by: Cullen Ronan
Every summer, a plethora of music festivals make their way around the United States. If you’re in within close proximity or have some frequent flyer miles saved up, there are certainly some great destinations to check out for all those out there who have festival fever.
Summerfest Milwaukee: June 28 – July 9, 2017 (Milwaukee, WI)
“The World’s Largest Music Festival” is back again, and for over 50 years it has supplied the state of Wisconsin with more than a generous amount of live music. 11 full days of festivities bring over 800 bands to Milwaukee’s lakefront 75-acre Henry Maier Festival Park to play in front of over 900,000 yearly attendees. This year’s lineup also features a large amount of firepower, including Paul Simon, Luke Bryan, and Pink. Each day brings a new experience, so you can be sure that you are getting a unique outdoor festival experience.
Lollapalooza: August 3 – Aug 6 (Chicago, IL)
Lollapalooza’s lineup this summer proves why it’s one of the most recognizable. Spread over a three-day span in Chicago’s Grant Park, the annual festival features artists from all genres, even venturing from music with dance and comedy performances. Headlining 2017’s event includes Chance The Rapper, Muse, and Blink-182, which proves Chicago’s premier annual music event has a lineup tailored for any music fan. With an estimated 400 thousand people attending 2016’s event, we can only expect a bigger crowd for this year’s festival.
If you can’t make it to Chicago to see your favorite artists perform live, you can still stream the sets online all weekend long. Red Bull TV will broadcast sets from Thursday to Sunday, including performances from Lorde, Wiz Khalifa and Cage the Elephant. Check out the schedule and watch performances here, starting August 3 at 4:30 p.m.
Outside Lands: August 11 – August 13 (San Francisco, CA)
A festival truly crafted for fans of all generations, Outside Lands will be bringing together some of the greatest artists from the last 60 years. Atop the lineup for this year’s event, you’ll find Metallica, The Who, and A Tribe Called Quest as well as bringing together more modern artists such as Schoolboy Q and Vance Joy. This particular festival is geared towards fans of all ages, featuring not only music but beer, art, and comedy as well. In its tenth year, 2017’s Outside Lands music festival sure will keep those who have the pleasure of spending time in the Golden Gate Park rocking.
The Meadows Music and Arts Festival: September 15 – September 17 (Queens, NY)
One of New York’s biggest outdoor music festivals, held at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, the second annual Meadows Music and Arts Festival lineup surely won’t disappoint as it’s packed to the brim with the best the big apple has to offer. Some of the biggest names on this year’s bill include Jay-Z, NAS, and Action Bronson, even moving outside of hip-hop to feature sets from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, and the Gorillaz. The extremely talented lineup aside, The Meadows prides itself on the food element of a festival and also features the culinary diversity found in Queens through craft cocktails and specialty food vendors. The Meadows Music and Arts Festival will leave your palette just as satisfied as your ears.
Vans Warped Tour: June 16 – August 6 (Various Locations)
Vans Warped Tour has firmly taken the throne as alternative music’s premiere outdoor concert experience and has been bringing some of the biggest names in underground music across the country for the past 22 years. Vans Warped Tour is now the longest successfully running traveling music festival, and its cross-country appeal is unique, as it brings the concert to you. 2017’s lineup features some of the biggest names in punk and metal including Dance Gavin Dance and Silverstein, even venturing into softer territory with the return of the Plain White T’s. If you’re looking for a one-day getaway with plenty of sun, sweat, and headbanging, look no further than the Vans Warped Tour date that comes nearest you.
