May 5-7 Waking Windows (Winooski, VT) featuring Real Estate, Dan Deacon, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), POND, Frankie Cosmos, Big Thief, Screaming Females, Milo (Rapsmith), Downtown Boys, Charlie Parr, Mndsgn, ROUGH FRANCIS, JAW GEMS, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, IAN SWEET, Doug Tuttle, Octo Octa, HOME BODY, FUTURE PUNX, Leapling, Ravi Shavi, PILL, Paper Castles, Disco Phantom, SWALE, The Smittens, Bleach Day, Ellen Degenerates, Tyler Daniel Bean, Rick Rude, Jeff Beam and so many more!

Since its modest VT beginnings in 2011, Waking Windows has grown into a 3 day music, art, and comedy blowout that now has sister events in Detroit (7/21-7/22) and Portland (9/29-9/30). But on May 5-7, you should pack the van and head up to Winooski, where it all began, because this year’s event is fully loaded with 180 bands spread across 12 venues plus food trucks, a downtown artisan market, DJ sets, and a special screening of the Death by Audio documentary. Musical highlights include Dan Deacon, Real Estate, Frankie Cosmos, Screaming Females, Downtown Boys, and IAN SWEET, plus showcases from NNA Tapes featuring the multi-instrumental Tredici Bacci, led by Simon Hanes, and from Brooklyn’s Dull Tools featuring PILL, Beth Israel, Eaters, and Future Punx @ The Monkey House (aka the nucleus of this fest). As always Boston and Mass. are well represented with indie dreamers Mini Dresses, the experimental electro outfit Home Body, and psychedelic aficionado Doug Tuttle. You’ll also definitely want to catch NH punks Footings, ME’s Jaw Gems, and of course ex-Boston noise punk duo URSULA. I could keep going but half the fun (and point) of such a widespread festival is the act of discovery. Weekend passes are an absolute steal at $55. Pick one up and spend the first weekend in May poking around Winooski, VT where you’re sure to find something new and exciting for your eyes, ears, taste buds, and more.

—Michael Achille