As the weather continues teasing me with sporadic days of warm sunshine in the thick of February, my spring fever only grows stronger. It reminds me that picnics, popsicles, and porch parties are just around the corner, which also means we’re approaching the greatest time of year: music festival season. Though it always ends up being worth it, there’s a steep price to pay for sweating off glitter and flash tats in a crowded field from noon until midnight. Why venture all the way to Coachella or Gov Ball when there are so many insane acts coming through festivals close by? Here’s a list of ten music festivals scheduled right here in the southeast that you won’t want to miss this year.
Ultra Music Festival – Miami, FL (March 29-31)
Nestled in Virginia Key, Ultra is your one-stop shop for EDM. It’s also a festival committed to preserving the natural and historic environment in the surrounding area, which they strive to accomplish through pollution prevention, waste production and traffic mitigation. Artists have been electrifying audiences since 1999, and this year should be no different. This year’s lineup includes Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Testpilot, The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Tiesto, Rezz, David Guetta, Alesso, Richie Hawtin and more.
MerleFest – Wilkesboro, NC (April 25-28)
This fest has been swingin’ since 1988 as a fundraiser for the local Wilkes Community College and a celebration of “traditional plus” music, which includes the likes of bluegrass, old-time, Americana, country, blues, rock, and beyond. Their motto is to make music, moments and memories, all of which was inspired by founder Eddy Merle Wilson, the innovator behind this top-tier yet humbled music festival. Performers include The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Amos Lee, Wynonna and the Big Noise, Dailey and Vincent, Tyler Childers, Keb’ Mo’ and more.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA (April 25-May 5)
From the start, this event was destined for success, with headliners Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington taking the stage in the birthplace of jazz. This year is the 50th anniversary, and it aims to emphasize both the contemporary and historical facets of music. It’s been named Festival of the Year by Pollstar magazine four times, and its half-century benchmark should guarantee a spectacular weekend. Some of this year’s artists are The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Katy Perry, Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band, Chris Stapleton, Pitbull, Santana and more.
Beale Street Music Festival – Memphis, TN (May 3-5)
Dating back to 1977, Beale Street Fest’s origins seem to be rooted in funk, R&B and soul, but people have been huddling in these streets during the spring to play music ever since the 1800s. Today, more rap, blues and pop is incorporated into its lineup. Best of all, this is just one component of Memphis In May International Festival, a month-long jubilee that honors a different country every year, but for its bicentennial bash, 2019 will salute the city of Memphis, Tennessee itself. Dave Matthews Band, Khalid, Shinedown, G-Eazy, Onerepublic, Charlie Wilson, The Killers, Cardi B, Gary Clark Jr., plus many more will be featured in this year’s lineup.
Shaky Knees Music Festival – Atlanta, GA (May 3-5)
This is a sure-fire unforgettable weekend that is near and dear to my heart. I missed its inaugural festival in 2013, but I’ve been every year since and am stoked for the upcoming lineup. It’s back at Central Park, right by the Krispy Kreme on Ponce de Leon on the edge of Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. If you like indie, rock, alternative or folk music and you can take the heat of Hotlanta, this is the place for you. This year’s lineup features Beck, Incubus, Cage the Elephant, Gary Clark Jr., Tame Impala, Tears for Fears, Foals, Tash Sultana, Interpol, Maggie Rogers and more.
Shaky Beats Music Festival – Atlanta, GA (May 10-11)
Like its sister festival Shaky Knees, Shaky Beats will take place in Central Park for a whole mesmerizing weekend this May. It has a similar string of acts to Ultra down in Miami, focusing on electropop, trap, future bass, house, dancetronica and fusion music. This is the perfect opportunity to break out your rave gear and dance ’til you drop with thousands of your closest new friends. Some of this year’s performers are Rüfüs du Sol, Big Gigantic, San Holo, Martin Garrix, Galantis, Fisher, Gryffin, What So Not, Chris Lake, Snakehips, Big Wild and more.
Hangout Music Festival – Gulf Shores, AL (May 17-19)
Simply referred to as “Hangout,” this festival has featured acclaimed rock, hip-hop, indie and EDM artists since its kickoff in 2010. Classics such as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Tom Petty have graced the stage in the past in addition to hot newer acts including Bassnectar, Moon Taxi and The Weeknd. Hangout is the definition of fun in the sun, loaded with sunset shows over rolling waves. What more could you ask for except for performances by Travis Scott, The Lumineers, Khalid, Vampire Weekend, Cardi B, Kygo, The 1975, Diplo, Hozier, Griz, Walk the Moon and more?
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Manchester, TN (June 13-16)
All hail the almighty ‘Roo, one of America’s most revered music festivals. Held on 650 acres of land, I’m not convinced any parameters could contain this psychedelic frenzy. In just four days, over 100 acts will rock this Tennessee grassland with music across all genres. This event is all about honoring rock ‘n’ roll, and this year Phish will play the two-night jam band set of a lifetime. You can expect to see performances by Grand Ole Opry, Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone, Odesza, The Lumineers, Solange, Hozier, Cardi B, The Avett Brothers and more.
Forecastle Festival – Louisville, KY (July 12-14)
What started as a group of friends with a passion for music has snowballed into a national phenomenon over the past seventeen years. Punk, rap, psych rock, soul and bluegrass are just a few of the genres that have been premiered on stage over the years, and magazines such as Rolling Stone and Outside have taken note. Hop on the bandwagon for three days of music, art, activism and bourbon. The Killers, The Avett Brothers, Anderson Paak & the Nationals, Tyler Childers, Maggie Rogers, Portugal. the Man, Chvrches and many more are anticipated to perform this year.
Lockn’ Festival – Arrington, VA (August 22-25)
Like Atlanta’s Shaky’s, Lockn’ is fairly new festival that has quickly gained a lot of traction. At its base, Lockn’ is a platform for jam bands and improvised music, but it’s welcomed all kinds of good-time artists including Zac Brown Band, Grace Potter and Wilco. Trey Anastasio, the 21st century Jerry Garcia, will headline alongside several other hippy-dippy, trippy acts late this summer, such as Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Gary Clark Jr., The Revivalists and more.
I don’t know about you, but I’m on my way to packing up my tie-dye and halter tops and hitting the road. You can’t go wrong with any of these music festivals, so as long as you can gather up some groupies to tag along, you’re almost ready to rock ‘n’ roll all night and party every day. Get outside and enjoy some good old fashioned fun and sweet summer tunes!