Summer Music Festivals

Now that summer is right around the corner, music fans alike rejoice at the opportunity to participate in the upcoming music festivals.  What are these music festivals? A time when you wait until night fall to hear the band you have been waiting years to see, all the while getting a taste of up-and-coming bands looking to make their big break.

Going to a music festival begins with a decision to see either a band that has been a long-time favorite, or something different and new. After all, the multiple stages at these festivals tend to lead to conflicting times between different bands, almost as if they were competing in sound.” Although stages are tightly packed together, once you get close to one and far away from another, the sounds shifts to the stage closer to you and blocks out the noise from nearby, providing good balance,” explained sophomore Nick Frankel.

There are three big music festivals this summer consisting of big time acts sure to captivate the attending music enthusiasts:  Bonnaroo in Tennessee, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and Outside Lands in picturesque San Francisco. As a paying customer, it’s important to take note of the differences between these three festivals which look to attract a rowdy crowd.

Bonnaroo holds its performances in Manchester, Tennessee. This year, it begins on June 13 and ends June 16. With 80,000+ in attendance, there are high expectations for incredible acts in 2013. Performers include Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, Pretty Lights, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Passion Pit, and Icelandic singer Bjork. Since its kickoff in 2002, Bonnaroo has mastered how to make their festival a full day of activities that don’t all have to do with the music. The location consists of a silent disco, classic arcade, cinema, and a giant water fountain, and is unparalleled by any music festival in America. This year, the lineup and the extra features of the festival will be sure to create an unforgettable experience for any ticket holder.

Lollapalooza is a more mainstream festival which takes place in Grant Park, overlooking the tall Chicago buildings. Instead of getting a taste of new indie bands and their undiscovered music, more chart topping artists tend to hit the stages at this festival. Acts such as The Cure, The Killers, Mumford & Sons, Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age will be gracing the stages of Lollapalooza this summer. With so many great performers, this year’s installment of the festival should not be a disappoint.

Outside Lands is a well-attended festival within the gorgeous city of San Francisco. The festival continuously stresses an eco-friendly environment through the use of recyclable garbage cans all around the grounds. Outside Lands uses an abundance of their space to recognize the San Francisco art scene as well: several art exhibits as well as a wine garden are open to the attendees. The 2013 lineup was recently released with a star studded list of bands including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix, and the iconic Paul McCartney. Outside Lands continuously looks to provide class and culture to their predominantly hipster audience.

As well as your conventional three festival venues, the Central Park Summer Stage has shows running consistently in their quaint outdoor venue. “It was the perfect atmosphere, the crowd was really into the shows. The weather was perfect (what could be better than summertime in central park). The brass section was really soulful and alive. Everyone was up and dancing. Even my grandma who I went with was. The venue was relatively small but it had an amazing liveliness to it. It just gave off so much energy and was the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon/night,” explained junior Noah Berley. A great crowd in a beautiful location makes the Central Park Summer Stage another hot place to see a live show.

Another year of festivals means another year of experiencing the togetherness and the pageantry of full-day outdoor music. These are times of discovery that can create lasting memories, so before you book your annual trip to the Caribbean, get a ticket to one of these festivals, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the music.