MY VIRTUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL ROAD TRIP
posted in: Features • Music News
Break out the coolers and start planning those road trips because summer is on its way. There are few things in this world that can draw masses of people halfway across the country to spend their minimal savings on a single weekend. A summer musical festival is one of them. From hippies craving nostalgia to college students scraping together their loose change for months, these festivals see such a draw of people that I’m sure they aren’t giving too much thought to these rough economic times. On that note, I’m going to take you on a tour of the five most notable warm weather festivals that deserve your attention this year.
SXSW:
First on the itinerary is the week-long party of southern hospitality that is the SXSW music festival in Texas. The unique thing about this festival is its location: it doesn’t really have one. Rather, this celebration of music scatters mainstream and up-and-coming acts all across the Lone Star State to select bars, clubs, and outdoor spaces. Unfortunately, here comes the bad news, this festival happened a few weeks ago. If you went this year you probably enjoyed such names as Third Eye Blind and Ben Harper and Relentless7. If you’ve been following our coverage you know that over 80 OurStage artists played SXSW. Make sure to check out this festival next year if you missed it; it’s a great way to start off your own tour of summer music fests.
The next stop on my virtual road trip is one of the long-standing giants of the summer 
music scene: Bonnaroo. Located in Manchester, TN, this dynamic festival draws thousands of people cross-country every year to camp, jam, hang out, and listen to countless artists that, before Bonnaroo, you’ve probably only seen from far away or through TV screens. This year the festival boasts mainstreamers Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Phish, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, Snoop Dog, The Mars Volta and many more. If the impressive roster of artists isn’t enough, you might also be interested in the extensive comedy lineup that includes Jimmy Fallon and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
Three days straight may sound like a long time to be listening to performances, but Bonnaroo has a lot more to offer. From a comedy suite for stand-up routines to the “Fuse barn” offering games and promotions, there’s plenty to do at the festival. Bonnaroo even offers a popular indoor cinema with films and screenings (and air conditioning!) to get away from the heat and the crowds.
Proclaimed as the jam band concert of the year, Rothbury, to me, lacks a little in its lineup this time around. While it isn’t on my personal wish list, I felt it deserved mention because of the few big names it will be offering. Industry vets Bob Dylan and The Dead will be headlining. Also, this will be the Dead’s only concert this summer!
Located deep in the heart of Michigan, the festival offers some interesting “extra-curricular” activities. Hoping to make a mark on the greater world, Rothbury is pleased to bring you the “Think Tank.” Here attendees can participate in discussions about the state of the economy and the environment with leading scientists, scholars, writers, progessive political leaders, and Rothbury artists. The festival also boasts interactive events outside of the live concerts including theatrical shows and interactive, open-field circus demonstrations. Although they haven’t announced the full lineup of guests yet, I anticipate it being as enjoyable as it is outlandish (based on last year’s performers). Finally, Rothbury’s location allows for some environmental exploration that is pretty rare at festivals like this. Overall, what the festival lacks in lineup size, it makes up for in big names and extra events. If you have the means, check it out.
At the top of my personal wish list is the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, IL. I am so intrigued by what this year’s lineup has to offer that I am actually considering making the investment and hoofing my way from Boston to Chicago myself. The festival is August 7-9 and has booked an impressive number of bands that are recognizable and capable of drawing crowds all by themselves. Imagine what happens when you put them all in one show! The list includes Depeche Mode, Tool, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against, Andrew Bird, Vampire Weekend, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, The Gaslight Anthem, and Neko Case …to name a few.
The park also offers a club-style venue called Perry’s dedicated to providing an extensive DJ roster including Bassnectar, MSTRKRFT, and Boys Noize. The festival will also contain “Lederhosen’s Biergarten” this year for some cold draft beers and an escape from the crowds. Lollapalooza even has special accommodations for children, offering activities and a stage of their own to view live acts.
The Lollapalooza experience won’t have the same earthy feel as, say, Bonnaroo. But if you want that summer festival experience in a city atmosphere, be sure to check it out. You may see me there.
A different kind of show from the festivals just discussed, the Warped Tour has always 
had a special spot in my list of summer events. Having attended the tour in 3 times in previous years, I can vouch for its entertainment value. The Vans Warped tour brings the finest in accessible punk, alternative, hardcore, and ska bands right to a town near you for the same price as any standard club show. The real kicker is that you won’t need to deal with expensive travel or lodging; the Warped Tour comes to you. With almost 50 dates and over 140 bands, the tour kicks off this year on June 26th in Pomona, CA and ends on August 23rd in Los Angeles. Big name bands include Anti-Flag, Bad Religion, Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, Less Than Jake, NOFX, and The Ataris. In addition there are a few acts on OurStage that are also playing on the tour this year such as The White Tie Affair and 3OH!3.
I find the extra events and scope of this tour to be impressive as they pull it off at every stop. The Warped Tour typically offers at least 4 music stages, countless activity and promotional booths, air conditioned hangout tents, and often even X-games extreme sport demonstrations. If you can’t make it to Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza because of your location, don’t worry: just catch a Warped Tour show. You won’t be disappointed.