East Coast Music Festivals That Should Be Added To Every Music Lover’s Bucketlist
Are you a music enthusiast and avid festival-goer who lives on the East Coast? Or, are you a music enthusiast who wants to be a festival-goer but doesn’t know where to begin? Then look no further: This is your ultimate guide to finding the hottest music festivals — ranging from country to EDM and everything in between — all across the Atlantic coast.
Boston Calling
Genre: Multi-genre, mostly alternative
Location: Boston, MA
Dates: May 24 - 26, 2024
Boston Calling is a three-day, mixed-genre music festival in Boston, Massachusetts. Previous lineups included alternative artists like The Nationals, Alanis Morisette, The Lumineers, Foo Fighters, Paramore, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Glass Animals, Clairo and Hozier. They also have had DJs and pop artists like Fletcher, Marina and The Diamonds and ODESZA.
Jingle Ball
Genre: Pop
Locations: Tampa, FL; New York; Boston, MA; Washington D.C.; Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA; and Miami, FL
Dates: November 26 - December 16, 2023
Hosted by iHeartRadio, Jingle Ball is a traveling holiday festival that showcases this year’s top artists performing their number-one hits. This year’s lineup includes icons like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Big Time Rush, SZA, David Kushner and Melanie Martinez. Although the event is considered a festival, seating is similar to a typical concert instead of multiple stages and GA passes.
Elements
Genre: EDM
Location: Long Pond, PA
Date: TBA
Elements is a unique festival because it has four stages representing different elements: fire, earth, air and water. Each set’s vibe is dedicated to an element. For example, the fire stage is more high energy with beat drops and funky mixes, whereas the earth stage is more psychedelic and experimental. The previous lineup included Seven Lions, Skrillex, Elderbrook, Subtronics, Chris Lake, John Summit, Disclosure and Porter Robinson.
Iron Blossom
Genre: Folk and country
Location: Richmond, VA
Date: TBA
If you enjoy more of a folk and country scene within a nature-esque environment, Iron Blossom should be at the top of your list. This past festival featured iconic artists such as Noah Kahan, Hozier, Lord Huron, Faye Webster, Elle King and Colony House. People fall asleep on their picnic blankets in between sets, especially this past year listening to Noah Kahan and Hozier singing “Work Song.” We still have not recovered, and it seems that most people on the internet haven’t either.
Breakaway
Genre: EDM
Location: Boston, MA and Charlotte, NC
Dates: May 3 - 4, 2024
Breakaway Music Festival is an EDM-focused festival that travels all over the United States. Typically, this event is held in the fall around September. This festival is a perfect introduction to rave culture. There’s Kandi bracelet trading, food vendors, a Ferris wheel, after-parties featuring the hottest DJs and unlimited music to jam out to. Previous lineups featured Porter Robinson, Zedd, Illenium, Flume, Deadmau5, Alison Wonderland, Elderbrook, Kaskade and Tiesto. Breakaway also recently announced they are hosting a bass-focused festival called “Another World” in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are still waiting for the lineup to be announced and tickets are not on sale yet, but this sounds like an exciting festival to keep your eyes peeled for.
Dreamville
Genre: R&B, hip-hop and rap
Location: Raleigh, NC
Dates: April 6 and 7, 2024
For all the R&B, hip-hop and rap fans out there, Dreamville is the place to be. Founded by J. Cole, Dreamville Fest has been a hit since it began in 2019. It takes place at one of the largest parks in Raleigh: Dorothea Dix Park. Previous lineups included SZA, 21 Savage, 6lack, Nelly, Summer Walker and, of course, the one and only J. Cole.
EDC Orlando
Genre: EDM
Location: Orlando, FL
Dates: November 10-12, 2023
Electric Daisy Carnival is one of the largest, most well-known electronic music festivals in America and is held in Las Vegas and Orlando. The scene has top-notch special effects, dancers, starters, aerialists, circus performers and iconic headliners. This year’s lineup includes Dom Dolla, Alesso, Alan Walker, The Chainsmokers, Meduza, Seven Lions, Zedd and Subtronics. Be on the lookout for a review and guide to this festival in the near future!
If you decide to attend any of these festivals, be sure to share your pictures with us @theedgemag on Instagram. And always remember to stay hydrated and have fun!