Your Guide to Live Music in Upstate New York

Bill Callahan at Assembly | May 9, 2026

Bill Callahan at Assembly in Kingston, May 9. A voice like a slow river, songs that demand your full attention. One of the most singular artists alive, in the perfect room for it.

Fruit Bats at Assembly | July 25, 2026

Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats at Assembly in Kingston, July 25. Eric D. Johnson’s golden, sun-drenched songs in one of the Hudson Valley’s best intimate rooms. A perfect mid-summer evening.

Buck Meek at Assembly | July 11, 2026

Buck Meek

Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek brings his warm, inventive solo work to Assembly in Kingston on July 11. A midsummer Hudson Valley night with one of indie’s finest.

Mariposa Folk Festival

Mariposa Folk Festival at Tudhope Park in Orillia Ontario

Mariposa Folk Festival returns to Tudhope Park in Orillia July 3-5, 2026 — Father John Misty, Sharon Van Etten, and Steve Earle headline one of North America’s oldest folk festivals.

New Colossus Festival

Live performance at The New Colossus Festival on the Lower East Side NYC

New Colossus Festival brought 190 bands from around the world to 11 Lower East Side venues March 3-8, 2026 — NYC’s premier indie and emerging artist showcase.

Hillside Festival

Crowd at Hillside Festival at Guelph Lake Conservation Area in Ontario

Hillside Festival returns to Guelph Lake Conservation Area July 17-19, 2026 — three days of folk, indie, and world music with camping in Ontario.

NXNE (North by Northeast)

Live performance at NXNE music festival in Toronto Ontario

NXNE returns to Toronto June 10-14, 2026 — five days, 300+ acts across the city’s best venues. Canada’s premier indie music festival and conference.