Summer 2018 Music Festivals

With warm summer days right around the corner, we’re here to get you ready for all of the upcoming music festivals you won’t want to miss. From EDM to hip-hop, rock and more, it’s time to grab your festie-bestie and start planning your next musical adventure!

Read below for a list of popular festivals & their lineups to ensure you don’t skip a beat.

Boston Calling Music Festival
Boston, MA
5/25-5/27
Boston Calling Music Festival is one of the most popular music festivals in the Northeast. Not known for its consistent weather, the Northeast isn't a common place to hold music festivals, as other areas of the country are warmer and sunnier more of the year. However, come summertime, New England hosts Boston Calling in the heart of Massachusetts's capital. Boston Calling was originally held next to Boston City Hall in downtown Boston. As the festival grew in popularity, the fall and spring lineups changed to one spring lineup at Harvard Athletic Complex in Cambridge. More room and more entertainment - Boston Calling is now a full-fledged music festival with a Ferris wheel and more. In 2018, the festival goes over Memorial Day weekend. Eminem, The Killers, and Jack White are headlining. Other notable acts include Khalid, Portugal. The Man, Tyler, The Creator, and Paramore. 

Purchase Boston Calling tickets. 

​BottleRock Festival 
Napa Valley, CA
5/25-5/27
BottleRock Festival takes the Napa Valley experience to another level with an entire music festival experience. BottleRock combines food and drink with music, and in doing so, it creates a higher-level festival that has gained popularity in recent years. BottleRock is known for its party as it's also known for its fine cuisine options and unique wine options available in Napa Valley. Therefore, BottleRock aims for a classy festival vibe with a slightly older crowd and a focus on amenities and the overall experience. Napa Valley boasts "more Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region on the globe," so BottleRock brings the reputation to light. 2018's headliners include Bruno Mars, The Killers, and Muse. Other notable acts include The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Snoop Dogg, and more. This year's BottleRock is over Memorial Day Weekend. 

Purchase BottleRock Festival tickets.

Governors Ball 
New York, NY
6/1-6/3
​​Governors Ball is held on Randall's Island running parallel to New York City's Manhattan. Randall's Island is used for a handful of major music festivals, and Governors Ball is one of the most popular. The festival began just shy of ten years ago in order to create a contemporary music festival in NYC. Due to limited space in the actual city, Randall's Island became the perfect spot separate from the business while still a transportation or bridge walk away from the bustling area. Governors Ball hosts a myriad of other activities during the festival similar to other large-scale festivals including silent discos, photo booths, and more. Street artists from around the city feature their art on the grounds, as well. The 2018 lineup includes Jack White, Travis Scott, and Eminem with other notable performances by Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Halsey, Khalid, CHVRCHES, and more. 

Purchase Governors Ball tickets. 

​Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 
Manchester, TN
6/7-6/10
​Bonnaroo is a major camping festival that owns the space for overnight music festivals. Though fans do not have to camp to enjoy Bonnaroo, it is part of the outdoor festival experience in warm and humid Tennessee. Bonnaroo is known for its dedicated music fans and an atmosphere that takes into account the nature surrounding the grounds and on the grounds, as well. The Bonnaroo activities include this theme such as yoga classes, 5ks, "The Well," and other active events that encourage Bonnaroo's mission.The eco-friendly and wholesome, healthy focus is something that Bonnaroo prides itself in. Bonnaroo is also unique because it's four days long as opposed to other festivals that are typically three days long. 2018's headliners include Eminem, The Killers, and Muse. Other stand-outs are Future, Bon Iver, Khalid, Paramore, and Dua Lipa. 

Purchase Bonnaroo tickets.  

​Firefly Music Festival
Dover, DE
6/14-6/17
​Firefly Music Festival is similar to Bonnaroo, as it's a popular camping music festival that holds earthy roots while celebrating some of the most iconic musicians on this generation. Firefly has different sections for guests' entertainment including The Brewery, The Coffee House, The Market, The Thicket, and The Nook. Each serves a different purpose whether it's music, shopping, or relaxation. Firefly is held at The Woodlands in Dover, Delaware. Firefly is also four days long, making it a longer music festival. 2018 headliners include Arctic Monkeys, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar. Other major artists include Logic, The Killers, Lil Wayne, and SZA. 

Purchase Firefly tickets. 

​Vans Warped Tour 
6/21-8/5
​After decades as alternative music's biggest touring festival, Vans Warped Tour is going on its last full-length tour run this summer. The "Final Full Cross Country Tour" embarks in late June and goes through early August. Warped Tour began in 1995 and is the largest traveling music festival in the U.S. Genres included in the tour are pop, rock, punk rock, and sometimes hip-hop. Therefore, though Warped Tour is focused on rock, other genres have certainly been included in the lineup in the past for an eclectic feel. Major artists who have performed on Warped Tour include Linkin Park, Yellowcard, Bebe Rexha, and more. In 2018, major performers include Mayday Parade, All Time Low, Simple Plan, and We the Kings. 

Purchase Vans Warped Tour tickets. 

​Lollapalooza 
Chicago, IL
8/2-8/5
​Lollapalooza is one of the most historic festivals, as it began in 1991. The original Lollapalooza is in Chicago, IL, where Lollapalooza is still held every August. However, Lollapalooza now also has some international locations, as well. Lollapalooza is held in Grant Park in the heart of Chicago. It celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2017. The lineup is a mix of everything: indie, hip-hop, rock, pop, EDM - similar to many other major music festivals across the country. In 2018, headliners are The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, and Travis Scott. Other notable performers include Logic, Post Malone, Vampire Weekend, Khalid, and more. 

Purchase Lollapalooza tickets. 

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Electric Zoo
New York, NY
8/31-9/2
​Electric Zoo is a major EDM music festival that takes place in Randall's Island in New York City. Electric Zoo began in 2009, and sister festivals have been held in Mexico City, Tokyo, and Shanghai. Each year has a theme, and 2018's is "The Big 10" after 2017's "The 6th Boro." 2018 is EZoo's 10th birthday, and the theme name resembles the 10th anniversary. Electric Zoo is over Labor Day weekend in early September. It combines the ultimate icons from all subgenres of electronic music. The party is crazier, the decorations are bolder, and the Electric Zoo experience is more electric than many other music festivals.

Buy Electric Zoo tickets.

By Jenna