2016 Music Festival Roundup
Thinking about adding a music festival to your spring/summer plans? We know that picking a festival, especially with all of the different lineups, locations, and unique qualities can be rough. It’s practically a full time job. But don’t worry, we’ve got good news. PorchDrinking.com did all of the research for you. Round up your crew, grab your tickets now, and we’ll see you at the beer tent!
SXSW
3/14-3/20 in Austin, TX
Top Headliners: Big Grams, NAS, CHVRCHES, Charles Bradley & The Extraordinares,
Don’t Miss: Run River North, Lucius, Baio, The Strumbellas, Hey Marseilles, The National Parks,
Go if you want: One of the nation’s preeminent showcase of emerging artists
Treefort Music Festival
3/23 – 3/27 in Boise, ID
Top Headliners: Built to Spill, Youth Lagoon, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Don’t Miss: Willis Earl Beal
Go if you want: a stacked lineup of the best up-and-coming artists
Coachella Music Festival
4/15 – 4/25 in Indio, CA
Top Headliners: LCD Soundsystem, Calvin Harris, Guns N’ Roses
Don’t Miss: Jack U
Go if you want: the best of the best lineup in a sprawling desert location
New Orleans Jazz Festival
4/22 – 5/1 in New Orleans, LA
Top Headliners: Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Don’t Miss: Nick Jonas
Go if you want: some jazz and beignets with your summer music festival
Beale Street Music Festival
4/29 – 5/1 in Memphis, TN
Top Headliners: Neil Young, Beck, Jason Derulo
Don’t Miss: Neil Young
Go if you want: a truly eclectic lineup from your favorite indie bands to radio hits and 90s throwbacks
Shaky Knees Festival
5/13 – 5/15 in Atlanta, GA
Top Headliners: My Morning Jacket, Jane’s Addiction, The 1975
Don’t Miss: The 1975
Go if you want: a blend of electronic and hip hop
Hangout Festival
5/19 – 5/22 in Gulf Shores, AL
Top Headliners: The Weeknd, Calvin Harris, Florence + the Machine
Don’t Miss: Leon Bridges
Go if you want: mellow vibes and ocean views
Boston Calling
5/27 – 5/29 in Boston, MA
Top Headliners: Sia, Sufjan Stevens, Robyn
Don’t Miss: Miike Snow
Go if you want: a killer lineup in the middle of Boston without having to deal with muddy fields and rows and rows of tents
Bottlerock
5/27 – 5/29 in Napa, CA
Top Headliners: Stevie Wonder, Florence + the Machine, The Lumineers
Don’t Miss: Death Cab for Cutie
Go if you want: to get the most out of your vacation. Where else can you hit a festival AND wineries?
Sasquatch
5/27 – 5/30 in George, WA
Top Headliners: The Cure, Disclosure, A$AP Rocky
Don’t Miss: Sufjan Stevens
Go if you want: beautiful weather and a gorgeous view
Roots Picnic
6/4 in Philadelphia, PA
Top Headliners: Future, Usher, Leon Bridges
Don’t Miss: Usher
Go if you want: a fest organized and headlined by your favorite late night band
Governor’s Ball Music Festival
6/3 – 6/5 in New York, NY
Top Headliners: The Strokes, The Killers, Kanye West
Don’t Miss: Miguel
Go if you want: a NYC fest with a comprehensive lineup
Bunbury Music Festival
6/3 – 6/6 in Cincinatti, OH
Top Headliners: The Killers, Florence + the Machine, Tears for Fears
Don’t Miss: Grimes
Go if you want: a lineup that’s equal parts indie, alternative, throwback and rap and R&B
Free Press Summer Festival
6/4 – 6/5 in Houston, TX
Top Headliners: DeadMau5, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Modest Mouse, Leon Bridges, Trampled by Turtles
Don’t Miss: Young the Giant
Go if you want: random mix of electronic, hip hop and rising/mid-sized indie/folk… or if you live in anywhere in TX other than Austin and can’t access this much great music all at once.
Bonnaroo Music Festival
6/9 – 6/12 in Manchester, TN
Top Headliners: Pearl Jam, LCD Soundsystem, Ellie Goulding
Don’t Miss: Chris Stapleton
Go if you want: do we really need to sell you on Bonnaroo? Didn’t think so.
Firefly Music Festival
6/16 – 6/19 in Dover, DE
Top Headliners: Mumford & Sons, Kings of Leon, Deadmau5
Don’t Miss: Blink 182
Go if you want: all of your favorite artists from the 2000’s, all in one place
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
6/16 – 6/19 in Telluride, CO
Top Headliners: John Prine, Dave Rawlins Machine, Punch Brothers
Don’t Miss: Punch Brothers
Go if you want: a small town fest with epic views
Electric Forest
6/23 – 6/26 in Rothbury, MI
Top Headliners: The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Major Lazer
Don’t Miss: Fetty Wap
Go if you want: a light show just as impressive as the lineup
Summerfest
6/29 – 7/10 in Milwaukee, WI
Top Headliners: TBD
Don’t Miss: TBD
Go if you want: to go to the world’s largest music fest
The Ride Festival
7/9 – 7/10 in Telluride, CO
Top Headliners: Pearl Jam, Cage the Elephant
Don’t Miss: The Sheepdogs
Go if you want: to include some flannel in your music festival wardrobe
Forecastle
7/15 – 7/17 in Louisville, KY
Top Headliners: The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Death Cab for Cutie
Don’t Miss: Ryan Adams
Go if you want: an amazing lineup that’s located within a day’s drive of half the U.S. population
Pitchfork Festival
7/15 – 7/17 in Chicago, IL
Top Headliners: Beach House, Blood Orange, Carly Rae Jepsen
Don’t Miss: Carly Rae Jepsen
Go if you want: a lineup curated by one of the best authorities on what’s good and hip in 2016
Sloss Music & Arts Festival
7/16 – 7/17 in Birmingham, AL
Top Headliners: Ryan Adams, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray Lamontagne
Don’t Miss: The Joy Formidable, Sylvan Esso
Go if you want: Lower key, indie/singer songwriter festival in Alabama
Capitol Hill Block Party
7/22 – 7/24 in Seattle, WA
Top Headliners: Odesza, Chvrches, Crystal Castles
Don’t Miss: The Cave Singers
Go if you want: a neighborhood vibe with a strong indie/electronic lineup
Newport Folk Fest
7/22 – 7/24 in Newport, RI
Top Headliners: Father John Misty, Ray Lamontagne, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
Don’t Miss: Flight of the Conchords
Go if you want: to skip festival crowds and traffic and ride your bike or hop on a ferry to get to the festival grounds
XPoNential Music Festival
7/22 – 7/24 in Camden, NJ
Top Headliners: Ryan Adams, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Old Crow Medicine Show
Don’t Miss: Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band
Go if you want: a great lineup without the overrated hype
Lollapalooza Chicago
7/28 – 7/31 in Chicago, IL
Top Headliners: TBD
Don’t Miss: TBD
Go if you want: Chicago’s best eats with the year’s best acts
Oshega Music Festival
7/29 – 7/31 in Montreal, QC
Top Headliners: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Radiohead
Don’t Miss: The Barr Brothers
Go if you want: to pretend like you’re in Paris when you’re really in Canada
Eaux Claires
8/12 – 8/13 in Eau Claire, WI
Top Headliners: Bon Iver, Jenny Lewis, Phosphorescent
Don’t Miss: Har Mar Superstar
Go if you want: to live out your love for all things Justin Vernon
Outside Lands
8/5 – 8/7 in San Francisco, CA
Top Headliners: TBD
Don’t Miss: TBD
Go if you want: a fest with views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Pickathon
8/5 – 8/7 in Happy Valley, OR
Top Headliners: Jeff Tweedy, Wolf Parade, Beach House
Don’t Miss: Mount Moriah
Go if you want: to catch your favorite band play a set in the middle of the woods. No, this is not an episode of Portlandia.
Bumbershoot
9/2 – 9/4 in Seattle, WA
Top Headliners: TBD
Don’t Miss: TBD
Go if you want: break up your festival weekend with Seattle’s amazing summer weather and best breweries around town
Austin City Limits
9/30 – 10/9 in Austin, TX
Top Headliners: TBD
Don’t Miss: TBD
Go if you want: to warm up before winter sets in with Austin charm and all of the breakfast tacos
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