Starting with the unofficial season opener in Tennessee—the 125-act blockbuster known as Bonnaroo—you'll have the opportunity to gorge yourself of music of every conceivable genre, from heavy metal to folk to classical (and share sticky-sweet summer afternoon with the likes of Jack White, Neil Young and Alice Cooper).
Don't throw away your hard earned cash on a ticket to a concern with just one act. Instead throw your money—and yourself into the musical orgy by rocking out at one of these unmissable events.
***
We have some news for you: Spending the week moshing with 10,000 of your new best friends doesn't actually count as exercise. Click here to find out how to squeeze in some legit fitness at this years summer music festivals
Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN; June 7-10
Entering its 11th year, the 700-acre farm an hour south of Nashville that sets up shop each summer will again host 125 bands and more than 20 comedians performing live on 13 stages over four days.
Featured acts will include Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Beach Boys, The Avett Brothers, Alice Cooper, Soul Rebels, Feist, The Roots, and Alabama Shakes while comedians like Aziz Ansari, Steven Wright, Marc Maron, and Judah Friedlander will round out the round-the-clock schedule. A host of local brewers and restaurants will feed the music masses. Four-day tickets start at $259.
Photo Credit: C. Taylor Crothers
Governors Ball - Randall’s Island, New York City; June 23-24
Moving from Governors Island to Randall’s Island for its second year, and incorporating indie rock, Americana, and pop acts, in addition to dance, hip hop, and electronica, the 2012 Governors Ball has our attention (even if its name no longer makes much sense).
Joining Kid Cudi will be Beck, Fiona Apple, Passion Pit, Modest Mouse, Duck Sauce, Explosions in the Sky, Devendra Banhart, Santigold, and Special Disco Version (LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and Pat Mahoney), activities like silent disco, ping pong, bocce ball, and food from spots like Luke's Lobster, Wafels & Dinges, and Hill Country BBQ. Single day tickets start at $95.
Photo Credit: Brendan Irvine
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - Montreal, Canada; June 28-July 7
A small festival christened by the late, great Ray Charles in 1980, Montreal’s Jazz Fest now welcomes over two million attendees and 2,500 musicians from over 20 countries.
Heading into its 33rd year, Montreal Jazz Fest will feature over 800 concerts—many free—in addition to ticketed indoor events that spotlight musicians like Norah Jones, Ziggy Marley, Janelle Monáe, Billy Bragg, James Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Seal, CéU, Esperanza Spalding, Chris Botti, and electronic sensation Tangerine Dream
Photo Credit: ©Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - Victor Diaz Lamich
Staying awhile? Check out some of the best destinations for guys in Montréal
Forecastle Festival - Louisville, KY; July 13-15
Once a grassroots festival that cost $500 to produce, Louisville’s premier summer event, Forecastle Festival, will take place in Waterfront Park and is celebrating its tenth anniversary after a hiatus in 2011.
The ultra-cool thing about this year’s Forecastle Fest is that it's being curated by My Morning Jacket, who will also headline the 3-day event with Bassnectar and Wilco, and feature Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, Neko Case, Atmosphere, Clutch, Sleigh Bells, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and others.
Newport Folk Festival - Newport, RI; July 28-29
At the end of July, Fort Adams State Park transforms into a wonderland of local and international folk talent. Though the schedule is still unfolding, Folk Festival will welcome Wilco for a special pre-fest show on July 27th, and then mega-stars My Morning Jacket will share the mic with icons like Jackson Browne and the Guthries, younger artists like Conor Oberst, and Iron & Wine, and soulful crooners like Patty Griffin through the rest of the weekend.
Two-day passes are $135.00. Single day tickets are $74.00.
Photo Credit: Rich Gastwirt
Lollapollooza - Chicago, IL; August 3-5
Though the festival itself is over twenty years told, Lollapalooza will turn Grant Park into North America’s biggest music extravaganza for its eighth consecutive year.
Featuring over 130 diverse acts from around the globe, headliners include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath (in their only North American tour date), The Black Keys, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, At The Drive-In, Bassnectar, The Shins, and Passion Pit.
Single-day passes are $95.
Photo Credit: Dave Mead
Outside Lands - San Francisco, CA; August 10-12
Different than other music festivals, Outside Lands relies on the Bay Area’s exceptional culinary scene to offer beer, wine, and food experiences to fans, enhancing an already stellar lineup of musicians at Golden Gate Park.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the fest will highlight music legends Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Metallica, and Stevie Wonder, while Jack White, Foo Fighters, Skrillex, Beck, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Big Boi, Franz Ferdinand, and Fitz and The Tantrums round out the schedule.
Tickets ($225) cover all three days of the festival.
Photo Credit: Cameron Neilson
Equifunk - Pocono Mountains, PA; August 17-19
What began as a small gathering of friends at their childhood sleepaway camp has morphed into the ultimate festival experience. The all-inclusive ticket ($315 for bunk accommodations; $185 for camping) includes lodging, meals, all the alcohol you can drink, and access to all shows.
For their 5th anniversary, Galactic will headline, but rounding out the weekend are Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Brooklyn’s Pimps of Joytime, Led Zepplin cover band Bustle in Your Hedgegrow, and LA-based funk band, Orgone, among others. Whether you’re headed to the Poconos for the Saturday pool party or the tunes, you’ll feel like a kid again. Only this time, there’s no curfew.
Photo Credit: Dino Perucci
Telluride Blues and Brews Festival - Telluride, CO; September 14-16
Set in Telluride Town Park and backed by a vista of majestic at 8, 750 feet above sea level, and including a Grand Tasting of over 50 microbreweries featuring 150 different beers on the festival grounds, the initial line-up has been announced and includes Phil Lesh and Friends, Gov’t Mule, The B-52s, Tab Benoit, and The Chris Robinson Brotherhood.
3-day passes ($170) and individual tickets go on-sale June 15th.
Photo Credit: Barry Brecheisen
Life is Good Festival Canton, MA; September 22-23
This year's lineup includes Dave Matthews, Sara Bareilles, Alo, Muck and the Mires and more. The Life is Good Festival is also a fundraiser that aims to rake in over $1 million for kids facing life-threatening challenges.Set on a historic 44-acre property in Massachusetts with three stages that host an impressive roster of musicians over two days.
Year after year, organizers of summer music festivals have been raising the stakes, one-upping each other with lineups of mega-star headliners, cool indie bands and soon-to-be-huge opening acts.