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Upcoming Music Festivals for 2022

As the vaccination rates rise and more research about COVID-19 comes out each week, the US is finally seeing more musical festivals return (albeit, cautiously) in 2021. I even attended one myself (Inkcarceration in Mansfield, OH). But many of the big festivals such as Coachella, Boston Calling, and Bunbury decide to hold off another year. In 2022, there are dozens of festivals popping up, and in all genres of music. There are so many that it can be a bit overwhelming to look through the big lineup posters pasted all over social media. To make things easier, I decided to list which music festivals seem worth checking out. But there’s one problem with that, isn’t there? The United States is a big chunk of land. And someone in New York can’t so easily travel to Washington for a festival over there. So, we’ll be breaking it down by region (as best as I can, at least). I’ll even put the genre if it applies. If you’d still like to fly from Ohio to Nevada after seeing this list, that’s cool too. Maybe this list will help you plan a summer trip! So... let’s get into it.

West

When We Were Young – Las Vegas, NV

Source: whenwewereyoungfest.com


Genre: Emo, Rock, Metalcore, Pop Punk, etc.


The absolute mayhem this festival announcement brought to the internet was insane. A first-year event, When We Were Young Fest is a huge amalgamation of emo nostalgia. With huge acts on the bill such as My Chemical Romance, Paramore, AFI, Alkaline Trio, Avril Lavigne, and many more, the festival has had a lot of people interested, especially outside of Las Vegas. With over 60 bands on the poster and the event initially meant to take place on one day, people were understandably concerned about how the festival would work. Due to popular demand, the festival added two more days, but rather than disperse the big lineup over a weekend, the extra days added are set to have the same lineup. This type of setup is nothing new considering the gone-but-never-forgotten Vans Warped Tour had a similar arrangement in each city, but it did alarm fans that so many huge acts were set to perform all in one day. It seems impossible to catch every artist you’d want to see, most certainly not even a quarter of the lineup’s full sets. Despite understandable concerns, it is an absolute killer lineup for fans of emo, both young and old(er). I’m sure the event will be unlike any other emo/rock scene has ever seen.

The fest takes place on October 22, 23, and 29, 2022. If you’re looking to grab tickets though, you’ll, unfortunately, have to join a waitlist or grab from a reseller because tickets for all dates sold out FAST. Even if you can’t go this year, this is definitely one to keep your eye on to see if...

1) It pans out as planned.

2) They decide to make this a yearly event.

We’ll have to wait and see and live vicariously through folks who managed to secure a ticket. Maybe if this becomes a yearly event, they can book The Killers. After all, the festival is called When We Were Young. You can learn more about the event here


Coachella – Indio, CA


Genre: Pop, Rap, Hip Hop, Indie, etc.

Coachella is one of the most well-known music festivals happening today. Taking place in California, it’s attended by fans, celebrities, influencers, and the like. It’s an “it” event, vastly popular. Still, I wanted to bring it up simply because it is a festival with a great reputation. Running since 1999, the festival first completely sold out in 2004. It seems that since then, it’s become so popular because aside from the festival always booking hugely popular musical acts, it’s also become a hotspot for celebrities. The festival is also known for its good food, often, and special surprises. It’s also become a place for fashion. Another reason I wanted to bring it up was that for the first year since 2019, Coachella is returning. The lineup includes Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, and 21 Savage. This year, it’s on the weekends, April 15-17 and April 22-24. Passes for Coachella 2022 sold out within mere hours of going on sale, but fear not! Thanks to social media and live streaming, you can still experience this year’s Coachella from the comfort of your own home.

The Smoker’s Club - San Bernardino, CA

Source: The Smokers Club website


Genre: Rap, Hip Hop

For fans of rap and hip hop who love to have a good time, with or without the help of a little green, then The Smoker’s Club Festival might be the one to check out. Taking place on April 30, 2022, at the Glen Helen Amphitheater, the festival is described as a celebration of both cannabis culture and the stoner hip-hop scene, especially from the 2010s. The Smoker’s Club will have headlining sets from Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Playboy Carti, ScHoolboy Q, and Wiz Khalifa. The festival will also feature acts such as Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, Lupe Fiasco, and Rico Nasty. Put on a NYC-based lifestyle brand with the same name, the brand started out with Smoker’s Club tours in the 2010s until they eventually formed a full festival due to high demand. Past festival lineups have featured Mac Miller, Lil Pump, and 2 Chainz. This festival is coming up soon so if you’re in the area, and into this kind of music, it’s worth checking out.

Lovers & Friends – Las Vegas, NV

Source: Loversandfriends.com


Genre: Rap, Hip Hop

This festival takes place May 14–15 and features a killer lineup including Lauryn Hill, Usher, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, Ciara, and Akon. It was meant to be just one day but due to high demand, they added a second date with the same lineup. This poster is one big word: nostalgia. And if you’re looking to hit that sweet spot of nostalgia for '90s-2000s hip hop/rap, then you may want to look further into this festival.


East

Boston Calling – Allston, MA

Source: Pitchfork


Genre: Rock, Pop, Indie, etc.

Taking place on Memorial Day weekend in 2022 (May 27-29), Boston Calling is a festival beloved within the city. Debuting in May 2013, the festival used to take place twice a year in May and September as two-day events, but it now takes place once a year as a three-day event. Boston's Calling's line-up is co-curated by Aaron Dessner of The National and is produced by Crash Line Productions, a Boston-based entertainment production company that also produces Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival. This year’s lineup includes Metallica, Weezer, The Strokes, and Run the Jewels. The festival had secured The Foo Fighters but due to the devastating passing of their drummer Taylor Hawkins, the band had to pull out from the festival. The festival is currently working on finding a replacement to headline the festival on Friday.

Past lineups have featured Lorde, The Pixies, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Killers. According to their website, as I’m writing this, tickets are still available, and if the full weekend doesn’t entice you, single-day tickets are available too. The variety of acts on this year’s lineup is what made me want to call attention to it. It seems like it’s worth traveling for if you can swing it.

Blue Ridge – Lynchburg, VA

Source: @BlueRidgeRock on Twitter.


Genre: Metal, Metalcore, Rock, Hardcore, etc.

Taking place this year at Virginia International Railway, Blue Ridge Rock Festival is run by a team that aims to replicate the killer lineups of Vans Warped Tour into an affordable weekend affair. If you thought over 60 artists for a festival was a lot, Blue Ridge boasts a staggering 171 artists for the full 4-day event. The festival proudly calls itself a "fan driven rock experience." According to the festival, they received over 285,000 votes from fans to help determine the 2022 lineup.

I have mixed feelings about this festival. The lineups are always enticing and compared to other music festivals, the ticket prices feel like a steal. The highest tier of pricing for general admission is less than $300 before fees. But I also heard firsthand from attendees that the festival organization was a mess, and that camping/parking was a nightmare. Some attendees allege that they oversold the festival, and this was only made worse by lax security. But it sounds like the organizers learned their lesson because, for this year, they announced that they’d be expanding camping check-in day hours to ease entry and traffic at the new location. The main stages will also sit side-by-side this year to reduce walking and overlapping sets, a problem last year.

Since the lineup is fan-driven, it’s full of artists within the metalcore/rock scene that will bring a huge crowd. There are a number of special sets scheduled to take place including a reunion show by A Skylit Drive, Saliva with the return of their original singer Josey Scott, and Saving Abel playing a special set with Jared Weeks returning as their frontman for the festival. They are still slowly releasing the rest of their lineup, but so far so some exciting ones they’ve announced include Lamb of God, Motionless in White, Bad Omens, and The Acacia Strain. Blue Ridge Rock Fest takes place in 2022 on September 8-11, and as long as they’ve learned from their mistakes last year, it seems like a great festival to check out. Tickets: https://blueridgerockfest.com/festival-passes/

Newport Jazz – Newport, RI


Genre: Jazz

The Newport Jazz Festival has a history that dates all the way back to 1954. For decades, the festival has hosted artists like Herbie Hancock, Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis. These days, the festival is three full days of jazz on four unique stages on the grounds at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island. In 2022, the Newport Jazz Festival takes place July 29-31. Some of the artists on this year’s lineup include Norah Jones, Esperanza Spaulding, and the Ron Carter Quartet. This is a festival worth attending just once if you’re a big fan of jazz. They even have a student discount ticket rate for anyone in school-age 10-25. Check it out!

Electric Zoo – New York, NY

Credit: Electric Zoo


Genre: Electronic

Electric Zoo at the very least looks cool. Taking place in New York City, this annual electronic music festival takes place every year on Labor Day weekend. The festival describes it as a festival “with stacked artists ranging from bass to techno and everything in between, Electric Zoo promises to not disappoint attendees.” Randall’s Island Park (where the festival takes place) is transformed into an “electronic playground” where for three days, fans of electronic music can have an out-of-this-world experience. In 2022, Electric Zoo will take place September 2-4. In the past, the festival has featured artists on its lineups like Steve Aoki, Alesso, and Adventure Club. The lineup for this year hasn’t been released as to when this is written, but it definitely seems like a cool festival worth checking out.

Maryland Deathfest- Baltimore, MD

Genre: Metal (although the festival does not like to conform to genre restrictions).

As a fan of metal, this was a cool festival to come across. Festival organizers Ryan and Evan created Maryland Deathfest in 2003 and have brought together both legends and up-and-coming bands in the underground scene for one weekend of headbanging. Deathfest’s website says its main goal is to “bring to the world the best and most extreme bands the underground has to offer. Never conforming to trends, or being limited by genre restrictions, we want to showcase what extreme music, both new and old, is capable of. With an emphasis on diversity, our festivals bring together the very best death metal, grindcore, doom, thrash, hardcore, black metal, and experimental bands from all around the world.” Deathfast also takes place in the UK and Netherlands, but the Baltimore one I’m highlighting takes place May 26-29, 2022. Artists on this year’s lineup include Obituary, Hellhammer, Carcass, and Destruction. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/deathfests-6840251921

Midwest

Inkcarceration – Mansfield, OH

Source: Loudwire


Genre: Rock, Metal

Taking place on the grounds of the Ohio State Reformatory, Inkcarceration is a cool music festival to check out for a variety of reasons...

  1. It’s not just a music festival. It’s also a tattoo festival where you can get some cool ink while inside the Ohio State Reformatory.

  2. Ticketholders have access to self-tour the Ohio State Reformatory, a historic prison built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until 1990. While it has stories of supposed hauntings, it also gives people an interesting look into the old prison and its structures.

  3. The Ohio State Reformatory is also where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed.

A huge event for the area since 2018, Inkcarceration is a festival that combines the interests of its target audience to create an unforgettable experience. In between catching a band’s set, you can get in line to explore the interior of the reformatory and then later come inside for a tattoo appointment. I attended the festival myself last year to check out some great bands (special shoutout to Junexa), and I thought it was well worth the trip. In 2022, Inkcarceration is taking place July 15-17 and will contain acts on the bill such as Korn, Disturbed, Evanescence, Spiritbox, and Sleeping with Sirens. This is another festival where one can buy a weekend pass or a single-day ticket. This is another festival where single day tickets are more affordable than some of the bigger festivals on this list, with single-day tickets at just $90 before fees. If you’re looking for a unique rock festival to check out, this is the one to grab tickets for. Tickets: https://inkcarceration.com/passes/

Lost Lands – Thornville, OH

Source: Lost Lands


Genre: EDM, Bass, Dubstep

Lost Lands takes place September 23-25, 2022, and is described as a festival that will “rattle the fields right down to their core.” The lineup is curated by Excision, a well-known musician and DJ in the genre. According to their marketing, the festival will be the “filthiest 3 days of bass you have ever experienced” all while you’re surrounded by a prehistoric, immersive experience including dinosaur statues as backdrops on stage. Fans of EDM, and honestly, anyone looking for a unique experience should check this one out. As of when I’m writing this, the lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but past lineups have included 12th Planet, Adventure Club, Atliens, Barely Alive, and Delta Heavy.

Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI

Source: Brooklyn Vegan


Genre: Classic Rock, Rap, Country, Pop, Indie, etc.

Taking place in downtown Milwaukee, Summerfest takes place multiple weekends throughout June and July. Boasting 12 stages of music, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater is the cornerstone of Summerfest although it seems a general festival pass does not qualify for shows within this amphitheater but it works the other way around. An amphitheater ticket also includes your admission to Summerfest on the day of your show. So, that’s a pretty cool deal.

The festival takes place right along beautiful Lake Michigan and features your typical local food vendors and entertainment experiences when you’re not tuning in to an artist’s set. The festival dates for 2022 are June 23-25, June 30- July 2, and July 7-9. The lineup during these weekends has a little something for everyone. In the amphitheater, huge artists are set to perform including Jason Aldean (June 23), Justin Bieber (June 24), Lil Wayne (June 25), and Rod Stewart (July 7) among others.

The lineup on other stages includes performances by Steve Miller Band, Modest Mouse, Halestorm, Boyz II Men, Anthrax, and Jojo. It’s clear just from the artists I listed that the range of genres is big. And I think that’s a perfect way to get people to come down to see artists they love, whatever the genre. This sounds great for Milwaukee residents, and for anyone else who’s willing to travel to see so many artists they love in one place.

Blue Ox – Eu Claire, WI


Genre: Bluegrass, Americana

Founded in 2015 with the vision of an intimate Bluegrass and Americana music experience, The Blue Ox Music Festival takes place June 23-25, 2022. Both the festival and campgrounds are family-owned and operated by a team with over 30 years of music festival experience and their website states they aim to make their festival feel approachable for people of all ages. Blue Ox features over 35 artists spread across 3 days on three stages and on-site camping. The festival also features other activities including yoga, meditation, and instrument workshops. In the past, the festival has featured artists such as Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Greensky Bluegrass, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, and Shakey Graves. This year, the lineup includes The Sam Bush Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Samantha Fish, and Cedric Burnside. If fans of bluegrass need a fun weekend camping in the woods listening to music, this might be the perfect festival to look into.

Bix Festival – Davenport, IA


Genre: Jazz

This festival is a cool one I wanted to call everyone’s attention to (if you don’t already love it, that is). Every year, the Bix Festival commemorates Davenport native and 1920s jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. The Jazz Festival will run in 2022 from August 4th – 6th at the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, with three days of live music. A few of the groups on the schedule to perform include the Bix Youth Jazz Band, Chicago Cellar Boys, and Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles. This is the festival’s 50th anniversary, so fans of jazz, especially the jazz greats of the early 20th century are going to want to check this one out.

For more information on how to attend, see their website: https://www.bixsociety.org/festival.php

Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL


Genre: Various; Rock, Pop, Metal, Electronic

Lollapalooza originally started as a touring event in 1991 but since 2010, it’s been set in Grant Park in Chicago. This 4-day festival has 9 stages, has 170+ bands on the lineup, and spans many different music genres ranging from rock to pop to metal to electronic, and so on. With its variety of artists along with its array of great Chicago food, it’s another popular and beloved music festival in the US. This year in 2022, the festival takes place July 28-31. The lineup includes greats such as Metallica, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Big Sean, and Turnstile. This festival has a little something for everybody, and it is definitely worth checking out.

Riot Fest – Chicago, IL

Source: Riot Fest


Genre: Punk, rock, alternative, metal, etc.

Riot Fest has been bringing together punk, rock, alternative, metal, and hip-hop acts since 2005, and once they decided to bring it under one-weekend event in 2012, they became a household name. Taking place in Chicago’s Humboldt Park, the festival also features carnival Rides, well-loved Chicago food vendors, and sideshow performers. In 2022, the festival falls on the weekend of September 16-18. This year’s lineup hasn’t been fully unveiled as of when this is written but some of the acts announced so far are My Chemical Romance and The Misfits with their original lineup. With two big acts like that, it’s exciting to see what the rest of the lineup will feature. If you love the Chicago area, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.

North

Red Ants Pants – White Sulphur Springs, MT

Source: Red Ants Pants Festival


Genre: Bluegrass, Rock

If you’re looking for a unique festival to check out, look no further than The Red Ants Pants Music Festival. The festival describes itself as a “100% homegrown, volunteer-driven event based in a community of 900 people with the goal of bringing good folks together to celebrate rural Montana.” Put on the Red Ants Pants Foundation, proceeds from the festival to fund community grants, and run timber skills workshops and Girls Leadership Program while also helping out farmers and their families. This year’s lineup features Grace Potter, Allison Russell, Corb Lund, and Son Volt. In the past, the lineup has featured artists such as Patty Griffin, Shakey Graves, and Colter Wall. The Red Ants Pants Festival falls on July 28-31, 2022. The festival will also feature hayrides, canopies to hang out under, and many other local businesses setting up booths within the festival grounds. Dance your pants off in Montana! And if you’re local, why not go for free? Anyone who volunteers at the festival for 4.25 hours or more can get a free one-day pass. Kick back and enjoy some bluegrass music at the Red Ants Pants Festival.

Under the Big Sky – Whitefish, MT

Genre: Country, Folk, Rock

Taking place July 15-77, 2022, Under the Big Sky Festival describes itself as the “very best in Americana, folk, alt-country and rock.” According to them, the festival is set right in the heart of one of America’s most untouched regions of natural wilderness. Pairing country icons with up-and-coming talents, the festival seems to be one for the books. This year’s lineup features Lord Huron, Black Pumas, Cody Jinks, and many more. It looks like at this time, the festival is sold out, but it’s definitely one to keep an eye on next year (or look out on reseller sites).


Summer Meltdown – Snohomish, WA

Source: Summer Meltdown


Genre: Bluegrass, Folk

After two years off due to COVID-19, Summer Meltdown returns this summer to a new location. The festival will reopen at Sky Meadows Park in Snohomish which will feature a forested campground, beautiful meadows, and a sparkling river paired with swimming holes for festival-goers to enjoy. The lineup this year features Griz, Greensky Bluegrass, Jade Cidada, and Cory Wong among others. The Summer Meltdown Festival has been around since 2000. “Back then, producer Josh Clauson and his band Flowmotion were on a mission to perform as much music as possible. They threw parties like Meltdown as a fun way to bring folks together and raise money for tours and recording” (Source). Since its start, the production team has been working to make the festival bigger and better each year, and it seems this year with its new location, it will definitely be one check out.

Deer Valley – Park City, UT


Genre: Classical, Blues, Soul, etc.

Taking place in Park City, Utah, the Deer Valley Music Festival is a unique one. Rather than run over a weekend or a few days, it actually takes place over several weeks. Five weeks in fact. Park City hosts music programs for four nights a week including classical music performances from the Utah Symphony. However, the festival is for fans of more than just orchestra fans. The guest lineup is what makes it fun. Artists and performers from all genres join the festival, making it full of collaborations – it has played host to artists like Elvis Costello, Randy Travis, and even Gladys Knight.

In 2022, the festival will present twelve concerts in Snow Park Amphitheater at the base of the ski lifts at Deer Valley Resort and five-chamber concerts in the serene setting of St. Mary’s Church. Seeing a diverse group of artists is the opportunity of a lifetime at Snow Park Amphitheater. Music lovers get a chance to sit outside under the stars and picnic while watching performances. You can catch the various shows through the months of July and August.

South

Louder Than Life – Louisville, KY

Source: Louderthanlifefestival.com


Genre: Rock, Metal, Punk

This is a festival you won’t want to miss if you’re in the area. Produced by Danny Wimmer and his production team, Louder Than Life has promised that this year’s festival will be bigger than ever, and while it may seem like a tall order to fill given that last year’s festival had a record-breaking crowd of 160,000 people, they seem to be maintaining that vow, booking acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and KISS that will definitely bring in a huge crowd. Starting out as 3 days in the earlier days of the festival, Louder Than Life has become a four-day event in the last couple of years, adding more huge artists to travel to the festival for. Louder Than Life will take place at the Kentucky Expo at the Highland Festival grounds from September 22-25, 2022. This year’s lineup features 100 music artists across the four days. As I said before, it will be headlined by Red Hot Chili Peppers in one of their first shows back with all four original members, along with Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, and KISS. Additionally, the lineup features Shinedown, Rob Zombie, Bring Me the Horizon, Alice in Chains, Alice Cooper, Incubus, Evanescence, Lamb of God, Tenacious D, and many more must-see artists. On top of a great lineup, Louder Than Life is known for hosting great tastings, especially bourbon, and having an impressive VIP experience. This year seems like it will be their biggest yet, so check it out if it entices you.

Beale Street – Memphis, TN


Genre: Rock, Blues, Rap, Soul, etc.

The Beale Street Music Festival is a beloved festival that takes place in Memphis, Tennessee each year. Normally, it takes place near the river but due to construction in Tom Lee Park, The Beale Street Music Festival will take place at the Memphis Fairgrounds in 2022. Every year, this festival boasts an eclectic lineup that includes contemporary rock, blues, soul, and a dash of everything else. This year’s festival falls on April 29-May 1st. The lineup features acts such as The Foo Fighters, Van Morrison, Lil Wayne, and Grace Potter. This has a little something for everyone, so check it out if the lineup entices you!

Shaky Knees – Atlanta, GA

Source: shakykneesfestival.com


Genre: Rock, Alternative, Punk, etc.

According to their website, Shaky Knees is a “rock lover’s dream” with a “diverse lineup ranging from world-renowned acts to up-and-coming artists.” The festival has been around the Atlanta area since 2013 and was founded by Tim Sweetwood in order to bring a proper indie music festival to the city of Atlanta. Tim Sweetwood in order to bring a proper indie music festival to the city of Atlanta, which already hosts festivals such as Sweetwater 420 Fest and Music Midtown Past lineups have featured Incubus, The Strokes, Beck, and The Smashing Pumpkins. The festival will also feature amenities such as on-site activations like cell phone charging stations, fun photo booths, official festival merch, and screen prints of your favorite bands. You can catch Green Day, My Morning Jacket, Nine Inch Nails, and The Dropkick Murphys on the lineup this year. This is a rock festival Southerners won’t want to miss.

Rolling Loud – Miami, FL

Source: rollingloud.com


Genre: Rap, Hip Hop

If you’re looking for a fun festival to hit up in Miami, look no further than Rolling Loud. It will feature 100+ Hip-Hop acts across 3 days on 3 stages. The festival this year will be held July 22-24 at Hard Rock Stadium and will feature a lineup including Ye (Kanye West), Future, Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, and 2 Chainz. Past lineups have included J. Cole, 50 Cent, and Travis Scott. It seems like a fun festival that will take place in the beautiful city of Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. There are limited tickets left so hurry up if you intend to check it out!

So What?! - Arlington, TX

Source: @sowhatmusicfest on Twitter.


Genre: Metal, Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Electronic, etc.

The SO WHAT?! Music Festival was originally established in 2008 and called SOUTH BY SO WHAT?! MUSIC FESTIVAL. The festival is an opportunity for Dallas residents to catch 50+ of the bands headed to SXSW (South by Southwest) which takes place in Austin. Artists in the past have included Asking Alexandria, The Early November, Motion City Soundtrack, Mod Sun, Outtasight, G-Eazy, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Pierce the Veil, Hellogoodbye, Cartel, Emmure, and We Came as Romans.

This year’s lineup includes 100 Gecs, Wage War, Sum 41, Knocked Loose, 2Chainz, and Rebecca Black (yes, the singer of the viral song “Friday”). The festival falls on May 27-29, 2022, will take place at Choctaw Stadium, and has a little bit of everything each day, indicated by the color on the poster. With affordable ticket prices and a mix of genres including metal, rock, pop, hip hop, and electronic, this is a festival that rock fans in Texas won’t want to miss.

Cross-Country

Sad Summer Fest

Source: axs.com


Genre: Pop Punk

After decades of having the Vans Warped Tour to look forward to, rock/punk fans were feeling the loss. One of the biggest cross-country tours had ended. Sad Summer Festival stepped up in 2019 as an attempt to fill that void. Following the footsteps of Warped Tour and making it cross-country, Sad Summer has been hitting about 20 cities across the country since 2019 (well, Sad Summer skipped 2020 due to the pandemic but you get the idea). Some cities they’ve been coming through every year include Sacramento, Dallas, Columbus, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. This year, they changed out a few cities for new ones including Newport and Cleveland. Although some are calling this the new Warped Tour, and this is indeed a fun tour I attended in 2021, it doesn’t hold a candle to Warped. One big reason is that its focus is mostly on pop-punk bands. This is a vastly popular genre that many rock/metal fans also dip their toes into, so it’s definitely in the right area of music. It would just be cool to see a traveling tour like this for heavier music too.

Past lineups have included All Time Low, The Story So Far, and The Wonder Years. This year’s lineup features State Champs, Mayday Parade, Waterparks, and Neck Deep. The tour begins in Sacramento on July 8th and will finish in Milwaukee on August 5th, so if you’re into pop-punk, keep an eye out if one of the dates is close to you! This is not one to skip out on.

Outlaw Music Festival


Genre: Country, Americana, Indie Folk

This is a must-see festival for fans of classic and new-age country. Starting in June and running through September, Outlaw is a festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family live. The accompanying artists may vary by date but other artists on the bill include Chris Stapleton, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Billy Strings, ZZ Top, Gov’t Mule, Brothers Osborne, Zach Bryan, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Allison Russell, and more.

This is only a starter list for the dozens and dozens of music festivals out there. I hope one on this list piqued your interest, and if not, I’m sure there’s a festival in your area that’s right for you. If a festival that you love and plan to attend didn’t make this list (of if one did) let me know which one you're going to in the comments! Thanks for reading, and happy festival season!


 

Written by Kristen Petronio

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