“a starry array of new music specialists” -Alex Ross, The Rest is Noise

“magnificently enlightening” -Los Angeles Times

“one of the area’s most innovative music showcases” -KPBS

“The Carlsbad Music Festival has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best single gatherings of diverse, avant-garde musicians in Southern California.” -San Diego City Beat

About the Festival...

The 15th annual Carlsbad Music Festival is a 3-day summer celebration of “adventurous music by the beach” on Friday-Sunday, August 24-26, 2018, in the charming seaside Village of Carlsbad. The Festival, called “one of the area’s most innovative music showcases” by KPBS, features 60+ performances of creative music of all kinds curated by Founder and Artistic Director, composer/violinist Matt McBane. These include ticketed Mainstage Concerts, dozens of FREE outdoor concerts all weekend, and a beer garden, food trucks, and artisan market.

The Festival programming is an eclectic mix of creative and adventurous music ranging from contemporary classical, to indie rock, to world music, to electronic, to jazz, to musicians who work across genres and fall between the cracks. The Carlsbad Music Festival is a nationally-acclaimed presenter and a beloved community event that draws thousands from near and far for its unique programming and beautiful setting.