10 Epic Music Festivals Happening This Summer
May 28, 2015
When: May 23-25
Where: George, WA
Who: St.Vincent, MO, Future Islands, Kendrick Lamar, Sleater-Kinney
Vibe: Although the lineup rivals every other major festival, this one has an amazing bonus: killer scenery, set amidst the mountains in Gorge Amphitheater. Just when you thought the music couldn’t get any better…
When: May 28th-30th
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Who: Patti Smith, Sleater-Kinney, the Replacements, the Strokes, Tyler, the Creator, the Julie Ruin, Tobias Jesso Jr.
Vibe: For its 15th anniversary celebration, the festival — which takes place right in Barcelona — is pulling out all the stops with an amazing lineup and plenty of surprises. If you’ve ever been dying to visit Spain, now’s your chance.
When: June 5-7
Where: Governors Island, NY
Who: Drake, Chromeo, Charli XCX, Florence & The Machine, The Black Keys, Lana Del Rey
Vibe: It’s filled with all the best artists, set on an island right in the middle of NYC. Plus, the food truck situation is amazing for those who want to snack between sets.
When: June 8th-14th
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Who: Best Coast, Sleigh Bells, Zola Jesus, Run The Jewels, Ryan Hemsworth
Vibe: Not only does Northside take place right in Williamsburg — in venues and on the streets — it offers plenty of pop-up shows that anyone can attend for free.
When: June 11th-14th
Where: Manchester, Tennessee
Who: Tove Lo, Florence & The Machine, Flying Lotus, Gary Clark Jr.
Vibe: As the country’s largest music festival, Bonnaroo features 125 separate acts. Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty, either — festivalgoers party and camp out on the muddy Manchester grounds.
When: June 18th-21th
Where: Dover, Delaware
Who: Charlie XCX, Morrissey, Odesza, Modest Mouse, Zola Jesus, the Killers, Hozier, Snoop Dogg, Zedd
Vibe: It’s only three years old, but already the Firefly Festival has won a major crowd thanks to its gorgeous forest setting, outdoor camping, and impressive lineup. Plus, the Killers!
Pitchfork Music Festival
When: July 17th-19th
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Who: Chance the Rapper, Wilco, Chvrches, Future Islands, Mac DeMarco
Vibe: The event’s got a great lineup — that’s a given — but Pitchfork is known for catering to a chiller crowd than your typical music festivalgoers. So if you want a (slightly) more mellowed-out experience, here you go.
Lollapalooza
When: July 31st-August 2nd
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Who: Sam Smith, Kid Cudi, TV On The Radio, Tame Impala, The Weeknd
Vibe: Then, on the other end of the Chicago spectrum, there’s Lollapalooza. This field festival has long boasted major acts, and this year is no exception.
When: July 24th-26th
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Who: First Aid Kit, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Houndsmouth, Tallest Man On Earth
Vibe: Strummy folk music in this seaside town makes this festival the ultimate low-key getaway.
When: June 24th-28th
Where: Somerset, England
Who: FKA Twigs, Kanye West, Pharrell, Patti Smith, The Vaccines
Vibe: If Coachella is where Hollywood starlets go to be seen, the Glastonbury is where It girls from England and all over the world flock to rock out in Hunter wellies (the grounds are notoriously muddy). Same high fashion klout, yet way more laid-back.
Big-name festivals like Coachella, SXSW, and Ultra have already come and gone, but don’t worry — music festival season is definitely not over yet. In fact, it’s only getting started. Whether you’re dying to see HAIM, Lorde, Kanye, FKA Twigs, or any of the other headline-worthy artists, there are more than enough chances to do so.
The real question, though, is would you rather rock out to them in a field, surrounded by mountains, in the woods, or on a crowded street in Brooklyn? Given all of the amazing locations, you can totally choose your own adventure. We’ve scoured the internet and rounded up our top 10 music festivals still happening this summer, from Delaware to Spain and everywhere in between.
Check out the gallery to see the best 10 festivals you can’t miss out on (click the “i” icon for more details). Then, buy your tickets now… before they’re going, going, gone.