It’s undeniable: Summertime is music festival time.
Unthinkable, but according to reports by the Associated Press, throughout the 1990s, summer music festivals were not nearly as popular as they are today. At the turn of the century, festival venues began to sprout up across the United States. Music festival attendance has spiked in recent years and they cater to every musical taste and genre. Sometimes it seems like there are just too many concerts to count!
Rather than letting you get your festival flower crown in a tizzy, HCND decided to come to the rescue with this handy survival guide for intrepid festival goers. Here are the fast facts, the headliners, and the most-sees of five major festivals taking place around the US this summer:
1. Lollapalloza
History: One of the grandaddys of modern music festivals, “Lolla” was founded in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band. After a brief hiatus from 1997 to 2002, the festival was resurrected in 2003.
Dates/Location: Lollapalooza takes place August 1st-3rd in Chicago’s Grant Park. Click to see the 2014 lineup here.
Major Headliners: Eminem, Outkast, Lorde, Calvin Harris
Gotta see ’em: Childish Gambino, Iggy Azalea, Cage the Elephant, Chance the Rapper
Hidden gems: Smallpools, Vance Joy, Flume, NONONO, Bomba Estereo
2. Bonnarro Music and Arts Festival
History: According to Wikipedia, “Bonnaroo” is a slang term from New Orleans meaning “a really good time.” It first took place in 2002, and in 2003 was named one of the top 50 moments in rock’n’roll by Rolling Stone. Bonnaroo was originally intended for folk and jam bands, but today features a huge variety of artists.
Dates/Location: Bonnaroo takes place June 12th-15th in Manchester, Tennessee. Click to see the 2014 lineup here.
Major Headliners: Elton John, Kanye West, Jack White, Lionel Ritchie, Vampire Weekend, Frank Ocean
Oldies but Goodies: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Slightly Stoopid, Dierks Bentley
Check ‘em out: Jake Bugg, Naked and Famous, The Weeks, Valerie June, MS MR(Really, Bonnaroo just has waaay too many artists to list. Depending on your favorite genre of music, there’s something for everyone.)
3. Firefly Music Festival
History: Billed as the “East Coast’s Premier Music Experience,” Firefly was first held in 2012. Firefly is held at the Woodlands of Dover International Speedway, and features acts on seven stages: The Porch Stage, The Lawn Stage, The Backyard Stage, the Big Break Stage, The Forest Stage, and The Firefly Stage.
Dates/Location: Firefly takes place June 19th-22nd in Dover, Delaware. Click to see the lineup here.
Headliners: Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Jack Johnson, The Lumineers
Must See: Tegan and Sara, Sleigh Bells, Martin Garrix
Take a Chance On: The Weeks, Sleeper Agent, The Colourist
4. Pitchfork Music Festival
History: A smaller festival, Pitchfork began in 2005 to showcase bands in alternative rock, rap, and dance music. The festival hosts a record fair with a local Chicago radio station, as well as other food and craft venues.
Location: Pitchfork is held July 18th-July 20th in Union Park, Chicago.
Headliners: Beck, Kendrick Lamar, Neutral Milk Hotel
Rap Gods: Earl Sweatshirt, Schoolboy Q, Pusha T
Try It, You’ll Like It: St. Vincent, Sharon Von Etten, Kelela
5. Electric Daisy Carnival- Las Vegas
History: According to Wikipedia, the first Electric Daisy Carnival was held at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California. It is the world’s largest showcase of electronic dance music, “EDM.” The Electric Daisy Carnival takes place in numerous locations around the country, and has a focus on visual experiences like lighting effects, and an eclectic taste in fashion.
Dates/Location: Electronic Daisy Carnival is held June 20th-24th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Click to see a lineup here.
Big Names: Calvin Harris, Eric Prydz, Krewella
EMD it Up With: Bingo Players, Cedric Gervais, DJ Snake, Steve Aoki
So there you have it, collegiettes! Pick a concert near you and get ready to jam this summer. Peace (love, and rock’n’roll) out.
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