14 (Beyond) Music Festivals this Fall
Up for something far out? Venture to the quirky-artsy-desert town of Marfa, Texas and get groovy at the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love. (Courtesy of Trans-Pecos)

14 (Beyond) Music Festivals this Fall

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Sure, Festival Season may technically be coming to a close, but these fall music fests beg to differ.

Whether you're into bluegrass on a blanket, beachside rock and roll, indie tunes and glamping, the biggest names in hip hop, or adult summer camp with techno beats, there's something for every type of music aficionado—plus still plenty of sunshine to go round—at these funky fall festivals scattered around the Bay Area, Southern California, and a few beyond.


Grab your tix before they're gone.

Music Festivals in September 2019

Sonoma Harvest Music Festival

September 14-15 and 21-22

B.R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. (Glen Ellen)

Keep the chill, summer vibes going at this two-weekend festival, featuring 20 bands in total, held at B.R. Cohn's picturesque winery. Weekend One headliners include Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Ms. Lauryn Hill, while Death Cab for Cutie and Chvrches take the stage during Weekend Two. Plus, in true Wine Country fashion, enjoy fine pours from B.R. Cohn Winery and gourmet bites from Sonoma restaurants. // Tickets ($119 and up) and event details are available on sonomaharvestmusicfestival.com.


Life Is Beautiful

September 20-22

Downtown Las Vegas, Entrances at Fremont & 7th St. and Fremont & 11th St. (Las Vegas, NV)

Escape the Bay and party in true Vegas fashion to hits by the hottest names in music including Chance the Rapper, The Black Keys, Of Monsters and Men, Vampire Weekend, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, and Zedd—the list goes on—at this three-day festival taking place across 18 blocks. Stay hydrated with 15 specialty cocktails, beer, and wine, and eat your way through 50 eateries scattered around the festival. // Tickets ($145 and up) and event information is available on lifeisbeautiful.com.


Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love

September 26-29

El Cosmico, 802 South Highland Ave. (Marfa, TX)

Happy hippie vibes will abound at the 14th Annual Trans-Pecos Festival of Music & Love, held at the iconic desert glamping and artistic community space that is El Cosmico (Bunkhouse Hotel Group also runs SF's beloved Phoenix Hotel). As if headliners Broken Social Scene, Luna, Margo Price, and Chicano Batman weren't reason enough to make the trek to the Lone Star State, the festival also offers chill and crafty workshops—look out for yoga, tie dying, and crystal jewelry making—wine tasting with Sonoma's Scribe Winery; and facials, massages, IV therapies, and haircuts at the El Cosmetico pop-up spa. You can shop a curated market (Sausalito-based cult shoemaker Freda Salvador has popped up here); take a hike over the trippy terrain with Outdoor Voices; and fuel up at a community pig roast. Pitch your own tent or spring for a luxury canvas version a la SF-based Shelter Co. (See, SF and Texas are like this!) Whatever you do, use the fest as an opportunity to scope out Marfa, famously home to artist Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation, with installations by the likes of Claes Oldenberg and Coosje van Bruggen (of the Embarcadero's "Cupid's Span"), and the fake Prada store. // Tickets ($250/music pass or $325/music plus camping; activity and dining options for additional cost) are available on Eventbrite; event information can be found on elcosmico.com.


Ohana Festival

September 27-29

Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr. (Dana Point)

Complete with a lineup assembled by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, featuring Vedder himself, along with The Strokes and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as headliners, this beachfront Dana Point three day music festival is the perfect excuse for a road trip. Looking to justify your ticket purchase? A portion of sales will benefit nonprofit organizations San Onofre Parks Foundation and The Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association who work to preserve SoCal's coastal parks. // Tickets ($128.50 and up) are available on ohanafest.frontgatetickets.com; event details can be found on ohanafest.com.


Monterey Jazz Festival

September 27-29

Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2000 Fairground Rd. (Monterey)

The three-day Monterey Jazz Festival is back for its 62nd year with more than 130 jazz performances—plus art exhibits, films, and educational events—spread across eight outdoor stages. Get ready to groove to acts including New Orleans soul and R&B group Tank and The Bangas, pianist Kenny Barron with bassist Dave Holland, and the legendary Double Vision jazz trio comprised of Bob James, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller. Plus, quench your thirst with craft beers from North Coast Brewing Company and munch on goodies from an array of vendors. If you're not in the mood to drive, the fest also offers a daily shuttle to and from select Bay Area cities including San Francisco and Oakland. // Tickets ($45 and up) and event details are available on montereyjazzfestival.org.


Rolling Loud Bay Area

September 28-29

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way (Oakland)

If you're looking to see all your favorite rappers in one place, massive Miami hip-hop festival transplant, Rolling Loud, is a must. During the third Rolling Loud Bay Area, jam out to headliners Future, G-Eazy, Migos, and Lil Uzi Vert, alongside endless other rappers including Blueface, Kodak Black, Lil Mosey, and Juice Wrld. Can't get enough? Head across the country to Rolling Loud New York on October 12 and 13 for a brand new lineup. // Tickets ($199 and up) are available on rollingloudba.frontgatetickets.com; event details can be found on rollingloud.com.

Music Festivals in October 2019

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

October 4-6

Hellman Hollow, Lindley and Marx Meadows, 880 John F Kennedy Dr. (Golden Gate Park)

Cross your fingers for a fog free weekend and jam out to HSB veterans including Robert Plant, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll, and Bettye LaVette—plus first timers including The Meat Puppets and Margo Price—at San Francisco's beloved Bluegrass plus everything else free music fest held in honor of philanthropist and Hardly Strictly creator Warren Hellman. Just don't bring the cooler or expect to camp out the night before to secure a front row blanket spot—this year the festival is cracking down on security measures. // Event is free to attend; lineup and event details can be found on hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.


Dirtybird Campout

October 4-6

Modesto Reservoir Campgrounds, 18143 Reservoir Rd. (Waterford)

Free spirits come together at this lakeside adult summer camp meets techno and EDM-heavy music festival. Party hard to sets by Ardalan, Claude VonStroke, Christian Martin, Amp Fiddler, and Bob Moses at two stages; release your inner kid alongside performers with endless late night and daytime games and water activities—think karaoke, bingo, swimming, floatie racing, dodgeball, and a talent show competition; and leave the weekend exhausted and inspired. Choose from car and RV camping options, or ball out in the Bird's Nest Luxury Camp with luxury canvas tents, beds, private showers, and more. // Tickets ($255 and up, camping passes available for additional cost) are available on Eventbrite; festival details can be found on dirtybirdcampout.com.


Austin City Limits

October 4-6 and 11-13

Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. (Austin, TX)

Head to the live music capital of the world for the iconic Austin City Limits Festival, where 125 performers rock the city's central Zilker Park for two consecutive weekend. This multi genre festival boasts some of the biggest names in the biz including headliners Guns N' Roses, Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino, The Cure, Billie Eilish, and Tame Impala both weekends, plus Cards B for Weekend One and Robyn for Weekend Two. Cure your Texas barbecue cravings at the festival, plus munch on endless other eats from Austin's best restaurants, and stick around and explore all that Austin has to offer for a few days post ACL. // Weekend One tickets sold out; Weekend Two tickets ($105 and up) and event details are available on aclfestival.com.


Desert Daze

October 10-13

Moreno Beach, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 17801 Lake Perris Dr. (Lake Perris, CA)

Those in search of a freewheeling, spiritual desert experience, plus danceable music, plenty of trippy lights, and mountain views to match, flock to the annual Desert Daze festival, held just an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles. Enjoy rock, experimental, and electronic artists including Wu-Tang Clan, The Flaming Lips, Devo, and Ween, then hit the Mystic Bazaar for rejuvenating, magical programming including sound baths and yoga, check out art installations, films, and talks in the Outer Space, or cool off with a dip in the lake. For an additional price, festival goers can opt to rough it with car or tent camping, or splurge on a luxurious, fully furnished lakeside Obsidian Cabana that sleeps up to six. // Tickets ($289 and up) and festival details are available on desertdaze.org.


Joshua Tree Music Festival

October 10-13

Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road (Joshua Tree)

You'll have to choose between Desert Daza and Joshua Tree. If the desert calls you, be greeted with a family-friendly campout-meets-festival where meditation and yoga mingle with music and visual arts. Think Burning Man, only smaller. Plus, you can hang out with witches and shamans, shop the World Market, and join a mindfulness talk. // Adult tickets range from $50/day to $200/four-day pass; camping is $75-$100; go to joshuatreemusicfestival.com.


Voodoo Music + Arts Experience

October 25-27

City Park, 1 Palm Dr. (New Orleans, LA)

Pack your best costumes and grab your plane tix to the Big Easy's City Park for a voodoo filled halloweekend. Headlined by Guns N' Roses, Post Malone, and Beck, and featuring over 65 artists in total, there's something for everyone at this music and arts fest. Bonus: a three days ticket to Voodoo costs less than one day of Outside Lands. Spend the difference and make the most of your trip with late night-post festival fried chicken and Po'Boys and iconic New Orleans Jazz on Frenchman Street. // Tickets ($75 and up) and event details are available on voodoofestival.com.

Music Festivals in  November 2019

Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival

November 9-10

Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave. (Los Angeles)

Presented by Tyler, the Creator, the 8th annual Camp Flog Gnaw transforms Dodger Stadium into a music fest meets carnival extravaganza. Enjoy performances by artists including 21 Savage, Brockhampton, YG, Solange—and of course Tyler, the Creator, himself—then hit the carnival rides and games for a chance to win prizes from Tyler, The Creator's coveted Golf Wang label. // Tickets ($245 and up) are available on cfg.festivalticketing.com; event details can be found on campfloggnaw.com.


Tropicalia Music and Taco Festival

November 9-10

Pico Rivera Sports Arena Grounds, 11003 Sports Arena Dr. (Pico Rivera)

Is there anything better than endless live music and tacos? Pay Los Angeles a visit for Tropicalia Festival's third annual festival, presented by Coachella's promoter, Goldenvoice, boasting big name Latin and Chicano musicians including Los Tigres del Norte, Kali Uchis, and Chicano Batman, plus indie and alternative bands including Fidlar, Beachfossils, and Peach Pit. Get your taco fix with Southern California vendors curated by taco connoisseur, L.A. Taco. // Sunday GA and Two Day VIP are still available ($150 and up) on gv.festivalticketing.com; Event details can be found on tropicaliafestival.com.

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