U.S Festivals... which are the best?

sarahcunny

Hi guys

hope no-one minds me posting this here but i'm hoping to branch out of Europe next year and try a U.S festival, obviously will be on the look out for any that PJ will be headlining but wondered if anyone had any opinions on which are the best? i.e. ones that usually have best line ups, best weather, best value for money, ease of getting there etc. Really appreciate any info

thanks

sarahcunny

adding a bump so our U.S family see it!

jjflash

I've only been to a couple in the U.S. so I can't speak for most of the festivals but.....Bonnaroo is worth trying at least once. It's ridiculously hot but it's still a massive, sweltering party. I went to the Hangout Festival for the first time this past year and that's where my money will be again in 2013. You can't beat music of that quality, on real sand and right smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico. I've not been to either but you may wanna consider something like ACL or Lolla where not only do you get the festival but you can check out a top-notch U.S. city during your stay.

he.who.forgets

Try this link, it gives the rundown of just about every festival out there: http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/
Bonnaroo (Tennesee), Coachella (California), Lollapalooza (Illinois), and Austin City Limits (Texas) are probably the four biggest and most established but there are SO many great festivals, it all just depends on what you're looking for. Do you want to be in or close to a big city? Do you prefer to camp at the festival or stay in a hotel? What sort of music genres are you mostly into?

81

jjflash wrote:

.....Bonnaroo is worth trying at least once. It's ridiculously hot but it's still a massive, sweltering party.

Bonnaroo is awesome. weather can be hot as fuck and dry, or like 2008 it can be fairly mild. rain is never out of the question. defiantly worth it.

Spoony C

I haven't been to very many, but the biggest every year are generally Coachella (in California during April), Bonnaroo (in Tennessee during June), and Lollapalooza (in Chicago during August). They are the three festivals where you can expect to see the biggest lineups with the most impressive big-name acts. Below that in importance, you probably have Sasquatch (in Washington State), Outside Lands (San Francisco), and Austin City Limits (in Texas).

Bonnaroo is the only one of those I've been to (in 2008, when Pearl Jam was there), and it is a great festival with a good variety of musical styles. It is hard to get to (the closest airports are probably Nashville and Atlanta, then you have to drive to the middle of nowhere), but once you're there, you can camp for the whole festival, and the concert grounds have a lot to offer (musically and with amenities). I had an absolute blast there in 2008, and that's when I was 32 years old (feeling almost too old for festivals). I believe Coachella is a similar setup, as far as camping goes. Lollapalooza is in a huge city park in Chicago, so no camping; you would need to factor in hotel costs, but you'd be able to sleep in comfort and get showers every night.

DS1119

I personally have had only one good time at one festival and that was Lolla in '92.

sarahcunny

he.who.forgets wrote:

Try this link, it gives the rundown of just about every festival out there: http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/
Bonnaroo (Tennesee), Coachella (California), Lollapalooza (Illinois), and Austin City Limits (Texas) are probably the four biggest and most established but there are SO many great festivals, it all just depends on what you're looking for. Do you want to be in or close to a big city? Do you prefer to camp at the festival or stay in a hotel? What sort of music genres are you mostly into?

cheers for the link, will defo check it out! i'm mainly into Rock and Metal although a little trance has never been out of the question. it would be great to be near a big city as could then incorporate a holiday around the festival. after my many years of UK and European festivals now prefer to stay in a comfy hotel rather than camp.

sarahcunny

thanks all for your responses, i will do some research on the festi's mentioned, really appreciate you taking the time to respond

pandora

I always like Summerfest in Milwaukee and then the ethnic weekend festivals
that lasted the rest of the summer...

fun stuff!

Great place on a great lake

Champagne Breakfast

I haven't been to many but I can tell you Austin City Limits in Austin, TX is awesome and always a decent lineup.
Austin is such a cool city too.
Bamboozle in NJ is pretty cool because it is right on the beach.
then of course... Lallapalooza is where it all begin. Chicago is one the of the greatest cities as well.

kasedoug

I vote for Outside Lands in San Francisco, CA. It's a great setting in Golden Gate Park, awesome food & drink options as the festival brings in local restaurants/wineries/breweries rather than the usual festival fare. The weather can't be beat for a summer festival as it's usually cool and overcast. It's a great setting and it's right in the middle of SF so there's plenty to do and see outside of the festival.

JaneNY

I love Lollapalooza for the same reasons as others mentioned - every night you go back to a hotel and a comfy bed with a shower. Plus it is Chicago. In the summer. Beautiful.

Grandmas Jam

Bonnaroo is by far the best festival in the USA but PJ has already played it

LukinFan

Roo

adam42381

Another vote for Bonnaroo. I went back in 2008 and again this year and both times were excellent.

mfc2006

ACL.

we had 3 day passes for 5 years in a row (up to last year) & the festival was beyond awesome. Austin is a great town, the aftershows were amazing & the lineups were always diverse & a lot of fun.

AndySlash

whenever it is i shuffle off this mortal coil i intend to have my ashes spread on the bonnaroo grounds

eeriepadave

Outside Lands Festival- Only went one day last year but i thought it was great.

Firefly Festival- Very well organized for a first time festival and some great bands as well.

Still have yet been to Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza (in Chicago anyway).

JOEJOEJOE

Coachella!

Always very adventurous, and they usually have the ability to get some great bands to reform. Many bands that rarely play the U.S. choose Coachella as their first play.

eeriepadave

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

Coachella!

Always very adventurous, and they usually have the ability to get some great bands to reform. Many bands that rarely play the U.S. choose Coachella as their first play.

true. Daft Punk! Prodigy!

JOEJOEJOE

eeriepadave wrote:

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

Coachella!

Always very adventurous, and they usually have the ability to get some great bands to reform. Many bands that rarely play the U.S. choose Coachella as their first play.

true. Daft Punk! Prodigy!

Pixies, Love and Rockets, Jesus and Mary Chain, Pavement!

djklambake

I'm most recently from Milwaukee and there will always be a spot in my hear reserved for Summerfest.

Who Princess

mfc2006 wrote:

ACL.

we had 3 day passes for 5 years in a row (up to last year) & the festival was beyond awesome. Austin is a great town, the aftershows were amazing & the lineups were always diverse & a lot of fun.

Agreed. Amazing selection of music. The weather can be very hot but since you're not camping out you can get some rest and relief at the end of the day.

Camping is not my idea of a vacation.

eeriepadave

Anyone ever been to the Sasquatch Music Festival? They always seem to have great line-up as well

jervin007

I have been to Bonnaroo twice. Back in 2006 and 2007. Had a great time both years, but it is really hot. Be ready to not sleep much, or sleep in past 7am. But, thats expected right??

I agree with those who have pushed for the Hangout Festival. Even though I have never been I have heard from multiple people how amazing the festival is. Line-up is usually great and the crowd capacity is smaller. Plus, from what I understand the sand is unbelievable. One day I will make it there.

mulva9

I've had the best experience at Newport Folk Festival. Smaller scale, but their lineup was incredible this past year. So much more laid back than other festivals. Lots of collaborations between artists.

helplessdancer

hasn't anyone here ever been to JAZZFEST in new orleans

i'm not a festival person but finally got to go this year. it was on my bucket list for 10 years
there are tons of reasons why this should be # 1 on anyone's list
new orleans is one of the greatest music cities in all of america
not only is jazzfest amazing but the music in the clubs during jazz fest is a++
it's spread out on 2 weekends and the 2nd weekend is usually the best
BUT if u were really going to do it right do both weekends and tour around the city between the 2 weekends=10-11days

btw...it aint all jazz!!! big name rock headliners. gospel tent. blues tent...etc etc

http://www.nojazzfest.com

Who Princess

helplessdancer wrote:

hasn't anyone here ever been to JAZZFEST in new orleans

i'm not a festival person but finally got to go this year. it was on my bucket list for 10 years
there are tons of reasons why this should be # 1 on anyone's list
new orleans is one of the greatest music cities in all of america
not only is jazzfest amazing but the music in the clubs during jazz fest is a++
it's spread out on 2 weekends and the 2nd weekend is usually the best
BUT if u were really going to do it right do both weekends and tour around the city between the 2 weekends=10-11days

btw...it aint all jazz!!! big name rock headliners. gospel tent. blues tent...etc etc

http://www.nojazzfest.com

That one has been on my bucket list for MANY years. Really not even that far away.

helplessdancer

Who Princess wrote:

helplessdancer wrote:

hasn't anyone here ever been to JAZZFEST in new orleans

i'm not a festival person but finally got to go this year. it was on my bucket list for 10 years
there are tons of reasons why this should be # 1 on anyone's list
new orleans is one of the greatest music cities in all of america
not only is jazzfest amazing but the music in the clubs during jazz fest is a++
it's spread out on 2 weekends and the 2nd weekend is usually the best
BUT if u were really going to do it right do both weekends and tour around the city between the 2 weekends=10-11days

btw...it aint all jazz!!! big name rock headliners. gospel tent. blues tent...etc etc

http://www.nojazzfest.com

That one has been on my bucket list for MANY years. Really not even that far away.

assuming you have been to new orleans?
i went to that city before jazz fest(for nye a couple years ago-galactic @ tipitinas)
all i could think of while i was there was how cool this city would be for jazz fest
jazz fest location is not far from the city center(streetcar away)
the set up is fantastic cause they've been doing it for years
and
this food is to die for
http://www.gonola.com/2011/05/15/crawfi ... assic.html

samjam

If you're into the lineup, a small, underrated one is Mountain Jam in upstate NY (2 hours away from NYC) http://mountainjam.com/

I'm not much into festivals but the atmosphere and line-up this one always brings is so fantastic! I've gone two years in a row now and one of my best friends and I plan to make going a day a yearly thing. Check it out!