With the EastOver holiday weekend now behind us, warm weather is just around the corner. It looks like it’s going to be a great Summer for outdoor music festivals. Here are the big ones that will blow through our area this summer and there will be plenty of smaller ones too. Dig out your fanny pack and get ready to jam.
May 18-20, The Bamboozle, Asbury Park, NJ. Impressive oceanfront festival featuring something for everyone: Rock (Foo Fighters), Pop (Blink-182), Metal (who cares!), Electronic (Skrillex), 40 year old white chicks (Bon Jovi), Comedy (Andrew Dice Clay, DJ Pauly D.) and our favorite genre, Sissy Bounce (Big Freedia). Dont miss: Hickory Dickory Dock, OHHHH!
May 19,20 Electric Daisy Carnival New York, East Rutherford NJ. This famous west coast party comes east and if the video on their website is any indication, this will be your best chance to get your ‘rave’ on this Summer. The first phase of announced Dj’s includes Avicii, Fatboy Slim, John Digweed. Head to MetLife Stadium and expect to see great costumes, a ferris wheel, 16 year old kids rolling their faces off, and of course- a shit ton of glow sticks. Don’t forget to bring: sunglasses, mdma, chewing gum.
May 31-June 3, Mountain Jam Festival, Hunter Mountain, NY. IMPRESSIVE Memorial Day weekend line up at Hunter Mountain is leaving us with major second thoughts about heading downashore for this weekend. Featuring: Steve Winwood, Michael Franti, The Roots, Ben Folds Five, The Word. Don’t miss: James Murphy’s late night DJ set.
June 2,3 The Roots Picnic – reviewed on BROOKLYDELPHIA on 3.15.12
June 23-24 Governors Ball, Randalls Island, NYC. Head over to Randalls Island and catch Beck, Passion Pit, Moodest Mouse, Santigold, Cage the Elephant, Major Lazer, Duck Sauce, Fionna Apple, Cults, Phantogram, Atmosphere.
July 20-22 Xponential Music Festival, Camden, NJ. Family friendly festival from local indie station 88.5 WXPN featuring an eclectic lineup of established stars and emerging artists headlined by Wilco, Dr. Dog, Avett Brothers. What to bring: Lesbians
July 20-22 Firefly Music Festival, Dover Delaware. FINALLY our own Bonnarroo! 3 days on 87 acres (Dover International Raceway) with camping and a beer garden. Solid inaugural line up headlined by The Killers, The Black Keys, Jack White. Don’t miss: Tax free shopping on your way home.
Aug 17-19 Philadelphia Folk Festival Schwenksville, Pa. No lineup announcement yet from the Granddaddy of festivals, now in it’s 51st year. Last year’s headliner was Levon Helm. What to Bring: Chocolate covered mushrooms, acoustic guitar, condoms.
Aug 31 Electric Zoo, Randalls Island, NYC- One more trek to the sprawling island of Randalls to get your dance on. Something for all electronic music fans here: House, Trance, Minimal, Breakbeats, Electro, Techno. Our old favorite Sasha, and our new favorite Maya Jane Coles. All of the big name DJ’s from the last few years will be spinning and find your new favorite too. Expect: a lot of fist-pumping and douche-juice but if you can ignore all of this, you will hear a lot of great music.
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