Just in case you have not been counting down the final days of school, (which, by the way, there are only # days left), here is a little update: summer is right around the corner and it could not have come any sooner.
However, once finals are over and school is out, there are still just a few important matters of business to take care of, such as what concerts are you going to go to this summer? Every summer is packed with numerous festivals, concerts, shows, and events, it can get to feel pretty overwhelming when trying to pick out and plan which ones to attend. Here is a pocket guide to some of summer’s hottest concerts with an inside scoop from students who guarantee a good time.
Concert Name: Bonnaroo
Music genre: an eclectic mix ranging from indie, folk, electronic, to hip hop
Date: June 7-June 10
Location: Manchester, Tennessee
Tickets: $260 for all four days
Headliners: Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, Skrillex, Bon Iver, Phish
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://www.bonnaroo.com
Inside scoop from: Greg Geimer, senior. 2011 Bonaroo attendee.
Vibe: “Very friendly atmosphere.”
In three words: “Friendly, dusty, hot.”
Something awesome: “There is a giant wall that’s about seven feet tall that surrounds the main stages. There were people at Bonnaroo who were painting ten to twenty foot long murals on the wall. They were legitimate and ridiculous.”
Concert Name: Electric Forest
Music genre: a unique combination of electronic, jam, bluegrass, dubstep, and a whole lot more
Date: June 28-July 1
Location: Rothbury, Michigan
Tickets: $264
Headliners: The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, STS9, Thievery Corporation, Santigold, Ghostland Observatory
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://electricforestfestival.com
Inside scoop from: Sammy Padiak, senior. 2011 Electric Forest attendee.
Vibe: “Laid back and alive.”
In three words: “Energetic, spirited, amped up.”
Words of wisdom: “Prepare to not shower, to use a port-a-potty, and to be cut-off from the electronic world.”
Concert Name: Pitchfork
Music genre: a variety of indie, alternative, and folk music
Date: July 13-15
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tickets: $45/day
Headliners: Feist, A$AP Rocky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, AraabMuzik
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://pitchfork.com/festivals/chicago/2012
Inside scoop from: Ellen Opacich, senior. 2011 Pitchfork attendee.
Vibe: “Chill, laid back.”
In three words: “Trendy, relaxed, and fun.”
Words of wisdom: “Take advantage of the street vendors. There are some really great apparel and sample music kiosks.”
Concert Name: Lollapalooza
Music genre: everyone’s favorites from pop, hip-hop, dubstep, indie, and rock
Date: August 3-5
Location: Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois
Tickets: $95/day (single day tickets available)
Headliners:The Black Keys, Passion Pit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florence + The Machine, Franz Ferdinand
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://www.lollapalooza.com
Inside scoop from: Emma Light, junior. 2006-2010 Lollapalooza attendee.
Vibe: “Friendly.”
In three words: “Unique, care-free, interactive.”
Words of wisdom: “A backpack isn’t fun to carry around all day. Fanny packs for girls are key.”
Concert Name: Northcoast
Music genre: a combination of electronic, dubstep, jam, pop, and a whole lot more
Date: August 31-September 2
Location: Union Park in Chicago, Illinois
Tickets: 3 day passes starting at $110
Headliners: Pretty Lights, Atmosphere, Excision, Modestep, YACHT, Steve Angello
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://www.northcoastfestival.com/lineup
Inside scoop from: Mia Bianchi, junior. 2011 Northcoast attendee.
Vibe: “Rowdy and energetic.”
In three words: “Unpredictable, exhilarating, memorable.”
Words of wisdom: “Prepare yourself, be safe, and don’t talk to strangers unless they’re nice.”
Concert Name: Summerfest
Music genre: the top hits of the year, hip-hop, pop, and electronic
Date: June 27-July 1and July 3-July 8
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tickets: $15/day
Headliners: Ziggy Marley, Sublime with Rome, Tune-Yards, Young The Giant, Cake, Common
Line-up/Tickets/More Info at: http://www.summerfest.com
Inside scoop from: Dominic Scaduto, sophomore. 2011 Summerfest attendee.
Vibe: “Pumped up, high energy.”
In three words: “Exciting, lively, and crowded.”
Words of wisdom: “You have to go early if you want to get a good spot”