Festival season is upon us. For some of us that means the chance to finally see break out bands. Others will travel far and wide to catch Bassnectar throw it down. Some of us will just be content with just hitting up the closest festival to town and calling it a summer. Regardless, it’s time to gear up for fest season. Whatever you like, however you decide to experience festivals, please, do us a favor and get out there and have a ball! Support your favorite artists and take part in these massive musical experiences that have become a staple of our culture. After all, you won’t be around forever. Without further ado:
The Most Interesting Festival Bookings Of 2017
/Car Seat Headrest/
The dynamic indie rock troupe, headed by lead singer Will Toledo, recently broke ground at their debut Coachella performance. The band has a way of pulling at your heart strings and pervading your inner consciousness. In a musical era where punk music is just a relic of the past, it’s refreshing to hear a band that exudes raw emotion like Car Seat Headrest does.
…Where Can You Find Car Seat Headrest?
Shaky Knees Festival | May 12-14 | Atlanta, Georgia
Boston Calling Festival | May 26-28 | Boston, MA
Sasquatch Music Festival | May 26-28 | George Amphitheater, WA
Governor’s Ball Festival | June 2-4 | New York, NY
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival | June 8-11 | Manchester, TN
Wayhome Music & Arts Festival | July 28-30 | Oro-Medonte, ON, Canada
Lollapalooza | August 3-6 | Chicago, IL
Osheaga Music & Arts Festival | August 4-6 | Montreal, QBC, Canada
/The Avalanches/
Nostalgia is a video game picked out from an old bin in a basement. The Avalanches are much like this. Their last release ‘Since I Left You’ came out a lengthy sixteen years ago. After it’s release, the group’s presence was largely non-existent. A brief tour was all that fans received after the duo’s first album. It seemed like they fell into a dark abyss never to come back again. Were The Avalanches ever going to come back? Should we start a new life devoid of harmonious rhythms? Well, the group finally made their return to production in 2005, unbeknownst to their fans. Their latest album, Wildflower, took more than ten years to finish. The production quality on the album is unimaginable, and the duo mastered the art of sampling again for their sophomore release. The Avalanches are a must see this summer, who knows when they’ll be back again.
…Where can you find Avalanches?
Governor’s Ball Festival | June 2-4 | New York, NY
Glastonbury Festival | June 21-25 | Pilton, Somerset, UK
Roskilde Festival | June 24-July 1 | Roskilde, Denmark
NOS Alive | June 6-8 | Porto, Portugal
Pitchfork Music Festival | July 14-16 | Chicago, IL
/Bishop Briggs/
At age four, Bishop Briggs moved to Tokyo, Japan with her parents. It was in Tokyo that Briggs would sing at a karaoke bar and realize that she wanted to be a singer for the rest of her life. Briggs has become one of the biggest break outs of 2016 with the release of single “river.” The track infuses jazz and soul and integrates grating electronic production, somehow it fuses into a wonderful and infectious medley of sound, mostly due to Briggs breathtaking voice.
…Where Can You Find Bishop?
Shaky Knees Festival | May 12-14 | Atlanta, GA
Panorama Festival | July 28-30 | New York, NY
Lollapalooza | August 3-6 | Chicago, IL
/Noname/
When Noname originally broke onto the scene through her featured verse on “Lost,” one of the ingenious ballads from Chance the Rappers Acid Rap mixtape, she was an unknown. Now, four years later, she’s laid down verses on some of the hottest tracks in hip hop, as well as released her own debut album, Telephone, which received widespread critical acclaim. When Noname spits, it’s authentic. The twenty five year old MC raps about abortions, black struggles, and the feeling of dejection that comes with being a black woman in America during the Trump-Era. If you’re into soulful melodies and powerful sentiments, be sure to check out Noname at a festival this summer.
…Where Can You Find Noname?
Wayhome Music & Arts Festival | July 28-30 | Oro-Medonte, ON, Canada
Lollapalooza | August 3-6 | Chicago, IL
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival | August 11-13 | San Francisco, CA
/Mac Demarco/
They’re calling him the king of indie rock, and no, we’re not talking about Bon Iver. You heard right, Mac Demarco is set to release his fifth studio album on Friday, May 5th. Judging by the singles Demarco has released the album is set to be nothing short of excellence. Mac’s charismatic presence both on stage and off, coupled with his witty humor and all around musical bad-assery makes him a staple act for festival goers this summer. Make it a point to catch Mac Demarco at a festival this summer, you won’t regret it.
…Where Can You Find Mac?
Hangout Music Festival | May 19-21 | Gulf Shores, AL
Primavera Sound Festival | June 1-5 | Barcelona, Spain
Governor’s Ball Festival | June 2-4 | New York, NY
A bunch of festivals in Sweden & Norway
/Majid Jordan/
According to pitchfork the Toronto R&B duo wrote and co produced the Drakes “Hold on, we’re going home.” Majid Jordan’s debut release saw the pair make strides both sonically and in lyrical substance. It isn’t easy starting out in the shadow of one of hip hops biggest stars, but the duo is establishing themselves as one of R&B’s hottest in 2017.
…Where Can You Find Majid Jordan?
Boston Calling Festival | May 26-28 | Boston, MA
Governor’s Ball Festival | June 2-4 | New York, NY
FYF Festival | July 21-23 | Los Angeles, CA
Lollapalooza | August 3-6 | Chicago, IL
Osheaga Music & Arts Festival | August 4-6 | Montreal, QBC, Canada
/King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard/
Rattle Snake.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard is quickly becoming punk music’s beacon of authenticity. The psychedelic punk band from Melbourne, Australia is fusing elements of hardcore and psych rock into a furious psych smoothie. Watch out, if King Gizzard were to win dundee from Michael Scott it would probably be most likely to incite a violent mosh. Nevertheless, the band’s Coachella set was one of the most energetic and enthralling experiences I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of. King Gizzard is a can’t miss in 2017, just make sure you cover your ass in the pit.
…Where Can You Find King Gizzard?
Primavera Sound Festival | June 1-5 | Barcelona, Spain
NOS Alive | June 6-8 | Porto, Portugal
Spleandour in the Grass | July 21-23 | North Byron Parklands, NSW, Australlia
/Tycho/
Scott Hansen, better known as Tycho, has a talent for creating ambient techno, but is equally versed in the art of visual design. Hansen started off as a visual performer before producing music, and his music videos and live performance visuals are certainly indicative of that background. Tycho creates ambient, psychedelic techno music that usually contains human elements such as breathing, weather broadcasts, or someone talking. The 40 year old producer and visual composer recently debuted his live visual set up at Coachelal and it’s something from a different planet. It’s peace of mind, it’s infectious, it’s exactly what we’re longing for.
…Where Can You Find The King Of Ambience?
Primavera Sound Festival | June 1-5 | Barcelona, Spain
Electric Forest Festival | June 22-25 & June 29-July 2 | Rothbury, MI
Sloss Festival | July 15-16 | Birmingham, AL
Forecastle Festival | July 14-16 | Louisville, KY
Life Is Beautiful Festival | September 22-24 | Las Vegas, NV
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