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This article is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more.
If you’re heading over to the USA seeking the style of music that best speaks to you, you’re going to want to time your trip around some of the country’s greatest music festivals. And we’re not just talking about Coachella or the equally iconic Lollapalooza.
The USA is home to some of the world’s greatest one-day and multi-day music festivals, attracting big-name talents like Pearl Jam, JAY-Z, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, and The Killers, as well as a bevvy of future favourites and nostalgia-baiting legends.
It’d be a herculean task trying to get across all of them so take note of the bucket-list names and dates so you know what months to visit.
SXSW, Texas
Where Is It?
Austin, Texas.
When Is It?
Mid-to-late March.
What’s It Like?
More than just a music festival, SXSW has grown into a city-wide takeover of film, art, music, food, and consumer technology; an amalgamation of cultural events sketched onto Austin’s famously dense nightlife across high-impact strips like Rainey and Sixth Street.
Locals become pedicab drivers to make a bit of extra money on the side while punters zip across the city to see bands, fill up on Texan BBQ, and network with the creative industries. It’s the wildest party of the year as global creatives and brands descend on the city for nine days of activations, events and parties.
Who’s Played Before?
The better question is, who hasn’t? SXSW is unparalleled when it comes to mixing established acts with hot young talent.
Some of the big names who have played at the festival include Raekwon, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, Odd Future, and James Blunt. And when someone like Mayer gets their start at SXSW, you know it’s the music world’s most prescient cultural event.
Coachella, California
Where Is It?
Indio, California.
When Is It?
Mid-to-Late April.
What’s It Like?
Coachella is the country’s most recognised multi-day music festival; so popular that it now takes place over two weekends with the same line-up. The festival is located in the Coachella Valley – which is also known as Greater Palm Springs – in Indio, California, at the Empire Polo Club, two hours east of LA by car. The ability for Coachella to pull in these big, paradigm-shifting lineups has positioned it as one of the most anticipated events in the world. The hungry blend of off-site parties, art installations, live music, food, and comedy, makes this a bucket-list experience for all ages.
Who’s Played Before?
Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rage Against The Machine, Eminem, The Cure, and Muse are just some of the big names that have headlined Coachella.
Lollapalooza, Illinois
Where Is It?
Chicago, Illinois.
When Is It?
Early August.
What’s It Like?
Founded in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction head honcho Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza has grown into one of the United State’s most influential multi-day music festivals. Originally a touring festival, Lolla’s had a bumpy ride at the end of the nineties before turning it into a “destination festival” and taking up residence in Chicago’s Grant Park in 2005. Farrell later attributed the decision to Chicago’s accessibility and liberal and open-minded people. It now attracts 100,000 attendees a day and some of the biggest names in music as headliners, with an undercard of diverse and eclectic acts, from cult favourites to rising future stars.
Who’s Played Before?
Snoop Dogg, Jane’s Addiction, Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Florence & The Machine, and Bruno Mars have all taken the stage at Lollapalooza.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Louisiana
Where Is It?
New Orleans, Louisiana.
When Is It?
Late April to early May.
What’s It Like?
Better known as Jazz Fest, this epic cultural event takes place over 10 days (or two four-day weekends), serving as the ultimate celebration of Louisiana’s distinctive music, art, and cuisine. This has been an American tradition since 1970, doubling down on the city’s lively reputation with some of the country’s most epic parties and a wide scope for just about every genre on the planet.
Who’s Played Before?
Ed Sheeran, Ludacris, Duke Ellington, Pete Fountain, Lil’ Wayne, Juvenile, Santana, Lizzo, Bonnie Raitt, Thelonius Monk, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, James Brown, and Miles Davis are just some of the big names that have performed at Jazz Fest.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Tennessee
Where Is It?
Manchester, Tennessee.
When Is It?
Mid-June.
What’s It Like?
Bonnaroo is still one of the world’s most intense multi-day camping festivals. Taking place on a 650-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival is positioned as one of the country’s best, attracting just about every artist across every genre you could think of with around 70,000 people partying with their favourite artists in rural Tennessee.
Who’s Played Before?
Jack White, Beastie Boys, Childish Gambino, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Killers, and Muse are some of the big names that have performed at Bonnaroo over the years.
Ultra Music Festival, Florida
Where Is It?
Miami, Florida.
When Is It?
Late March.
What’s It Like?
Apart from Vegas’ equally famous Electric Daisy Carnival, there are few festivals as alluring for EDM aficionados as Ultra Music Festival.
The globally renowned, multi-day dance festival has people from all around the world descending upon Miami where the enormous Bayfront Park precinct transforms into a lavish blend of high-impact performances, cutting-edge technology, and 165,000 heaving bodies all in it for the love of electronic music.
Who’s Played Before?
The Prodigy, Swedish House Mafia, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Above & Beyond, Kratwerk, Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Skrillex, The Weeknd, Afrojax, and Snoop Dogg are some of the acts that have headlined Ultra Music Festival in previous years.
Life Is Beautiful, Nevada
Where Is It?
Las Vegas, Nevada.
When Is It?
Late September.
What’s It Like?
Spread over 18 city blocks in historic Downtown Las Vegas, Life Is Beautiful is a distinctive three-day festival not only designed for the world’s biggest musicians but curated to showcase creatives pioneering the worlds of food, art, comedy and learning.
A mind-blowing keynote is just as valuable as a one-hour set from The Killers or Kanye West here, with the festival hinged on being a well-rounded immersive experience rather than “just a music festival.”
Who’s Played Before?
Kanye West, The Killers, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, U2, Flume, Nelly, Kendrick Lamar, The Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, The Gorillaz, and Lorde are just some of the artists that have performed at Life Is Beautiful in previous years.
This article is sponsored by VisitTheUSA.com.au and is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more, and thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
