The USA is MASSIVE. Seriously massive. It’s a country full of diversity, which is reflected in their music scene. They’ve got a variety of incredible festivals just waiting to be attended.
Whether you’re a bit of a celebrity-spotting fashionista, into your hard-core punk or like to keep things pretty chilled, the USA is guaranteed to satisfy your musical penchant, whatever it is!
Not only that, the freshest new talent and undiscovered gems are often found at festivals, especially in the States – that’s the best bit about them.
So hop across the pond, put your dancing shoes on and keep your ears out for the next big thing in music!
Let’s get stuck into some of the AWESOME festivals the USA has to offer…
The Obvious Choices…
Coachella
When: April
Where: Indio, California
Why you should go: If it is your first time in the USA and you want to experience just one festival, it has to be. Coachella. Taking place in the middle of the desert, Coachella is one of the first to kick off the summer festival season. If you truly believe fashion and music go hand in hand then get yourself to Coachella next year. Basically, anyone who is anyone will be there.
Bonnaroo
When: June
Where: Manchester, Tennessee
Why you should go: Bonnaroo is hard-core! Don’t say we didn’t warn you. It’s known to be one of the greatest camping experiences in the world and the line-up never disappoints. Be careful of that Tennessee heat though!
Lollapalooza
When: August
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why you should go: This is one of the best things to do in Chicago during summer, and you don’t have to get all dressed up for this one. Lollapalooza is known to be chilled out yet at the same time being super organised. When a storm shutdown the festival over one of the days, sets were quickly rescheduled and the show went on. Nice work Lollapalooza crew!
South By Southwest (SXSW)
When: March 9th – 18th
Where: Austin, Texas
Why you should go: This is THE festival for discovering raw talent. Hop around bars and venues around Austin and rub shoulders with music industry folk as they look for their next big act to sign. It’s not just future stars though, you’ll also catch big names gracing the stages.
The Less Obvious Choices…
The Governors Ball Festival
When: June
Where: Randall’s Island Park, New York City
Why you should go: Governors Ball is one of the coolest festivals out there. So cool in fact, that you might find yourself stood next to a big time celebrity while waiting for the next band to perform! The benefit of Governors Ball (or negative, however you look at it!) is that there’s no camping involved, everyone stays in hostels and hotels. So the hangover the next morning won’t hurt as much as it would waking up on a field. You can also combine a trip with NYC sightseeing.
Hangout Music Festival
When: May
Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Why you should go: The beautiful beaches of the Gulf Shores should be enough to sway it for you. It’s not your typical setting for a festival, but it still manages to bring in the big names to the line-up. It’s a super chilled atmosphere too – Hangout by name, hangout by nature!
Boston Calling
When: May
Where: As the name suggests, Boston
Why you should go: Look at the 2016 highlights above, so diverse! Boston Calling has something for everyone. It’s a relatively new festival, debuting in 2013 so the line-up is bound to keep on getting stronger and stronger.
Pitchfork Festival
When: July
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why you should go: If you don’t manage to get tickets to Lollapalooza then Pitchfork Festival is a good back up if you’re heading to Chicago. The line-up is always diverse, showcasing acts from alternative rock to hard-core punk.
