Five Festival Lineups Worth The Trip
Festival season is right around the corner. Fests old and new have been releasing their full lineups as of late, and some are jaw-dropping. Of course each lineup will get its praise and criticism, as expected, but here we break down five lineups that we think would be worth the trip to see.
1. Okeechobee
This three-day fest taking place the first weekend in March seems like the perfect escape to cold weather. Located in Okeechobee, Florida the beauty of this festival is one not to be forgotten. The fest describes itself as " truly passionate about co-creating the most immersive, transformative and unique experiences possible." They describe their lineup selection as "Our multi-genre lineup of bands and DJs from the world will reflect our extremely diverse culture and community. We will share taste and passion for great stuff of all shapes and sizes. There are no boundaries, there are few borders and ALL are welcome." Quite the bold and inclusive message- and this lineup really is diverse. Headliners from all genres are represented- varying from rap to pop to electronic. There is even a "pow wow!" with Snoop Dogg- what's not to love. Some artists that stand out surely are Arcade Fire- it is highly recommended to never miss an Arcade Fire set-, Khalid- who is sure to have a packed festival season-, Sylvan Esso- a powerhouse live- and on the rise artist Sofi Tukker. There is electronic for every type of fan and a lot of hip-hop represented on top of the indie rock. A lot of up and coming artists have been invited and Hippo Campus is one of them not to miss! This fest has a lot to offer and has something for everyone!
2. BottleRock
Located in the heart of Napa Valley, it is hard to find a better ambiance than BottleRock. Happening during Memorial Day-weekend, this fest has some big name stars that you cannot find many other places. Bruno Mars, who has not done many festivals since hitting it big has returned to the scene to give what is sure to be a stunning performance. The Killers and Muse are two artists known to bring it when performing at fests. The younger kids have a lot to recognize- with Halsey, The Chainsmokers and LANY. But some oldies are also represented- Earth, Wind and Fire sticks out as a must-see. Alt-rock is represented with The Wrecks and New Politics, and a lot of indie as expected is here. There is not much electronic and rap- so maybe stay clear if that is your scene. But for a nice pop-rock festival this lineup is sure to impress.
3. Hangout Music Festival
Hangout is here to make a statement. Located on the literal beach in Alabama, this festival is sure to be a party. The younger generation are for sure represented to the fullest in this lineup. Kendrick Lamar, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Logic, SZA and Zedd are a recipe for fun. Obviously Kendrick is going to have a HUGE festival season and this seems like the kickoff to a great run- he is not to be missed ever. Portugal. The. Man who have struck it big will be an energetic and lively set for sure. Day two seems to be a lot of fun with the likes of amazing live performers Grouplove, Bleachers and Cashmere Cat! This fest has so much fun all over the lineup and will for sure be one to remember!
4. Air and Style
This Los Angeles-based festival has a simple and smaller lineup- but an impactful one for sure. This festival celebrates snow boarding, skateboarding, music, food and art- a fun combination of things. The headliners being Phoenix, Zedd and Gucci Mane- a diverse group of artists that all have so much fun live. Phoenix with their smooth vocals and intense stage setup is never to be missed. The other artists include on-the-rise electronic in Mura Masa and Cashmere Cat, but also contain indie with Twin Peaks, Cloud Nothings and Phantogram. This smaller fest seems like the perfect companion to art and skateboarding.
5. Homecoming
Holy smokes! This lineup rules! A strictly indie-folk lineup- but certainly a stacked one. Father John Misty should single-handedly win anyone over with his unique performance style and folk music like no other. The National runs this fest alongside MusicNOW and plan to perform two unique shows- an experience one cannot find anywhere else. Big Thief, Alvvays and Julien Baker are powerhouses live and this whole fest just has good chemistry overall. There is not much diversity but contains a lot of really impactful indie folk artists.
