Each September, the Moab Music Festival brings an array of the world’s finest musicians to Utah for a series of traditional, chamber and jazz concerts set against the most amazing backdrop – the red rocks of Moab.
Music ranges from contemporary and old chamber music to Latin jazz and traditional music from all corners of the globe. Confirmed artists fdor 2024 included: Alice Yoo, Andrew Garland, Ariadne Greif, BAILEN, David Jaggard, Eve Beglarian, Howard Dennis, Mark Stewart, Maya Miro Johnson, Michael Barrett and Zak Podmore.
History of the Moab Music Festival
The festival was founded in 1992 when to New York-based musicians, Michael Barrett and Leslie Tomkins, decided to create music against the magical red rocks of Moab. Tomkins admits that part of the inspiration for setting up the concert was to ensure that they returned to the quite spectacular area.
The award-winning festival is renowned for its innovative programming and intimate concerts set in the most amazing locations.
For 2025, violinist Tessa Lark has been announced as Moab’s Artistic Director, as Michael Barrett and Leslie Tomkins have stood down after 33 years at the helm.
For another alternative US Music Festival, try Burning Man in Nevada.
Moab Concerts and Artists
This year’s season starts on 28 August with a Grotto concert and concludes with the final Grotto Concert on 9 September. In between there will be floating concerts, grotto concerts and music hikes.
A series of concerts will be performed in a range of venues around Moab, with the signature Grotto Concerts taking place in a pristine grotto 30 miles out of town down the Colorado River. You can also take a multi-day, musical raft along the Colorado, or go on one of the music hikes. The schedule of events can be found here.
A full list of performers will be found here.
Things to Do in Moab Utah
Set in the Colorado Plateau, Utah, Moab is simply stunningly beautiful. It has two national parks, Arches and Canyonlands, as well as Dead Horse Point State Park. The area is ideal for hiking and kayaking, with the Colorado River just to the north of town and the La Sal mountains to its south. For more information on things to do in Moab, click here.
When is the Moab Music Festival 2025?
27 August to 12 September, 2025
Moab Music Festival Schedule
A full list of the concerts will be found here.
Moab Music Festival Tickets
Individual tickets for each concert can be bought here.
Moab is not the only music concert in the States, check out our 6 US American Music Festivals this Summer.
Flights to Moab
United Airlines flies, through Skywest, from Denver to Canyonlands Field Airport, Moab (18 miles north of the town) twice a day. Denver International Airport (six-hour drive), and Salt Lake City International Airport (four-and-a-half-hour drive) are the nearest major airlines.
Hotels in Moab
The Festival has a number of ‘lodging partners’. You can find the full list of them here.
For any more information on the festival
Click here.
All photos by Richard Bowditch.