Top New York City Festivals For 2023

Back for its 29th year, Hot 97 Summer Jam will once again bring together some of the biggest names in hip-hop on one stage at the UBS Arena. The 2023 lineup features Cardi B, Ice Spice, Coi, Leray, GloRilla, Lola Brooke, French Montana, Fivio Foreign, Lil Tjay and The Lox.

Over 60 acts are on the lineup for this year’s Governors Ball at Citi Field. Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo and Odesza top lineup of the 2023 festival, which this year moves to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City for its 12th edition.

The Family Hoedown 6 returns with hosts Bella’s Bartok who will make two headlining performances at The “G” Lodge. Others on the lineup include Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul, Michael Keaney, Tyler Westcott Band, The Honey Smugglers, Moon Hollow, Light Sensitive Temperature Neutral, Elephino and more.

The 2023 New York Guitar Festival takes over The Greene Space for two days of guitar-centric performers by many talented musicians. See master guitarists Bill Frisell, Steve Gunn Louis Cato, Luke Bergman, Jiji, Yasmin Williams and other top pickers.

Legendary musician Buddy Guy tops the lineup for this year’s New York State Blues Festival. The free event held at New York State Fairgrounds will also feature performances by Samantha Fish, Southern Avenue, Blood Brothers, Mike Zito, Jesse Dayton, Annika Chambers and Paul Deslauriers, along with several others.

Circus of the Dead will bring together Dead music cover groups, other diverse bands and DJs to the Washington County Fairgrounds. Gather for three days for performances by Zach Nugent, Sunshine Becker, Roots of Creation, Jen Durkin, Steal Your Funk, Sam Kininger, Bearly Dead, The Englishtown Project, Shred Is Dead and Marcus Rezak, plus more.

Disconnect and dance at the 2023 Over Yondr Festival. The three-day phone-free event in the foothills of The Catskills will present performances by U.S. Girls, Jeremy & The Harlequins, Melt, Miss Grit, Eugene Tyler Band, Madison McFerrin, Kweku Collins, Kate Davis, Camp Saint Helene and others.

Keyboardist Marco Benevento presents Follow The Arrow at Arrowood Farms. The second year of the single-day festival will feature several appearances by Marco as well as performances by Rubblebucket, The Barr Brothers, LaMP, Upstate, Karina Rykman, Benevento Family Band, Duane Betts, Mikaela Davis, Stuart Bogie, Jackson Kincheloe and Arleigh Rose.

Part of the Bryant Park Picnic Performances series, the 2023 Emerging Music Festival presents up-and-coming bands at the annual event. Ky Vöss, Psymon Spine, Seramic, THUS LOVE, Katy Kirby, June McDoom, Miss Grit, Dead Tooth will perform at this year’s showcase.

The 5th annual Ithaca Reggae Fest rolls back into Stewart Park. Scientist gets the festivities going before performances by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Double Tiger, Kevin Kinsella, SunDub, New Planets and The Analogue Sons.

Sugar Mountain hosts the three-day Estival Festival. Head out to see The Infamous Stringdusters, Sam Grisman Project, High Pines, Miller and The Other Sinners, The Buddhahood, Folkfaces, Bobby Henrie and the Goners and others.

The 2023 Mystic River Jam takes over the Mystic Shipyard for two days of music. The lineup consists of Mystic Dead performing both nights, along with The TroubleMakers, Wooly Mammoth, The Pneumatics, American Nomads, Glaucoma Suspect, Subliminals and Chris MacKay and the Toneshifters.

The 20th anniversary Rochester International Jazz Festival will be held over nine days at 19 venues in downtown Rochester. Among the dozens of performers include Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Pat Metheny, Bonnie Raitt, Samara Joy, Bill Frisell, St. Paul and The Broken Bones and Charlie Hunter.

Escape with Kygo to the Palm Tree Music Festival The Hamptons. The tropical-inspired, single-day event being held at the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach will also see performances by Calvin Harris, Loud Luxury, Sam Feldt and Chantel Jeffries.

The 46th annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will feature two days of music performed on two stages and a lineup of 21 performers. Among this year’s participants heading to SPAC includes Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy, Angélique Kidjo, Cory Wong, Tower of Power, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Hiromi, PUBLIQuartet, Samara Joy and Jupiter & Okwess.

The Peach Music Festival 2023 once again brings the jam to Montage Mountain this summer. The Peach lineup for the four-day fest is led by Goose, My Morning Jacket, Ween and Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Levitate Music & Arts Festival returns to the Marshfield Fairgrounds for another music-filled three days. Day 1 features Stick Figure, Ripe, Lucius, The California Honeydrops and Collie Buddz. Day 2 has Trey Anastasio Band, Goose, Peach Pit, Celisse, The Elovaters and G. Love & Special Sauce. And Day 3 includes Brandi Carlile, Rebelution, Ziggy Marley, Shakey Graves and Larkin Poe, plus many additional performers.

Rock The Dock is an all-ages single-day event held at The Lake George Steamboat Company. Presenting live music surrounded by the beautiful Adirondack mountains, the 2023 lineup features Galactic with Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph, Eggy, Eastbound Jesus, Chestnut Grove, Hilltop and Neon Avenue.

The good ol’ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival brings together some bluegrass music’s most beloved artists. This year’s fest at The Walsh Farm will welcome the likes of Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, The Infamous Stringdusters, Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Dan Tyminski Band, Steep Canyon Rangers and a bevy of others.

Andy Grammer, Twiddle and Andy Frasco & The U.N. top the 2023 Cobblestone Live lineup which will be held in Buffalo, New York’s Historic Cobblestone District. Taking place over four stages: one indoor at Buffalo Iron Works and three outdoor including an outdoor experience/kids stage, performers include Jukebox The Ghost, Cooper Alan, Doom Flamingo, The Beaches, Start Making Sense – Talking Heads Tribute, lespecial, Eric Hutchinson, Little Stranger, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Funktional Flow, Workingman’s Dead, Dreamville – Tom Petty Tribute feat: Leroy Townes Band and more.

The 31st annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance features over 75 acts performing across four stages at Trumansburg Fairgrounds. Among those appearing at the four-day event include Donna the Buffalo, Watchhouse, Sona Jobarteh, The Mavericks, Kabaka Pyramid, Rising Appalachia, DakhaBrakha, Jim Lauderdale, Jupiter & Okwess, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Ryan Montbleau Band, The Legendary Ingramettes, Jimkata and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, along with dozens of others.

Bluepoint Brewing Presents the 2023 Great South Bay Music Festival at Shorefront Park. The lineup for this year’s four-day bash features Phil Lesh & Friends, Gov’t Mule‘s Dark Side Of The Mule, Hot Tuna, Dirty Heads, Dave Mason, Kerry Kearney Band, Eric Krasno Trio, Neighbor, Baked Shrimp, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Duane Betts & Palmetto Hotel and many others.

Whirlybird returns to downtown Jamestown. The three-day event features performances by Jimkata, Magic Beans, Smackdab, Sophistafunk, Space Bacon, Coral Moons, Miller & the Other Sinners, Grub, Charity Nuse & Friends, Eberwine & Friends Explore the Grateful Dead, Orange Corner, Organ Fairchild, Well Worn Boot, Adam Mckillip, Marina Laurendi, The Comedy of Karate Sleepover, Sleep Well & Ponder, Surprise Guise, SON, Ion Sky, Ryan Buzzetto and Miranda Wilcox.

Rye Bread Music & Arts Festival takes place at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the legendary Watkins Glen Summer Jam. Participants include Duane Betts, North Mississippi Allstars, Oteil Burbridge & Friends, Cool Cool Cool, lespecial, Dogs In A Pile, Couch, DJ Logic & Friends, Brown Eyed Women, Talkpeck Soundsystem, Baked Shrimp and The Seapods, among others.

Summer Jam 50 will commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead and The Band performing in front of hundreds of thousands of music fans at the Watkins Glen race track in 1973. Dark Star Orchestra, Daniel Donato‘s Cosmic Country and The Weight Band will perform at the inaugural event at Wonderland Forest.

Rock The Bells heads back to Forest Hills Stadium for a full day of music. This year’s lineup features hip-hop stars Queen Latifah, Ludacris, De La Soul, Method Man, Redman, Swizz Beatz, Salt N Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Slick Rick, Fabolous, Boot Camp Clik, MC Lyte, MC Sha Rock, Roxanne Shante, Monie Love, Cold Crush Brothers and Yo Yo.

The Disco Biscuits headline the Catskill Mountain Jubilee with two full performances. The third outing for the three-day music festival at Blackthorne Resort also includes performances by Melvin Seals’ Legion of Melvin project featuring Karl Denson, along with Dogs In A Pile, Desert Dwellers, Space Bacon, Beg Steal Or Borrow, Rose Ganache and more.

The 30th annual Chenango Blues Festival takes place over two days at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. The family-friendly event will present performances by Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Sister Sparrow, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Curtis Salgado, John Primer, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience and more.

Expanding from one to two days, In Between Days returns to Veterans Memorial Stadium with headliners Modest Mouse and Lord Huron. Among the 24 acts playing at the expanded event include Phantogram, Trampled By Turtles, Sunny Day Real Estate, Cautious Clay, Yoke Lore, Blitzen Trapper, Allison Ponthier, Illiterate Light, Slothrust and Fantastic Cat.

The inaugural Catbird Music Festival will make its debut on the field at Bethel Woods Center For The Arts where the original 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair was held. The new two-day camping festival’s lineup includes The Lumineers, Tyler Childers, Trey Anastasio Band, The War On Drugs, Band Of Horses, Dispatch, Charley Crockett, Trampled By Turtles, Margo Price, James Bay, Johnnyswim, Adia Victoria, Amos Lee, Morgan Wade, Celisse, Allison Russell, The Soul Rebels, Eggy and Madeline Edwards, among others.

Borderland expands to three days when the fifth installment of the event returns to Knox Farm State Park. Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB, Goose, Dawes, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sammy Rae & Friends, Neal Francis, Mighty Poplar, The 502s, Krasno/Moore Project and more are part of the 2023 lineup.

The new Cave Mountain Catskills Music Festival will make its debut at Windham Mountain in Windham. The inaugural event’s lineup features Weezer, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Dinosaur Jr., Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Albert Hammond Jr., Lee Fields, Courtney Marie Andrews, Sheer Mag and more.