Here at J.A.M. the only thing we love more than music is a great music festival. And if you’ve been following the circuit too, you might have been at SXSW, Ultra or Coachella. But how much are we expected to pay for a ticket nowadays, and how far in advance do we have to purchase them?
To be honest I have no issue forking out a minor 270 big ones for one of the most amazing line-ups in festival history at Coachella. With more than 300 million people living in the U.S., however, the demand for more festivals is becoming increasingly high. We thought we’d give you a hand in choosing which festival is worth the hype.
Bonnaroo [June 9-12]:
If you can make your way down to the south, Bonnaroo is a definitely must. The lineup, varying from Eminem to Florence and The Machine, will play at the festival’s 10th year running. This massive free love festival, named the modern-day Woodstock, is one of the few festivals in which everything is included in the ticket price. Camping is much more illustrious at Bonnaroo than Coachella as you have the freedom to spread out. Because of the location and name it has built for itself, you can definitely expect to see a few hippies hanging around.
Lollapalooza [August 5-7]:
This is the big one folks. With a lineup expected to be announced in less than a week, tickets are already being snapped up for the 20th anniversary of this blowout in Illinois. Last year’s lineup had big names like Soundgarden, Green Day and Lady Gaga, so the announcement of this year’s acts will probably indce multiple orgasms in the music world. Until then, keep updated on its website: http://www.lollapalooza.com/
Outside Lands [August 12-14]:
If you’re more keen on inner-city festivals, Outside Lands happens annually in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This year the line up is ridonkulous – feel free to use that expression in everyday life. Muse, Arcade Fire and The Shins are headlining this three-day festival along with a plethora of other international artists. However, you might want to hit up some mates in San Francisco — the parking tickets costs almost as much as the festival ticket. Nevertheless, if you’re cashed up, this musical explosion still hasn’t been tainted by mainstream artists — so you might want to take advantage of it while it lasts.
Austin City Limits [September 16-18]:
Austin hosts some of the biggest musical events every year and ACL is one of the biggest. Two versions of the three-day passes have already sold out with the last tickets in high demand. In 2010 we saw The Eagles, Phish and The Strokes as the main acts. And while the 10th anniversary lineup, like Lollapalooza, is yet to be announced, we know it will be massive.
No matter your budget, location or taste, one of these festivals is definitely suited for you.
