The Source For Your Next Best Weekend Ever

The origin has become something of a modern myth in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.  According to most sources, the event now known as BURNING MAN began with a bonfire in the summer of 1986.  Founders Larry Harvey, Jerry James, and about 20 friends had gathered on San Francisco's Baker Beach, where they set fire to a rudimentary nine-foot wooden man.  In the beginning, there was not much thought or ambition behind the act; just a celebration of the summer solstice and a small creative twist on the standard beach bonfire. 

But something about that effigy took shape and became ritual.  In 1987, the same friends ignited a similar effigy- now with around friends in attendance.  By 1988, Larry Harvey gave the event a name and printed flyers.  The party got bigger and the word got out.  While so many other festivals strive to generate grassroots support, the earliest iterations of Burning Man were practically a textbook definition of grassroots.  Its founders didn't know exactly what it was; they just knew it was something special.

By the early '90s, Baker Beach was actively shutting down unpermitted bonfires.  But by that point, Burning Man had taken on a life of its own- by 1996, Black Rock Desert (roughly 100 miles north of Reno) became the official site, and attendance was estimated at over 8,000.

Today, Larry Harvey describes the inspiration for Burning Man as a "spontaneous act of radical self-expression."  In recent years, the festival has morphed into a non-profit organization.  The 2019 fest drew an estimated 70,000 people.  The 2020 and 2021 events were dramatically pared down due to pandemic uncertainty. But through it all, its founders remain determined to promote themes of community, self-expression and civic responsibility.

Be prepared for the heat and the dust, and come bearing gifts: Burning Man functions according to a gift economy, which means goods and services are encouraged, and money is genuinely frowned upon.

If you’re still on the fence, here’s your chance: Burning Man 2023 is scheduled to kick off- or ignite, if you will- on August 27. So dust off your headdress and get ready for the granddaddy of modern music marathons.

ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY: It’s a town with a rich musical history. Asbury’s legendary Stone Pony has been a live music landmark for 45 years. Both the Bamboozle and the Skate and Surf Festivals had roots in Asbury’s punk scene. And then of course, there’s Asbury’s unofficial classic rock ambassador- a local musician named Bruce Springsteen, whose first studio album was titled Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ.

Asbury had a long period of economic downturn- the ‘90s and early ‘00s were particularly rocky, but in recent years, this little Jersey Shore town has come roaring back. Local tourism is at its highest point in decades, and the Stone Pony hosts more big-name acts than ever before- with bands like Young The Giant, The Interrupters, The Pretenders and The Pixies making recent stops.

In September 2018, Asbury launched SEA HEAR NOW, a two-day event featuring a diverse musical bill, from arena names like Jack Johnson and Incubus, to great young alternative acts like Kaleo and Milky Chance, to legacy artists like Blondie and The English Beat. And the event made headlines when Bruce Springsteen himself jumped on stage with Social Distortion for a surprise three-song set.

That 2018 launch was an instant success in terms of both ticket sales and reception. For obvious reasons, the event took a break in 2020, but came roaring back in 2021, when Sea Hear Now hosted Pearl Jam’s first return to the post-pandemic stage, along with a co-headlining set from The Smashing Pumpkins. The 2022 lineup featured Green Day and Stevie Nicks, and once again drew a crowd of roughly 40,000 people to the sands of Asbury Park.

One big advantage to staging a festival on the shore: SEA HEAR NOW is one of the only festivals to supplement its musical bill with a roster of professional surfing. Last year’s fest hosted big names like Sam Hammer, Rob Kelly and Corey Lopez. So in between catching some great live music, ticketholders can pull up a beach chair and check out some of the world’s finest surfers.

The 2023 edition boasts the best lineup yet, with Foo Fighters and The Killers topping the bill, plus support from Weezer, The Beach Boys, Greta Van Fleet, Rebelution, Royal Blood and Mt. Joy, among others. General admission tickets sold out early, but verified resale tickets are available through the official site. Stay tuned to Fest Life Now for all the updates!

For years, the great big outdoor concert was not exactly the best place to get a good meal.  Used to be that the first, second and third order of business for a music fest was booking marquee names for the top of the bill; food and drink was an afterthought, limited to greasy burgers and light beer.  But in recent years, as foodie culture has gone mainstream, most large-scale music festivals have exploded their culinary attractions.

And now we see the launch of multi-faceted events like BOURBON & BEYOND, a weekend that literally caters to the self-appointed food and beverage critics in the audience.  Louisville, Kentucky hosts this four-day bonanza of local and national chefs, master distillers and bourbons of all kind.  Bourbon & Beyond held its inaugural year in 2017, devised by event producer Danny Wimmer, renowned Louisville chef Edward Lee, and best-selling bourbon expert Fred Minnick.  With four-day tickets starting around $300, it's a great way to sample all of the best local offerings, in a city that's already famous for food and alcohol.

And then, of course, there's some great music: The 2017 Bourbon & Beyond was headlined by Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks and the Steve Miller Band.  The 2018 edition boasted even more star wattage, with Robert Plant, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and Counting Crows all slated to perform.  (Unfortunately, heavy rains put a damper on the 2018 event, with the second day being cancelled by city planners. But these things happen, especially in the festival life.)

A third edition was held in September 2019, when the party was expanded to a three-day affair. Foo Fighters, Robert Plant, John Fogerty, ZZ Top and The Flaming Lips were just some of the acts on the bill in ‘19. Naturally, the event was sidelined in 2020 and 2021, but came roaring back in 2022.

This year, B&B has assembled its biggest lineup ever, including The Killers, The Black Keys, Blondie and Bruno Mars over four days. Tickets are still on sale through the official site, but act fast, because this is one musical lineup that's as carefully curated and rich in history as the bourbon that's being poured. 

Inspired by the concert series of the same name, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS is an eight-stage celebration in one of the most musical cities in America. Originally a one-weekend event, ACL expanded into two consecutive weekends in 2012, and continues to grow in size and reputation with each passing year. Approximately 450,000 people crossed the turnstiles last year, making it one of the most attended fests in America. 2018, for example, featured Metallica, Travis Scott, Arctic Monkeys and even some royalty- with a show-stopping set by Sir Paul McCartney. 2022 headliners included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink, Paramore and Lil Nas X.

Since its inception in 2002, ACL has been held in Zilker Park, a sprawling 350-acre site of public land. Previous years have seen festivalgoers battling heat and dust- an Indian Summer can make for a hot, sweaty October in central Texas- but weather permitting, ACL is still one of the biggest events in music.

As of 2023, weekend tickets are priced at $375, with single day tickets starting at $175. It’s definitely one of the steeper ticket prices on the calendar, but consider that it’s also one of the deepest lineups. Headliners this year include Foo Fighters, The 1975, Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers, Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette, along with over a hundred other artists. If you’ve got the dough, get your tickets here.

Ever since The Beatles filled a little venue called Shea Stadium back in 1966, live music and America’s favorite pastime have made for a pretty good coupling. For everybody who’s already planning to drop in on their favorite team’s spring training games, here’s a chance to catch a unique weekend experience that mashes up the traditional festival vibe with batting cages and home run derbies.

Innings debuted as a three-day event back in 2018, when Queens of the Stone Age, The Avett Brothers and Chris Stapleton headlined a sprawling multi-stage park in Tempe, Arizona. The idea was simple but intriguing, especially for sports fans: To launch a music festival that overlaps with the spring training events of Major League Baseball, giving fans a chance to catch a few games and a few live bands in the same trip. For every baseball fan who ever had trouble convincing their significant other to plan a vacation around a couple of pre-season exhibition games, Innings totally sweetened the deal.

The inaugural 2018 fest was an attendance success, especially by first-year standards, drawing about 33,000 fans across the three-day weekend. The 2019 event was topped by Incubus and Eddie Vedder, and drew a comparably-sized crowd, even after scaling back to a two-day affair.

The 2021 festival, like so many others, was shuttered in response to the Covid pandemic. 2022 found Innings not just roaring back, but expanding to a second destination. In February of that year, Foo Fighters and Tame Impala headlined the Tempe, Arizona event; while March brought Green Day, The Lumineers, Incubus and 311 to Tampa, to kick off the very first Florida iteration. 2023 was headlined by Green Day and Eddie Vedder, and according to local press, the event drew its biggest crowds yet. Throw in appearances by baseball legends like Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens and Gary Sheffield, and there’s truly something for everybody in your squad.

With last year’s ticket packages starting at the very reasonable daily rate of $99 (before fees), this a fantastic assembly of rock stars and sports legends at a highly affordable rate. And for snowbirds looking to beat the cold, you really can’t go wrong in either Tempe or Tampa. In true baseball spirit, it looks like a great franchise has been born. Stay tuned to Fest Life Now for 2024 details!

First launched by Vaughn Carrick’s Live Nite Events back in 2015, Reggae Rise Up is one of the best events for live reggae, roots and alternative music in the modern festival landscape. The 2015 iteration was a single-day event, held in Tampa, which featured Rebelution, Steel Pulse and Collie Buddz. Hot off the success of that blazing first year, Reggae Rise Up relocated to nearby St. Petersburg in March 2016, and has been drawing fans to scenic Vinoy Park ever since.

Expanding attendance has allowed this fest to grow to a three-day event that currently draws up to 15,000 per day. March in St. Pete’s is typically ideal in terms of weather, and this is exactly the kind of festival to put on your calendar if you’re looking for island vibes, rather than desert or forest.

The 2023 event was headlined by 311, Rebelution, Sublime With Rome, Wiz Khalifa, Dirty Heads, and Damian Marley. For extra convenience, Reggae Rise Up offers scheduling flexibility and a variety of ticket options; 2023 pricing for single day tickets started at $85, two-day tickets at $150, and three-day tickets at $215. For both diehard and casual reggae fans, that’s a highly affordable and jam-packed weekend in the sun.

We’re hoping that 2024 brings another killer lineup- without any steep ticket hikes- because this is truly one of the best deals on the calendar. Stay tuned to Fest Life Now for all the details!

Coachella:  The name alone conjures up images of glow sticks and flower-crowns.  It's a name that has become synonymous with the modern festival experience- one of the largest, most famous, and most profitable music events in the world.  From 2013 to 2015, the Indio, California event set new records for festival attendance and gross revenues.  In 2017 alone, Coachella was attended by 250,000 people and grossed $114.6 million.  Not bad for a party in the middle of the desert...

But it's been a long, strange trip for the juggernaut we know today.  In 1999, Goldenvoice heads Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen decided to assemble some of their favorite performers in dusty, rural Indio.  The inaugural year boasted some huge names- Rage Against The Machine, Beck, Tool and Morrissey, among others.  Like most large-scale live music ventures, the first year failed to turn a profit.  But the young festival's word of mouth was instantaneously positive, and Goldenvoice wisely doubled down when it could have easily dropped the curtain. The 2000 bill was topped by Pearl Jam, Oasis, and Sting. 

Long before Coachella was wildly profitable, it was the place to be for SoCal music fans.  Indio is nearly 130 miles from Los Angeles, and the weather can be notoriously hot and dry.  But Coachella was innovative and ambitious where previous festivals had been stagnate- going bigger every year, and greatly benefitting from the dawn of social media.  By the early '00s- around the same time that cellular phones were beginning to dominate the live music landscape- Coachella became the can't miss event for music fans across the West Coast. 

The success of Coachella in the early '00s proved that large-scale music festivals could be profitable as a destination, and not just a traveling roadshow.  In the years following Coachella's success, many other festivals have duplicated its business model- erecting multiple stages, hosting campsites, and spotlighting local artists.

Today, Coachella is widely considered a trendsetter in art and fashion as well as music.  Each year's lineup, generally released around the start of the new year, is scrutinized and debated with unmatched intensity.  Or as Katy Perry once said, "The lineup always introduces the best of the year for the rest of the year." 

In 2018, Beyoncé made history as the first black woman to headline in the festival's two decades. 2019’s two consecutive weekends featured Ariana Grande, Tame Impala and Childish Gambino on the top of the bill. (See our reviews from that year’s event in the Feedback Loop.)

The 2023 event brought Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean and BLACKPINK together for another hot, dusty, massively-hyped party in the desert. The 2024 edition has already been announced for the weekends of April 12- 14 and April 19-21, with plenty of fantasy lineups (and mock lineups) making the rounds online. Keep your eyes on Fest Life Now for all the updates!

New Orleans.  It's a city that lives and breathes for music, and they also know how to throw a pretty big party.  So if you're serious about music (or travel) The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival should be on your festival bucket list.  It's one of the oldest, biggest, and most diverse festivals on the scene.  And don't let the name fool you- for years, Jazz Fest has been touting huge names in rock, pop and hip hop.  Of course, you can still catch some great jazz, too- probably just a little lower on the bill. 

The festival's beginnings are as humble as jazz itself.  Way back in 1970, the New Orleans Hotel Motel Association erected four stages and a gospel tent, for a lineup topped by Duke Ellington.  Tickets cost $3 each, and 350 fans turned out.

Those numbers must seem unbelievable to anybody who's been to Jazz Fest lately.  In 2018, Jazz Fest attracted over 400,000 fans over two weekends that included 14 stages and tents, plus hundreds of unique food vendors.  That lineup was perhaps the most star-studded in the event's history:  Aerosmith, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Jack White, Lionel Richie, Beck, Jimmy Buffett, and more.  And the show is still a great value, with tickets starting at $70.

To be fair, there have been plenty of growing pains over the years.  The corporate influence is easy to see.  Transportation and waste management have struggled to keep up with the ballooning attendance rates, with mixed results.  Many of the local musicians are regulated to shorter earlier sets, while even the headlining acts have a 7PM curfew.  (That's right, 7PM.  But in true New Orleans spirit, the partying continues with private sets and nightclub gigs outside the festival grounds.)

Through it all, Jazz Fest remains one of New Orleans' central tourist attractions and economic linchpins.  Like any great festival, it's a host to all manner of musicians, artists and culinary masters. 2019 marked the 50th iteration. Unfortunately, The Rolling Stones had to pull out of their much-hyped headlining appearance, but Katy Perry, Dave Matthews Band, Chris Stapleton and Jimmy Buffet were there to pick up the slack.

After two years of Covid delays, the 2022 lineup marked a strong return to form, with The Who, The Black Crowes, Stevie Nicks and Foo Fighters all topping the bill. 2023 was topped by Ed Sheeran, but saw attendance tick down to 460,000- yes, technically a drop, after ‘22 drew almost half a million fans. Any way you slice it, this is a huge show, year after year.

The 2024 event has already been announced for April 26 to May 5. Stay tuned to Fest Life Now for all the details!

Alabama's HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL first launched in 2010, with a bill that featured Trey Anatasio, John Legend and the Zac Brown Band. The first year's attendance was marred by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, as the entire Gulf Coast suffered a grave lapse in tourism. But in recent years, as regional commerce has rebounded, Hangout has steadily grown in attendance and reputation. Today, it's widely viewed as one of the best curated fests in modern music.

Hangout began as the brainchild of local business owners Shaul Zislan and A.J. Niland. Back in 2010, Zislan named the festival after his beachfront tiki bar. Today, that tiki bar is just one of the many local businesses encompassed within the sprawling festival grounds. Interspersed between hammocks and palm trees, you'll find dance tents, volleyball nets, a pop-up wedding chapel and dozens of food trucks. And bookending the entire site are two full-sized oceanfront main stages.

Hangout typically lands on the weekend before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and mid-May on the Gulf Coast is a great time and place for live music. The weather is (usually) suited to board shorts and bikini tops, and the breeze off of the Pacific makes for an unforgettable concert atmosphere. Festivalgoers who spring for the VIP package can even watch the main stage acts from beside a beachfront swimming pool.

Now bigger than ever, Hangout generally draws up to 40,000 fans. In recent years, the bill has hosted such A-list talent as Foo Fighters, Tom Petty and The Black Keys. In recent years, the show has included a Thursday night kick-off party- a great way to catch some upcoming artists before the crowd reaches capacity.

2019 brought Hangout’s most eclectic bill yet, with Travis Scott, The Lumineers, Cardi B, Vampire Weekend, Khalid and Kygo all sharing headlining duties.

The 2023 lineup was heavier on Top 40 hits than ever, with Calvin Harris, Paramore, Sza and Red Hot Chili Peppers at the top of the bill. The last few years have seen GA, VIP and Super VIP tickets sell out early- so be sure to check Fest Life Now for all the updates!

When BOSTON CALLING launched back in 2013, it was originally staged as a bi-annual event, with over 20,000 fans attending in both May and September.  By 2016, the dueling weekends wee combined into a single three-day event, and since then, the fest has emerged as one of the best values for the ticket price.  Both Rolling Stone and Consequence of Sound recently named Boston Calling among their best-rated festivals.

One major selling point is the fest's reputation for fantastic acoustics.  Large-scale venues are sometimes plagued with spotty or inconsistent sound; that's not the case at Boston Calling.  Since 2017, the event has been hosted at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, Massachusetts, and sound clarity is stronger than ever.

Plus, the fest has the distinction of counting Aaron Dessner, lead guitarist for The National, as one of its curators.  So while some major festivals have become increasingly pop- and EDM-heavy in recent years, Boston Calling is still one of the most reliable bills for sheer musical chops.  2018 headliners included Jack White, The Killers and Eminem, with Queens of the Stone Age, Paramore and St. Vincent also on the bill. 2019 featured Travis Scott, Tame Impala and Twenty One Pilots on top of the bill.

After two years of Covid rescheduling, Boston Calling 2022 brought together The Strokes, Metallica, and Foo Fighters, for a sensational return to form. 2023 saw the return of Foo Fighters, along with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Paramore and Queens of the Stone Age. With 2024 already set for May 24 - 26, you can be sure that Fest Life Now will be all over this show with regular updates.

New York City is a scene with virtually unlimited live music options.  But in a town that's famously short on real estate and high on traffic, staging a large-scale music festival is no easy feat.  

New York City's Governors Ball, first held on June 18, 2011, began as a one-day event, originally headlined by Girl Talk and Empire of the Sun. Even with a relatively low-fi bill, Governors Ball 2011 amassed the highest attendance out of any event in the history of Governors Island. 

By 2012, Governors Ball expanded into a two-day event, with headlining sets by Beck, Modest Mouse, and Kid Cudi.  Due to almost instantaneous high ticket demand and strong word of mouth, the fest was moved to Randall's Island, where it has been held every year since.  And with New York's indie music scene as vibrant as ever, some of the biggest names on the bill are also some of the most centrally located.  Recent years have seen sets from hometown acts like The Strokes, Interpol, and Vampire Weekend.

2018 saw headlining acts by Eminem, Jack White, and a much-hyped reunion set by New York City's own Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  2019’s bill included Florence + The Machine, Tyler The Creator, Lil Wayne, Nas, Major Lazer and The 1975. By 2023, the Ball bill had essentially gone full hip-hop, with Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar topping the bill, and yet another venue move to Corona Park in Flushing Meadows.

The 2024 edition has yet to be announced, but sources already point to an early June

When it launched in 2002, Bonnaroo quickly earned a reputation as one of America’s destination festivals- even if that destination is a muggy summer weekend in the middle of rural Tennessee.  With its late-night set times, ramshackle campgrounds, and a bill that's heavy on folk rock and jam bands, Bonnaroo styles itself as a shaggier homier alternative to the hipster traffic jams of, say, Coachella.

Hard to believe that as recently as 2002, America has relatively short on multi-day music festivals.  In the past 17 years, many promising fests have quickly sprung up only to quickly disappear. (Anybody remember Virgin Fest?)  But Bonnaroo has risen straight to the top of the pack by packaging music with a sense of earthy adventure.  A lot of fests promise a natural vibe, but Bonnaroo has made the campground experience an essential part of its brand.

And wisely so.  By focusing on jam-rock headliners like Dave Matthews, Phish and The Black Crowes, Bonnaroo attracted legions of tie-dyed, camp-friendly fans.  Most of those fans know exactly what they're getting here- a few days in the green, grassy wild, rather than warm beers in an amphitheater setting.  In recent years, the lineup has expanded to include a more eclectic array of music, but the grassroots vibe is still very much in the air.

The 2019 edition was headlined by Childish Gambino, Post Malone and The Lumineers. 2020 and 2021, of course, saw a Covid-related monkey wrench, but 2022 brought Bonnaroo roaring back, with Tool, Stevie Nicks and J. Cole on top of the bill. 2023 featured three incredible headlining sets by Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, and Odesza, and over a hundred acts filling out the bill.

The 2024 edition has already been set for June 16 - 19 of next summer, so keep it here for lineup details when they finally drop!

Since its inception in 1995, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL has been known as "the party with a purpose."  The fest began as a one-off party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence Magazine- but the initial response was so strong that organizers quickly realized they had a cultural event on their hands.

Today, Essence Fest is one of the largest events celebrating African-American culture in the United States.  With so many large-scale festivals geared toward pop, rock, country and EDM, Essence has demonstrated the power of counter-programming great music to an underserved audience.  And in recent years, Essence has not only drawn the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, but some of the biggest names in music, period.  Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Kanye West and Beyoncé are just some of the superstars to have topped recent bills.

Since 1994, Essence has been held in New Orleans- with the exception of 2006, as the aftermath from Hurricane Katrina moved the fest to Houston.  Attendance in recent years has been estimated at over 40,000. And if you’re still on the fence, consider that Essence is probably the first music festival since Woodstock to get its own blockbuster movie- it was the setting of the 2017 comedy Girls Trip.

Essence 2023 returned to the Ceasars Superdome, with the kind of talent that most major festivals would kill for, including Megan Thee Stallion and Ms Lauryn Hill. The 2024 event has already been booked for July, so keep your eyes on Fest Life Now for all the upcoming details!

Pitchfork has at least one advantage over your average music festival: they're a brand with built-in music cred.  You probably know them as "The Most Trusted Name In Music."  (And it's still hard to know whether their website's tagline is supposed to carry a degree of sarcasm, since their reviews can be a little snarky.)

One thing's for sure: the organizers behind Pitchfork's Chicago-based festival are just as discriminate as their reviewers, in a good way.  The lineup is always diverse, the local acts get plenty of exposure, and the acoustics are usually a cut above your standard outdoor live show.  Plus, Pitchfork generally offers a two- or three-week head start on Lollapalooza, and the difference between July and August can sometimes be a few precious degrees of summer humidity.

While Lollapalooza usually outshines in terms of sheer musical starpower, Pitchfork's bill tends to favor critical darlings and cult favorites.  So expect a leaner, slightly older crowd than Lolla.  Last year's headliners included Tame Impala, Lauryn Hill, and Fleet Foxes.  You may not recognize every single act on the bill.  But you can be sure that each one was very carefully selected (and Pitchfork approved) for your listening pleasure.

The 2019 festival returned to Chicago with a lineup that was full of genuine curveballs. In addition to indie darlings like HAIM, Belle & Sebastian and Stereolab, there were performances by seasoned artists like The Isley Brothers, Neneh Cherry and Mavis Staples.

The 2023 event boasted its most intriguing bill yet, with acclaimed acts like The Smile, Perfume Genius, Big Thief and Bon Iver topping the bill, and a crowd over 60,000. That’s a huge audience for a lot of artists that are still generally considered underrated or under the radar.

So here’s your chance to say you saw the next great indie band back when they were cool: 2024 hasn’t been officially announced yet, but keep it here for all of the upcoming details.

If Woodstock is the once and future king, then Lollapalooza is at least the godfather of the modern American music festival. No other event- probably not even Coachella- has shaped the industry in the way that Perry Farrell's brainchild has. Amazingly, the institution known as Lollapalooza was never supposed to be anything but a couple of farewell shows for Jane's Addiction. That farewell turned out to be anything but. Over 30 years later, Jane's is still occasionally active, and Lollapalooza is a global phenomenon.

The festival began as a sort of traveling circus.  Jane's Addiction had decided to call it quits, and instead of going quietly, they brought some of their own favorite bands on the road in the summer of 1991.  The first iteration of Lollapalooza featured Nine Inch Nails, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Body Count, along with virtual reality attractions, tattoo artists and sideshow performers.  Farrell envisioned the fest as a psychedelic version of Barnum & Bailey's caravan.  In the early '90s, there was nothing else like it: Gibby Haynes from The Butthole Surfers regularly fired a shotgun full of blanks at their crowds- and somehow, the show went on.

By all accounts, the first Lollapalooza tour was wildly makeshift and hastily planned.  But ticket sales were unexpectedly strong.  And by 1992, Lollapalooza returned with a ticket that included Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Red Hot Chili Peppers.  By the mid '90s, Lollapalooza was a juggernaut- rising in prominence in sync with the explosion of the alternative rock scene.

By 1997, ticket sales began to ebb, along with the overall strength of the alternative rock scene.  Lollapalooza would stay dormant for the next few years, rebooting as a national tour in 2003, and ultimately as a single-weekend  event in Chicago in 2005.

Today, Lollapalooza Chicago attracts some of the biggest names is music, and over 160,000 fans from around the world.  And in recent years, the festival has branched into a global franchise, with annual Lollapaloozas held in Chile, Brazil, Argentina and France.

And as of this writing, Chicago is still the epicenter of the Lollapalooza universe. Producers have announced that the 2024 edition will return to Grant Park in August, with a lineup expected to drop in early spring.

If you're looking for the outdoor festival experience with a bill that's heavy on modern hip-hop, AFROPUNK should be at the top of your list.  The festival that began in Brooklyn in 2005 has since expanded around the world — to Paris, Johannesburg, London and Atlanta.  But even as the brand stretches out to a global audience, Afropunk continues to attract a core audience of loyal scenesters .

Beyond the constellation of large-scale live-music events, Afropunk is a brand that seeks to capture the global black experience.  One 2018 festivalgoer’s t-shirt summed it up best: it’s where the global majority comes to see and be seen, to speak loudly and proudly, to resist and party — and, most of all, to make the future.

The 2019 event was held at Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene.  Headliners included Erykah Badu, Tyler The Creator, Miguel and Janelle Monae, with support from The Internet, Twin Shadow, Ibeyi, H.E.R., Daniel Caesar, Lolawolf, Jaden Smith, Willow Smith, Trash Talk, The Fever 333, Denzel Curry, Smino, Jamila Woods, Jessie Reyes and many more.  In continuing the annual tradition of giving each year a distinctly different theme, the 2019 festival was a celebration of resistance.

The 2022 edition found Afropunk moving to Miami, with huge success in both admissions and reception. In 2023, the event returned to Brooklyn, with Joey Bada$$, Teyana Taylor, and Tobe Nwigwe lighting up the Greenpoint Terminal Market. When the 2024 bill drops, Fest Life Now will be the first ones to let you know!

If you're feeling just a tad burned out on the big corporate event companies that program most of the major festivals, look no further than New Jersey's Shadow Of The City.  This single-day event is a perfect chance to catch great rising pop-rock acts.  It's also a great way to experience the breathtaking revitalization of Asbury Park, a town rich in musical history.  And if you're a fan of bands like fun. or Bleachers, this is definitely your show: Shadow Of The City is created and curated by indie rock hero Jack Antonoff.

Back in 2015, Antonoff hatched Shadow of the City as a way to celebrate and revisit his New Jersey roots.  The first edition was capped at 5,000 ticket sales, with eight artists on the bill, including Charli XCX, MisterWives and Cults.  Over the last three years, Shadow of The City has steadily grown in profile, hosting trendsetters like The 1975, BORNS and Carly Rae Jepsen.  And one nice little tradition: three of the four years have been headlined by Bleachers.  If you only know them from their alt-radio hits, buy a ticket and take the ride.  Bleachers are an effervescent and dynamic live band, and Shadow of The City has become something of an annual homecoming.

Even as this fest rises in prominence, Shadow of the City remains a family affair.  In previous years, Antonoff and his family members have participated in a charity dunk tank.  In 2016, his previous band Steel Train reunited for a one-off performance.  And since he's co-written music with so many huge names (including Taylor Swift, Lorde and St. Vincent) it goes without saying that Antonoff brings a serious eye for talent.  Even if you don't recognize every name on the SOTC bill, you can be sure that the artists are worth watching. 

It's a little bit like early Lollapalooza- if Perry Farrell had stayed local and kept Jane's Addiction on top of the lineup. Here's hoping that Shadow of the City doesn't explode or expand too fast. As of now, it's a great little party at a very nice ticket price, and still feels like a homegrown experience. The 2021 event brought a rollicking headlining set from Bleachers, which was the last time Shadow of the City came through.

2022 and 2023 were off years- presumably, due to all the time that Bleachers spent on the road over the past two summers. But Antonoff has already been teasing the festival’s imminent return on social media. All signs point to 2024 being the year, and Fest Life Now will be the first ones to break the news when it happens!

When Dover, Delaware hosted the inaugural FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL back in July of 2012, it was quickly billed as the Northeast's answer to Bonnaroo.  It's an apt comparison:  multiple stages in a lush forest setting, superstar headliners, and weather permitting, slightly less mud and humidity.  The first year drew 30,000 fans to a bill that included The Killers, The Black Keys and Jack White.  And if you think that sounds like a big show, it was still a relatively humble beginning: By 2022, the admissions topped roughly 90,000.

Festival organizers surprised fans by announcing they were taking 2023 off to “recharge their lights,” but plans for a 2024 event are already underway.

Reaching the Woodlands of Dover International Speedway can be a little inconvenient.  The highways are hectic, the parking is disconnected, and the local hotel accommodations are notoriously sparse.  But if you make it that far, don't get deterred.  The festival itself, produced by Red Frog Events and Goldenvoice, is staged in a beautiful open-air setting.  Step through the Firefly gates, and the concrete jungle seems a thousand miles away.  Like Bonnaroo, it quickly became one of the premiere fests for music fans who want to get back to nature.  

Attendees can pop a tent or park their RV in a sprawling designated campground known as The Grove.  Or shell out the extra cash for the "glamping" package, which provides private air-conditioned tents, showers and bathrooms. 

Artic Monkeys, Eminem, The Killer and Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2018 bill, with Foster the People, Portugal.The Man, Lil Wayne and Logic also performing.  The 2019 lineup featured Florence + The Machine, Travis Scott and Post Malone.

2022 found Firefy moving from the relatively crowded calendar of June to the last official weekend of summer, along with the biggest lineup ever: Green Day, Halsey, My Chemical Romance and Dua Lipa topped the bill, which lasted From September 22nd through 25th.