Music festivals. The one event where you can ignore the jacked-up water bottle prices and smelly bathrooms (or lack thereof) and just kick back and enjoy being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thousands of people who want and love the exact same thing you do: good music. The music festival season is fast approaching, and tickets are selling out quickly. Whether you’re a seasoned music festival expert, or you’ve been itching to try one, here are some of the music festivals worth checking out in 2010:
Coachella
April 16 to 18//Indio, Calif.
Headliners- MGMT, Muse, Gorillaz, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsytem, Passion Pit, Wale, David Guetta, Corrine Bailey Ray, Thom Yorke, Sly Stone, The Dead Weather, Phoenix, Matt & Kim
Be wary of- Unlike the majority of summer festivals that are located on fields or farms, Coachella sets up camp in Southern Cali’s Colorado Desert, where temperatures are known to climb above 100 degrees and clouds or shade is scarce. The flip side? Cooler evening weather allows for unparalleled stargazing far away from the city lights.
Why You Should Go- In efforts to keep their lineup fresh and exciting, organizers rarely will book an artist who has performed in previous years: Only 21 artists have played at Coachella more than twice over the 10 years of the festival. Attendees range from all groups, which contributes to the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the festival.
Ticket Info- All tickets are general admission. Festival passes are $269.00 and can be purchased at coachella.com.
Summer Camp
May 28 to 30//Chillicothe, Ill.
Headliners- Umphrey’s McGee, moe., STS9, The Avett Brothers, Keller Williams, Gov’t Mule, Yonder Mountain String Band, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Victor Wooten
Bonus Factor- The festival is hosting a battle-of-the-bands contest where local bands from all over the country can be nominated for a spot in the lineup. Visit the festival’s Web site to either vote for a local band or nominate one of your own.
Why You Should Go- Started in 2001, the festival’s first year’s attendance neared 1,000. Now in its eighth year, the jam band music festival has more than 10,000 attendees flocking to the small town of Chillicothe.
Ticket Info- Three-day tickets are on sale for $150, but tickets are nearly sold out. Visit summercampfestival.com to purchase.
Sasquatch! Music Festival
May 29 to 31//George, Wash.
Headliners- My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Massive Attack, The National, MGMT, The Temper Trap, OK Go, Public Enemy, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Pavement, Ween, Kid Cudi, Dr. Dog, They Might Be Giants, City and Colour
Bonus Factor- Esurance, the auto insurance provider, joined with Sasquatch three years ago in hopes of creating a sustainable music festival. This means recycling, eco-friendly signage and energy-efficient lighting have all been introduced in order to increase the festival’s sustainability.
Why You Should Go- Known to some as THE indie music festival, Sasquatch was founded in 2002 with the aim of appealing to the eclectic masses: Past performers have included stars from Kanye West to Coldplay to Nine Inch Nails. Catering to the diverse spirits of the Pacific Northwest, Sasquatch aims to gather hippies and hipsters alike to its stages.
Ticket Info- All tickets are general admission. Single day tickets start at $70 and three-day tickets start at $210 and can be purchased at sasquatchfestival.com
Bonnaroo
June 10 to 13//Manchester, Tenn.
Headliners- Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Tenacious D, Weezer, Phoenix, Norah Jones, The Flaming Lips, Zac Brown Band, Damien Marley and Nas
Bonus Factor- When your ears start to ring from all the music, check out the festival’s impressive lineup of comedians including Conan O’Brien, Aziz Ansari, Margaret Cho, Doug Benson and Greg Giraldo.
Why You Should Go- Bonnaroo swept into the summer concert scene in 2002 and has been hailed as the “Ultimate Over-The-Top Summer Festival” by Rolling Stone magazine. Lovers of indie rock, hip-hop, Americana and other alternative music camp out during the four-day festival on a 700-acre farm. Most people traipse around, sharing everything from their breakfast burrito to their toilet paper and even their freshly rolled joint.
Ticket Info- General admission tickets start at $234.50. After these tickets sell out, prices increase by $15. All tickets are four-day passes and can be purchased at bonnaroo.com.
Check out Wakarusa at wakarusa.com, an intimate festival in Arkansas that includes hiking and yoga.
