Music festivals are a staple of summertime fun – it’s the perfect occasion to eat, drink and be merry under the summer sun, all to the beat of your favorite bands and musicians. Many festivals are based in areas with plenty of other attractions and entertainment, making it the perfect excuse to escape for a week. Curious about some of the events going down this summer? We’ve assembled a quick rundown of some of 2014’s best festivals for any taste in music!
CMA Music Festival – June 5th-18th
Fittingly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the CMA Music Festival is must-see event for any country music lover. Eleven stages house over 450 performances, including big names in the country music scene like Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. Attendees can also look forward to plenty of activities – artist signings and meet and greets, kids activities and even celebrity guitar auctions for the truly dedicated!
Governors Ball – June 6th-8th
New York City calls itself home to the Governors Ball. The three-day event boasts a distinctly indie-rock vibe this year with performers like Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Foster the People and Empire of the Sun. The grounds are loaded with plenty of ways to keep you entertained as you listen – face and body painting, lawn games, art exhibitions and an array of local food to sample!
Electric Daisy Carnival – June 20th-22nd
Hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Electric Daisy Carnival (or, more commonly, EDC) is a surreal foray into the world of electronic dance music. Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, Avicii and Tiesto are just a few of the names backing the impressive lineup. Perhaps even more impressive is the EDC grounds themselves; the entire landscape is hyper-sensory and boasts glowing, glittering structures and art, as well as theatrical troops to entertain attendees and even carnival rides located right on the grounds.
Newport Folk Festival – July 25th-27th
Newport, Rhode Island is the namesake of this folk-centric festival. The grounds and their four stages lie right up against Newport Harbor, offering an uncontested view of the East Passage and Newport Bridge. Major folk names heading the lineup are Band of Horses, Reignwolf, Jeff Tweedy and Jenny lewis. The Newport Folk Festival will also feature local food as well as crafts and art exhibitions.
Newport Jazz Festival – August 1st-3rd
Also based in Newport the Newport Jazz Festival makes its home at Newport’s Fort Adams. Three stages and over fourty-five captivating jazz acts make this the ultimate haven for jazz fans. Artists such as Iyer, Dr. John, Coltrane and Trombone Short and Orleans Avenue will grace the stage. Just like the Newport Folk Festival one week prior, attendees can look forward to plenty of great food and unique crafts vendors.
Outside Lands – August 8th-10th
The Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California is Outside Lands’ base of operations. Unlike many music festivals, Outside Lands doesn’t confine itself to one genre; an eclectic array of artists are scheduled to perform, including The Killers, Kanye West, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Arctic Monkeys. There’s also a particularly heavy focus on food and drink at Outside Lands. Separate Wine Lands and Beer Lands offer plenty of tasting opportunities, while the Taste of the Bay Area program allows for sampling of local fare.
Are any summer music festivals on your calendar this summer? Feel free to share your plans or past experiences with us in the comments!
Photo Credit: http://www.electricdaisycarnival.com