Face it — whether you like EDM, rock, or country, a music festival is a wonderful and captivating place to be. With dance music becoming more and more popular each day, people like us are looking for the best places to surround ourselves with our favorite tunes and maximize our time with the people we love. Music festivals seem to be popping up all over the country! It’s summer vacation, take a break from real life and live for a bit. Here’s some places you should check out this summer or make sure you buy tickets to next year.
10. Spring Awakening – Chicago, IL
June 16th and June 17th
www.springawakeningfestival.com
Chicago’s Spring Awakening Music Festival this year took place on June 16th-17th at the city’s historic Solider Field. The festivals headliners included big names like Skrillex, Moby, Afrojack, Benny Benassi, and Carl Cox, among other local and international EDM producers.
9. Electric Forest – Rothbury, Michigan
June 28th – July 1st
www.electricforestfestival.com
While the musical lineup is commanding enough to stand alone, its physical environment and aesthetics are what really set Electric Forest apart from other events. “We’ve all been to tons of festivals where you stand there looking at a stage with musicians performing,” an Art Director and Lighting Designer for headliner The String Cheese Incident, Andy Carroll, told MLive.com, a Michigan newspaper. “We’re bringing a little more of an interactive element — even if it’s getting people involved in the sense of, here, here’s a hammock, lie in it.” A ‘little bit’ of an interactive element seems a little bit of an understatement. From glow -in-the-dark disc golf to a wandering circus band, Electric Forest is definitely a one of a kind event. This year’s lineup features huge artists like Steve Aoki, Bassnectar, Dada Life, and Richie Hawtin.
8. Bonnaroo – Manchester, Tennessee
June 7th – June 10th
www.bonnaroo.com
Over the last decade, no other US music festival has captured the spirit of large greenfield gatherings like the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Bonnaroo burst onto the scene grabbing headlines along with our hearts as we’ve watched it grow from scrappy newcomer to a full fledged bastion of the season. It may not be the oldest or the largest, but Bonnaroo is the spirit of the quintessential American music festival bringing artists like Radiohead, Bon Iver, SBTRKT, and Skrillex.
7. Global Dance Music Festival- Morrison, Colorado
July 20th – July 22nd
www.globaldancefestival.com
Every summer the world’s premier dance music artists travel to Colorado to play for thousands of music enthusiasts under the open sky at Red Rocks. With over 20 years of combined nightlife experience, Ha Hau and Kostas Kouremenos created GDF to celebrate the evolution of electronic music. The show has evolved into a massive gathering of people from all over the United States. It is the only event of its kind in the Rocky Mountains. Over the years, fans have gathered to listen to the sounds of the world’s greatest electronic music artists including Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, BT, Paul Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten, Sasha, John Digweed, Benny Benassi and many more.
6. Lollapalooza – Chicago, Illinois
August 3rd – 5th
www.lollapalooza.com
The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a three day period in the heart of Chi Town. Lollapalooza has featured a diverse range of bands and has helped expose and popularize artists such as Metallica, Coldplay, Eminem, Depeche Mode, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Primus, The Killers, Rage Against the Machine, Arcade Fire, Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction, MGMT, Ice-T, and Calvin Harris.
5. Electric Zoo – New York City, New York
August 31st – September 2nd
www.madeevent.com/ElectricZoo/
The Electric Zoo is an annual electronic music festival held over Labor Day weekend in New York City on Randall’s Island Park. The festival represents all genres of electronic music, bringing top international DJs and live acts from multiple countries along with hometown favorites to four stages. Time Out New York cited Electric Zoo as the festival that “transforms Randall’s Island into an Ibiza on the East River every Labor Day”, and EDM Lounge called it the “can’t miss festival of 2012.” This three-day festival features artists like Above & Beyond, Benny Benassi, Martin Solvieg, Knife Party, and Skrillex!
4. Hard Summer – Los Angeles, California
August 3rd – August 4th
www.hardfest.com
For the first time in its five year history, HARD Summer will span two days for one blockbuster weekend August 3rd & 4th. Set against the stunning downtown Los Angeles skyline, over fifty bands and DJs will perform on four massive stages. Dance the night away with your fellow music fans from across the globe at the largest event to date from the creators of the HARD Haunted Mansion and HOLY SHIP! Lineup includes Dillon Francis, Bloc Party, Boys Noize, A-Trak, and Nero.
3. Outside Lands – San Fransisco, California
August 10th – August 12th
www.sfoutsidelands.com
A bike valet, wine tasting tent, and local organic food vendors are just a couple of signs that you’re in San Francisco at Outside Lands, a relative newcomer to the large scale music festival scene. That hasn’t stopped mascot Ranger Dave and OL from quickly becoming a signature event in the City on the Bay. The cozy venue of Golden Gate Park allows plenty of options for those of you that need a breather from large crowds. This years lineup features a huge variety of artists such as Metallica, Beck, Justice, MSTRKRFT, and Wolfgang Gartner.
2. Burning Man – Black Rock City, Nevada
August 27th – September 3rd
www.burningman.com
Burning Man is not your typical music festival. It’s about more than just music. Tickets are sold out well ahead of time are a must, because you’re not just a spectator, you become a part of this huge art installation called Black Rock City – a temporary village created by the tents and RV’s of those who come to this huge gathering in the desert. Clothing is optional, but dust is everywhere. Feel free to decorate your car or truck and get lost in this desert oasis for up to 7 days.
1. EDC – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 8th – June 10th
www.electricdaisycarnival.com
Here, pulsating electric beats resonate through your core and an explosion of inventive visual displays heightens your trip. The incredible theatrics, pyrotechnics and art add another dimension to a consistently tight lineup featuring some of the world’s biggest DJs like Armin Van Buuren, Laidback Luke, Tiesto, Avicii and many, many more.
Just Announced!
Three of the biggest and best known entertainment companies in San Diego are joining forces to bring you the ultimate all-day party this Labor Day Weekend. The first annual SoCAL Music Festival will take place on Saturday September 1st in Downtown San Diego’s East Village. The all-day festival will include 4 stages of music, featuring an epic lineup of headlining bands and world class electronic dance music dj’s, as well as interactive art exhibits showcasing the best of Southern California lifestyle. Tickets go on sale tomorrow on www.socalfestival.com at 10am. Get them ASAP before this sells out!
- h0usekitty
