And admit the music festival scene in Madison is Rockin’
Yup, we’ve been talking about you in Madison, Indiana and we think it’s time for you to fess-up and admit it would do you good to Fest-up in the town that knows how to host a party. Music tourists can be found in Madison enjoying live music at all our venues every weekend, but Indiana’s Music City also blows up with nationally recognized music festivals that can’t be beat.
If you’re a music enthusiast, here are four must-see music festivals in Madison, Indiana:
Ribberfest
What goes better together than bar-b-que and blues. Ribberfest delivers heaping portions of both against the beautiful open-air backdrop of the Ohio River. This festival features top national Blues acts staged each year over a weekend in mid-August.
The only thing hotter than the music at this festival is the slow cooked bar-b-que you can sample up and down the riverfront. Bar-b-que gurus work their magic in a competition to be crowned in a variety of grill master categories. The sweet smokey smell of savory pork, beef, and chicken alone is worth the price of admission, but you get to sample it all and decide how your favorites stack up against the judge’s.
You can learn more about Ribberfest and purchase tickets at:
Roostertail Music Festival
Named for the spray of the water kicked-up by unlimited hydroplanes racing in the Madison Regatta at speeds above 200 miles per hour, the Roostertail Music Festival enhances the fun and excitement leading up to Regatta Weekend. As if that weren’t enough, you can attend the Roostertail Music Festival FREE of charge.
The Roostertail Music Festival features rock, reggae and country artists providing something for everyone to enjoy. This event starts on Friday evening of Regatta Weekend, and is kid friendly, so you can enjoy the Madison Regatta Parade on Main Street with the whole family, and then take a short walk down to the Roostertail Music Festival. The festival extends through Saturday evening as well when it is capped-off with the Madison Regatta Fireworks Extravaganza on the riverfront.
When you come to the Roostertail Music Festival bring your appetite. There are a variety of food trucks, brewery booths and more to sample from. Oh, and we heard there were some boat races going on that weekend too!
Learn more about the Roostertail Music Festival at: https://www.madisonregatta.com/music/
River Roots Music & Folk Arts Festival
The River Roots Music & Arts Festival presented by the Kindred Folk Society is one of the sure signs of spring in Madison, Indiana. The daylong event begins at noon and includes two musical performance stages, folk art on display and for sale, a kids’ activity area, food trucks, craft beer, and other vendors.
This festival features nationally recognized blues and bluegrass musicians and takes place in two locations. One is in a closed section of Mulberry Street between Main and Third Streets. This location is free to the public. The other is the ticketed headliner finally which is hosted with an indoor stage in the Red Bicycle Music Hall.
Roots music and folk art are staples in river towns up and down the Ohio, and Madison, Indiana honors our musical roots with this popular revival of rhythms and songs deeply engrained in our southern Indiana culture. Come and enjoy the River Roots Revival and learn more at https://www.riverroots.org/.
The Mad Hop Music Festival
The Mad Hop Music Festival has become a very popular “Hop” from venue to venue as you enjoy music in varying locations and presenting various genres of music around town. This unique festival is contained with each stage in easy walking distance throughout the beautiful and historic downtown Madison.
The Mad Hop Festival is a great place to discover your new favorite band no matter what your musical taste might be. There is something for everyone in this eclectic music lover’s festival experience.
Learn more and purchase your tickets to the Mad Hop Music Festival at: https://madhopmusicfest.com/
How to support the music scene in Madison, IN
If you're a music lover visiting Madison, Indiana, one of the best ways to support the local music scene is by attending festivals and live shows and purchasing merchandise from local musicians. You can also support the venues and festivals by frequenting them, leaving positive reviews online, and spreading the word to others who may be interested.
Another great way to support local musicians and venues is by volunteering or donating to organizations like the Madison Music Movement promoting music education and outreach in the community. By investing in the future of Madison's music scene, you can help ensure that it continues to thrive and grow for years to come.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your Madison, Indiana music getaway today and Fest-up with us!