The sun has consistently been shining in Gainesville since the great migration back from those fun-filled spring breaks. That scorching sun which tans students’ bodies between classes, that sun that reminds us all why we chose to go to school in the sunshine state, that sun that makes us yearn for the ocean and crystal swimming pools, that is the same sun that signals something else. The summer sun also means summer musical festival.
The Hangout Music Festival is probably the closest option, being that it is located in nearby Gulf Shores, Alabama. The third annual Hangout will be held from May 18-20 and will feature headliners like the Dave Mathews Band and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The lineup of about 50 performers also includes acts like Wilco, Shrillex, Mac Miller, Yelawolf, M. Ward and Young the Giant. Tickets to this true beach bash range in price from $209 to $849 for VIP packages. For more information visit http://www.hangoutmusicfest.com/.
A little farther out than The Hangout but well worth the trip is Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival. Bonnaroo is held yearly in Manchester, Tenn. From June 7-10 stellar acts like Bon Iver, Foster the People, Ludacris, The Kooks, Santigold, and Black Star will take to one of the many stages set up the 700 acres of Tennessee farmland. True to music festival form, Bonnaroo attendees live, eat, sleep and see the acts all in the same place. More than just a music festival, Bonnaroo connects campers with the great outdoors and the greatest talents in the music industry. General admission tickets to Bonnaroo cost $259.50. For more information visit http://www.bonnaroo.com/.
From the beach to the farm and now to the desert. Completing the must-see list of summer festivals is California’s Coachella. Located just south of Palm Desert, Coachella can be found in Indio, Cal. Coachella has grown greatly in popularity and has expanded to two weekends, both consisting of the same acts. The weekends of April 13-15 and April 20-22 acts such as Avicii, Artic Monkeys, Beirut, Girl Talk, Gotye, M83 and Radiohead will delight dehydrated festivalgoers with their musical talents.
For more information visit http://www.coachella.com/.
The quest is on for that perfect summer festival memory. For that moment where you find yourself dancing in a crowd of more than 80,000 people, screaming out lyrics to your favorite band, your sun-kissed skin dripping sweat and amidst it all you realize: this is it, this is your Woodstock. So if it is any these three festivals or if it is one of the hundreds of others that will take place in the vast open spaces of America, go out there and find your Woodstock.