First and foremost, welcome back spring breakers! Speaking of spring; now that the weather is finally beginning to show signs of warm sunshine and rain instead of snow, let's talk about summer.
We all know the most fun apart about summer, besides the fact that we are once again out of school, is going to music festivals and pretending to be a hippy in the '60s and '70s for a few days. Let's face it; music festivals are the highlight to most people's summer vacation. Well this year, I have made up a list of the top seven music festivals (that aren't yet sold out, and only in America, mind you) I think you should save your money for this summer break.
And the line-up for June-August is:
Bonnaroo (Tennessee)
June 13–16
http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival happens every year and lasts for four days. It is created and produced by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment, and is held at the Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn. The main attraction for the festival is the multiple stages of live music, featuring diverse musical styles. However, the festival began with a primary focus on jam bands and folk rock.
Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance (New York)
July 18–21
http://www.grassrootsfest.org/festival/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=27
This festival began in 1991 and is held every year in July in Trumansburg, NY. Nearly 20,000 people attend this festival every year and stay for the four days it is held. There are usually over 70 musicians, bands and dance troupes on four simultaneously running stages continually throughout the long weekend.
Pitchfork (Chicago)
July 19–21
http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/
The Pitchfork Music Festival is an annual summer music festival organized by Pitchfork Media and held in Union Park in Chicago, Illinois. The festival is normally held for three days towards the end of July. It focuses primarily on artists and bands from alternative rock, rap and hip-hop, electronica and dance music. In addition to music, the Pitchfork Festival also includes food, beverages, art and posters from local, regional and national vendors.
Lollapalooza (Chicago)
Aug. 2 – 4
http://www.lollapalooza.com/festival/
Lolla is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk, rock and hip-hop bands, and dance and comedy performances and craft booths! The festival was created in 1991 by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band, Lollapalooza ran annually until 1997, and was revived in 2003. Lolla didn't debut outside of the USA until 2010.
Outside Lands (San Francisco)
Aug. 9 – 11
http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/
The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is a music festival held every year in San Francisco, California, at Golden Gate Park. The first time this festival launched was in August of 2008 and it included over 60 musical acts from around the world. Bringing in 40,000 to 60,000 attendees a day, the festival is always rowdy and always fun.
The Burning Man (Nevada)
Aug. 26 – Sept. 2
http://burningman.org/
The Burning Man is a weeklong annual event that began in San Francisco's Baker Beach in 1986 and migrated to the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy, which is set alight on Saturday evening. The festival is described as an experiment in community, art, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance.
Bumbershoot (Seattle)
Aug. 31 – Sept. 2
http://bumbershoot.org/
The Bumbershoot Festival happens every year in Seattle, Wash. It is one of North America's largest festivals. The festivals takes place every Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center.
Whatever you decide to do with your summer, one of these festivals should make the list. For only a couple hundred dollars you get a few days to go completely wild and entirely free; it is 100 percent worth it.
