10 great music fests to hit before the tourists rush in

Let’s face it: The crowds at Lollapalooza can be unbearable and it’s a chore to snag a ticket to a single weekend of Coachella. With music festivals popping up in cities across the country, you now have more options for a great weekend of music than ever before—and you can even catch some of the summer’s biggest acts sans the overwhelming crowds. Expand your horizons at 10 music festivals that haven’t become overrun destinations (yet).

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Nelsonville Music Festival: Nelsonville, OH (June 1–4)

Surrounded by beautiful Appalachian scenery, this relatively intimate festival (typical attendance is around 7,000) in Nelsonville outside Columbus lets you to get up close to an eclectic lineup of artists, including Ween, They Might Be Giants, Emmylou Harris and Conor Oberst.

Northside: Brooklyn, NY (June 8–11)

Like a smaller, East Coast equivalent of SXSW, Northside brings established artists (Dirty Projectors, Miguel) and rising acts (Big Thief, Hoops) to venues all across Brooklyn. You can snag either a weekend pass or tickets to individual shows.

Eaux Claires: Eau Claire, WI (June 16, 17)

Curated by Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon and set on a farm in his hometown of Eau Claire, this pastoral event plays out like a class reunion for independent Midwest artists, with headlining sets from Wilco and Chance the Rapper.

80/35 Music Festival: Des Moines, IA (July 7, 8)

Named for the interstates that pass through downtown Des Moines, 80/35 showcases the city’s local talent alongside prominent national acts like the Shins and MGMT (who won’t forget how they got to town).

Sloss Music and Arts Festival: Birmingham, AL (July 15, 16)

Situated near a former iron mill (the Sloss Furnaces), this two-day southern fest in Birmingham features performances from Alabama Shakes, Sturgill Simpson and Run the Jewels, as well as live iron pouring demonstrations.

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Karoondinha: Centre Hall, PA (July 21–23)

The inaugural Karoondinha is setting up a Coachella-inspired experience on the outskirts of Penn State University’s campus, with a bill that includes Chance the Rapper, John Legend and Odesza.

Project Pabst: Portland, OR (Aug 26, 27)

The makers of the hipster-approved beer throw a two-day party in the middle of Portland with a lineup that reads like your coolest friend’s Spotify playlist: Iggy Pop, Beck, Nas, Father John Misty and more.

Life is Beautiful Festival: Las Vegas, NV (Sept 22–24)

Located in downtown Vegas, Life is Beautiful transforms 18 city blocks into a sea of art installations and music, provided by acts like Lorde, Muse and Gorillaz. Plus, if you want to test your luck on the glitzier side of town, the Strip is only a cab ride away.

Lost Lake Festival: Phoenix, AZ (Oct 20–22)

The Killers, Major Lazer and Ludacris usher in Phoenix’s newest music festival, accompanied by sizzling barbecue pits, a brewpark devoted to local craft beers and a playground for adults.

Sound on Sound Festival: McCade, TX (Nov 11–13)

The second year of this Texas fest keeps it characteristically weird, busing attendees to the site of a renaissance faire just outside of Austin where rock, punk, hip-hop and dance musicians joust (metaphorically) for the crowd’s favor.

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