Biggest U.S. Music Festivals of 2015

Get your tickets and put on your go-go boots: Music festival season is upon us. If you want 80s hair metal bands coming back from rehab, hip-hop artists doing it and doing it and doing it well, and tweens squeaking about unrequited love, there’s a music festival for you. Once you have hidden your flask and put on sunscreen, make your way to any of these top festivals in the States:

SXSW

March 17-22

During the month of March, Austin, TX becomes ground zero for new music, movies, and technology. South By Southwest (SXSW) is one of the only festivals where you’re just as likely to run into a pale geek as a tan hipster goddess. As far as the music goes, the real appeal of SXSW is having so many acts performing in tiny venues around the city. Many of the performers are still underground acts, though there are often surprise shows from bigger names like Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. Between big surprises and venues small enough to see the sweat of the musicians on stage, no one does it like Texas. The line-up this year includes: Best Coast, Black Milk, and The Pop Group.

Coachella

April 10-12; April 17-19

If you have some glue and a few feathers, you’re ready for Coachella. As one of the largest music festivals in America, the two-weekend party is well known for Instagram-filtered desert looks and vibes. It’s not uncommon to see both A- and D-list celebrities partying in their short shorts and hippie tank tops with the common folk. With roughly 580,000 people attending each year and tickets selling out within minutes, it is the festival to experience. Taking place in early April, it’s also considered the event that kicks off the major festival season. Often featuring a mix of hip-hop, pop, and alt rock, this year’s line-up includes AC/DC, Jack White, Drake, and Interpol.

Hangout Music Festival

May 15-17

Alabama’s Hangout Music Festival combines the best two things about summer: top touring acts and the beach. Taking place along the Gulf Shores, partygoers stand right on the sand to see their favourite performers sing, scream, and drunkenly gargling lyrics. The acts tend to skew towards Southern tastes of country, rock, and soul. Bring your beach ball and some sunscreen; it’s a hot festival not to miss. This year’s line-up includes Zac Brown Band, Foo Fighters, Paramore, and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.

Bonnaroo

June 11-14th, 2015

You hated curfew when you lived with your mama, so why should you have to deal with it as an adult? Bonnaroo is the only major music festival in the U.S. without a curfew. We hope you’re a caffeine junkie because it’s four days straight of bluegrass, alternative rock, hip-hop, and country. There is also a comedy theatre, indie movie screen, and pop-up salon if you want to wash off the mud from your scalp. This year’s line-up includes Deadmau5, Tove Lo, and Mumford and Sons.

Electric Daisy Carnival

June 19^th-21^st, 2015

There are some festivals where wearing paint and not much else constitutes as an outfit. The Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas is such a place. Featuring techno, dub-step, and house music, it’s a hazy, dizzy party full of beautiful people. If you have some extra plastic bead bracelets and go-go boots lying around, now’s the chance to bust them out. With roughly 400,000 people partying together over the course of three days, it’s quite the show. It’s also the largest dance music festival in North America. Brace yourself for a wild weekend with lots of girls named Molly enjoying the blurry lights and sounds. Line-up TBA.

If you’re one of those people who is constantly talking about bands no one’s heard of, it’s time to check out some of the biggest music fests in the States. As long as you don’t mind a few days of port-a-potty-living, you’re in for a show.

What music festival do you look forward to each year?

Featured Photo Attribution: Flickr/Creative Commons/Jason Persse/Via/https://flic.kr/p/bBLDAb