The beginning of the new year and sub-zero temperatures bring many tidings of seasonal affective disorder and high-functioning alcoholism. For those of us here in the northeast, the cold and darkness can get pretty bleak around this time, so it’s always a welcome omen when the first signs of summer start to pop up on news feeds.
No, nothing about a performance-anxious gopher.
I’m referring, of course, to the flood of lineup announcements for music festivals! For any music die-hard, a festival is a way to knock ten bands off of your to-see list in one fell swoop and to see just how close you’re willing to stand to a stranger who hasn’t showered in 3 days. The hardships of music festivals are immediately obvious: they aren’t cheap, they’re crowded, they’re often blazing hot, and you don’t get a whole lot of sleep, but for the dedicated, they can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Following is a list of the ten best lineups to be found in 2015 so far (and some with announcements still to come).
#10 Ultra Music Festival
Where: Miami
When: March 27-29
Featuring headliners like David Guetta, Avicii, Tiësto, and Die Antwoord, Ultra is widely considered to be the premier EDM festival this side of the Atlantic. This festival brings in the vanguard of dance music year after year and is looking to do so again this year. As if the lineup wasn’t good enough, the location on South Beach is enough to draw massive crowds. While the lineup is stacked, it doesn’t offer much in the way of variety outside of EDM. However, if you’re a fan of modern dance music, there’s no better place to be the last weekend in March.
#9 Wakarusa
Where: Ozark, Arkansas
When: June 4-7
If the sand and skyscrapers of Miami isn’t really your style, or you want a little more variety in your lineup, Wakarusa may be your destination. This rapidly growing festival is nestled in the backwoods of the American southeast and is one of the cozier festivals on this list (the high-water mark was set in 2011 with about 20,000 attendees). While the ticket, starting at $179, is one of the more modestly priced on the circuit, the lineup delivers the wallop you’d expect from a larger festival. Headliners include Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, The Roots, Portugal. The Man, and Major Lazer.
#8 Osheaga
Where: Montreal
When: July 31-August 2nd
If you’re up for a trip north of the border, you could do worse than to spend a weekend at Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal. The 2014 lineup included such luminaries as OutKast, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, and Childish Gambino, to name just a few of the boldface acts. Celebrating its 9th year this year, Osheaga has long been a destination for music fans of all flavors and people who want to say they went to a foreign festival, but don’t want to spend the money for a transatlantic plane ticket. Osheaga offers an all-star lineup in an urban setting and an overall quality experience.
#7 CounterPoint
Where: Kingston Downs, Georgia
When: May 22-24
Founded in 2012, CounterPoint is one of the younger entries on this list, but that does nothing to diminish the depth of this lineup. While the festival is primarily a draw for fans of Dance music, the lineup, which features headliners including Widespread Panic, Knife Party, and The Roots, has something to offer everyone. If a weekend of quality alternative music in the woods of Georgia sounds like fun to you, CounterPoint may be the festival for you.
#6 Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago
When: July 31-August 2
It’s easy to dismiss a music festival that your dad’s heard of, but no one’s been doing it as hard or as long (I’ll wait) as Lollapalooza. In their 23rd year, the famous festival brought a huge depth of talent to the table, with headliners like Eminem, Skrillex, and The Avett Brothers. Lollapalooza offers an established festival in a major city and massive acts. Lollapalooza comes in outside the top five solely due to the fact that they haven’t yet released a 2015 lineup.
#5 The Governor’s Ball
Where: New York City
When: June 5-7
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to see three days of must-see shows in the center of the universe, The Governor’s Ball is your answer. Held within window-shaking distance of Manhattan, this festival puts together a huge lineup year in and year out, and this year’s iteration is no exception. Featuring artists like The Black Keys, Florence + the Machine, Drake, The Decemberists, and even Weird Al Yankovic, the heavyweight lineup is making this writer chomp at the bit just looking at the list. Among urban festivals, The Governor’s Ball Reigns supreme.
#4 Coachella
Where: Indio, California
When: April 10-12 and 17-19
If you’re looking for a big festival with big names, Coachella is the place for you. This two-weekend party is held in the California desert and is known for attracting some of the biggest names in alternative and rap music. This year’s lineup is a doozy, featuring AC/DC, Jack White and Drake. While there’s not much in the way of up-and-comers, there are some deeper finds, including the indie darling St. Vincent and the psychedelic Kasabian. Coachella consistently offers a can’t-miss experience and a star-studded roster.
#3 Hangout Festival
Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama
When: May 15-17
If you want the beach setting of Ultra but want a more varied lineup, Hangout Festival is here with good news. The Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, and Beck headline three days of music on the Gulf Coast beaches in Alabama. This lineup was seemingly put together with an eye to giving every type of music fan a must-see act, and the names pile up in a surprisingly deep spread. Some treasures buried in the small print include Vance Joy, Trampled by Turtles, and The Mowgli’s. Advice to attendees: your coworkers will already be jealous of your tan, so maybe it’s best not to mention the weekend of red-hot music.
#2 Shaky Knees
Where: Atlanta
When: May 8-10
Shaky Knees has been panned by some for laking diversity in its lineup, but if you’re a fan of Alternative rock (personal bias fully acknowledged), this listing just keeps getting better. Headliners like The Strokes, The Avett Brothers, and Wilco would top any festival lineup, and the stars keep coming as you keep reading, almost requiring a magnifying glass to read more artists that you want to see. When Surfer Blood shows up that far down a page, you know it’s a damn good page. Shaky Knees is definitely one to see.
#1 Bonnaroo
Where: Manchester, Tennessee
When: June 11-14
Just saying the name Bonnaroo makes you think of the stereotypical festival. Perhaps no other festival delivers the top-to bottom quality like Bonnaroo does nor do any come close to the kind of variety offered by the lineup. The 2015 variety includes legends like Billy Joel, Kendrick Lamar, and the Alabama Shakes, as well as the first official appearance by Mumford and Sons in almost two years. This is all to say nothing of the countless activities and attractions offered by the festival, including a comedy tent, ferris wheel, and a pop-up selection of nightlife. Bonnaroo has established itself as one of the best festivals around, and 100,000+ people (the festival’s high water mark) can’t be wrong.
This is obviously a subjective list, representing a wide variety of festivals and covering multiple genres. One fan’s must-see show is another’s throwaway ticket, so no festival is going to capture every taste or style. Overall, festivals are a great way to see bands you otherwise wouldn’t, meet other music fans, and generally are just a hell of a lot of fun, so if you make it out to one this season or in the future, enjoy, take pictures, and take it all in. Oh, and one word of advice, be careful with the brownies.
And cookies. And milkshakes. And hot dogs.
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