Photo by Lheandrew Canete
The start of a new year means a lot of new things–new resolutions, new beginnings, new classes. VALLEY is especially excited for the new season of music festivals flooding across the U.S. this year. Unlike regular concert tours, music festivals usually happen only once or twice annually in one place. They have been increasing popularity over the years even attracting the presence of many movie stars and millionaires. A dozen famous fests across the country have released their lineups in the recent weeks ushering in a colossal wave of ticket sales. Artists like Eminem, Bassnectar, Halsey, Travis Scott and The Killers seem to be the overall popular choices for 2018’s setlists. Here are some of the festivals on our ticket wishlist so far.
Northeast
Photo from jambase.com
Photo from governorsballmusicfestival.com
The Northeast hosts some pretty remarkable festivals. Our favorite 2018 lineups coming close to home include Governor’s Ball in New York City, Boston Calling in Boston and Firefly in Delaware. This region’s best EDM festival, Michigan’s Electric Forest, actually has two different lineups for two separate weekends. Attendees of this festival get to see their shows in the middle of a forest laced with millions of multicolored lights. Most notably, Eminem is headlining 3 of the above fests with the release of his new album, “Revival.” Jack White, The Killers, Khalid and Portugal, The Man made their way onto not only one, but two of these Northeastern lineups.
South
Photo from https://www.bonnaroo.com
Photo from okeechobeefest.com
The Southern music festivals VALLEY is excited for include Bonnaroo in Tennessee, Hangout in Alabama, Shaky Knees in Georgia and both Ultra and Okeechobee in Florida. Among the artists playing, Halsey, Bassnectar and, again, The Killers and Khalid appear multiple times. The South is home to some of the hottest fests (literally and figuratively) of 2018–if their lineups don’t knock you out, the summer heat will.
“While it was the hottest four days I have ever been through, I met amazing people and did awesome things that I will never forget,”says Alex Stoner, a freshman studying public relations. “I wouldn’t have traded that experience for the world.”
West
Photo from jambase.com
Photo from coachella.com
Not many western lineups have been released for 2018 yet, but these two are must-sees. Napa Valley’s Bottlerock and perhaps the country’s most popular music festival, Coachella, are both held in California. Coachella is known for its high celebrity attendance and iconic festival fashion due to its location being so close to Hollywood. With only two lineups being out so far, it’s hard to tell who the popular artist choices will be. VALLEY waits for other legendary western festivals like Burning Man and Sasquatch! to reveal their setlists. Most of these glam festivals are just expensive dreams; after seeing these lineups though, these fests might be worth the cash. Lineups change as music trends evolve, so if you see an unforgettable lineup, then make sure to start saving.
Photo by Lheandrew Canete
What makes music festivals so great and so desirable is that they bring a group of amazing performers all to one venue for a weekend of unforgettable music with people who share the same passion for similar taste in music. Next year it will be a completely new set. The festivals listed above have reduced-price early bird tickets on sale already, so get going! Plan an unforgettable festival adventure to
look forward to this year.
Have another fest you’re thrilled for? Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, with any that we might have missed!
