Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Southern Music Festivals

The second weekend wasn't so bad but Weekend One of #Coachella was completely unavoidable on social media. Between the performers, celebrity attendees, promoted parties (that the celebs attend over the actual concerts...) and magazine/blog coverage of all of the above, Coachella ruled my timeline. 

Which really sucks because I would have loved to be there but #Coachella is just too much effort. And then there was the #Stagecoach snapchat story... just proving that a country music festival in California is just odd. 

Then there was the #Jazzfest snapchat story from weekend one. It really made me start thinking about all of the fantastic and underrated music festivals that happen all across the South. (PS- a lot of these are just around the corner/sold out so this is more informational and basically just for you to get a jumpstart on festival planning for next year...) 


1. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana -- April 24 - May 3

One of two veryyyyy well-known and established festivals on this list, #JazzFest is a big deal. I mean, John Legend doesn't even make the first line of headliners. He's ranked a bit below Elton John, The Who, Jimmy Buffett and Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. Other notable performers: Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Pitbull and T.I. #Casual. Except it's not. I've been hearing about this festival my entire life from my cool aunt and uncle who go every year. I will 1,000% make it to #JazzFest someday. And here's hoping it's sooner than later. Weekend One was problematic because of alllllllll the rain but I think weekend two has a bit better forecast.


2. Beale Street Music Festival, Memphis, Tennessee -- May 1 - 3
I'd never heard of this one until someone on twitter sent me the lineup. Now I'm obsessed. With headliners like Lenny Kravitz, The Avett Brothers and Ed Sheeran, how could I not be?? Even with acts like Lenny Kravitz, Wilco, Spin Doctors and George Clinto & Parliament Funkadelic, #BSMF15 seems to be genuinely geared towards a younger crowd. For me, up and coming big names G-Eazy and Elle King, along with Paramore and Hozier and the headliners, would be the Can't Miss Acts. #BSMF15 might be the Southern festival that I'm most upset about having to miss.
3. Shaky Knees Music Festival, Atlanta, Georgia -- May 8 - 10
If you like indie and alternative music, you probably just cried over the #ShakyKneesFest lineup. In just three short years, organizers have managed to get a who's who of the indie scene head to Atlanta for a few days. Headliners include The Strokes, The Avett Brothers and Wilco, along with Ryan Adams, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brand New and The Kooks. This would be such a fun event simply because of all the crunchy granola hippies that would be frolicking about!
4. Shaky Boots Music Festival, Atlanta, Georgia -- May 16 -17
If you're impressed with what the #ShakyKnees folks managed to pull off in three short years, prepare to be completely blown away by the lineup for the FIRST EVER #ShakyBoots festival. Country music SUPER STARS Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts are the headliners. Absolutely casual, right? And what better place for a  H U G E  country music festival than the middle of Atlanta? LOLZ.
5. Hangout Music Fest, Gulf Shores, Alabama -- May 15 -17
You know what's better than a regular music festival? A music festival on the beach. #HangoutFest probably has the most well-rounded lineup and the most exciting up and coming lower billed acts. Obviously, you'll want to catch Foo Fighters, Sam Smith, Zac Brown Band and Beck (if you're over Beyonce's Grammys snub yet) but SERIOUSLY... don't miss Tove Lo, Vance Joy, Iration, Halsey and Elle King. And this seems to be a festival that the artists actually enjoy so look forward to happier and more upbeat and LONG sets from these fab musicians!
6. CounterPoint Music And Arts Festival, Kingston Downs, Georgia -- May 22 - 24
CounterPoint seems to be Atlanta's take on putting together an EDM festival... between Widespread Panic/The Roots and Zedd/Dillon Francis headlining, I'm honestly not sure what to think of this lineup. There is a lot of dance music, some hip hop and a couple in between. No country/acoustic sounding anything. So prepare accordingly.
7. Free Press Summer Fest, Houston, Texas -- June 6 - 7
Another seemingly random lineup, #FPSF doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason to what type of music they'll take... other than quality. The headliners range from R. Kelly to Weezer. I don't know why but I find that highly entertaining. Gary Clark Jr., Charlie XCX, Moon Taxi, Ben Harper and G-Eazy will all be at this weird/random/awesome festival and enduring the Texas heat right there with you.
8. Carolina Country Music Festival, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -- June 5 - 7
Another inaugural country music festival, this one has the added element of sand and the Dirty Myrtle's already redneck reputation. Eric Church, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum headline the three day festival but be sure to head down a day early to catch the kick off party on Thursday. Super hottie, Sam Hunt, is playing and you do  N O T  want to miss that.
9. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee -- 
June 11 - 14
I think it's pretty safe to say that Roo is the most popular and well-known Southern music festival. And for good reason. Something that genuinely impacts pop culture always happens on The Farm. Like when Kanye went onstage like four hours late and then refused to come back because he felt super disrespected. Unlike a lot of festivals that start winding down on Sunday, Bonnaroo puts their biggest headliners at the end of the weekend- namely Billy Joel and Florence + The Machine. Don't get me wrong, DeadMau5, Kendrick Lamar, Mumford & Sons and My Morning Jacket are nothing to turn your nose up to. But Billy Joel is Billy freaking Joel so... Get excited for four days of really great music (AND comedy), no showers, camping and crunchy granola peace and love. Add this to your Bucket List.
10. Forecastle Festival, Louisville, Kentucky -- July 17 -19
Not to ruffle any feathers but Louisville is right at the top of what could be considered "the South." But obviously, it's getting included so pipe down. From the looks of past lineups, Forecastle seems to be a big coming home concert for locals, My Morning Jacket. But why is that a surprise to anyone? Anywayssss... Sam Smith, War On Drugs, Widespread Panic, Modest Mouse and, most importantly (to me), ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES. If you're anywhere near Kentucky in July, go go go go go.  

Y'all. I want to spend all of my time at music festivals. Never mind that they're usually pretty muddy and crowded and the alcohol costs wayyyyy too much money, I love them.

What music festivals are y'all planning on going to this year? Tell me over on the #TwitterMachine.

Enjoy!

-C. xx.
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1 comment:

  1. mackytonMay 27, 2015 at 11:17 PM

    How great article! I am pleased to know about these fun events. The Carolina Country Music Festival, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is quite interesting but I can’t visit the outdoor venue. So I would love to attend the local music NYC events.

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