The Best Country Music Festivals in Austin
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Check out our top picks for the best country music festivals in Austin, Texas! From the world-famous Austin City Limits Music Festival to the up-and-coming Maverick Music Festival, there’s something for everyone.
The Best Country Music Festivals in Austin
Austin is well known for its live music scene, and that includes country music. There are several country music festivals held in Austin every year, and they attract some of the biggest names in the genre. If you’re a fan of country music, then you need to check out these festivals.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is one of the biggest and best country music festivals in the country. Held every year in October, the festival features some of the biggest names in country music, as well as up-and-coming artists. With over 130 bands performing on eight stages over three days, there is something for everyone at this massive festival.
The South by Southwest Music Festival
The South by Southwest Music Festival is one of the largest and most popular music festivals in Austin, Texas. Held every year in March, the festival features hundreds of bands from all over the world, playing a wide variety of genres. Country music is well represented at the festival, with many big names performing each year.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, commonly known as Jazz Fest, is a musical extravaganza held annually in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is one of the largest and most renowned music festivals in the United States, with an estimated 400,000 people in attendance each year. The festival features a wide range of musical genres, including blues, gospel, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, Cajun, zydeco, country, folk, soul, and of course jazz. In addition to the music, Jazz Fest also showcases the food and culture of New Orleans with a variety of food vendors and cultural demonstrations.
The Jazz Fest was first held in 1970 and has been held every year since then with the exception of two years: 2006 when it was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina, and 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 festival is scheduled for April 22-May 2.
The Best Country Music Festivals in Nashville
While Austin may be known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Nashville is quickly becoming a hotspot for country music lovers. With a plethora of country music festivals to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one to attend. Here are some of the best country music festivals in Nashville.
The CMA Music Festival
The CMA Music Festival is one of the longest-running and most iconic country music festivals in the United States. Held annually in Nashville, Tennessee, the festival attracts some of the biggest names in country music, as well as tens of thousands of fans from all over the world.
The festival began life as a three-day event in 1972, but has since grown to four days, with more than 100 hours of music spread across 12 stages. In addition to live music, the festival also features autograph signings, fan meet-and-greets, and other activities.
The CMA Music Festival is typically held in early June.
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four-day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment. The festival is held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, USA, about 60 miles south of Nashville. Bonnaroo attracted 82,000 attendees in 2016, making it the largest outdoor music festival in North America.
The Bonnaroo music festival makes use of several stages, including the Main Stage, Which Stage, The Other Tent, This Tent, Silent Disco Tent, Comedy Theater Tent, Cinema Tent, and the grooving Oasis Dance Club. Bonnaroo is known for its diverse range of top-notch musical performers. past headliners include Paul McCartney, Metallica,Tool, My Morning Jacket ,Widespread Panic , Stevie Wonder , Neil Young ,Kanye West , Foo Fighters ,Jay Z
and many more.
The Americana Music Festival
The Americana Music Festival is one of the best country music festivals in Nashville. This festival features a mix of country, folk, and bluegrass music. There are also plenty of food and drink options available. The Americana Music Festival takes place in September.