This Saturday marks the beginning of October, and people still have no idea if CMJ in New York City is still happening. This Saturday also welcomes the return of Waking Windows to Portland, Maine, and the multi-venue music and arts festival is clearly looking like a suitable alternative.
Of course, by now, the city-hopping Waking Windows stands firm on its own merit as one of the must-attend festivals in New England. Saturday’s slate features more than 60 bands, DJs, authors, and comedians performing across eight venues across the perfectly walkable downtown section of Portland. Now in its second year in Forest City, the sister festival of the six-year-old Winooski, Vermont, edition is headlined by Vetiver, JEFF The Brotherhood, Death Vessel, Rough Francis, Pile, and countless others representing New England and beyond. And like the nationally-known festivals Waking Windows often get compared to, the real value for your dollar comes in buying the $25 day pass and bouncing from venue to venue up and down Congress Street (admission for individual shows vary by venue).
Check out the full Waking Windows Portland schedule below, and for a loose primer on some of our personal favorites, scan through for a few quick Vanyaland picks on who and what to check out throughout the day.
