Independent artists and songwriters are playing bigger stages than ever. Whether you’re looking to build your fanbase, showcase original songs, or land industry attention, festivals are one of the fastest ways to grow your career.
Below is the ultimate list of 50 festivals that openly accept indie artists, broken down by genre—PLUS direct submission links (or the platform they use: Sonicbids, ReverbNation, or direct forms).
🔥 Multi-Genre Festivals (Accepting Indie Artists)
Let’s start with the big multi-genre festivals. Events like SXSW, Treefort, NXNE, Iceland Airwaves, Firefly, and Summerfest all book independent artists. These festivals aren’t just about ticket sales — they’re about discovery. If you’ve got a solid live show and a real online presence, these are absolutely in play.
1. SXSW – Austin, TX
Genres: All
Submission: via SXSW Artist Application
2. Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
Genres: All
Submission: ReverbNation
3. Festival International de Louisiane – Lafayette, LA
Genres: World, Folk, Rock
Submission: Direct festival form
4. Treefort Music Fest – Boise, ID
Genres: All indie genres
Submission: Direct form
5. Music Midtown – Atlanta, GA
Genres: Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop
Submission: ReverbNation
6. The Great Escape – UK
Genres: All indie
Submission: Apply through festival portal
7. North by Northeast (NXNE) – Toronto
Genres: All
Submission: Sonicbids
8. Iceland Airwaves – Iceland
Genres: Indie, Electronic
Submission: Direct form
9. Shaky Knees – Atlanta, GA
Genres: Rock, Indie Rock
Submission: ReverbNation
10. Firefly Music Festival – Delaware
Genres: Pop, Rock, Alt
Submission: Open calls (varies annually)
🎸 Americana / Folk / Country / Songwriter Festivals
If you’re a songwriter, folk, or Americana artist, this is your lane. Festivals like Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge, MerleFest, Philadelphia Folk Festival, 30A Songwriters Festival, and Telluride Bluegrass are built around original songs and storytelling. These festivals actually listen — they care about lyrics, performance, and authenticity more than hype.
11. Kerrville Folk Festival – Texas
Genres: Folk, Americana
Submission: Kerrville New Folk submission portal
12. Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Colorado
Genres: Bluegrass, Americana
Submission: Direct portal
13. Falcon Ridge Folk Festival – NY
Genres: Folk, Acoustic
Submission: Open stage & showcase submission
14. 30A Songwriters Festival – Florida
Genres: Songwriter, Americana
Submission: Direct email submission
15. Island Hopper Songwriter Festival – Florida
Genres: Songwriter (BMI-focused)
Submission: Through BMI
16. MerleFest – North Carolina
Genres: Americana, Folk
Submission: Chris Austin Songwriting Contest portal
17. Rocky Mountain Folks Festival – Colorado
Genres: Folk, Acoustic
Submission: Songwriter Showcase portal
18. New Orleans Songwriters Festival
Genres: Singer/Songwriter
Submission: Direct form
19. Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival – Texas
Genres: Americana, Songwriter
Submission: Direct form
20. Philadelphia Folk Festival – PA
Genres: Folk, Roots
Submission: Direct portal
🎶 Pop / Indie Pop / Alternative Festivals
For indie pop and alternative artists, there are festivals like Hopscotch, Savannah Stopover, Noise Pop, Pop Montréal, Osheaga, and Capitol Hill Block Party. These festivals are plugged into tastemakers and industry folks, so they’re huge for exposure if you’re building momentum.
21. Osheaga – Montreal
Genres: Indie Pop, Alt
Submission: Their artist submission form
22. Noise Pop – San Francisco
Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Submission: Direct portal
23. SunFest – Florida
Genres: Pop, Rock
Submission: Sonicbids
24. Rifflandia – Canada
Genres: Pop, Alt
Submission: Direct form
25. Savannah Stopover – Georgia
Genres: Indie, Pop
Submission: Apply through festival portal
26. Capitol Hill Block Party – Seattle
Genres: Indie, Pop, Electronic
Submission: Direct form
27. Mo Pop Festival – Detroit
Genres: Indie Pop, Alt
Submission: Direct form
28. Big Ears Festival – Tennessee
Genres: Experimental, Indie
Submission: Submission via portal
29. Pop Montréal – Canada
Genres: Indie Pop, Alt
Submission: Artist submission portal
30. Hopscotch Music Festival – Raleigh
Genres: Indie Rock, Pop, Experimental
Submission: Direct form
🔥 Rock / Alt Rock / Punk Festivals
If your sound leans louder, there are rock and punk-friendly festivals like Bumbershoot, Rocklahoma, Welcome to Rockville, Aftershock, The Fest, and Louder Than Life. Many of these festivals pull directly from open submissions through platforms like ReverbNation and Sonicbids.
31. Viva PHX – Phoenix
Genres: Rock, Punk
Submission: Sonicbids
32. Pukkelpop – Belgium
Genres: Rock, Alt
Submission: Artist application
33. Canadian Music Week (CMW)
Genres: Rock, Pop, Punk
Submission: Direct form
34. Rocklahoma – Oklahoma
Genres: Rock, Hard Rock
Submission: ReverbNation
35. The Fest – Florida
Genres: Punk, Emo
Submission: Direct form
36. Welcome to Rockville – Florida
Genres: Rock, Metal
Submission: ReverbNation
37. Aftershock Festival – California
Genres: Rock, Metal
Submission: ReverbNation
38. Louder Than Life – Kentucky
Genres: Rock, Hard Rock
Submission: ReverbNation
39. Inkcarceration – Ohio
Genres: Rock, Metal
Submission: Sonicbids
40. Bumbershoot – Seattle
Genres: Rock, Alt, All indie
Submission: Direct form
🎧 EDM / Electronic Festivals
And for electronic artists, festivals like Electric Zoo, EDC, Ultra, Elements, and Shambhala all have discovery pipelines for indie acts — especially if you’re active online and releasing consistently.
41. Electric Zoo – NYC
Genres: EDM
Submission: Direct portal
42. EDC Orlando / Las Vegas
Genres: EDM
Submission: Insomniac Discovery Project
43. Ultra Music Festival – Miami
Genres: Electronic
Submission: Direct A&R submission
44. Elements Music Festival – PA
Genres: EDM
Submission: Direct form
45. Shambhala – Canada
Genres: Electronic
Submission: Online artist page
🎤 Hip-Hop / R&B / Urban Festivals
For hip-hop and R&B artists, festivals like A3C, Roots Picnic, Rolling Loud in select cities, Soundset, and Breakaway regularly spotlight independent talent, especially artists with strong local or regional buzz.
46. A3C Festival – Atlanta
Genres: Hip-Hop
Submission: Direct application
47. Rolling Loud (Select Cities)
Genres: Hip-Hop
Submission: ReverbNation / Local showcases
48. Soundset – Minnesota
Genres: Hip-Hop
Submission: Direct form
49. Breakaway Festival (Multiple States)
Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, EDM
Submission: Direct form
50. Roots Picnic – Philadelphia
Genres: R&B, Hip-Hop
Submission: Local artist submissions
âš¡ Final Tip: How to Actually Get Selected
Here’s the key: festivals don’t just book songs — they book momentum. A clean EPK, live video, consistent content, and proof that people care.
Most festivals look for:
- A strong brand
- Live performance video
- Social proof (consistent content + real engagement)
- A clean EPK
- Professional photos
- A draw in your region
“Because independent artists don’t wait to be discovered — they put themselves in the room.”
