What’s Next For Live Music Festivals In Connecticut?

2025 has been a disappointing year for live music fans in Connecticut.

Hartford's XL Center is temporarily closed for the Summer of 2025 as a multi-million-dollar renovation takes place, the Xfinity/Meadows Theater season didn't get going until July, and now the news that the 2025 Soundside Music Festival has been cancelled "Due to circumstances beyond their control'.

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Multi-band live music festivals are the wildcard that Connecticut still seems to not be able to pull off without hitches. There are exceptions to the rule of course, the Gathering of the Vibes is what most social media commentors are crying out for in the wake of the Soundside cancellation, but it wasn't the easiest festival to enjoy either.

Why Aren't There More Multi-Day Music Festivals in Connecticut?

Connecticut just doesn't have the open space for 50,000-100,000+ people to camp out for 3 days to enjoy a lineup of 15+ bands. Farm Aid 2021 happened at Hartford's Xfinity Theater as a one-day event, but they had the infrastructure to pull it off. I've been able to talk with promoters from a few of the venues around Connecticut, and one of the biggest struggles they've mentioned since the 2020 pandemic is the rising costs of touring artists while keeping ticket prices semi-affordable.

The Capital Groove in Hartford at the end of June happened in between rain and thunderstorms but still managed to bring in a decent crowd with a diverse lineup. Another music festival in Connecticut happening soon is the Black Bear Music Festival, which also changed locations for 2025 - it's happening at the Harwinton Fairgrounds instead of the Goshen Fairgrounds this year.

The Best Venues to See Live Music Outdoors in Connecticut

Although we have a shorter season than most of the country, there are plenty of outdoor pavilions and performing arts centers in Connecticut. From an intimate performance for only 50 people, all the way up to 25,000 attendees, these eight venues are the best outdoor performance venues in Connecticut.

Gallery Credit: Google

Five Years Later: The COVID-19 Lockdown of 2020 in Connecticut

Where were you five years ago this week? Washing your hands every five minutes? Standing at least six feet away from your neighbor? Connecticut was locked down longer than most states in the US. I took a few photos of what we experienced during that moment in time. All of these were taken between March and May of 2020.

Gallery Credit: Large Dave/Mrs. Large

Love Connecticut? These 8 Bingeworthy Shows Belong on Your Watchlist

If you’re all about Connecticut—the vibe, the culture, the aesthetic—then these eight bingeworthy TV shows belong on your radar (if they aren’t already). Some were directly inspired by real places here in the Nutmeg State, others are set against our familiar backdrop, and a few just capture that unmistakable Connecticut feel we know and love. Put these 8 Bingeworthy Shows Belong on Your Watchlist

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

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