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.
Laconiafest
Website: laconiafest.com
Dates: June 11 to 19
Where: Weirs Drive-In, Laconia, New Hampshire
Price: $30 and up (click here for ticket info)
Bands To See: Steven Tyler, Buckcherry, Bret Michaels, Lita Ford, L.A. Guns, Sevendust, Ted Nugent
What’s The Deal: Not all 2016 music festivals are born of indie rock and hippiedom. Laconiafest is part of Laconia Motorcycle Week, and they know their crowd; you won’t find a greater collection of dirty old rock and roll anywhere in New England this summer. This shit isn’t for everybody, but everyone at Weirs Drive-In prefers it that way. Ted Nugent playing in the land of “Live Free Or Die”? A sight to see. Buckcherry getting gritty in a drive-in? Maybe a soft pass there. But will you remember all the words when Trixter plays “Give It To Me Good” or a Jani Lane-less Warrant busts out “Down Boys”? This festival is kind of nuts — and we haven’t even mentioned Sunapee’s own Steven Tyler.
