The summer is quickly approaching with a time of laziness, iced coffee, trips to the beach, lurid bikinis and most importantly, music festivals. Now is the time when these festivals are starting to announce their lineups and you have to plan your festival hopping schedule. Don’t worry, The New Paltz Oracle is here to help you sift through the overwhelming number of musical events taking place this summer. In this guide, you’ll find a variety of fests which (hopefully) appeal to the diverse tastes of SUNY New Paltz students, as well as information about dates, locations and featured artists.
1: PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL
UNION PARK, CHICAGO, ILL.
JULY 15-17
Single passes: $45. Three-day passes sold out.
An annual music festival organized by the authority on indie, Pitchfork Media. Artists are generally of the alternative, rap and hip-hop, electronic and dance persuasions.
Some featured artists:
Animal Collective, Guided By Voices, Fleet Foxes, Woods, Gang Gang Dance, No Age, Deerhunter, OFWGKTA, Baths and Twin Sister
2: BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL
MANCHESTER, TENN.
JUNE 9-12
Only price-level four tickets are available: $249.50.
A four-day, multi-stage festival on a 700-acre farm which has something for everyone. The main genre is alternative rock, but other genres include jazz, hip-hop and electronica.
Some featured artists:
Eminem, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, Neil Young, Lil’ Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Decemberists and Primus
3: STARSCAPE FESTIVAL
ARMISTEAD PARK, BALTIMORE, MD.
JUNE 4-5
General Admission: $69.50, VIP tickets: $169.50
The 13th annual Starscape Fest promises five stages of music and entertainment, combining live acts, visual performances and DJs. The fest features well-known electronic acts in a wooded and coastal area.
Some featured artists:
Bassnectar, Lotus, Steve Aoki, Skrillex, Excision & Datsik,
Mux Mool, Segway, Rabbit and Infected Mushroom
4: CAMP BISCO 10
INDIAN LOOKOUT COUNTRY CLUB, MARIAVILLE, N.Y.
JULY 7-9
Three-day passes: $160
The 10th anniversary of this outdoor, rain or shine festival near Albany boasts five stages, including main stages and dance tents. Camp Bisco provides showers and water for those who need to wash off and hydrate after getting their groove on. Music typically includes electronic and dub with sprinkles of indie, alternative and hip-hop.
Some featured artists:
Disco Biscuits, Pretty Lights, Rusko, MSTRKRFT, Cut Copy, Wiz Khalifa, Death From Above 1979, Ghostland Observatory
5: CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY
SEATTLE, WASH.
JULY 22-24
Single day: $23, Weekend pass: $60
An annual summer festival full of the finest independent bands in the Northwest, as well as nationally, performing on three stages. With low ticket prices, the Block Party also features craft booths and local non-profit organizations.
Some featured artists: TBA
Past featured artists: MGMT. Holy Fuck, Bear In Heaven, Yeasayer, Fences, Blonde Redhead, !!!, Atmosphere, Zola Jesus, Beach Fossils, The Dead Weather, Here We Go Magic, Obits and Mad Rad
6: WAKARUSA
MULBERRY MOUNTAIN, OZARK, ARK.
JUNE 2-5
Full event passes: $154
A music and camping festival described as a “four-day foot stomping party in the heart of the Midwest.” The festival was created in 2004, and has since featured more than 100 bands and drawn fans from every U.S. state and five different countries.
Some featured artists:
Thievery Corporation, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, My Morning Jacket, Mumford & Sons, Minus The Bear, Beats Antique, Bassnectar, Dark Star Orchestra and STS9
7: HIGH SIERRA
QUINCY, CALIF.
JUNE 30-JULY 3
Early bird four-day passes available for $185 through May 2.
High Sierra has evolved into a 10,000 person event with more than 50 performers on four day-time stages and in four late-night venues. The Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy provide on-site infrastructure with opportunities to swim, bike, fish, golf and hike in the vicinity of a quaint mountain town.
Some featured artists:
My Morning Jacket, Ween, Neko Case, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dr. Dog, Rebultion, Maceo Parker and Ernest Ranglin
8: ATLANTA 2011 JAZZ FESTIVAL
PIEDMONT PARK, ATLANTA, GA.
MAY 28-30
Free!
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals. It celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats in venues throughout metropolitan Atlanta during the entire month of May. Culminating during each Memorial Day weekend, the festival features show-stopping performances.
Some featured artists:
JC Young Youth Jazz Ensemble, MAYWE Jazz Ensemble, Audrey Shakir, Warren Wolf Quintet, Sean Jones Quintet and Ninety Miles
9: SUMMER CAMP
CHILLICOTHE, IL.
MAY 27-30
Three-day pass: $165
Since their first year, the Summer Camp Music Festival has grown to more than 10,000 attendees, hosting more than 50 bands on five stages over four days. Almost doubling the population of Chillicothe, Ill, for the weekend, the concert attendees also greatly impact the local business economy.
Some featured artists:
moe., Widespread Panic, The Avett Brothers, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Keller Williams and Girl Talk
10: ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
JULY 1-3
Ticket range: $135-$2,250
The Essence Music Festival is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and ESSENCE Empowerment Seminars and three nights of musical performances.
Some featured artists:
Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Boyz II Men, Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Alexander O’Neal and Irma Thomas