discovering and sharing the music that moves us

7 September Music Festivals That Should Be On Your Radar

Just because the summer is winding down doesn’t mean festival season is in the rearview mirror. Here’s a look at 7 September music festivals to consider.

1. Life Is Beautiful Music Festival

Date: September 16-18th

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Founded in 2013, the Life Is Beautiful Music Festival takes place in downtown Las Vegas. According to their website, they’ve brought more than 570 musical acts, 113 art installations, 124 comics, and 36 philanthropic partners to the area with a goal of celebrating community.

Artist highlights: Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, Lorde, Jack Harlow, Kygo, Cage The Elephant

Click here for full lineup info.

2. Riot Fest

Date: September 16-18

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Riot Fest started in 2005 and is one of America’s largest independent music festivals. The annual multi-day event specializes in booking punk, rock, alternative, metal, and hip-hop acts. They offer carnival rides, top-notch food vendors, sideshow performers, and more.

Who’s playing: My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, Misfits, Bleachers, Alkaline Trio, Yellowcard, Ice Cube, Jimmy Eat World

Click here for full lineup info.

3. Sea.Hear.Now

Date: September 17-18

Location: Asbury Park, New Jersey

The very first Sea.Hear.Now Festival was held in 2018. The annual event promotes music, art, and ocean sustainability and even features a surfing competition.

Who’s playing: Stevie Nicks, Green Day, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant, The Head and the Heart, Billy Strings, Gary Clark Jr., Boy George & Culture Club, Wet Leg

Click here for full lineup info.

4. Louder Than Life

Date: September 22-25th

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

The first Louder Than Life Festival was held in 2014. The event moved to its current location at Highlands Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center in 2019. Known as one of America’s premiere hard rock festivals, the concert features multiple exhibits, along with a stacked lineup from top to bottom.

Who’s playing: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Alice In Chains, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Incubus, Evanescence

Click here for full lineup info.

5. Firefly Music Festival

Date: September 22-25

Location: Dover, Delaware

First held in 2012, the annual event takes place at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware. The event is usually held in June but festival organizers moved the dates to September this year. Expect a weekend full of great music and unique experiences like The Treehouse & The Nest.

Who’s playing: My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Weezer, Avril Lavigne, Zedd, Halsey, Bleachers, All Time Low, Cold War Kids

Click here for full lineup info.

6. iHeartRadio Festival

Date: September 23-24th

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

This two-day music festival held in Las Vegas is entering its twelfth year. This multi-genre event will be broadcast live on iHeart Radio stations across the country and will be shown on The CW at a later date.

Who’s playing: Black Eyed Peas, LL Cool J, The Black Keys, Lionel Richie, Avril Lavigne, Diplo, Marcus Mumford, Pitbull, Maren Morris

Click here for full lineup info.

7. Sound on Sound Music Festival

Date: September 24-25th

Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut

This is the inaugural Sound on Sound Music Festival and it’s being held at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. One doesn’t often think of Bridgeport as an ideal place for a music festival but the park is a beautiful spot for a concert of this magnitude. Featuring more than 20 bands over two stages, there are no overlapping sets so you don’t have to worry about missing any of your favorite acts.

Who’s playing: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, The Lumineers, Stevie Nicks, The Roots, Gary Clark Jr., Brandi Carlile, The National, Father John Misty, The Revivalists

Click here for full lineup info.

Enjoying MendoWerks Magazine? Receive updates each week directly in your inbox. Sign up for the newsletter here.

About Author