and this year might have been the best one yet. The whole weekend had that special mix of music, friendship, and shenanigans that only happens when Armchair Boogie is in the gardens.

The seventh Bourbon & Beyond welcomed fans from all 50 states and around the globe with more than 120 music artists across five stages in Louisville, Kentucky. The World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival took place September 11–14 at the Kentucky Exposition Center and featured an incredible lineup of music legends and rising stars.

Celebrate early autumn at the 9th Suwannee Roots Revival from Thursday, October 9, through Sunday, October 12, at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. This family-friendly music festival includes four days and nights of camping and performances by some of the best in American roots music. There will be artist workshops, kids’ activities, arts & crafts, campground pickin’, and daily yoga.