Jack White
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18 Must-Attend 2018 Music Festivals: Stagecoach, EDC, Lollapalooza & More
Congratulations! You have arrived at this year's must-attend festival schedule for 2018. We hope you're ready for some fun …
Whether you're into pop or rock, electronic/dance music or hip-hop, R&B or jazz, there's a festival (or festivals) for everybody, whether you attend one, three or 10. And remember, when it comes to music festivals, it's a good idea to make your plans as early as possible to ensure you get the best tickets and you have ample time to plot your experience to your liking.
To help you decide accordingly, check out our 2018 festival guide, designed to help you plan a killer music experience.
SXSW Music
Date: March 12–18
Location: Austin, Texas
Lineup Includes: Gemma Ray, Benji Lewis, Dead Horses, HEX, IAMDDB, Jiggy Drama, Rapsody, Sweet Crude, Marlon Williams, Zenizen
The Scene: The Recording Academy was on the ground in Austin, Texas, to kick off the festival season at SXSW. Check out our reports on reality TV singing competitions, K-pop, Keith Urban, the Recording Academy Texas Chapter's Block Party, our favorite emerging artists, and more.
Connect: @SXSW
Ultra Music Festival
Date: March 23–25
Location: Miami
Lineup Includes: Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Kaskade, the Chainsmokers, Carl Cox, Afrojack
The Scene: Once again this year, dance music artists, professionals, and fans gathered from all over the world in downtown Miami for three days and nights of mind-blowing DJ sets. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2018, Ultra was a little extra this year, and the Recording Academy was front and center for the action. Check out our coverage of parties you missed, industry events, the backtage MusiCares hearing clinic, and exlusive conversations with David Guetta, Tiësto, GTA, and more.
Connect: @ultra
In Bloom Music Festival
Date: March 24–25
Location: Houston
Lineup Includes: Beck, Broken Social Scene, Explosions In The Sky, Incubus, Lil Uzi Vert, Martin Garrix, Queens Of The Stone Age, T-Pain, Ying Yang Twins
The Scene: What had been known for eight years as the Free Press Summer Festival was remixed for 2018 as the In Bloom Music Festival. The event featured local acts and visual artists along with well-known artists from out of town. It also carried an environmental message in partnership with the Texas Campaign for the Environment. The result was an exciting array of styles, showing off today's range of rock, dance, rap, and many subgenres on four stages for two days of perfect weather, dancing in the streets, and great music with a Houston flavor. For photos and stories from this year's festival, check out In Bloom's official recap.
Connect: @inbloomfest
Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
Dates: April 14–16 and 21–23
Location: Indio, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Eminem, Cardi B
The Scene: Coachella 2018 proved why it's arguably the most popular destination music festival. Weekend one saw Beyoncé make her unforgettable Coachella debut, reuniting Destiny's Child onstage, bringing out special guests Jay-Z and Solange, and incorporating over 100 dancers, causing fans to launch the social hastag #Beychella. The Weeknd and Eminem also pulled out all the stops for their headlining sets, as did Cardi B, bringing out SZA, among other special guests. X Japan played the festival for the fist time and was joined by special guest Marilyn Manson for weekend two. But the big surprise appearance of weekend two belonged to Ariana Grande, who treated fans to a performance of her newest single "No Tears Left To Cry." How will Coachella top try to top this next year? We'll have to wait and see. ... The full lineup is typically announced in mid-January.
Connect: @coachella
Stagecoach
Date: April 27–29
Location: Indio, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Midland
The Scene: Dubbed as country's premier festival, the 12th edition of Stagecoach promises a lineup that leverages country music's glorious history with its powerhouse present. In fact, this year's talent is stacked with premier female talent, with 13 female acts representing. In addition to music, there are country-friendly amenities such as the HonkyTonk Dance Hall, Half-Pint Hootenanny, delicious BBQ, and more. Boots and hats are optional.
Connect: @Stagecoach
Welcome To Rockville
Date: April 27–29
Location: Jacksonville, Fla.
Lineup Includes: Foo Fighters, Ozzy Osbourne, Avenged Sevenfold, Queens Of The Stone Age, Billy Idol, Greta Van Fleet, Halestorm, Black Veil Brides
The Scene: Danny Wimmer Presents' Florida rock institution Welcome To Rockville returns again in 2018 to rock Jacksonville. Back in October, the festival announced the Foo Fighters as the first confirmed act and they have since stacked the deck, adding iconic legends and young buzz bands alike. Blending relentless rock performances with eclectic food and drink choices and extended camping options, the 2018 version of Welcome To Rockville promises to be its loudest yet.
Connect: @RockvilleFest
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Date: April 27 – May 6
Location: New Orleans
Lineup Includes: Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Jack White, Bonnie Raitt, LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip
The Scene: Oftentimes shortened to simply "Jazz Fest," the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. Attendees can expect to sample the finest soul food and local fare (the festival's stated food policy is "no carnival food"). With close to a hundred booths offering various food and drink options alone, there is plenty to do and see as patrons make their way amongst the festival's 12 stages and numerous music and experience tents during the event's seven-day run.
Connect: @JazzFest
Beale Street Music Festival
Date: May 4–6
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Lineup Includes: Jack White, Alanis Morissette, Odesza, Erykah Badu, Kaleo, DRAM, Logic, Post Malone
The Scene: Known as one the more eclectic festivals in terms of talent, the 2018 installment of Beale Street promises to keep that reputation intact. A dynamic mix of artists will be spread across four stages, representing genres such as alternative, rock, indie, neo-soul, hip-hop EDM, and country. Main stage headliners include Jack White, Queens Of The Stone Age, Incubus, Logic, and Tyler, The Creator. And — to paraphrase the great Buddy Guy — damn right this festival has also got the blues. Beale Street will host a collective of blues notables, including Delbert McClinton, Robert Randolph And The Family Band, Marcia Ball, Love Light Orchestra, and R.L. Boyce. If you've been putting off that Memphis roadie, wait no longer.
Connect: @memphisinmay
Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas
Date: May 18–20
Location: Las Vegas
Lineup Includes: Armin Van Buuren, Diplo, Kaskade, Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Zedd
The Scene: Over the past 21 years, Electric Daisy Carnival has grown into one of the biggest flagship electronic dance festivals in the U.S. In a series of major logistical updates from years past, the festival dates have been moved up more than a full month earlier to take advantage of cooler temperatures, and onsite camping has been added for the first time. With a typical setup of eight or more full-size stage experiences, countless pop-up events and micro-happenings throughout the venue; carnival games and rides, yoga, crafting, and other nonmusic activities; and patrolling art cars hosting their own dance and musical experiences, there's always something for everyone at EDC Las Vegas.
Connect: @EDC_LasVegas
BottleRock
Date: May 25–27
Location: St. Napa, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Bruno Mars, Halsey, Snoop Dogg, the Killers, Muse, Earth, Wind & Fire, Incubus, Natalia Lafourcade, the Chainsmokers
The Scene: Nestled in the wine and brew capital of California, Napa Valley's BottleRock festival provides a little something for everyone, including great music, food and drinks. Indulge across three days with 80-plus bands on five stages and gourmet foods, hand-selected wines, craft beer, or specialty cocktails in hand. With acts ranging from pop to rap to R&B and beyond, BottleRock is sure to capture the imagination (and taste buds) of even the pickiest fan.
Connect: @BottleRockNapa
Roots Picnic
Date: June 2 (Philadelphia)
Location: Philadelphia and New York City (TBA)
Lineup Includes: Dave Chappelle, Lil Uzi Vert, Dirty Projectors, The Diplomats, 2 Chainz, 6LACK, Brandy, BadBadNotGood, live mixtape by Black Thought and J.Period
The Scene: Now in its 11th year, Questlove and Co. return for what has become a staple of their hometown of Philly. Roots Picnic brings together an array of talented artists from many mediums in a backyard party atmosphere and culminates with a jam session led by hip-hop heavyweights The Roots. The festival also presents unique experiences such as podcast and lifestyle stages plus a live mixtape hosted by Black Thought and J.Period. The festivities expanded to include a New York City starting in 2016, with details for this year's NYC edition still forthcoming.
Connect: @rootspicnic
Electric Forest
Date: June 21–24 and June 28–July 1
Location: Rothbury, Mich.
Lineup Includes: Bassnectar, Bonobo, Chromeo, Cut Copy, the Glitch Mob, Griz Live Band, Marian Hill, Rüfüs Du Sol, the String Cheese Incident, Zhu, Xavier Rudd
The Scene: Formerly the Rothbury Music Festival, the first Electric Forest was held in 2011, featuring two long weekends of high-energy experimental music and trippy jams. The forest setting is decked out with electronic art to become an otherworldly "Sherwood Forest" enclave. A positive sense of community has festivalgoers wishing each other "Happy Forest!" as they deal with the difficult trade-offs deciding who to see next. Scheduled acts also include Galantis and Deadmau5's Testpilot alias.
Connect: @Electric_Forest
Vans Warped Tour
Date: June 21–Aug. 5
Location: Various
Lineup Includes: 3OH!3, All Time Low, As It Is, Black Veil Brides, Bowling For Soup, Grayscale, Kublai Khan, Mayday Parade, Simple Plan, and We The Kings
The Scene: Last year founder Kevin Lyman announced this 24th year will be "the final, full cross-country run" for what has been a star-making tradition. Although plans are in the works to close 2019 with events commemorating its 25th year, the summer of 2018 could be your last chance to catch a festival date near home.
Connect: @VansWarpedTour
Essence Festival
Date: July 5–8
Location: New Orleans
Lineup Includes: Full lineup TBA
The Scene: What could be better than a nightly concert series featuring some of the biggest names in music paired with empowering conference sessions and speeches during the day? That's the magic of the Essence Festival, which celebrates music, entertainment and culture. The 2017 version of the festival attracted nearly 500,000 people with headliners Chance The Rapper and Diana Ross, and 2018 is sure to shape up to be an equally amazing experience.
Connect: @EssenceFest
Pitchfork Music Festival
Date: July 20 – July 22
Location: Chicago
Lineup Includes: Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, The War On Drugs, Chaka Khan, Earl Sweatshirt
The Scene: Hosted by Pitchfork Media, home to the famous/infamous music tastemaking blog Pitchfork, the Pitchfork Music Festival consistently brings an eclectically relevant and sonically forward-thinking lineup of can't-miss and must-know acts.
Connect: @Pitchfork
Lollapalooza
Date: Aug. 2–5
Location: Chicago
Lineup Includes: Full lineup TBA
The Scene: Lollapalooza started as the brainchild of Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell in 1991 as part of the band's farewell tour. This festival initially ran through 1997 before its revival in 2003 where it has grown to become a national cultural touchstone. The festival draws more than 150,000 annually to Chicago's Grant Park for a diverse lineup that includes pop, rock, hip-hop, dance/electronic music, and much more. What will this year's lineup bring?
Connect: @Lollapalooza
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
Date: Sept. 22–23
Location: Franklin, Tenn.
Lineup Includes: Full lineup TBA
The Scene: True to its namesake, the annual Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is a mecca of great bands, excellent local food, and unique arts. Co-founded by Better Than Ezra frontman/guitarist Kevin Griffin with business partners Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan in 2015, the festival started as a spiritual counterpoint to New Orleans' venerable Jazz & Heritage Festival. Pilgrimage then doubled in size in its third year and snagged Justin Timberlake as a top billing headliner. With a who's-who of indie rock, Nashville country, jazz and southern blues artists on the billing as supporting acts in 2017, the 2018 installment is sure to satiate any music fan looking for an authentic festival experience.
Connect: @PilgrimageFest
Austin City Limits Festival
Date: Oct. 5 – Oct. 14
Location: Austin, Texas
Lineup Includes: TBA, but considering Jay-Z's headlining slot last year, the bar is set high
The Scene: Austin's Zilker Park is host to one of the season's final festivals, Austin City Limits. Created in the image of the historic television program of the same name, ACL has blossomed into a multi-genre powerhouse offering up eight stages, more than 140 bands, and two weekends worth of rock, rap, dance, R&B and, of course, country. The cherry on top is local fare of Austin area eateries providing tacos, brews, vegan options and more at the ACL Eats Food Court.
Connect: @aclfestival
