11 Can’t Miss Music Festivals in 2016
Festival season is coming up fast, and if you’re a music fan, you’re going to want to get on some of these. There are festivals all across the United States that cater to every taste and style of music. Here are eleven big hitters you won’t want to miss!
Bonnaroo
For four days,
Great Stage Park, Tennessee hosts the long-running Bonnaroo Music Festival. This year’s lineup includes
Pearl Jam, LCD Soundsysem, J. Cole, Jason Isbell, Band of Horses, Lamb of God, Clutch, Third Eye Blind, and dozens more. Since its inception in 2002, Bonnaroo has been one of the premier North American music festivals. Running from June 9th to the 12th and featuring two stages, three music tents, and a comedy tent, Bonnaroo has something for everyone. The lineup on the website is huge, and more are still to be announced. www.bonnaroo.com
Firefly Music Festival
Firefly is one of the newer festivals on the East Coast, but it’s quickly become a heavy-hitter. Dozens of bands take over Dover, Deleware from June 16th-19th, including Mumford and Sons, Blink-182, Kings of Leon, Deadmau5, Chvrches, Of Monsters and Men, Pepper, Florence + the Machine, Earth Wind and Fire, and Death Cab for Cutie. The full lineup is an eclectic collection of music, and is partnered with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery to bring delicious beer to the festivities. Other attractions at Firefly Music Festival include a hammock hangout, an outdoor bazaar, and a silent disco. https://fireflyfestival.com
Okeechobee Music Festival
Coming up on March 4th, the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of music, art, and vibes. The lineup includes Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Skrillex, Ween, Grace Potter, Dr. Dog, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and many, many more. The festival is packed with stages, vendors, food trucks, beach swimming, and the very zen Yogachobee spot. See the full lineup, amenities, and experience athttp://okeechobeefest.com
Ultra Music Festival
For three days in March, downtown Miami plays host to one of the greatest electronic music festivals in the world. The festival has been happening since 1999, and this year’s lineup is massive. Names include a reunited Pendulum, Caribou, Avicii, Dubfire, Afrojack, The Prodigy, and deadmau5, as well as many others to fill out the three stages. Ultra Music Festival is three days of epic music and partying in South Florida. What could be better? https://ultramusicfestival.com
CMA Music Festival
It’s fitting that Nashville, the country music capital of the world, should play host to the biggest festival in country. The four day event has a long history, starting in 1972 as Fan Fair and growing into the massive event that it is today. Attendance has exceeding 250,000 in the past, and tickets have already sold out for the stadium, despite the lineup still being under wraps. Whoever ends up playing, the event is sure to be filled with some serious star power; the CMA Music Festival has been drawing of 400 artists in recent years, as well as audiences from all fifty states, as well as forty-one other nations. June 9th-12th, Nashville. http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival/
RockFest
Coming to Kansas City, MO for one day, May 14th, RockFest is here to kick ass, take names, and melt faces. The two main stages will be graced by bands like Seether, Disturbed, Ghost, Hellyeah, SiXX AM, and Trivium, while a third stage showcase local and unsigned talent that’s just as hard-hitting as the fifteen headliners. Sponsored by local radio station 98.9 The Rock, this is the largest single-day music festival in North America.http://www.rockfestkc.com/
Roots Picnic
This is the ninth annual Roots Picnic, on June Fourth in Philadelphia. The Roots are playing, of course, as is Usher, who will be backed by The Roots for this very cool festival. Other artists include Future, Swizz Beatz, Blood Orange, Willow Smith, and Everyday People. The full roster features 24 great artists and bands, all playing on the Festival Pier on the Delaware River. http://rootspicnic.com/
Telluride Blues and Brews Festival
The 23rd annual Blues and Brews festival in Telluride, Colorado takes place from September 16th-18th and features music, dancing, yoga, events for kids, art galleries, and, of course, some of the best craft beer on the planet. The lineup hasn’t been released yet, but previous years of the festival have played hosts to the likes of ZZ Top, Gregg Allman, The blind Boys of Alabama, Buddy Guy, the Violent Femmes, and George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. There’s also the Telluride Blues Challenge and the Sunset Blues Concert, as well as the Grand Tasting for all the hop-heads out there.http://www.tellurideblues.com
Electric Forrest
Held in Rothbury, Michigan, the Electric Forrest is an eclectic music wonderland that features dozens of acts, DJs, and artists. Some of the big names this year are The String Cheese Incident (playing three shows!), Bassnectar, Major Lazer, STS9, Griz, the Disco Biscuits, and dozens more. For when the music gets to be too much, there’s a water park nearby that operates a shuttle, so you can take a break from jamming out to cool off, shower off, and come back refreshed and ready for the night.http://www.electricforestfestival.com
The Peach Music Festival
If you love jam bands, you can’t miss The Peach. The festival takes place from August 11th-14th in Scanton, PA, and features a great set of bands and musicians, like Gregg Allman, Trey Anastasio, The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, two sets from moe., The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Dark Star Orchestra, and many more.http://thepeachmusicfestival.com/