In these recent events of good ole Southern snow-mageddon, let's look forward, toward a warmer, happier time that is Summer, and all the music festivals that go along with that wonderful season.
1. VANS WARPED TOUR
Vans Warped Tour is home to more hardcore metal musicians and "off the wall" bands (with a little indie and acoustics mixed in). If you listen to bands like Escape The Fate, Asking Alexandria, and Pierce the Veil, you should consider looking at Vans' 2016 tour dates to find a show near you! So, what does Warped Tour have to offer? Besides the bands, Warped Tour offers non-profit organizations the opportunity to be heard. For example, the non-profit To Write Love On Her Arms, or TWLOHA for short, raises awareness of mental health problems like depression and suicide. TWLOHA discusses ways to approach these issues and strategies that can help those dealing with such challenges. This year, Warped Tour scheduled our beloved southern tour dates at the beginning of the summer, so be ready to snag a couple of tickets when they go on sale!
Warped is a traveling music festival that aims to give people in the country a chance to see their favorite bands at least once. Waiting until March to find out which bands are performing is kind of a bummer, but once that information is public, ticket prices feel like chump change relative to other festivals that are more costly.
Just like all festivals, there needs to be something to do besides listening to music (how ironic). Every Year Truth, an organization dedicated to showing the real consequences of using tobacco, throws parties and holds competitions to keep festival-goers entertained when they're not seeing their favorite band.
I've been going to this festival since I was 16, and I still appreciate it. The people are friendly and sometimes you get a chance to meet some of your favorite bands. I'll be attending the Nashville and Atlanta shows this year (because one day just isn't enough!).
Links to Vans social media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/officialwarpedtour
Website: http://vanswarpedtour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warpedtour
2.BONNAROO
If you lived in or near Tennessee like me ( I live about 1 hour away from the grounds), you know all about Bonnaroo and how it is a huge deal for people in our state. Manchester, Tennessee, is home to this gigantic world that is Bonnaroo. From my own experience as well as the experiences of those I know, going to Bonnaroo for a couple days completely changes you. It's kind of like traveling through some alternate universe. Luckily, the 2016 Lineup is available on the Bonnaroo website, and it looks pretty awesome and full of variety! The headliners this year include Pearl Jam, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and M83.
If you're considering attending Bonaroo for the entire four days of the festival, be prepared to dish out a couple hundred dollars for A) the shows themselves, B) your lodging (RVs or camping tents), and C) food, art, and whatever else you'll need. Seriously, this festival takes time to prepare for, but there's still plenty of time to get ready! June 9th is the first, and the cleanest, day of Bonnaroo.
Tickets are on sale now!
Links to Bonnaroo social media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bonnaroo365
Website: http://www.bonnaroo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnaroo
3.SHAKY KNEES FESTIVAL
Shaky Knees, to me, is a mixture of what everyone wants a rock festival to be. As it is located right in the heart of Atlanta, you know this is a festival where you'll party, have food in your belly, and sweat--all at the same time. Shaky Knees houses five different stages, which keeps the lineups diverse. For the people of Georgia, this festival is on par with Bonnaroo with respect to the number of people who attend. The chaos begins on May 13th and goes through May 15th. The Early Bird tickets have sold out, so the possibility of paying a cheap penny is starting to slip away, but the Single Day tickets are still available!
The General Admission tickets to Shaky Knees are as good as the VIP and higher-costing ones. These tickets include access to the music shows (of course!), food court, art market, and more.
The lineup for this year has been announced and includes bands like Florence + The Machine, Deftones, My Morning Jacket, and Jane's Addiction. The best part of this festival, aside from music, is the food. Shaky Knees's food court gives local restaurants a little publicity and also feeds attendees' needs while they're out in the summer sun.
Shaky's social sites:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakykneesfest/
Website: http://www.shakykneesfestival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shakykneesfest
4. HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL
Last, but not least: Alabama's Hangout Fest! Like many festivals, The Hangout is a three-day festival that goes from 11 AM to 11 PM each day, which allows 12 waking hours to explore all there is. The one thing that makes this Gulf Shores festival unique? Its wedding chapel! Yes, with a couple beers in your system, this is a logical necessity. Luckily, the festival enforces drinking laws--you need to be 18 or older to attend--and is aimed at a more mature audience. Judging from the lineup, I believe this year will be the Hangout's best year yet! The headliners for 2016 include The Weekend, Calvin Harris, Lenny Kravitz, and Fetty Wap.
Hangout's General Admissions tickets are expensive, but at a wapping $249, you basically get re-entry to the festival during all three days. So, for all of us UNA students, we can go one day, come back and sleep, then rinse and repeat without paying, as long as your wristband is glued to you at all times. The prices, sadly, won't stay this cheap! They will be jacked up to $269 at the beginning of February.
My advice? Don't lose your wristband!
Hangout's social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hangoutfest/
Website: http://www.hangoutmusicfest.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hangoutmusic
