Top summer music festivals near Baton Rouge that are worth the drive
t Malone, Brooks & Dunn, and Hardy. Riley Green, Bailey Zimmerman, 49 Winchester, Treaty Oak Revival, Ella Langley, and Wiz Khalifa will also be performing. Tickets can be found on a resale site or by joining the waitlist.
FreshGrass
Bentonville, Arkansas (9 hours away)
May 16-17
FreshGrass will showcase folk headliners such as Shakey Graves, Béla Fleck, Antonio Sánchez, Edmar Castañedo Trio, Lukas Nelson, and Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal. Other artists like Jesse Welles, Waylon Wyatt, Alison Brown, and Lost Bayou Ramblers will also grace the stage. Tickets and further details are available for purchase.
Gulf Coast Jam
Panama City Beach, Florida (5.5 hours away)
May 29- June 1
Frank Brown Park in PCB will host performances from Blake Shelton, Megan Moroney, Tyler Childers, The Red Clay Strays, Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, Sam Hunt, and other popular country and country-rock musicians. Tickets for this four-day festival are selling fast.
CMA Fest
Nashville, Tennessee (8 hours away)
June 5-8
The famed CMA Fest is set to take place across multiple Nashville venues, featuring renowned country artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban, Parker McCollum, Colbie Caillat, Dasha, Rascal Flatts, and Jason Aldean. Ticket information can be accessed online.
Cathead Jam
Jackson, Mississippi (2.5 hours away)
June 6-7
Cathead Jam’s lineup includes acts like Moe., STRFKR, Neal Francis, Mikaela Davis, and Susto Stringband. Moreover, all festival profits go towards the nonprofit Dreamnote Foundation, supporting music and art access in Mississippi.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Manchester, Tennessee (8.5 hours away)
June 12-15
Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, and Tyler, the Creator will headline Bonnaroo this summer. The festival will also feature acts like Vampire Weekend, Avril Lavigne, Glass Animals, Role Model, Beabadoobee, Mt. Joy, GloRilla, Nelly, and Dom Dolla. Tickets are quickly running out.
Rock The South
Cullman, Alabama (6 hours away)
June 19-21
Rock The South’s lineup boasts big names such as Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, and Nickelback, as well as 3 Doors Down, Gavin Adcock, and Treaty Oak Revival. Weekend and single-day passes are available for purchase.
Essence Festival of Culture
New Orleans, Louisiana (1.5 hours away)
July 4-6
In New Orleans, the Essence Festival will feature daytime cultural events at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, along with evening concerts at Caesars Superdome from legends like Boyz II Men, Davido, Master P, GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Buju Banton, Donell Jones, and Nas. The festival will also pay musical tribute to Quincy Jones.
Earl Scruggs Music Festival
Mill Spring, North Carolina (10 hours away)
Aug. 29-31
The Earl Scruggs Music Festival will showcase classic Americana, bluegrass, and roots music with top artists like The Wood Brothers, The War and Treaty, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Del McCoury Band, and Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.
Shaky Knees Music Festival
Atlanta, Georgia (7.5 hours away)
Sept. 19-21
Conclude the summer by attending the Shaky Knees Music Festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. The festival will feature rock acts like Deftones, Lenny Kravitz, Pixies, The Marias, My Chemical Romance, Cage the Elephant, The All-American Rejects, Blink-182, and Lucy Dacus. Tickets and more details are available for purchase.