These 13 summer music festivals are within a day's drive of Columbia

Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune

It's high time to lock the rock — and pop and hip-hop, country and so forth — into your summer calendar.

The promise of a great summer music festival already is calling, and living in the middle of middle America, Columbia music lovers have ample opportunities to travel for a great lineup of artists.

Here's what to expect from just 13 of the many summer music fests within a day's drive from mid-Missouri.

June 1-2: Railbird

Where: Lexington, Kentucky

Drive time: Around 7 hours

Vibe: Americana-leaning, laid-back, songwriter-forward

Artists to catch: Chris Stapleton, Lord Huron, Turnpike Troubadours, Counting Crows, Dwight Yoakam, Trampled by Turtles

Tickets: $185 general admission single-day; $340 general admission two-day

Website: https://www.railbirdfest.com/

June 13-16: Bonnaroo

Where: Manchester, Tennessee

Drive time: About 7 hours

Vibe: Influential — in a good way

Artists to catch: Maggie Rogers, Khruangbin, Cigarettes After Sex, Jon Batiste, Idles, Brittany Howard, Gregory Alan Isakov, Megan Thee Stallion, Jason Isbell

Tickets: $174-$445

Website: https://www.bonnaroo.com/

June 14-15: Boulevardia

Where: Kansas City

Drive time: Around 2 hours

Vibe: Eclectic, Midwestern, open-hearted

Artists to catch: Hanson, Thundercat, Ha Ha Tonka, Paul Cauthen, Big Freedia

Tickets: $35-$45 single-day

Website: https://boulevardia.com/

June 20-22, 27-29 and July 4-6: Summerfest

Tyler Childers performs at Eastside Bowl in Madison , Tenn., Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
Tyler Childers performs at Eastside Bowl in Madison , Tenn., Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Where: Milwaukee

Drive time: About 7 hours

Vibe: Sprawling, crowd-pleasing

Artists to catch: Tyler Childers, Keith Urban, Sleater Kinney, Air, Carly Rae Jepsen

Tickets: Starts at $28 single-day; $62 three-day; $130 nine-day; additional tickets needed for amphitheater shows

Website: https://www.summerfest.com/

June 27-29: Blue Ox

Where: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Drive time: About 9 hours

Vibe: Homey, resonant, string-centered

Artists to catch: Sierra Ferrell, Band of Horses, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Watchhouse, Sam Bush

Tickets: $145-$254

Website:https://www.blueoxmusicfestival.com/

July 12-13: 80/35

Killer Mike of Run The Jewels gestures out to the crowd while performing on the main stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Sunday, April 17, 2022.
Killer Mike of Run The Jewels gestures out to the crowd while performing on the main stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Sunday, April 17, 2022.

Where: Des Moines

Drive time: Around 4 hours

Vibe: Catchy and artsy, pulling in the same direction

Artists to catch: Killer Mike, OK Go, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bully, Susto

Tickets: $130 two-day

Website: https://www.80-35.com/

July 19-20: Sad Summer

Where: This touring festival will visit Milwaukee July 19, Chicago July 20

Drive time: About 7 hours to Milwaukee; 6 hours to Chicago

Vibe: Emotional, anthemic, galvanizing

Artists to catch: Mayday Parade, The Maine, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck

Tickets: $59

Website: https://www.sadsummerfest.com/

July 19-21: Pitchfork

Alanis Morissette performs on the second day of Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Alanis Morissette performs on the second day of Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

Where: Chicago

Drive time: About 6 hours

Vibe: Whip-smart, self-deprecating

Artists to catch: Black Pumas, Jeff Rosenstock, Amen Dunes, Carly Rae Jepsen, De La Soul, Alanis Morissette

Tickets: $119 single-day; $239 weekend

Website: https://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

Aug. 1-4: Lollapalooza

Where: Chicago

Drive time: About 6 hours

Vibe: Dynamic, a little zig with your zag

Artists to catch: Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, SZA, The Killers, Blink-182, Lizzy McAlpine, Deftones, Victoria Monet

Tickets: $149-$409

Website: https://www.lollapalooza.com/

Aug. 2-4: Hinterland

Noah Kahan performs on the Home Plate stage on the second day of Extra Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park on March 2, 2024.
Noah Kahan performs on the Home Plate stage on the second day of Extra Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park on March 2, 2024.

Where: St. Charles, Iowa

Drive time: About 4 hours

Vibe: Autumn in summer

Artists to catch: Vampire Weekend, Noah Kahan, Orville Peck, Chappell Roan

Tickets: At press time, all general admission tickets were sold except Saturday-only at $145

Website: https://www.hinterlandiowa.com/

Aug. 8-10: XRoads41

Where: Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Drive time: About 8 hours

Vibe: Nostalgic, familiar, joyful

Artists to catch: Journey, Brooks and Dunn, Old Dominion, Tanya Tucker

Tickets: $89-$99 single-day; $149 weekend

Website: https://www.xroads41.com/

Sept. 8: Outlaw Music Festival

Where: This touring festival will visit Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in the St. Louis area

Drive time: About 2 hours

Vibe: Legendary, y'all

Artists to catch: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Southern Avenue

Tickets: $66-$328

Website: https://blackbirdpresents.com/concert/outlaw-music-festival-tour-2024/

Sept. 14-15: Music at the Intersection

Rochester favorite Trombone Shorty performs on Parcel 5 to close the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival.
Rochester favorite Trombone Shorty performs on Parcel 5 to close the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Where: St. Louis

Drive time: Around 2 hours

Vibe: Funky, swinging, effortlessly cool

Artists to catch: Big Boi, Lettuce, Trombone, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Randolph, Samara Joy

Tickets: $95 single-day; $175 weekend

Website: https://www.musicattheintersection.org/

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 13 summer music festivals within a day's drive of mid-Missouri

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