As a music fanatic and festival lover, I stand by and thoroughly examine the lineups for festivals each year. 2016 is stacking up to be one of the best years for music fans. As a lover of most genres, I am in awe at the diverse line ups and shows available this season starting in March. Unfortunately, the cost of attending (travel, camping/hotels, ticket prices) most of them is out of reach for your average college student. A girl can still dream though, right? Here’s a breakdown of the festivals that are shaping up to be the hottest ones in 2016:
1. Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival
Where: Okeechobee, FL
When: March 4-6
One of the chillest festivals at the beach, music and waves, what more could you ask for? Okeechobee’s line up is the icing on the cake with headliners; Mumford and Sons, Bassnectar, Skrillex and the king of 2016 himself, Kendrick Lamar. I love how diverse the music will be at this show and the location. If I didn’t have midterms to worry about, I’d be hopping on a plane to camp out at the fest for three days.
Find More Information at: http://okeechobeefest.com/
2. South By Southwest Music, Film and Media Conference
Where: Austin, TX
When: March 15-20
The Lineup for South by Southwest is awesome with over 200+ artists, and the festival goes on for six days all over Austin. Some of my favorites will be performing such as Charli XCX and Peaches. There will also be music conferences with Kelly Rowland and T-Pain. This festival, born in 1987, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary in 2016, so this is bound to be epic. I love how this festival does a wonderful job at showcasing brand new and upcoming artists, as well as others who are internationally known.
Find More Information at: http://www.sxsw.com/
3. Ultra Music Festival
Where: Miami, FL
When: March 18-20
The Ultra Music Festival is one of the largest annual music festivals in the United States. This year the lineup is EDM heavy with well-known artists in the industry such as Kygo, Afrojack, deadmau5 and my personal favorite out of the bunch, David Guetta. The production value of Ultra is its biggest appeal, from crazy light shows to audience members being covered in paint.
Find More Information at: https://ultramusicfestival.com/
4. Coachella Music Festival
Where: Indio, California
When: April 15-17 (Weekend I), April 22-24 (Weekend II)
Coachella is arguably the most well-known festival in America, and with artists like Calvin Harris, Flume, the 1975, Sia, M83 and Major Lazor, it has the biggest names in music right now. The on-site camping sounds like an amazing experience and I couldn’t even imagine how wonderful it’d be to go for both weekends. The fashion at Coachella is the real treat, with many stylists and celebrities setting the trends for the rest of the year.
Find More Information at: https://www.coachella.com/
5. Osheaga Music & Arts Festival
Where: Montreal, Quebec
When: July 29-31
Tickets just went on sale a few days ago, so get ‘em while you still can! Osheaga is one of the largest festivals in Canada, with five stages. Osheaga is one of the few indie festivals and has a “european style” to it that is unique to most festivals in North America. This internationally recognized festival is one you don’t wanna miss. Fans are too hype that Radiohead is going on tour again, and they’re headlining at Osheaga.
Find More Information at: http://www.osheaga.com
6. Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, IL
When: July 28-31
Lollapalooza is inclusive of a variety of genres, separating itself from many other festivals. The festival has a 25-year tradition, which always turns out a huge crowd. This four-day show does not just feature EDM artists, but also popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop. This fest showcases craft booths, comedy performances and dancers as well. The organizers have also just hosted that ‘Lolla’ will be coming back to Berlin!
Find More Information at: http://www.lollapalooza.com/
7. Burning Man
Where: Black Rock Desert, NV
When: August 28-September 5
Last but not definitely not least, attending Burning Man is literally visiting a metropolis created from the desert for a few days with citizens from six continents. I’ve heard that camping out at Black Rock City is a way of experiencing the world in an entirely new light, with a community of those expressing themselves and sharing art. The culture around Burning Man is one that is not offered at other festivals because there is nothing like it. I dream of attending or volunteering at this festival someday.
Find More Information at: http://burningman.org/
