Coachella has passed and Lollapalooza has sold out, but do not let this news get you down. The U.S. music festival scene is growing faster than ever, so it has a ton to offer fans of any genre this summer. In fact, five festivals that made our cut are in only their first or second years. From the musician-curated lineups you cannot miss to fests featuring the best gourmet food, we have you covered. Grab your sunglasses and chose your own outdoor music adventure.
See also: 20 Last-Minute Summer Trips>>
Photo Credit: Cameron Neilson
When and Where: May 9-12; Napa Valley Expo in Napa Valley, California
Lineup Highlights: Alabama Shakes, Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Jackson Browne, Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band
The Scoop: Napa Valley is known for its wine, but it may soon develop a reputation for its music. For the first time, BottleRock will take over 26 acres in downtown Napa to host more than 60 bands on three stages (including 25 Grammy winners and nominees), 12 comedy acts, 40 wineries, and 32 restaurants and food trucks. The kicker: You’ll experience it all while soaking up the region’s blissful 75-degree weather.
Insider Tip: Music will begin by 1 p.m. and end by 10 p.m. daily, leaving plenty of time to get familiar with Napa.
Escape From Your Escape: BottleRock allows re-entry, so head downtown when there is a lull in your music schedule. Do not miss the Oxbow Public Market or Terra for a meal or drink.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #neverleavingnapa
Tickets: Available at BottleRockNapaValley.com ($139 for a one-day pass; $329 for a three-day pass; $399 for a four-day pass)
Photo Credit: BottleRock
When and Where: May 17-19; Prospect Park in Brooklyn
Lineup Highlights: Cults, Father John Misty, Matt & Kim, The Flaming Lips, The Darkness, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Scoop: NYC’s newest festival is making a comeback. After attendees faced long food lines and spotty cell service in 2012, organizers set out to improve food-stand staffing and bring in temporary phone towers (so your Instagram followers can salivate along with you). Prepare to face choice overload, with 100 craft beers, 100 wines and fare from 85 food makers, like grilled burgers from Burger Joint, wood-fired pizza from Roberta’s, cool treats from Wooly’s Shaved Ice and, for the adventurous, foie-gras donuts from Do or Dine.
Insider Tip: Don’t eat before, and plan to meet your friends outside of the festival, in case phone service is spotty again.
Escape From Your Escape: Once you have had your fill (re-entry is not permitted), leave the crowds behind and take a walk west to explore Park Slope’s popular Fifth and Seventh Avenues.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #moogafull
Tickets: Available at Brooklyn.GoogaMooga.com ($54.50 for kick-off concert on Friday includes a general admission pass for Saturday or Sunday)
Photo Credit: Kristin Gladney
When and Where: May 25-26; City Hall Plaza in Boston
Lineup Highlights: fun., Of Monsters and Men, Portugal. the Man, Ra Ra Riot, The National, The Shins
The Scoop: This year, Boston finally gets a much-deserved summer music festival of its own. Expect to spend Memorial Day weekend moving your feet to the sounds of 18 solid indie rock acts, which have been hand-picked by Aaron Dessner of Brooklyn-based band and headliner The National.
Insider Tip: Save your appetite for the food-truck pavilion, which will feature Boston’s finest. Search for local seafood truck The Shuckin Truck for lobster and scallop rolls or fish tacos.
Escape From Your Escape: Stay through Memorial Day to rent a bike and hit the Minuteman Bikeway, a scenic, 11-mile trail linking Bedford, Lexington, Arlington and Cambridge.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #bostonisindiestrong
Tickets: Available at BostonCalling.com ($75 for a one-day pass; $130 for a two-day pass)
Photo Credit: Boston Calling
When and Where: June 7-9; Randall’s Island in New York City
Lineup Highlights: Guns N’ Roses, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon, The Lumineers, The xx
The Scoop: We are the first to admit that Governor’s Ball, once hosted at Governor’s Island, may be identity confused. (It also shares its title with an annual Oscars gala.) But that doesn’t matter. The lineup, which overlaps some with surrounding festivals (don’t they all a bit?), is nonetheless a quality mix of dance, hip-hop, indie and pop that will draw 40,000 attendees each day.
Insider Tip: Arrange transport to the festival now at GovernorsBallMusicFestival.com. From Manhattan, book a ferry that departs from 34th Street and FDR Drive ($15). From Brooklyn, book a shuttle bus that departs from a TBA location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn ($20).
Escape From Your Escape: If you are traveling in, consider staying in one of NYC’s top fitness-friendly hotels, to help you stick to your workouts in the mornings and on non-festival days.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #kanyezone
Tickets: Available at GovernorsBallMusicFestival.com ($95 for a one-day pass; $470 for a VIP three-day pass; sold out: three-day general admission pass)
Photo Credit: Governor's Ball
When and Where: June 13-16; Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee
Lineup Highlights: Bjork, Mumford & Sons, Paul McCartney, Pretty Lights, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Wu-Tang Clan
The Scoop: This marks the 12th year for one of America’s most massive festivals, and 2013’s diverse lineup continues to show the Bonnaroo bookers’ commitment to expanding beyond the fest’s jam-band roots. As always, expect a strong community vibe, as mostly everyone camps on-site. Plus, organizers have put extra energy into growing a quality food scene this year, including an expanded Food Truck Oasis.
Insider Tip: You will want to bring everything you will need with you. There is a Walmart in Manchester for last-minute supplies, but go early—it can get picked over quickly.
Escape From Your Escape: On a 700-acre farm in Tennessee, escapes happen within festival grounds. For a break, hit Bonnaroo Cinema, an air-conditioned, 24-hour theater screening sporting events and movies.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #wokeupinthewrongtent
Tickets: Available at Bonnaroo.com ($269.50 for a four-day pass)
Photo Credit: Douglas Mason
When and Where: June 27-30; Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan
Lineup Highlights: Benny Benassi, Dispatch, Empire of the Sun, Grimes, Passion Pit, The String Cheese Incident
The Scoop: Bring your curiosity. This jam-band and electronic-heavy festival also boasts the jaw-dropping Sherwood Forest, a wooded outdoor area that is expanding in size for the first time to offer attendees more space to explore.There are even ways to get involved in the community-driven festival before it starts, including art installation sponsorships and hula-hoop contests.
Insider Tip: Get your rest before you head to Rothbury. Given the festival’s remote location, we hear music can go until the wee hours of the morning.
Escape From Your Escape: Grab a spot on a hammock to rest or walk to Big Wildcat Lake to play a pick-up sand volleyball game.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #lostinsherwoodforest
Tickets: Available at ElectricForestFestival.com ($259 for a four-day pass)
Photo Credit: Brian Spady/Spady Photography
When and Where: July 12-14; Louisville Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kentucky
Lineup Highlights: Alabama Shakes, Big Boi, Matt & Kim, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys
The Scoop: What started as a 50-person gathering has grown to 75,000 a decade later. Festival-goers can sample 11 local bourbons at a newly expanded Bourbon Lodge while overlooking the scenic Louisville Waterfront.
Insider Tip: Bring your favorite reusable water bottle to fill up at stations throughout the grounds.
Escape From Your Escape: Music starts in the afternoon, so grab brunch in town at Toast on Market for steak and eggs beforehand. Stay an extra day to tour Louisville’s bourbon country and distilleries such as Four Roses Distillery, Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #byobourbon
Tickets: Available at ForecastleFest.com ($60 for a one-day pass; $165 for a three-day pass)
Photo Credit: The Forecastle Festival
When and Where: August 9-11; Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
Lineup Highlights: Foals, Grizzly Bear, Paul McCartney, Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend
The Scoop: Going into its sixth year, Outside Lands has quickly grown into one of the most sought-after music, food and wine festivals on the West Coast. Featuring a mix of legendary acts, festival veterans and up-and-comers, there will be something for nearly everyone. Follow signs to Outside Lambs, our favorite spot for indulging in savory dishes like lamb poutine.
Insider Tip: Dress warmer than you imagine August to be and bring layers. Golden Gate Park can be 10-15 degrees cooler than other parts of San Francisco and temperatures drop more as the sun goes down.
Escape From Your Escape: The festival is located in the heart of San Francisco, so there will be plenty of time to explore the city by the bay. Check out our MF City: San Francisco Guide for where to stay, workout, eat and drink.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #suckitcoachella
Tickets: Available at SFOutsideLands.com ($249.50 for a three-day pass)
Photo Credit: Outside Lands
When and Where: August 31-September 1; Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia
Lineup Highlights: A$AP Rocky, Beyoncé, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix
The Scoop: The Americana-themed U.S. festival is back for a second year, although without festival curator Jay-Z on the lineup. Who will fill his place? Jay-Z’s other half Beyoncé, of course, along with an array of 30 American rock, hip-hop, R&B and dance acts. Feel good about your ticket purchase, as a portion of sales go to non-profit United Way for community outreach efforts in the region.
Insider Tip: Festival-goers take the American-pride theme seriously, so pack your red, white and blue.
Escape From Your Escape: The festival’s urban location lends itself to fitting in a pit stop (about a 20-minute drive away) at one of our favorite outdoor beer gardens, Frankford Hall, for German brews and comfort food.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #whoruntheworld #jayzandbeyonce
Tickets: Available at MadeinAmericaFest.com ($168.70 for a two-day pass)
Photo Credit: Abovav.com
When and Where: September 27-29; Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Georgia
Lineup Highlights: A-Trak, Alesso, Axwell, Porter Robinson, Rusko, Sebastian Ingrosso; more to be announced soon
The Scoop: For the first time ever, the company behind powerhouse festival TomorrowLand in Boom, Belgium brings its over-the-top experience stateside. If electronic dance music is your thing, this may excite you, but act fast. The massive Belgian version sold out in less than one second earlier this year.
Insider Tip: Book a flight to and from Atlanta’s international airport, which is 15 miles from the festival site.
Escape From Your Escape: Since the festival site is a short drive from Atlanta, use our MF City: Atlanta Guide to explore the southern city before the festival starts.
Unofficial Hashtag Prediction: #nevertomorrow
Tickets: Available at TomorrowWorld.com ($127 for a one-day pass; $347 for a three-day pass without camping; $397 for a three-day pass with camping)
Photo Credit: N/A/Tomorrowland