Summer is finally around the corner and what pairs better with warm summer sun and a cold drink in your hand, than some marvelous music from your favorite bands?
Over the next few months, there will be hundreds of music festivals taking place. With all the social media hype, it can be a little overwhelming to know which ones to save your money for. If you haven’t already been buzzing about the internet to scout your music festival get-a-ways, look no further. Here are a few of the best in the Midwest:
Mid West Music Fest | Winona, MN | April 28-30, 2016
“Where Music and Community Meet”
MWMF is in its seventh year of operation, bringing forth multiple stages in a beautiful valley on the Mississippi River in downtown Winona. Last year, the festival was nominated for “Best Music Festival in Minnesota” by the Twin City Pages and brought in over 2,100 people and 400 musicians. Featuring roughly 75 Midwestern bands, including Bad Bad Hats, Jeremy Messersmith, Heiruspecs, Romantica, and the Fury Things, MWMF is set up like a small-scale South by Southwest, where attendees hop between walking-distance venues throughout town.
http://www.midwestmusicfest.org
Soundset | St. Paul, MN | May 29, 2016
Travel to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, to experience an entire day of concerts by some of the best rap and hip-hop artists in the business. Two of the hottest names in hip-hop right now, ASAP Rocky and Future, will be performing, alongside two long-beloved pioneers not seen locally in years, the Roots and Common. Other acts due in town for the big show include: Machine Gun Kelly, Danny Brown, Jay Rock, Post Malone, Paak & the Free Nationals and repeat Soundset players Murs and Blueprint.
http://www.soundsetfestival.com
Country Fest | Cadott, WI | June 16-19, 2016
Founded 29 years ago in stunning Central Wisconsin, Country Fest is the ultimate summer destination for the best outdoor Country Music Festival experience that brings fans back year after year. Country Fest is the largest 4-Day Country Music & Camping Event in the U.S. This year’s big outdoor festival features: Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Sam Hunt.
Summerfest | Milwaukee, WI | June 29 – July 3 / July 5 – 10, 2016
“11 Days. 11 Stages. Over 800 Acts. Over 1,000 Performances. Nearly 900,000 of your closest friends.”
They call this the world’s largest music festival. It has music of all genres, for every age. You couldn’t go there and not find a band that didn’t get ya movin’. More than 800 acts perform on 11 stages along Lake Michigan, including Sting, Peter Gabriel, Weezer, Selena Gomez, Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, Tesla, Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan.
Basilica Block Party | Minneapolis, MN | July 8 – 9, 2016
The Basilica Block Party began in 1995 as a fundraiser to help pay for the structural restoration of The Basilica of Saint Mary. Now, a portion of all the proceeds go to The Basilica’s St. Vincent de Paul outreach program. The lineup for the event includes: American Authors, X Ambassadors, Matt Hires, The Fray, Phillip Phillips, Matt Nathanson, Ron Pope, Death Cab For Cutie, and many more!
http://basilicablockparty.org/
Lollapalooza | Chicago, IL | July 29 – 31, 2016
“With 8 stages, and 170+ bands from all over the world, every Lolla lineup makes hands wave, heads nod, and crowds holler.”
This festival isn’t just a music festival, because it offers so much more. Hosted in Grant Park, Lollapalooza is considered a three-day cultural experience that spans over 115 acres; smack dab in the middle of Downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. This year, they’ve got some stellar headliners that include: Lana Del Rey, Bastille, Radiohead, Martin Garrix, Alessia Cara, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Disclosure, Jane’s Addiction, LCD Soundsystem, Ellie Goulding, Haim, Halsey and many more!
WE Fest | Detroit Lakes, MN | August 4 – 6, 2016
Since WE Fest’s inception in 1983, it has been one of the leading country music festivals in the nation. Twice nominated for the Country Music Association’s prestigious Best Special Event award, WE Fest is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding events of its kind in the nation. One can enjoy three days of camping, country music, good company, and the ultimate country headliners: Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Lee Brice, and Billy Currington (to name a few). So grab all your Red, White, and Blue apparel, cowboy boots and show off your American Pride!
Summer Set Music Festival | Somerset, WI | August 12 – 14, 2016
Join the tens of thousands of fans from all over the country to Summer Set Music and Camping Festival! The festival boasts a diverse lineup of nationally acclaimed acts as well as talented up-and-comers, rocking the stage well into the night under the starry Wisconsin sky. Summer Set is expected to keep EDM music fresh at this years’ festival with performers like: Skrillex, Bassnectar, Steve Aoki, Grimes, Logic, STS9, Gramatik, Cherub, Flux Pavilion, Marshmello, DJ Mustard, St. Lucia, and many more!