If you’re anything like me, then you love a good music festival. Music festivals provide vibes that you just can’t get anywhere else. You can see amazing performances by your favorite artists, big or small. You can discover new artists. You don’t have to worry about assigned seats. So, you can get as close as you want or shall I say as close as you can get. And there’s always good food, weather, and vibes. I also enjoy the scenic installations and all the other cool and interactive activities.
Now, I made the title “My guide” instead of making it the ultimate guide because while I love festivals, I only want to attend the ones that interest me. So, the list of festivals below are mostly hip hop and pop. I’ll put all of these events on the calendar soon, so stay tuned. I’ll also be sure to add more as time goes.
Something in the Water
Where: Virginia Beach, VA
When: April 26-28
Rolling Lound Music Festival
Where: Miami, FL
When: May 10-12
Essence Festival
Where: New Orleans, Louisianna
When: July 4-7
SXSW Music Festival
Where: Austin, TX
When: March 11-17
Why you should go: Along with overlapping festivals for film, interactive, and comedy, SXSW has been a big draw for Austin for decades. The music portion, with countless showcases of emerging and established talent happening all over town at just about every hour, is arguably the most thrilling part of the annual event. Chances are good you’ll find a favorite new act before everyone discovers them a year from now.
Headliners: SXSW doesn’t have headliners, per se, but will have Atlanta indie stalwarts Deerhunter, alt-rock legends Swervedriver and Versus, and, for some reason, Wyclef Jean.
Other acts to check out: The orchestral contemporary folk music of New York City’s Oliver Kalb, aka Bellows, which adorns its sound with electronic elements and eclectic production; and the surf-indie-rock of T-Rextasy, a Brooklyn four-piece boasting liberal-arts-kid lyrics that run like a smart girlish rap about entitled boys and women’s issues.
SXSW Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Where: Indio, CA
When: April 12-14 and April 19-21
Why you should go: At this point, Coachella has become less about the music and more of a social gathering to be seen at. But nevertheless, it’s a huge deal that turns the typically barren desert outside of Los Angeles into the hottest event of the spring. Coachella packs its expansive lineups (and its exclusive party lounges) with the biggest names in music and will be all over your ‘gram whether you want it to or not.
Headliners: Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, and Ariana Grande, with the 1975, Weezer, Kid Cudi, Janelle Monáe, and DJ Idris Elba thrown in for free.
Other acts to check out: The eight-piece indie-pop band Superorganism, which pieces together buzzing and glittery elements out of their London; and the mystical neo-soul of Josiah Wise’s serpentwithfeet, whose angelic voice elevates the beauty of the queer romances he writes about to be something of a higher power.
Hangout Music Festival
Where: Gulf Shores, AL
When: May 16-19
Why you should go: Hailing directly from the Gulf Shore, this pop festival plays right on the beach to make for the perfect introduction to summer. Hangout draws the hottest names across music, especially what’s prevailing in the mainstream so you can kick off the season by dancing under the sun and in the sand to today’s hits.
Headliners: Travis Scott, The Lumineers, Khalid, Vampire Weekend, Cardi B, and Kygo, with The 1975, Hozier and Diplo also on the bill.
Other acts to check out: Label mates and prodigies of the 1975, Manchester’s Pale Waves channel ’80s new wave, while tapping into contemporary production and writing soulful lyrics straight out of your favorite movie that doesn’t exist; and Shame, a gritty, London-based garage-core band which amps up the guitars and the punk attitude.
The Governors Ball Music Festival
Where: New York, NY
When: May 31-June 2
Why you should go: There’s an unwritten consensus in New York that summer doesn’t officially kick off until Governors Ball commences in the city on Randall’s Island. Reflective of its hometown, Gov Ball always has a diverse lineup across all genres, run with a fun-loving attitude, and although in the past several years its lineup has moved into a more pop-focused space with younger audiences in mind, it remains an unapologetically New York experience.
Headliners: Tyler, the Creator; Florence + the Machine; The Strokes; plus the potent sounds of Mitski, Lil Wayne, Nas and SZA make this one hard to top.
Other acts to check out: The nostalgic rock sounds of Sunflower Bean, and you might as well gander at Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard’s four-piece Calpurnia, which offers wistful alt-country and sincere musicianship.
Hot 97 Summer Jam
Lyte Panorama NYC
Where: Randalls park Island
When: TBA
Panorama NYC is a giant rock, pop, electronic and hip-hop music festival in New York City. The biggest artists in the world play in front of one of the globe’s most iconic skylines.
Lineups are always a beauty to behold, and the third edition will keep the energy high as nearly loyal fans show up in their masses each year.
Brought into life by the team behind Coachella, Panorama looks like it has established itself among the stars of NYC’s festival calendar.
The Greatest Day Ever
Where: TBA, NYC
When: TBA
THE GREATEST DAY EVER! FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY ADIDAS ORIGINALS IS BACK THIS SUMMER FOR THE 5TH YEAR WITH INCREDIBLE MUSIC ARTISTS, CARNIVAL RIDES AND SO MUCH MORE!
WHERE CARNIVAL MEETS CROSS-GENRE MUSIC FESTIVAL, THE GREATEST DAY EVER! PROVIDES SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE ONLY DRESS CODE IS TO WEAR A SMILE AND HAVE THE GREATEST DAY POSSIBLE.
Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, IL
When: August 1-4
Why you should go: Possibly one of the main festivals still committed to curating the best of the best on its immense lineup, Lollapalooza is Chicago’s classic summertime bash. Now spanning four days, Lolla never has a dull moment with longtime favorites lighting up Grant Park at night while popular mainstream and buzz-worthy indie artists provide non-stop music throughout the sunny afternoon.
Headliners: TBA
Other acts to check out: TBA