Summer is upon us, and while that used to mean camp, time off from school and ice cream (okay, that can still be a part of your life no matter how old you may be), for the coolest adults, this season means music festivals. Sure, there are musical options all year round depending on where you live, but this is the time of year that has become known for supplying the best outdoor live events, and even if you don’t think of yourself as a “music festival person,” we highly suggest you make your way to one before fall sets in and the leaves turn.
If you’re not sure where to begin looking for a festival to make your way to — there are literally hundreds of choices, so we understand how it can be intimidating — here are eight all across North America that are worth not only the price of admission, but also the cost of a flight and a hotel. Music festivals can be life-changing experiences, and if you’re just getting started in this field, these could quickly turn you into an annual attendee, and they double as the perfect summer getaway.
Bunbury Music Festival
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Dates: June 2-4
Cost: $79 and up
Headliners: Wiz Khalifa, Muse, Death Cab For Cutie, The 1975
Cincinnati, OH isn’t exactly the kind of place you’d be excited to book a flight to, as it doesn’t scream “vacation destination,” even though you’ve heard of the city. Having said that, the town can surprise you, and there is more to do in Cincinnati than its reputation would have you believe. Now, if only there was an excuse to go there for something special, and then you could spend your free time wandering the city…
Bunbury has been one of the best music festivals in America for a few years now, though it has never received the love it deserves. The lineup is large enough to ensure there will never be too quiet a moment, and yet it isn’t too busy.
Free Press Summer Fest
Location: Houston, TX
Dates: June 3 & 4
Cost: $148 and up
Headliners: Lorde, Flume, G-Eazy, Solange
Festivals like Free Press have always been some of my favorites, as they take place inside cities, as opposed to nearby. Camping out in a field somewhere is fun and all, and it certainly has its time and place, but there is nothing like being able to leave a festival after a long day of dancing and partying and quickly make it back to the hotel for a shower and some much-deserved sleep...or perhaps to a local bar to keep the fun going. Urban festivals like the highly regarded Free Press allow for such freedoms, while with other options, sometimes you’re stuck. Also, how can you not love something with the name "Free Press" in 2017 America?
Field Trip
Location: Toronto, ON
Dates: June 3 & 4
Cost: $80 and up
Headliners: Phoenix, Broken Social Scene, Feist
Originally started as a celebration of the Toronto-based record label Arts & Crafts just a few years ago, Field Trip has quickly taken on a life of its own. Those who know Arts & Crafts likely won’t need much additional selling to be convinced to buy a ticket, as the label is one of the coolest and most respected in the music business, but if you aren’t familiar with that company’s roster, just look at the bands playing this event. Thundercat, Joseph, James Vincent McMorrow and Hannah Georgas are all some of the best names those in the know are listening to now, and they’re all set to take to the stage in Toronto for this party.
Northside Festival
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Dates: June 7-11
Cost: $75
Headliners: Dirty Projectors, Miguel, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Described as the Northeast’s SXSW, Northside perfectly blends going to see a brand new band at night, partying the night away and then attending thought-provoking, potentially career-advancing panels throughout the day.
Northside isn’t as massive or as heavily branded as its Austin brother, but it is worth a quick trip. The event, which takes place in Brooklyn, is even cooler than SXSW, which isn’t too difficult considering its location. If you really want to be on the cutting edge of what is happening in the uber-cool world of hipster bedroom music, Northside is where you’ll find it, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a single name you already know going into the experience.
Warped Tour
Location: All across America
Dates: June 16 - August 6
Cost: $43 and up
Headliners: American Authors, Hawthorne Heights, Plain White T’s
Whenever I say the phrase “Warped Tour,” I always see people’s eyes light up, as they remember the festival from when they were younger. The nostalgia factor is real with this event, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still kicking butt! Some of its previous patrons may have moved on, but Warped Tour has never stopped rocking, and these days it perfectly blends names that millennials will remember from their formative years with those that are up-and-coming now.
Warped is a vastly different and perfect live music experience in at least one way — as every band is only allotted a short set time, allowing every attendee to go home having seen many different acts at the end of the day. Headliner or not, the set lengths are the same, so you never need to stand in one place for hours waiting to hear the one song you came for.
Summerfest
Location: Milwaukee, MN
Dates: June 28 - July 9
Cost: $20 and up
Headliners: Pink, The Chainsmokers, Chris Stapleton, Future
Without anybody realizing it (except the hundreds of people who make this lengthy event take place every year), Summerfest became America’s largest music festival years ago, and while it doesn’t grab headlines like other brands, it is the best bet when it comes to seeing the most music and getting the biggest bang for your buck.
Milwaukee's Summerfest sells general admission tickets for just $20 (yes, that’s right, just a twenty dollar bill will get you in), and with that pass, you can see about 85% of all the bands on the extensive lineup. You will need to pay extra to catch the headlining name every night (typically priced at what a normal pass to one of those artist's shows would run you any other day), and it lets you see a handful of top-tier acts. Don’t worry if you only have limited funds though—the cheap tix are still a steal.
Montreal Jazz Festival
Location: Montreal, QC
Dates: June 28 - July 8
Cost: around $100
Headliners: Buddy Guy, Melissa Etheridge, Feist, Joey Bada$$
Believe it or not, the world’s largest jazz festival is in Montreal, Canada, and it’s just waiting for you to visit. Jazz has ridden the roller coaster of being cool to fading away to returning in a surprising way over the decades, and now the genre is on its way back up thanks to other genres incorporating jazzy sounds.
Thankfully, in an effort to expand people’s minds musically and the genre itself, the Montreal Jazz Festival festival accepts all manner of artists, and the term “jazz” is used loosely here, as is evidenced by the list of acts playing.
Essence Music Festival
Location: New Orleans, LA
Dates: June 29 - July 2
Cost: $60 and up
Headliners: Diana Ross, Chance The Rapper, John Legend, Mary J. Blige
Put on by the magazine of the same name, both the publication and its namesake festival are aimed at African-American audiences, though don’t think for a minute that this event isn’t for every fan of great music out there. The Essence Music Festival has been going for years now, and with every passing staging, the grounds grow larger and more is added to the weekend-long party.
Now, in addition to listening to dozens of performers, attendees can hear “our nation’s greatest minds and talent deliver inspiration that will help us build a better future for ourselves and our community,” according to the festival’s website. Can you think of something more appropriate or better for the American people in these difficult times than a musical event that aims to empower and educate as well?
See what else made our Top 8 by visiting its official page.
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