Upcoming Music Festivals to Add to Your Summer Bucket List
As summer rolls around the corner, it's that time of year again: music festival season. It's hot and sweaty crowds, overpriced popsicles, pizza slices, mosh pit dancing and pure fun. Music festivals have developed as an emerging industry that contributes to many national economies. Nowadays, they also can serve as a way of building a brand for a destination, creating a unique image for it and attracting visitors. If you're a fan of good music and dancing, music festivals are the thing for you. Below are six upcoming festivals to add to your bucket list this summer.
Lollapalooza
Grant Park, Chicago, IL
August 3—6, 2023
Lollapalooza, or “Lola,” is an annual American four-day music festival held in Grant Park in Chicago. It originally started as a touring event in 1991, but Chicago became its permanent location several years later. It is one of the largest and most iconic music festivals in the world and one of the longest running in the United States, hosting an estimated 400,000 people. This year, the festival lineup features iconic artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Fred Again, Red Hot Chili Peppers, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Diplo, to name a few. Four-day general admission tickets are currently on sale for $365, with one-day ticket prices to be announced soon.
Rolling Loud Music Festival
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami FL
July 21—23, 2023
The Rolling Loud Music Festival is fairly new. High school friends and founders, Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, hosted the first event in early 2015. Four years later, the Rolling Loud Music Festival is one of the biggest rap-only festivals in the world. The festival features hip-hop talent and is a showcase for emerging SoundCloud rappers. Previous lineups have featured Migos, Juice WRLD, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Cardi B and Lil Uzi Vert, among others. The 2023 festival will be hosted in Miami, Florida. The lineup is yet to be announced, but general admission three-day passes are speculated to start at around $300.
Governors Ball Music Festival
Flushing Meadows Park, New York City
June 9—11, 2023
If you grew up in New York City or around the New York area, you’re likely no stranger to the Governor’s Ball Music festival, or “Gov Ball.” This “Coachella of New York City” started as a dream by two high school best friends, Tom Russell and Jordan Wolowitz, who launched the first festival in 2011. The festival held its concert the first year on Governor’s Island, a small island south of Manhattan, before being moved to its next location of Randall’s Island. What started as a one-day festival with 12 acts has turned into a showstopping three-day festival with 60+ artists from Travis Scott to Eminem, Post Malone and Miley Cyrus. This year's headliners include everyone from Lizzo and Diplo to Lil Baby and Kendrick Lamar. General admission one-day tickets start at just $139.
Boston Calling Music Festival
Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston, MA
Friday, May 26—28
Boston Calling Music Festival is a Boston-based music festival established in May 2013 by Mike Snow and Aaron Dessner. After its start, the festival quickly became a hit among Boston’s music fans. Lineups are carefully selected by a team of people who look for the most current and matchable artists, slightly leaning towards the Indie-rock genre as well as small and upcoming artists. This year's event will feature well-known artists such as the Foo Fighters, Yea Yeah Yeah’s and The Lumineers. One-day general admission tickets start at $159. For Boston natives, this festival is for you.
Afro Nation
Loandepot Park, Miami, FL
May 27—28, 2023
Afro Nation is the biggest afro beats festival in the world. Each Afro Nation fest highlights the biggest players — and up-and-comers — in Afro-fusion, reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, soca and other Black-led musical movements. According to co-founder Obi in an interview with the Grammy’s, as a Nigerian, Obi and his cofounder SMADE do these events “to give a platform to artists from the African diaspora.” The hope is for others not only in the African diaspora to experience African culture. This year's day-one headliners include Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, among others. Single-day tickets are available at a starting price of $125.
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee
June 15—18, 2023
For Tennessee natives, you’ve most likely either heard of or attended Bonnaroo. The annual summer music and arts festival was developed by music promoter Ashley Capps in 2002. The festival showcases a variety of music from rock and jazz to hip-hop and world music. It is similar to Coachella in that people tend to dress in bandanas, floral or glittery attire. This year's lineup is stacked, featuring artists such as Noah Kahan, Vulfpeck, Odesza, Louis the Child, Lil Nas x and Paramore. One-day general admission tickets start at $175, and four-day general admission tickets start at $340.