With summer almost at our fingertips, it’s time to start planning your personal summer music series. You’ll get more bang for your music buck, though, if you opt for a festival rather than a handful of individual concerts.
With ASU students spread out across the country, there’s something for everyone in every area of the U.S.
Here are nine of the biggest, best summer music festivals that shouldn’t be missed:
9. Lilith Fair, a traveling festival with a lineup exclusively comprised of female artists, is making its comeback this year after a long break. The tour, conceptualized by Sarah McLachlan, will be stopping in Phoenix on July 8 at Cricket Wireless Pavilion.
8. Camp Bisco, a festival annually headlined by The Disco Biscuits, will be held from July 15-17 at the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, New York. Artists include LCD Soundsystem, Pretty Lights, Thievery Corporation, Caribou and a performance by Girl Talk that is not to be missed. While camping is part of the event, Camp Bisco also features a color war competition that lasts throughout the weekend.
7. Nateva Music and Camping Festival is in Oxford, Maine from July 2-4. Featured acts include The Flaming Lips, STS9, Grizzly Bear, Umphrey’s McGee and the new band Further, featuring Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Nateva even does things Grateful Dead-style by making a special section in the crowds just for audio tapers.
6. Outside Lands Festival will be held in San Francisco, California in August (dates have yet to be announced). Last year the festival featured an eco village, a wine tasting tent, a Garnier Fructis salon and pitching and batting cages. Musical acts in 2009 included Pearl Jam, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, Jason Mraz, M.I.A., Tenacious D and Modest Mouse, so the expectations are high for the quality of this year’s lineup.
5. Sasquatch Music Festival takes place at The Gorge in George, Washington, undeniably one of the best music venues in the country. Sasquatch features 43 musical acts, including My Morning Jacket, The National, Pavement, Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers and Ween. The festival spans Memorial Day weekend and camping is part of the event.
4. HullabaLOU Music Festival is a new festival from July 23-25 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The lineup is unbelievable, has something for everyone and is truly one to be matched. The artist roster includes Bon Jovi, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Al Green, Taj Mahal and Ben Folds.
3. The Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival takes place on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama from May 14-16. The Hangout features John Legend, Guster, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Matisyahu, Ozomatli and Brett Dennen.
2. Mile High Music Festival will be in Commerce City, Colorado at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 14 and 15. The festival features Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews Band, Steve Miller Band, Weezer, Keane and Train.
1. Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Great Britain is a great attraction for those who will be in Europe for the summer. The festival, which will be held June 23-27, includes a dance village, a theatre and circus, tipi villages, a pop and politics tent, late night bars and cafes, a cinema tent and art installations. The artist roster includes Broken Bells, Dirty Projectors, Mos Def, The Black Keys, La Roux, Florence and the Machine, Kate Nash, Slash, Shakira, U2, Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson. A killer lineup like that is pretty irresistible. Since the hype for Glastonbury is huge, the event is already sold out, so it might be necessary to buy tickets secondhand.
While Lenni’s jamming, you can reach her at lenni.rosenblum@asu.edu
