Skipping Coachella? These Are the Next Hot Spring Music Festivals
LatestSpring has sprung, which means it’s time to temporarily cancel your tanning bed membership till November, say goodbye to confusing black ice for rain puddles, and say hello to music festival season! We’re all well aware of the gigantic fests like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Electric Daisy Carnival, but we’re a little more laid back. So if you’re feeling like bucking the daisy crown-wearing crowds, check out these festivals instead.
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Where: Heritage Square (New Orleans, LA)
When: April 25-May 4
Anything with the word “heritage” might sound like a boring history lesson, but this line-up combines legends in music history with modern acts of all genres—way, way beyond just jazz. Artists like Vampire Weekend, Robin Thicke, Christina Aguilera, Alabama Shakes, Chaka Khan, the Avett Brothers, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Trey Songz, Public Enemy and Phish (diversity-yay!) take on 12 stages over the course of a full week in NOLA’s Heritage Square. You’re welcome.
Where: Florida State Fairgrounds (Tampa, FL)
When: May 2-4
In its first year, Big Guava boasts an impressive starting line-up of acts you’d normally find at the bigger fests. But look no further as Outkast, Foster the People, Slightly Stoopid, Tegan and Sara, Girl Talk and Chance the Rapper invade Tampa Bay for this eclectic three-day extravaganza.
Where: Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve (Plano, TX)
When: May 3-4
With SXSW over with in Austin, it’s time to head north, to just outside sister city Dallas, for another first-timer to the festival market. Third Eye Blind, David Guetta, J. Cole, Yelawolf, GTA and more bring the party to the burbs in Plano, Texas with Suburbia. Plus, a two-day general admission ticket is only $99!
Where: Asheville, NC
When: April 23-27
M.I.A, Dillon Francis, Zed’s Dead, Sasha, Nile Rogers and Riff Raff come together for this five-day, electronic-meets-indie utpoia all based on love for the Moog synthesizer.
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia, MD)
When: May 10
To think this event was started by three college students back in 2007. This festival is put on by Sweet Green, an organization that sources local and organic foods. So why not eat healthy while jamming to acts like Fitz & the Tantrums, Lana Del Rey, Bastille, 2 Chainz and Chromeo?
Where: Gulf Shores, AL
When: May 16-18
Wouldn’t it be a dream to have a festival on a beach (literally, in the sand!)? Well, Hang Out makes it a reality with a slew of stages along the Gulf coast and a stacked line-up consisting of The Killers, Amos Lee, Boys Noize, Childish Gambino, Jack Johnson, Gary Clark, Jr., Pretty Lights, Portugal the Man, Zedd, The Bloody Beetroots, Wiz Khalifa and more of a mix of hip-hop, dance, indie, and roots music.
Where: Crew Stadium (Columbus, OH)
When: May 16-18
It’s time to rock out with your—you know the rest. Growing this year to three full days, this fest will be the biggest party in the Midwest. Before it sells out again, you still have a chance to see Avenged Sevenfold, Kid Rock, Slayer, Motorhead and Guns N’ Roses.
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
When: May 24-25
It seems the third year’s a charm for Sunset. With its biggest line-up yet and an expansionto two full days, this is guaranteed to be the biggest rave in Florida during Memorial Day weekend. Megastar electronic acts like Hardwell, Zedd, Benny Benassi and Nicky Romero will bring the beats as this year’s headliners.
Where: Hart Plaza (Detroit, MI)
When: May 24-26
It’ll be hard for an electronic festival to compare to this year’s Movement line-up. Legends such as Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Richie Hawtin and others bring the best in techno and deep house to the middle of the Motor City.
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: June 13-15
Before the humidity gets too bad, country music superstars Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert (don’t all their names sound alike?) will have you two-stepping in your cowboy boots where southern charm meets the Northeast.