Spring is the unofficial, official start of the music festival season (didn’t you know?), so you likely have already seen
playlists touting the jams of this year’s headliners, along with the
outrageous price tags some events are generous enough to offer. But, we know the desire to refresh your
Spotify playlists is strong and a
spring break splurge on a mini music getaway may be the perfect escape right now. The next question is, how do you choose which festival is the right one for you? Keep reading – we’ll tell you which 4 festivals are worth the ticket and which 4 we’ll leave to the crowd who still enjoys dressing up in fur and wearing glow-in-the-dark body paint (no offense if that‘s still your definition of a good time).
4 Music Festivals that are Worth the Trip
1. Beale Street Music Festival: May 1st – 3rd, 2015
Don’t want to shell out a few hundred bucks to listen to tunes that all sound the same? Beale Street Music Festival may be the scene for you.
Recognized by Fuse as continually hosting an eclectic range of artists, this festival is perfect if you want a little taste of everything. Plus, what better backdrop to watch Lenny Kravitz, John Fogerty, Rise Against, and The Avett Brothers than the Mississippi River. If Memphis was good enough for Elvis, it’s definitely good enough for us!
2. Lightning In a Bottle: May 21st – 25th, 2015
While LIB may seem a bit too “granola” for some, the yoga workshops, Learning Kitchen and family friendly atmosphere give this music festival a little something extra. Pack up the family, grab a camping space in the Family Camp and rock out to this
year’s LIB lineup. No kids, no problem, the festival has experiences and music for all ages to enjoy.
3. BottleRock: May 29th – 31st, 2015
While doing shot after shot of cheap booze has its place (probably your college years), quality wine and beer sound right up our alley. If you’d rather swap a shot glass for a pint glass, check out Napa’s BottleRock. Bonus – ditch the uncomfy tent of festivals past for a good night’s rest at one of the area’s B&B’s – you’ll need to feel refreshed as you stand before wine-barrel speakers pumping out Imagine Dragons, Robert Plant, Passion Pit, and AWOLNATION (see the
full lineup for BottleRock).
4. Kaaboo: September 18th – 20th, 2015
Kaaboo is making its debut this year with No Doubt, The Killers, Zac Brown Band, Snoop Dogg, Foster the People and 311 (among a ton more) making appearances. Kaaboo doesn’t call itself a “festival”; instead, this “Mix-Perience” event is creating hype around its art and comedy acts as well as being a comfortable, good time that ditches dusty camping and unmaintained porta-potties (ick) for an “adult escape.” If the designer toilets in their Instagram below are any indication of what to expect, we’re already sold.
4 Music Festivals to Ditch
1. Coachella: April 10th -12th & April 17th – 19th
Camping is fun – when you want to be camping. When you want to be clean, smelling good and listening to great music, it’s just kind of…dusty. While donning a handmade flower crown and walking in the desert barefoot was a blast a few years ago, Coachella’s notorious dwindling of quality line ups and the re-sale ticket you’d have to mortgage your home for, definitely don’t make this festival worth it.
2. Bonnaroo: June 11th – 14th, 2015
If hundred degree temps coupled with attendees experimenting for the first time with an array of narcotics doesn’t sound like your cup ‘o tea, you may have outgrown Bonnaroo. Frolicking ankle-deep in foreign mud-matter was a blast at one point (maybe), but now it seems a little unsanitary. Just crank up some Bassnectar or Alabama Shakes in your living room and challenge yourself to stay awake for four days straight instead, if you still have the urge.
3. Warped Tour: June 15th – August 4th
The dates alone should give you the hint – Warped Tour is more of a music tour than festival, although it gets grouped in with all of the music festivals. While you may remember the Warped Tour fondly from your concert-goings of years ago, this one is better left for your kids to attend in a few years – maybe you can even go as the chaperon. The event offers a complimentary ticket to parents of kids under 18 and you’re allowed to hangout in the “Reverse Daycare Tent” – kept air-conditioned for the parentals (did that make you feel old? Sorry dude.).
4. EDC Las Vegas: June 19th – 21st
Vegas is hot – like really hot. You know what makes it hotter? Furry leg warmers and tutus, which, for some reason, seem to be the EDC dress code. If you make the trip to Vegas, stay at the tables, look up a (air-conditioned) casino-show and leave the lines and over-crowded shuttle buses to the youngsters.
Do you have any epic (or regrettable) festival memories? Events you’ll be back to no matter where or when they’re hosted?
Tweet us which events we can’t miss and why! And, if you’re not quite ready to head out into the festival scene, bring the music to you by streaming the playlist below on your HEOS speakers – you’ll get a feeling of a robust sound stage without all of the crowds.
