It’s about that time of year friends. Let’s see what we’re working with so far. Allow me 5 minutes to rate these festivals in a completely un-biased and civil manner.
I guarantee there’s at least one artist on these lineups that you’re thinking, “How the f*** has he not heard of them?”
Feel free to tell me that my opinions are wrong, and let me know who I need to listen to before I go and tell you what’s good and bad music again in a few weeks.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival — Manchester, TN
Prepare to get high-fived to death as you walk through the Bonnaroo arch. Once you’re in, this is who you should check out:
Rock/Indie: The Killers, Muse, Bon Iver, Alt-J, SuperJam, Manchester Orchestra, Arizona.
Rap/Hip-hop: T-Pain (that’ll be nostalgic for many of you), Rich Brian, Denzel Curry.
Electronic: Bassnectar, Kaskade, Alison Wonderland, What so Not, Big Wild, Mr. Carmack, K?D.
Funk (Bonus Section!): Anderson. Paak and the Free Nationals, Chromeo, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Thundercat.
The experience here is nearly as important as the music, key word being nearly. A solid lineup, but not close to last year’s in my opinion.
Bonnaroo Rating: 7/10
Sasquatch Music Festival — The Gorge, WA
It’s at the mini-Grand Canyon! Enjoy these acts as you gaze at some water moving slowly downhill:
Rock/Indie: Bon Iver, Modest Mouse, David Byrne (of the Talking Heads), Anderson. Paak and the Free Nationals, Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Thundercat, Tune-Yards.
Rap/Hip-hop: Tyler, the Creator, Vince Staples.
Electronic: What so Not, Petit Biscuit, Tokimonsta, Jai Wolf.
You could probably sit down with your beer and enjoy the views during the whole festival. Being super close to the stage is overrated anyways.
Sasquatch Rating: 9/10
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival — Indio, CA
There’s a Confucius haiku that goes something like this: If you go to Coachella, and don’t post hipster photos to Instagram, did you even go at all? Ditch the expensive clothes this year and embrace the dust with:
Rock/Indie: St. Vincent, HAIM, The War on Drugs, The Neighborhood, Bleachers, David Byrne, Alt-J, Chromeo, Nile Rodgers, Portugal. the Man, The Drums, Tom Misch.
Rap/Hip-Hop: Beyoncé (how could you possibly not want to see her), Post Malone, Vince Staples, Alina Baraz, Noname.
Electronic: Kygo, Rezz, Black Coffee, Louis the Child, Marian Hill, Odezsa, Illenium, San Holo, Petit Biscuit, Giraffage.
Bonus: Skip Marley!
Besides all the prime photobombing opportunities, Coachella has quite a bit to offer with this linuep. Not sure how I feel about 3 hip-hop headliners though.
Coachella Rating: 7.5/10
Electric Forest — Rothbury, MI
Time to get weird in the trees. Become one with Mother Earth while vibing out to:
Funk: Griz, Chromeo, Two Feet.
Future Bass (very generally): Louis the Child, San Holo.
Chiller stuff: Washed Out, Mr. Carmack, Marian Hill.
Bass Music: Jauz, G Jones, Herobust.
House: Rüfüs Du Sol, Zhu, Malaa.
Rap/Hip-hop: Lil Dickey, Noname.
I bet this festival has the highest percentage of people that don’t shower on a daily basis. Go not shower with them. Hell, do it for both weekends.
Electric Forest Rating: 8/10
The Governor’s Ball — Randall’s Island Park, NY
Instead of going to a farm, the desert, or a forest, head to the city this year. NEW YORK STAND UP (for only a handful of artists here):
Rock/Indie: Jack White, James Blake, The Gaslight Anthem, Manchester Orchestra, Chvrches.
Rap/Hip-Hop: Khalid, Vic Mensa, Post Malone.
Extras: Two Feet, Damian Marley.
Definitely seeing better lineups than this. Plus, Travis Scott just screams into an auto-tuned mic. It sounds… bad.
Governors Ball Rating: 5/10
California Roots Music and Arts Festival — Monterey, CA
If you’ve ever wanted to be a true California bro/chick with long blonde hair and tanned skin, buy a ticket to Cali Roots this Memorial Day Weekend (blonde hair and tan not included):
Reggae: Steel Pulse, Iration, The Movement, Rebelution, Fortunate Youth, The Holdup, Slightly Stoopid, Tribal Seeds, The Original Wailers, Mike Love.
Rap/Hip-Hop: Atmosphere, E-40.
Bonus: Dispatch
Pro tip (since I’ve been to this festival for like the past 6 years): Show up before music starts for morning yoga sessions, and grab a bunch of free lighters.
California Roots Rating: 6.5/10
Firefly Music Festival — Dover, DE
Ok I’ll ask the question everyone is thinking… are there really fireflies there? That would be dope at night. Almost as dope as this lineup:
Rock/Indie: Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Alt-J, Foster the People, MGMT, Chromeo, Vance Joy.
Rap: Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne (he’s a legend), Logic, SZA.
Electronic: Odesza, Big Gigantic, Marian Hill, San Holo.
The best list of headliners I’ve seen so far. Also shout out to Jeremy Zucker who has the same last name as me!
Firefly Rating: 8/10
Hangout Music Festival — Gulf Shores, AL
It’s on the beach, which makes things really complicated. Do I go barefoot, flip-flops, or sneakers? Also, can I go swimming?
Rock/Indie: The Killers, Portugal. the Man, , St. Vincent, Grouplove, Bleachers, Manchester Orchestra, Foster the People, AJR.
Rap/Hip-hop: Kendrick Lamar, Logic, SZA, Anderson. Paak and the Free Nationals, Noname.
Electronic: Odezsa, San Holo, Cashmere Cat.
Whatever you do, don’t drop your phone in the sand as you check the socials instead of watching The Chainsmokers try to sing. That would be really sad.
Hangout Rating: 6/10
Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival — Okeechobee, FL
I feel like this is the sweatiest festival ever. Bring baggy clothing and lots of deodorant cause this lineup will have you moving:
Rock/Indie: Arcade Fire, Foster the People, The Flaming Lips, Thievery Corporation, Slightly Stoopid, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Lettuce, Twiddle.
Rap/Hip-hop: Snoop Dogg and friends, Khalid, Lil Dicky, Denzel Curry.
Electronic: Bassnectar (moonrise set!), Big Gigantic, Gramatik, Illenium, Tycho, Big Wild.
Bonus: Okeechobee Gospel Soul Experience. You’ll probably come out of that as an entirely different person.
This is the most unique lineup of the year so far, but you gotta get your tickets soon!
Okeechobee Rating: 8.5/10
If I had to choose only one festival, it would probably be Sasquatch. There’s not a single act on that bill that I think would deliver an underwhelming performance. It also seems like a smaller, more laid back festival, which would be awesome with such an amazing view (seriously, the Gorge Amphitheater is amazing). We’ll see which one I end up going to this year.
Although I rated each festival based on their lineups, I really recommend going to ANY of these (plus the dozens more I didn’t review). There’s a vibe at every music festival that you can’t get anywhere else. Show up early, hang out, grab some amazing food and delicious beers, and give the artists who perform earlier in the day a listen. You never know who you’re gonna discover.
Stay tuned for my take on South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, EDC, Ultra, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and a few more.
-Brian
