Although some music festivals like Coachella and SunFest have already come and gone, there are still plenty of opportunities during the next few months to hear tunes like "Howlin' For You" by The Black Keys and catch up-and-coming acts like Grouplove and Dom.
While the festival circuit in the U.S. isn't as highly regarded as the festivals in Europe, there are still quite a few that are worthy of note. Here's our guide to the summer festival scene.
Hangout Music Festival
w May 20-22 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
w Headliners include: Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, The Black Keys and The Avett Brothers
Located just across the Florida border, the stages of Hangout sit atop white sand and come with a gulf view. While there's no on-site camping, there are condos for rent in the area. For more information visit hangoutmusicfest.com.
Krazy Fest
w May 20-22 in Louisville, Ky.
w Headliners include: Against Me!, 7 Seconds, Lucero and Cave In
Krazy Fest offers a large number of punk bands. It is heavily comparable to Gainesville's own Fest and even features a lineup one might expect to see in Gainesville in the fall. With set times that never overlap, Krazy Fest is one of the more unique festival experiences. For more information visit krazy-fest.com.
Sasquatch! Music Festival
w May 27-30 in George, Wash.
w Headliners include: Foo Fighters, Death Cab For Cutie, The Flaming Lips and The Decemberists
The Sasquatch! Music Festival takes place at The Gorge Amphitheatre, named nine-time winner of Best Outdoor Music Venue by Pollstar magazine. Its lineup boasts the largest current indie and dance acts. For more information visit sasquatchfestival.com.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
w June 9-12 in Manchester, Tenn.
w Headliners include: Eminem, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, and The Strokes
With over 170 performers in its lineup, Bonnaroo has something for everyone. It's one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., bringing comedians like Lewis Black and Donald Glover in addition to musical performers. For more information visit bonnaroo.com.
Vans Warped Tour
w June 24-Aug. 14 across U.S. and Canada
w Headliners include: Jack's Mannequin, Against Me!, Paramore, Less Than Jake and A Day To Remember
The annual Warped Tour rolls across the country each summer through humidity, rain and intense heat. The lineup changes every day to encourage concertgoers to arrive early so they don't miss their favorite bands. Not all bands will be at every stop, so vanswarpedtour.com lists which acts will be at each date. The tour will be hitting Florida from July 29-31.
Summerfest
w June 29-July 3 and July 5-10 in Milwaukee, Wis.
w Headliners include: Jack's Mannequin, Kanye West with Kid Cudi, Toby Keith, Maroon 5, Kid Rock, Wiz Khalifa, and The Flaming Lips
Summerfest advertises itself as "The World's Largest Music Festival." The fest will be held at the Marcus Amphitheater and other stages nearby. Three-day passes are only $33 if purchased in advance and more information is available at summerfest.com.
Rockstar Mayhem Festival
w July 9-Aug. 14 all over the U.S. and Canada
w Headliners include: Disturbed, Godsmack and Megadeth
This show is for heavy metal fans. Other featured acts include Machine Head, In Flames, Trivium and more. The tour will be stopping in Florida on Aug. 13-14. For more information visit rockstarmayhemfest.com.
Pitchfork Music Festival
w July 15-17 in Chicago, Ill.
w Headliners include: Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes and TV On The Radio
Pitchfork's lineup includes many of the biggest buzz bands around. While the number of artists is smaller than other festivals, the quality of acts that will perform in Union Park is on par.
Information can be found at pitchforkmusicfestival.com.
Lollapalooza
w Aug. 5-7 in Chicago, Ill.
w Headliners include: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, and My Morning Jacket
Held in Grant Park since 2005, Lollapalooza spans over 115 acres. Acts like The Cars, Cee Lo Green, Bright Eyes, Manchester Orchestra and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. will also be rocking the stage. Other activities at Lolla include sampling Chicago's best food and discovering handmade arts and crafts. For more information visit Lollapalooza.com.
