Coachella Alternatives: 2018 Summer Music Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss
Coachella is arguably one of the most talked about, anticipated events of every year. Just ask anyone between the ages of tween and “forever young at heart.” The fact that the music and arts festival stays at the forefront of music lovers’ minds is not shocking. Every annual performance seems to outdo the year before, but, although good for entertainment’s sake, this larger-than-life factor does have its downsides. Ticket costs are so high, monthly payment plans are common, and festival goers no longer have the luxury of feeling like they’ve discovered something magical.
The good news is that in the wake of Coachella madness, many other music festivals have sprung to life. Many of thesealternative fests are cheaper, with similarly amazing headliners as the Indio, Calif., fest. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best 2018 music festivals you’ve gotta attend. This list includes hip hop, dance, rock and everything you wanna dance to.
If you do love Coachella, don’t fear. This list will also include 2018 music festivals that feel as grandiose. The only difference is that they are a teeny bit less popular — but the magic of feeling like you discovered something special is all the more present. File these all under: Music Festivals 2018 …
10.) Shaky Beats Music Festival
WSB-TV
Date: May 11-13, 2018
Location: Central Park, Atlanta, Ga.
2018 Headliners: Kygo • Marshmello • Zedd • Dillion Francis • Ludacris • Louis The Child • Phantoms • Unlike Pluto • Manic Focus • Excision • Seven Lions • Playboi Carti • San Hold
Why you should go:
Love to get down? Down to get funky? If your knees get shaky for hip-hop and electronic music, this music fest has your name written all over it. This year the three-day event is primarily focused on electronic, electro-funk and rap – a noticeable difference from last year, when the fest felt more like a rave than anything, blasting drum and bass, dubstep and the like.
That get-down mood is still in the air, however. AND Shaky has something else anyone can get jiggy with: FOOD. Not just normal concert food like hot dogs; we’re talking about Indian cuisine and Belgian-style waffle fries.
9.) Hangout Music Festival
Hangout Music Festival
Date: May 17-20, 2018
Location: Gulf Shores Public Beach, Gulf Shores, Ala.
2018 Headliners: Kendrick Lamar • The Killers • Zedd • Portugal. The Man • Cold War Kids • The Chainnsmokers • Halsey • Logic • St. Vincent • Grouplove • T-Pain
Why you should go:
Bro. Broski. Bruh. Hangout Music Festival is for those who enjoy the chillest of things in life. You know, like,the hang loose emoji, flip flops in winter and working on that killer year-round tan. The latter is 100 percent likely to happen if you get your hands on a ticket, because this 2018 musical festival is on the beach. Not near, around or 3 miles from it, but quite literally on the sand. What else do you need to know to understand that this fest is totally tubular?
Make time for the gnarly beach concert. It’ll include Rock, Alternative, EDM, Indie and Hip-hop.
8.) Vans Warped Tour
Date: June 22 – August 5, 2018
Location: Throughout the United States
2018 Headliners: 3OH!3 • All Time Low • The Amity AfflictionN • As It Is • Asking Alexandria • Assuming We Survive • August Burns Red • Beartooth • Black Veil Brides • Bowling For Soup • Broadside • Capstan • Chase Atlantic • Chelsea Grin • Crown The Empire • Dayseeker • Dead Girls Academy
Why you should go:
7.) Panorama Music Festival
Panorama Music Festival
Date: July 27-29, 2018
Location: Randall’s Island Park, New York City, NY
2018 Headliners: The Weeknd • Janet Jackson • The Killers • David Byrne • SZA, Migos • Gucci Mane • Cardi B • Father John Misty • War on Drugs • the xx • Fleet Foxes • St. Vincent • Dua Lipa • Jhene Aiko
Why you should go:
Brought to NYC by the same people who brought Californians Coachella, Golden Voice delivers again, this time on the East coast. It’s one of the top summer music events for New Yorkers. The 2018 lineup is full of hip hop, rock and classic A-listers (Janet Jackson, anyone??). Panorama Music Festival also hosts Digital Lab, which describes itself as “a playground of music and technology.” Take a look below!
6.) Pitchfork Music Festival
Matt Leif Anderson | Facebook / Pitchfork Music Festival
Date: July 20-22, 2018
Location: Union Park, Chicago, Ill.
2018 Headliners: Tame Impala • Ms. Lauryn Hill • Chaka Khan • Courtney Barnett • Mount Kimbie • Big Thief • Fleet Foxes • The War on Drugs
Why you should go:
“The Most Trusted Voice in Music” convenes for its 12th year at Chicago’s Union Park. Pitchfork is the online magazine that anyone who’s into music regularly checks. The music site organizing its own music festival is the equivalent of Vogue throwing its own fashionista bash. So, go, go, go! Even without looking at Pitchfork’s lineup, you know it’ll be fire.
5.) Sasquatch! Music Festival
Eric Tra | Facebook / Sasquatch! Music Festival
Date: May 25-27, 2018
Location: The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Wash.
2018 Headliners: Bon Iver • The National • Modest Mouse • David Byrne • Ray LaMontagne • Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals • Spoon • Explosions In The Sky • TV On The Radio • Thundercat • Japandroids
Why you should go:
Holiday-lovers and nature enthusiasts, rejoice. Sasquatch! Music Festival is calling your name. The three-day concert event is perfect for a mini vacay. It takes place on Memorial Day and, as usual, will be at the Gorge Amphitheatre. If you haven’t heard of the venue before, it’s only just about one of the most beautiful concert venues in the world, as it overlooks the famous Columbia River. Spare extra vacation days for a musical and scenic trip.
4.) Primavera Sound
Stuart Philkill
Date: May 30 – June 3, 2018
Location: Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Headliners: Lorde • A$AP Rocky • Arctic Monkeys • The National • Bjork • Belle & Sebastian • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds • CHVRCHES • Tyler, The Creator • HAIM
Why you should go:
3.) BottleRock Napa Valley
Bottlerock Napa Valley
Date: May 25-27, 2018
Location: Napa Valley Expo, Napa, Calif.
2018 Headliners: Bruno Mars • The Killers • Muse • Snoop Dogg • Halsey • Incubus • Earth, Wind & Fire • Billy Idol • Phantogram • The Revivalists • E-40 • Manchester Orchestra
Why you should go:
BottleRock fixates on bringing attendees good music and good wine. As it should. The fest is different than other 2018 music festivals; it’s located in Napa Valley, known for its endless vineyards.
Fancy drinking pinot noirs while Bruno Mars serenades? For the older … er, more refined guests, sip on chardonnay and enjoy Earth, Wind & Fire.
2.) Wireless Festival
James Bridle
Date: July 6-8, 2018
Location: Finsbury Park, Harringay, United Kingdom
2018 Headliners: Big Sean • J Cole • Post Malone • PARTYNEXTDOOR • Migos • DJ Khaled • French Montana • Stormzy • Rick Ross
Why you should go:
Hip-hop heads, this ones for you. In a time where Coachella and other music events run off pop and alternative rock, where hip-hop and rap artists are only the headliners, Wireless Festivals runs off your favorite genre. Oddly enough, the summer music fest takes place at England’s Finsbury Park. A Victorian-era park … but it works! Get the best of both worlds at Wireless Festival.
1.) Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Date: August 2-5, 2018
Location: Grant Park, Chicago, Ill.
2018 Headliners: Bruno Mars • The Weeknd • Jack White • Travis Scott • The National • Vampire Weekend • ODESZA • Logic • Post Malone • Khalid • Walk the Moon • Chromeo • Lykke Li
Why you should go:
Lollapalooza, nicknamed the “Coachella of Chicago,” is the leading Coachella alternative. If you love Coachella so much you want to live it twice — or if you couldn’t get your hands on a ticket this year — invest in Lolla. The Chicago music festival always brings in the best acts. It’s location in Grant Park definitely rivals the dust and dirt of Indio. Who knows? It may be your new annual music event.
Which of these extravaganzas would you classify as “Best Music Festivals 2018”? Let us know in the comments!
