Oh how much I love the summertime... sunny days and barbecues, beautiful beaches and women, and an array of sounds uniquely packaged in weekend festivals. This summer is set to be one of the greatest yet, with the festival world growing every year. The audience has demanded more music, more styles, in more cities, and the music world has responded. That being said there are entirely too many festivals for me to begin breaking down the festival outlook, but I figured a condensed festival guide might be of some help for those of you that are new to the festival world. If you happen to make a coastal trek up the East Coast toward Oxford, Maine this summer be sure to check out Nateva July 2nd- 4th, sporting such acts as The Flaming Lips, Furthur feat. Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, STS9 (GO SEE THEM!), Passion Pit, Ghostland Observatory, and many more acts ranging from indie-rock to jam bands. Oh and be sure to get tickets quick, because they are planning to cut off tickets at 15,000 to avoid the chaos of festival giants such as Bonnaroo. Then after enjoying the diverse sounds in Oxford, head to the Midwest and checkout Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. Leaning a little toward the indie-rock spectrum, but still infused with hip-hop and DJ sets, this festival is sure to give those that are looking to get less of the festival and more of the music out of music festival a good time. From July 16th-18th, enjoy the waves of headliners such as Pavement, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Raekwon, among others. And if you decide to remain in the Windy City until the weekend of August 6th, 7th, and 8th, then be sure to relive the experience thru the eyes of Lollapalooza founder, Perry Farrell. A bit more poppy, but still a music experience, enjoy acts such as Lady Gaga, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Phoenix, MGMT, and many more. And after your stay on the East Coast, take Route 80 straight to San Francisco and checkout my new loft. Be sure to arrive before August 14th, however, so we can attend Outside Lands. This 3 day festival is equipped with sounds ranging from jam band Furthur to one of my personal favorites Pretty Lights, with a little touch of soul from none other than Al Green. And after summer has come to an end and Autumn begins to approach, head down to Austin, Texas October 8th-10th for Austin City Limits. This one is one to please the whole family with oldies such as The Eagles, classics such as Phish, and your sister's favorite M.I.A. This track from duo Sleigh Bells, pretty much sums of the explosion of electronic and distorted guitar that is playing in my head thinking of all the festival action I am gonna get this summer. Oh, and be sure to purchase their new album Treats. Peace. Love. Festivals.
Sleigh Bells - Tell Em by therabble1
