Summer 2014’s 40 Must-See Music Festivals
With concert revenues increasing, EDM continuing to expand and companies like Live Nation creating new events every year, 2014's crop of music festivals might be bigger and larger than any to come before it. In order help make sense of the madness, Rolling Stone has compiled a list of 40 festivals taking place across the United States and Canada, beginning with Jazzfest in April and ending with TomorrowWorld in September, detailed what makes them unique and put together a list of the 15 must-see acts at each one. Get ready a few months of suntans, sun burns, loud music and plenty of Outkast. By Cady Drell, Sean McCabe, Nick Murray, Mosi Reeves, Katherine St. Asaph, Alexis Stephens, Christopher R. Weingarten, Killian Young
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New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
When: April 25th-May 4th
Where: Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, Louisiana
Why Go: An eclectic crowd-pleaser for all ages, the Jazzfest has expanded to feature big name rock and R&B acts like Bruce Springsteen, Vampire Weekend and Christina Aguilera. The event’s local heritage is still present with performances by Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and Rebirth Brass Band.
15 Must-See Acts: Springsteen, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, Robin Thicke, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Alabama Shakes, Chaka Khan, Big Freedia, Solange, Aguilera, Charlie Wilson, Eric Clapton, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Santana, Aaron Neville
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Suburbia Music Festival
When: May 3rd-4th
Where: Plano, Texas
Why Go: The name is nondescript, almost ironic, but the booking is mostly interesting and eclectic, featuring bands like Alabama Shakes and Tegan and Sara, rappers like Yelawolf and J. Cole and even DJs like GTA and David Guetta. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve should provide idyllic grounds for this event's first year.
15 Must-See Acts: David Guetta, Alabama Shakes, J. Cole, Tegan and Sara, Yelawolf, Run the Jewels, Delta Rae, Hayes Carll, Surfer Blood, Violent Femmes, Third Eye Blind, Needtobreathe, GTA, Meg Myers, Big Gigantic
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Hangout Festival
When: May 16th-18th
Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Why Go: It's literally held on a beach, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, under the Alabama sun, usually with carnival rides – so, yeah, pretty much anything is gonna sound good. But if you need band names, fine: the Black Keys, Outkast, the Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, the Flaming Lips, Wiz Khalifa, Jack Johnson and more.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, the Black Keys, the Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, Modest Mouse, the Flaming Lips, Wiz Khalifa, Zedd, Tegan and Sara, Boys Noize, Chance the Rapper, Andrew W.K., Le1f, the 1975, Valerie June
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Summer Camp Music Festival
When: May 23rd-25th
Where: Chillicothe, Illinois
Why Go: Chicago gets the headlines for Pitchfork and Lollapalooza, but those seeking a fuller festival experience – one featuring camping, RVs and the Zac Brown Band – would do well to travel southwest to Summer Camp. There, a few miles outside Peoria, groups like Umphrey's McGee and the Trey Anastasio Band will jam alongside electronic acts like Bassnectar and UZ in an event where, if all goes well, the vibes will be as good as the smell is bad.
15 Must-See Acts: Moe., Umphrey's McGee, Zac Brown Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Bassnectar, Primus, Slightly Stoopid, Girl Talk, Lettuce, UZ, Koan Sound, Blackberry Smoke, Greensky Bluegrass, Lotus, Blues Traveler
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Bayou Country Superfest
When: May 23rd-25th
Where: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Why Go: The Country Superfest doesn't mess around with smaller acts, taking over Tiger Stadium with three days of performances from stars like George Strait, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Eric Church. So what do you do before each evening of shows gets going? To quote the festival website, "enjoy the great tradition of LSU tailgating."
15 13 Must-See Acts: Strait, Bryan, Aldean, Church, Reba, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Young, Lee Brice, Big and Rich, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, Gloriana, Joe Nichols
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Mysteryland
When: May 23rd-26th
Where: Bethel, New York
Why Go: Rock your freshest flower crown at the birthplace of good vibrations. Set near the site of the original Woodstock Festival, Mysteryland is two days of EDM bliss featuring names as big as Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, Kaskade and Moby. And where, say, Electric Daisy Carnival takes place at either a speedway (Vegas) or parking lot (New York), Mysteryland takes place amid miles of scenic, rolling hills.
15 Must-See Acts: Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Nicky Romero, Seth Troxler, Flosstradamus, Dillon Francis, Moby, the Chainsmokers, Dvbbs, Sick Individuals, Pete Tong, Lee Curtiss, Carl Craig, Josh Wink, DJ Sneak
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Movement Electronic Music Festival
Where: Detroit, Michigan
When: May 24th-26th
Why Go: Now in its 14th edition, Movement is a valentine to the birthplace of techno and attracts over 100,000 revelers every Memorial Day weekend. Among the 100-plus performers on tap for 2014 are enigmatic revolutionaries Underground Resistance, minimalist pioneer Richie Hawtin and Baauer of "Harlem Shake" fame. Later on, auxiliary parties at nightclubs and warehouses around the city will keep the city in motion from dusk till dawn.
15 Must-See Acts: Robert Hood, Underground Resistance, Hawtin, Seth Troxler, Baauer, Just Blaze, Stacey Pullen, Dixon, Jeff Mills, Metro Area, John Digweed, Mike Huckaby, the Martinez Brothers, Carl Craig, Lee Foss
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Sasquatch!
Where: George, Washington
When: May 23rd-25th
Why Go: Sasquatch!'s Gorge Amphitheatre might provide the most beautiful scenery of any summer music festival. Situated on the Columbia River three hours outside of Seattle, festival-goers might have some trouble keeping their eyes on the stage during the daytime – the neighboring Cascade Range and endless blue skies are an eyeful – so headliners Outkast, Queens of the Stone Age, M.I.A. and the National are fortunate to be going on at night.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Queens of the Stone Age, M.I.A., the National, Kid Cudi, Haim, Major Lazer, Cut Copy, Chance the Rapper, Gesaffelstein, Rudimental, Tune-Yards, Panda Bear, Parquet Courts, Deafheaven
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Summerstage
When: June 3rd – August 23th
Where: New York City, New York
Why Go: Where most of the festivals on this list work as an escape from everyday life – a few days of carnival to help you make it through weeks of boredom – Summerstage is the opposite, a series of free concerts and theatrical performances that liven parks across the boroughs for the entire summer. Highlights are many and vary based on zip code, but Chuck Chillout in the Bronx, Mobb Deep in Queens, Joe Bataan in Staten Island, Beck at Central Park and the Frankie Knuckles tribute in Brooklyn will likely all kill.
15 Must-See Acts: Beck, Mobb Deep, Mykki Blanco, Chuck Chillout & DJ Brucie B, Bataan, Ana Tijoux, Ty Dolla $ign, Blood Orange, Andrew Bird, Chronixx, Rock Steady Crew, Conor Oberst, Lisette Melendez, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Fania All Stars
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CMA Music Festival
When: June 5th-18th
Where: Nashville, Tennessee
Why Go: Started in 1972 as a way to entertain the fans who were crashing the CMA's fall radio convention, this summer festival gets its rep from both its performances (featuring all the biggest stars in Nashville) and its autograph booths, where those same stars often spend hours signing merch and cheesing for photos with fans from around the country. In between, head over to the Country Music Hall of Fame to get a first look at the museum's recent expansion.
15 Must-See Acts: Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, the Band Perry, Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Keith Urban
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The Governors Ball
When: June 6th-8th
Where: Randall’s Island, New York City, New York
Why Go: The biggest festival in New York City ignores all pre-conceived notions about genre. Expect performances from the biggest names in rap, pop, folk, metal, EDM and whatever Grimes considers herself – and that’s just Day One.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Jack White, Axwell, Disclosure, TV on the Radio, Grimes, Earl Sweatshirt, Damon Albarn, Neko Case, Run the Jewels, Phoenix, Jenny Lewis, AlunaGeorge, Janelle Monae, Sleigh Bells
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Bonnaroo
When: June 12th-15th
Where: Manchester, Tennessee
Why Go: This one is gonna make headlines – whether it's the dawn of Elton John and Lionel Ritchie's "cool phase," the first Skrillex "SuperJam" or the controversial return of Kanye West to the home of his ill-fated 4:40 a.m. performance. But even if you're not feeling the headliners – or any headliners – Bonnaroo remains the most diverse of the big-ticket festivals, and you can spend a weekend with metal bands (Meshuggah, Mastodon), African legends (Master Musicians of Jajouka, Seun Kuti), EDM heavyweights (Kaskade, Zedd) or just watch Hannibal Buress at the comedy tent.
15 Must-See Acts: Kanye West, Skrillex, Frank Ocean, Jack White, Mastodon, Zedd, Disclosure, Janelle Monae, Danny Brown, Pusha T, the Flaming Lips, Elton John, Master Musicians of Jajouka, Phoenix, Damon Albarn
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Warped Tour
When: June 11th – August 3rd
Where: Anchorage (AL), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Dallas (TX), Albuquerque (NM), Mesa (AZ), Las Vegas (NV), Pomona (CA), Mountain View (CA), Ventura (CA), Chula Vista (CA), Wheatland (CA), Southeast Auburn (WA), Portland (OR), Maryland Heights (MO), Noblesvilles (IN), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QC), Holmdel (NJ), Darien Center (NY), Scranton (PA), Mansfield (MA), Camden (NJ), Wantagh (NY), Hartford (CT), Burgettstown (PA), Cincinatti (OH), Cuyahoga Falls (OH), Auburn Hills (MI), Tinley Park (IL), Shakopee (MN), Columbia (MD), Virginia Beach (VA), Atlanta (GA), St. Petersburg (FL), West Palm Beach (FL), Orlando, Charlotte (NC), Nashville (TN), Milwaukee (WI), Bonner Springs (KS), Salt Lake City (UT), Denver (CO)
Why Go: The annual summer staple remains wildly popular among tweens and still primarily features alternative, punk and hardcore bands, though it has placed a heavier emphasis on electronic acts in recent years. The relatively inexpensive festival is also a great place to meet band members, who sometimes staff their own merch tents.
15 Must-See Acts: We Are the In Crowd, Every Time I Die, Less Than Jake, Parkway Drive, the Devil Wears Prada, K.Flay, Watsky, 3OH!3, All Time Low, Anberlin, Saves the Day, the Maine, Vanna, Yellowcard, Breathe Carolina
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Northside Festival
When: June 12th-15th
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Why Go: Northside (named for the general swath of Brooklyn in which it takes place) sits precariously between two festival poles – mega-priced behemoth with behemoth bands to match vs. Hunger Games for maybe-up-maybe-coming buzz bands – without ever really being either. Mixed in with Brooklyn festival mainstays like Beirut (who more or less play Northside every year) and Titus Andronicus (from New Jersey, but basically qualifying) are the likes of Syrian artist Omar Souleyman and Canadian composer Mas Ysa. Even better, several shows, including Chvrches on the 15th, are free or all-ages – and the festival’s relatively small size means you still might actually get to see them.
15 Must-See Acts: Beirut, Titus Andronicus, Omar Souleyman, Sharon Van Etten, Talib Kweli, Mas Ysa, Chvrches, Big Ups, Eleanor Friedberger, Low Fat Getting High, Perfect Pussy, Pharmakon, Yvette, Washer, Beach Fossils
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Firefly
When: June 19th-22nd
Where: Dover, Delaware
Why Go: Firefly has a pretty uncontroversial lineup (who doesn’t like Weezer?) but they put particular emphasis on the overall festival-going experience. With a farmer’s market for campers, an arcade, a silent disco, a woodland light installation and a zone reserved specifically for napping in hammocks, you may actually forget that you came for the bands.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Jake Bugg, Ziggy Marley, Childish Gambino, Sky Ferreira, Son Lux, Pretty Lights, Sleigh Bells, Tune-Yards, Martin Garrix, A-Trak, Band of Horses
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Electric Daisy Carnival
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
When: June 20th-22nd
Why Go: With last year’s attendance topping 300,000 and DJs like Avicii, Calvin Harris and Skrillex all performing, EDC has become a rite of passage for the EDM generation. The 2014 festival sold out in days even though Insomniac Events hasn’t announced the lineup yet.
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Milwaukee Summerfest
When: June 25th-29nd, July 1st-6th
Where: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Why Go: Older than Woodstock, Summerfest has been hosting big names and bigger crowds since 1968, and this year's edition features 800 acts scheduled across 11 days. The pricing structure, meanwhile, is reasonable and convenient, with full badges going for 70 dollars and single day passes ranging from six dollars (for seniors and children) to sixteen (for everyone else). The biggest names – this year, Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley, Bruno Mars and Outkast – play in the waterfront Marcus Amphitheater at events that are ticketed separately.
15 Must-See Acts: Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley, Bruno Mars, Outkast, Paramore, Usher, Ludacris, Phoenix, the Hold Steady, Arctic Monkeys, Kip Moore, Nas, B.o.B., Zac Brown Band, Babe Ruth
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Essence Fest
When: July 3rd-6th
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
Why Go: Now in its 20th year and hosted by Essence magazine, this is arguably the biggest black music festival in the country, with over 400,000 people attending its dozens of performances and "Empower U" workshops. The biggest headliner is none other than Prince, who will be taking over the main stage to perform old hits, jam with Nile Rodgers and "launch Essence's first-ever hackathon."
15 Must-See Acts: Prince, Nile Rodgers, Mary J. Blige, the Roots, Jill Scott, Lionel Richie, Charlie Wilson, Erykah Badu, Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle, Estelle, Robert Glasper, August Alsina, Sevyn Streeter, Stephanie Mills
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Rockstar Mayhem Festival
When: July 5th – August 10th
Where: San Bernardino (CA), Mountain View (CA), Auburn (WA), Nampa (ID), Phoenix (AZ), Albuquerque (NM), Denver (CO), Morrison (CO), Maryland Heights (MO), Clarkston (MI), Milwaukee (WI), Noblesville (IN), Tinley Park (IL), Mansfield (MA), Saratoga Springs (NY), Toronto (ON), Burgettstown (PA), Hartford (CT), Darien Center (NY), Wantagh (NY), Camden (NJ), Scranton (PA), Bristow (VA), Atlanta (GA), Oklahoma City (OK), Dallas (TX), the Woodlands (TX)
Why Go: With Avenged Sevenfold headlinging and Korn playing directly beforehand, this one is going to get loud. It might not be very rockstar, but earplugs aren't a bad idea for those who want to catch early acts like Suicide Silence (touring for the first time since the death – motorcycle accident – of frontman Mitch Lucker), mosh to the later ones and still be able hear their buddies scream about how awesome it all was on the drive home.
15 Must-See Acts: Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Asking Alexandria, Trivium, Cannibal Corpse, Body Count, Suicide Silence, Miss May I, Mushroomhead, Emmure, Veil of Maya, Ill Nino, Texas Hippie Coalition, Veil of Maya, Upon a Burning Body
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Forecastle
When: July 18th-20th
Where: Louisville, Kentucky
Why Go: As the headliners – Jack White, Beck, Outkast – suggest, Forecastle is a festival for alt-country and Americana fans who aren't afraid of a little pop. That perspective makes the lineup here relatively unique, with artists like Dwight Yoakam, Sharon Jones, Hayes Carll, Action Bronson and Waxahatchee all performing on the shore of the Ohio River.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Jack White, Beck, Spoon, Against Me!, Yoakam, Jones, Carll, Waxahatchee, Gary Clark Jr., Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jason Isbell, the Replacements, Jenny Lewis, Charli XCX
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Pitchfork Music Festival
Where: Chicago, Illinois
When: July 18th-20th
Why Go: Pitchfork Music Fest provides an opportunity to see the most hyped-up bands of the year (and often the decade) in one weekend. If you’ve ever considered yourself a part of an artist’s cult following, this is where you’ll meet your fellow members.
15 Must-See Artists: Kendrick Lamar, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beck, Giogio Moroder, St. Vincent, Grimes, Danny Brown, Tune-Yards, Pusha T, Sharon Van Etten, Neneh Cherry, Deafheaven, Cloud Nothings, Kelela, DJ Rasah & DJ Spinn
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Gathering of the Juggalos
When: July 23rd-27th
Where: Thornville, Ohio
Why Go: The Gathering has always felt like a family reunion, and the combination of Twiztid's recent Pyschopathic Records departure and the festival's exodus from its old Illinois home should make this year's edition particularly sentimental – at least until the music starts. Facepainted favorites like Tech N9ne, Blaze Ya Dead Homie and of course, hosts Insane Clown Posse will all make sure that the crowd stays on edge and amped up.
15 Must-See Acts: Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Tech N9ne, Dark Lotus, Da Mafia 6ix, Psychopathic Rydas, Anybody Killa, Kottonmouth Kings, Hopsin, Boondox, Legz Diamond and the Purple Gang, Wolfpac, Big Hoodoo, Dizzy Wright, Mike E. Clark
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Merge 25
When: July 23-26th
Where: Durham, North Carolina
Why Go: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the indie that put out notable records by Arcade Fire, Spoon, Magnetic Fields and Superchunk (whose Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance in fact founded the label), a handful of its best and brightest are performing at the four-day Merge 25 fest in Durham and Carrboro, North Carolina. Among the many confirmed artists, Neutral Milk Hotel, Teenage Fanclub, Bob Mould, Imperial Teen and, of course, Superchunk, will perform, and indie rockers Lambchop will play their 2000 Merge touchstone Nixon in its entirety.
15 Must-See Acts: Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Mould, Imperial Teen, Lambchop, Wye Oak, the Clientele, Destroyer, Ex Hex, the Mountain Goats, the Love Language, Eleanor Friedberger, Caribou, Reigning Sound
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Newport Folk Festival
When: July 25th-27th
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Why Go: Fort Adams' bayside location makes Newport Folk the most temperate festival you’ll attend this summer, guaranteed. The lineup for 2014 may be the best (and most eclectic) the festival has had in years, with a mix of fresh-faced local groups and seasoned national vets playing on a stage that comes pre-equipped with its own rich musical history. Newport is back on the must-see list.
Must-See Artists: Jeff Tweedy, Reignwolf, Mavis Staples, Jimmy Cliff, Robert Hunter, the Lonesome Trio, Lake Street Dive, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Band of Horses, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Deer Tick, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Jenny Lewis, Valerie June
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Mad Decent Block Party
When: July 26th – September 21st
Where: Ft. Lauderdale (FL), Atlanta (GA), Washington, D.C., Norfolk (VA), Philadelphia (PA), Brooklyn (NY), Boston (MA), Toronto (ON), Detroit (MI), Las Vegas (NV), Denver (CO), Nashville (TN), New Orleans (LA), New Braunfels (TX), Dallas (TX), Calgary (AB), Phoenix (AZ), Los Angeles (CA), San Diego (CA), Berkeley (CA), Eugene (OR), Vancouver (BC)
Why Go: Kids come for the names like Diplo and Dillon Francis but dance just as much to the artists they otherwise might never have heard. The lineup changes from city-to-city, but make sure you arrive early enough to catch sets from people like soca superstar Bunji Garlin, Mexican genre-fuser Toy Selectah and Philly club DJs Sega and Swizzymack.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Diplo, Garlin, Fatboy Slim, Dillon Francis, Chance the Rapper, DJ Sega, DJ Swizzymack, Riff Raff, Sleigh Bells, Toy Selectah, Walshy Fire, A$AP Ferg, Dan Deacon, DJ Snake
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Gathering of the Vibes
When: July 31st – August 3rd
Where: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Why Go: There are a handful of festivals keeping the Northeast both weird and intoxicated, but none do it quite as successfully as the Gathering of the Vibes, the jam band spectacular that was founded in 1996 as a way to cope with the passing of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. This year's festival includes not only Dead tribute wizards Dark Star Orchestra but also a Disco Biscuits set that will include former Dead members Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.
15 Must-See Acts: The Disco Biscuits, John Fogerty, Dark Star Orchestra, Widespread Panic, Ziggy Marley, Umphrey's McGee, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Maceo Parker, Rusted Root, Widespread Panic, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Moe., Rodrigo y Gabriela, Keller William's Grateful Grass, Slightly Stoopid
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Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
When: August 1st-3rd
Where: Montreal, Quebec
Why Go: Sharing a weekend and a handful of artists with Lollapalooza, Osheaga is one of Canada's best music festivals, held in the middle of summer at Montreal’s scenic Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. Though headlining acts are split between two adjacent stages, none of their sets overlap, so it’s still possible to see every big name perform.
15 Must-See Acts: Outkast, Jack White, Skrillex, Haim, Lorde, the Replacements, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Modest Mouse, Lykke Li, Chromeo, Chvrches, Sbtrkt, Tiga, Against Me!, Danny Brown
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Newport Jazz Fest
When: August 1st-3rd
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Why Go: Newport Jazz Festival consistently keeps it real for its core fanbase. For its 60th anniversary, the 2014 edition mixes of respected acts with rising stars in the jazz world, bringing Bobby McFerrin, Vijay Iyer, Dr. John and Ravi Coltrane to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
15 Must-See Acts: Iyer, Dr. John, Coltrane, McFerrin, David Sanborn, Wynton Marsalis, Trombone Short and Orleans Avenue, David Sanborn & Joey DeFrancesco, Robert Glasper, John Zorn's Masada Marathon, Miguel Zenón, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Darcy James Argue, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Dave Holland
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Lollapalooza
When: August 1st-3rd
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why Go: Beneath the stodgy expected acts (a bingo card’s worth of EDM names, another Outkast reunion that may or may not troll casuals, Kings of Leon) are a couple a little more interesting: UK dance newcomer Duke Dumont, budding songwriters Meg Myers and Courtney Barnett, outre-leaning but still festival-friendly acts like Blood Orange and Run the Jewels.
15 Must-See Acts: Eminem, Outkast, Skrillex, Duke Dumont, Lorde, Krewella, Courtney Barnett, Blood Orange, Run the Jewels, Sebastian Ingrosso, the Avett Brothers, Rudimental, Parquet Courts, Lykke Li, Rich Homie Quan
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HARD Summer
When: August 2nd-3rd
Where: South El Monte, California
Why Go: Hard Summer earns its name with aggressive acts like DJ Snake, Kill the Noise, Nero and Flosstradamus but deserves golf claps for complimenting them with deeper DJs like London's Maya Jane Coles and New York house-heads the Martinez Brothers. And after spending last year in the shadow of Dodger Stadium, 2014's event is moving 10 miles east to the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, which will provide room for a fifth stage and a few thousand more fans.
15 Must-See Acts: Axwell, Jack U (Skrillex and Diplo), A$AP Mob, Tiësto, Disclosure, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, DJ Snake, Seth Troxler, the Martinez Brothers, Martin Garrix, A-Trak, Coles, Clockwork, DJ Sliink
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OVO Fest
When: August 4th-5th
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Why Go: With Outkast as an announced co-headliner, OVO Fest could be subtitled "Drake and his Amazing Friends." The Canadian superstar has a reputation for inviting his fellow rap monarchs to his annual homecoming: Last year’s installment featured surprise appearances from Kanye West and TLC as well as performances from his cohorts in Lil Wayne’s Young Money squad. Full lineup to come.
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Outside Lands
When: August 8th-10th
Where: San Francisco, California
Why Go: Kanye and Tom Petty aside, Outside Lands deserves a pat on the back for its uncanny ability to pick the massive headliners of tomorrow and give them a captive audience. If you don’t know Mikal Cronin, Watsky or Gold Panda yet, you will – and they’ll be here first.
15 Must-See Acts: Kanye West, Petty, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Tiësto, the Killers, Disclosure, Duck Sauce, Kacey Musgraves, Sbtrkt, Death Cab for Cutie, Warpaint, Arctic Monkeys, Haim, Capital Cities, Cronin
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Bumbershoot
When: August 30th – September 1st
Where: Seattle, Washington
Why Go: 2014’s lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but last year’s was rather strong: Death Cab for Cutie performing Transatlanticism, Kendrick Lamar, Tegan and Sara just off Heartthrob, gossamer duo Tamaryn, Heart (yes, that Heart.) The festival tends to lean more toward local Seattle acts, less toward the obvious.
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Made in America
When: August 30th-31st
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California
Why Go: The third edition of Jay Z’s Budweiser-sponsored festival will take place in L.A. as well as its native Philadelphia this Labor Day weekend, making it the first event to "run simultaneously on both coasts." Does that mean Jay Hova will be in two places at once? We don’t know yet because lineups haven’t been released, but last year brought Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Calvin Harris, Nine Inch Nails and Kendrick Lamar.
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Hopscotch
When: September 4th-6th
Where: Raleigh, North Carolina
Why Go: Now entering it's fifth year of taking over a dozen-or-so venues in Raleigh, Hopscotch is a whimsical, weird festival that's full of alt-rock big names – headliners include Spoon, Mastodon, St. Vincent and Sun Kil Moon. But the organizers here are experts at subverting the usual fest fare: This year you can also catch drone pioneer Tony Conrad, art-rapper Open Mike Eagle, no-wave weirdos Guerilla Toss and the 14-drummer performance of IIII.
15 Must-See Acts: St. Vincent, Sun Kil Moon, Spoon, Mastodon, Jamie xx, Conrad, Lunice, IIII, Thurston Moore, White Lung, Open Mike Eagle, Nguzunguzu, Mark McGuire, Guerilla Toss, How to Dress Well
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Riot Fest
Where: Chicago, Illinois
When: September 12th-14th
Why Go: Celebrating its 10th anniversary with offshoots in Toronto and Denver, Riot Fest may not get the same buzz as Lollapalooza or Pitchfork, but it holds its own among Chicago festivals. Although the lineup hasn’t been announced yet, last year’s bill featured the Replacements, Blondie and Bad Religion and alternative rappers Atmosphere and Dessa.
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Virgin Freefest
When: Mid-September
Where: Columbia, Maryland
Why Go: The name doesn't lie – this one only costs money if you want to eat concessions or buy merch. The lineup hasn't been announced yet, but if it's as good as last years – Vampire Weekend, Robin Thicke, Chvrches, Sky Ferreira, Kaskade and more – you might end up doing the latter. The venue, meanwhile, is one of the best in the country, featuring both an expansive lawn for casual listening and bleachers for those who want to get close to the action.
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TomorrowWorld
When: September 26th-28th
Where: Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia
Why Go: People love Belgium's Tomorrowland (last year an American raver told us that his prep for the weekend of shirtless fist-pumping included months of gym work-outs), but spin-off TomorrowWorld provides an option that will likely be both equally loud and a few thousand miles closer to home. The lineup has yet to be announced, but expect to hear EDM's biggest names playing EDM's biggest hits in the middle of an fantasy environment reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland's 2010 Tim Burton remix.
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Electric Zoo
When: August 29th-31st
Where: New York City, New York
Why Go: After two fans in their early twenties died of drug overdoses on the second day of the 2013 edition, this festival's future seemed in question. But the show will go on, with festival promoters promising increased medical and security procedures to "provide fans the safest possible experience."
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Rock the Bells
When: TBD
Where: TBD
Why Go: With performances from Kendrick Lamar, YG, a reunited Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Odd Future, the 2013 Rock the Bells featured one of the festival's strongest lineups. Unfortunately, a feuding, partially assembled Wu-Tang Clan and canceled tour dates in New York and Washington D.C. marred the festival’s tenth anniversary. Though plans for a 2014 edition haven’t been announced, expect this celebration of hip-hop culture to bounce back this year.