Although Coachella has officially ended, do not fear. It marks the kickoff of festival season and there are so many events to look forward to this summer.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Photo courtesy of Bonnaroo’s official press page.
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival takes place every summer in Manchester, Tennessee. The four-day festival, June 11 to 14, features one of the most impressive music lineups of 2015, with something for every type of music junkie.
Some of the biggest names performing are Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + the Machine, Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, My Morning Jacket, Bassnectar and Alabama Shakes, just to name a few.
General admission tickets for the festival are priced at $324.50, and $1,524.50 f0r VIP tickets. Attendees have the option to camp on-site with tents or RVs, or they can stay at a hotel in Nashville and use Bonnaroo’s shuttle service. Food trucks and the “100 percent waste free Planet Roo Cafe” will be available to keep the festival-goers full and happy.
Free Press Summer Festival
Photo from Free Press Summer Festival’s official Facebook page.
During the weekend of June 6 and 7, Houston, Texas, is going to be beaming with music. The Free Press Summer Festival, located in downtown Houston’s Eleanor Tinsley Park, is one of the biggest music festivals featured in Texas each year.
This summer’s lineup is star-studded, boasting some of the biggest names in EDM, hip-hop and indie music. The headliners include Skrillex, R. Kelly, Weezer, Major Lazer, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, St. Vincent, The Decemberists, and Belle and Sebastian. Other performers are Flume, Chance the Rapper, Tove Lo, Gary Clark Jr., Charli XCX, Flogging Molly, and Welcome to Houston, a Houston rap tribute which debuted at last year’s FPSF. It includes rappers Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Devin the Dude and Mike Jones.
General admission tickets cost $168.50 plus a $25.86 fee, and may be purchased online through the festival’s official website.
The Hangout Music Festival
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
From May 15 to 17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, people from all over will be hanging out on the beach and enjoying plenty of live music. The Hangout Music Festival is known for its unique location right alongside the water, as well as their big name performers.
This year’s lineup features the Foo Fighters, Sam Smith, Zac Brown Band, Beck, Skrillex, My Morning Jacket and Foster the People. Paramore, Major Lazer, Umphrey’s McGee, TV On the Radio, Phantogram and Tove Lo are some of the other musical acts taking the stage that weekend.
Tickets costs $249 for a three-day general admission pass, or $1,099 for a VIP pass, and by the looks of the lineup, it could be worth the money. This festival does not include campgrounds, but offers a shuttle for attendees at an extra fee.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Photo from Jazz Fest’s official multimedia page.
Every April since 1970, New Orleans has been hosting its annual Jazz & Heritage Festival, a celebration of music, cuisine and art. The 10-day cultural festival includes thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople who welcome 400,000 people each year, according to the festival’s official website.
Although its first weekend just ended, music lovers still have the opportunity to attend the second weekend from April 30 to May 3. Tickets are available online or at the gate, priced at $58 until Wednesday and $70 after that.
Weekend Two’s lineup offers a little something for everyone. Major headliners include Elton John, Widespread Panic, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ed Sheeran, T.I., No Doubt, Chicago, Estelle and Galactic featuring Macy Gray.
Jazz Fest will feature multiple stages for musical performances, two large food areas, and craft artisans from around the world demonstrating and selling their products.
Neon Desert Music Festival
Photo from Neon Desert’s official website.
On Memorial Day Weekend, Texans are going to be able to attend a music festival a tad closer to home.
The fifth annual Neon Desert Music Festival will be held in downtown El Paso from May 22 to 24 and, while it may be up-and-coming compared to some of the bigger festivals, this year’s lineup of electronic, indie and hip-hop artists is fairly impressive.
The headliners include rapper J. Cole, Grammy-nominated DJ Kaskade, Passion Pit, Flume and Zoe. Other performers include Cypress Hill, Slightly Stoopid, Girl Talk, G-Eazy, Earl Sweatshirt, Big K.R.I.T., Tokyo Police Club, People Under the Stairs, and many more.
Although this is only Neon Desert’s fifth year, this is not their first star-studded lineup. Last year’s headliners included ZEDD, Wiz Khalifa, MGMT and Capital Cities.
The festival will feature three stages for performers, a silent disco tent where local DJs will perform for concertgoers via headphones, as well as food, beer and wine provided by local vendors and sponsors. Weekend tickets are priced at $119 for general admission and $350 for VIP access, which can be purchased via Neon Desert’s official website.
Wakarusa Music Festival
Wakarusa Music Festival. Photo by Hannah Marvin.
While some other festivals feature more mainstream artists, the Wakarusa Music Festival serves the heady hippie inside of us all. The lineup includes Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Major Lazer, The Roots, Thievery Corporation, STS9, Slightly Stoopid, Young the Giant, Portugal, The Man, Rebelution, Big Gigantic and many more.
The festival takes place June 4 to 7, on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas. Since it is in the middle of nature, on a mountain, on-site camping is really the only way to go. Warning: Wakarusa-goers must be brave enough to bathe in a stream and use a port-a-potty for four days.
This is one of the least expensive festivals with general admission tickets priced at $194, which includes access to camping and parking.
About Nicole Crites
