New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Music festivals come in all shapes and sizes. There are small indie festivals and massive
popular music festivals. There are festivals dedicated entirely to specific genres of music such as techno or country. But no matter what type of festival you head to, music festivals are a fun way to listen to your favorite bands, discover new music, hang out with your friends, and meet new people.
Before you head to any of the following festivals, make sure you have a plan for which shows you're going to see once you're there, where you're going to sleep/stay (if applicable), and how you plan to spend your downtime. If you have a lot of time to kill and you're not too keen on socializing, read a book, catch up on your favorite TV show, or play some online games. There are plenty of exclusive creations online like Disco Divas or Robot Unicorn Attack. Once you've got that covered, don't forget to dress appropriately! (In the UK, that definitely means wellies.)
Here are the world's best music festivals to check out:
Primavera Sound
Held in Barcelona, Spain, Primavera Sound usually takes place around the end of May or beginning of June each year. The festival typically features both well-established musicians and new musicians of pop, rock, and dance genres. Some of its past performers have included Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, and the White Stripes, among many others.
Additionally, there is a Primavera Pro event, which occurs at the same time as the festival. Music professionals from all over the world come together for conferences, talks, workshops, and the chance to discover new music.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
This four-day music and arts festival is held annually in the U.S. in Great State Park, Manchester, Tennessee. The festival features a wide variety of music like rock, pop, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, country, and electronic. Some of the festivals' biggest performers have included Paul McCartney, U2, Kanye West, Jay Z, Billy Joel, the Black Keys, Stevie Wonder, and the Flaming Lips, among many others.
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella has more than 200,000 attendees every year. The event is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, where it features music from a variety of genres like rock, hip hop, indie, and electronic music. In addition to music, the festival also has a wide collection of art, such as sculptures and installations. Over the years, Coachella has featured artists like AC/DC, Jay Z, Oasis, Depeche Mode, Phoenix, Muse, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce.
Mawazine
Every year, music lovers from all over the globe head to Rabat, Morocco for Mawazine, a music festival that celebrates international musicians. It is one of the largest music festivals in the entire world, and it often has millions of attendees. The festival has featured artists like Justin Timberlake, Shakira, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Elton John, Cat Stevens, the Weeknd, and Rod Stewart.
Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury is a five-day festival that typically takes place annually (with gap years now and then) in Pilton, Somerset, England. First established in 1970, the festival has long been associated with the hippie counterculture movement of the '60s and '70s. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world attend the event.
Today, the festival features contemporary bands and long-established musicians, in addition to cabaret, comedy, theater and other acts. Some of the festivals' past performers include: New Order, The Velvet Underground, Johnny Cash, Blur, Sting, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Coldplay, the Killers, Lily Allen, and Miley Cyrus.
Donauinselfest
This free three-day music festival takes place annually at Donauinsel in Vienna, Austria. It is the biggest music festival in the world, with reportedly three million attendees. It has been around since the '80s, and it features a wide selection of musical genres from world-renowned acts, local bands, and DJs. Some of the festivals' notable performers have included Train, Billy Idol, Sean Paul, Madsen, and Amy Macdonald.
Now that you know the top festivals to check out, it's time to start planning your trip and counting down the days!
