As some of you may know, the epic event that is Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida kicked off the much-loved festival season that will last all spring and through September. Miami is too far for most of us, but that doesn’t mean we Californians can’t enjoy festival season, too! So pack your tents, backpacks, sunglasses and sunblock and road trip to my picks for top four west coast festivals!
1. Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival – Indio, CA (April 12-14 & April 19-21)
This amazing festival is happening in Indio, California. As the most high-profile festival in California, it can be as difficult to score a ticket to Coachella as to the Superbowl. However, I’ve gone the last three years and I highly encourage you to check this one out. The best thing about Coachella is it’s less about the lineup than the experience, including huge art installations (a T-Rex that eats recycling… seriously) and friendly people with a smattering of L.A.’s finest frequent this festival – I once saw Danny DeVito drunkenly jump onstage. The headliners this year are The Stone Roses/Blur, Phoenix, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, other notables including Sigur Rós, Modest Mouse, Wu-Tang Clan, and Benny Benassi.
2. Cali Roots – Monterey, CA (May 24–26)
Far more accessible for students, this festival is in the Monterey County Fairgrounds about two hours away. It’s got a much more um… relaxed… vibe than some of the other festivals on this list, definitely a blanket and picnic basket affair. The music is mainly reggae-themed, with headliners such as Slightly Stoopid, Collie Buddz, Rebelution, and Matisyahu. Since it takes place over Memorial Day weekend, it’s definitely worth checking out as a mini-vacation with friends.
3. Sasquatch – Quincy, WA (May 24-27)
One of our most notable festivals comes to us from Quincy, Washington in one of the coolest concert venues around: The Gorge. This arena is basically carved into a mountain, so you can really connect with nature during this festival and bring out your inner hippie. Notable acts that will be there this year include Mumford and Sons, Sigur Ros, The Postal Service, and Macklemore with Ryan Lewis. Also over Memorial Day Weekend, I encourage you to take off and experience the beautiful drive up to the northwest!
4. Electric Daisy Carnival – Las Vegas, NV (June 21-23)
For all my EDM-crazy kids out there (Electronic Dance Music) this festival is where you belong. Boasting world-renowned DJs such as Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, Bassnectar and Sebastian Ingrosso, this three-day event is in the City of Sin’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway. True to its name, EDC IS a carnival, complete with roller coasters, ferris wheels, and clowns on stilts. If this is your thing, throw on your tutu and glitter and get out there!
Honorable Mentions
BottleRock 2013 in Napa, CA is a new festival May 9-12 with The Black Keys headlining. Also, Outside Lands will be in San Francisco later this summer, (sometime in September) and doesn’t have a lineup out yet, but is known for being a quirky, fun festival. Last year, it boasted artists such as Skrillex, Metallica, Franz Ferdinand, and Stevie Wonder.
Hopefully this festival guide will be helpful to you as you plan a fun and eventful spring quarter into summer vacation! There’s nothing more relaxing than packing up a car with your friends and going to see some great music for a few days. Happy Festival Hopping!