The music festival season has begun. Tickets for the most popular festivals are selling like hotcakes. Fans eagerly await the opportunity to see their favorite performers live and are ready to follow them to the ends of the earth. Here is a selection of the most interesting festivals for the second half of this year.
Primavera Sound
Where: Barcelona , Spain
When: June 1-3
Headliners: Blur , The Moldy Peaches, Unwound, Laurie Anderson, Boris, Red Velvet
The festival in Barcelona has become a beacon for all indie rock artists and some other genres. In addition to the expected headliners, Mars Volta, The War on Drugs, Bad Gyal, and Ghost will perform at El Forum Park in Barcelona. Small local performances will take place throughout the city.
For the first time in the festival's history, it will also be held in Madrid on June 8-10. A mini-version of Primavera Sound will welcome music lovers on the grassy slopes of Central Park in the Portuguese city of Porto on June 7-10.
Governors Ball Music Festival
Where: New York, USA
When: June 9-11
Headliners: Kendrick Lamar, Ice Spice, Snail Mail, Black Midi, Maxo Kream, Rina Sawayama, Haim
This year, the New York mega-festival will host its party amid the lush greenery of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The genre mix will delight with its diversity, ranging from electronic and hip-hop to indie rock.
Sónar and OFFSónar
Where: Barcelona , Spain
When: June 15-18
Headliners: Aphex Twin, Fever Ray, Oneohtrix Point Never, Peggy Gou, Bicep live, the Black Madonna, Sherelle x Kode9, Shygirl, Black Coffee
The renowned Sónar music and arts festival celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023. It is the "heart" of electronic music.
In addition to the music program, the festival will host its own technical conference, Sónar+D. At the conference, Kode9 and Moor Mother, two of today's leading artists and thinkers, will give presentations on the climate crisis and artificial intelligence.
The festival is so popular that the venue simply cannot accommodate everyone who wants to attend. That's why OFFSónar will be hosting a number of parties throughout the city with some of the official festival's performers from June 15 to 18.
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Glastonbury
Where: Somerset , England
When: June 21-25
Headliners: Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, Lana Del Rey, Lil Nas X, the War on Drugs, Lizzo, Yusuf / Cat Stevens
One of the greatest and oldest festivals in the world, Glastonbury, will bring together 200,000 people ready to party in Somerset. And the magic of this massive event lies not even in Elton John's supposed final concert.
And in abundance of hidden corners, secret bars, secret stages, morning DJ sets, and eccentric visitors who organize their own entertainment. At night, the Block9 dance complex will become the most exciting club in the UK, even if only for one weekend.
Montreux Jazz Festival
Where: Montreux , Switzerland
When: June 30 – July 15
Headliners: Bob Dylan, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Mavis Staples, Gilberto Gil & Family, Caroline Polachek
The renowned Swiss jazz festival in Montreux differs from most summer festivals that are open to the public. Over the course of two weeks, it will offer a variety of shows and concerts in two venues.
The first venue, Auditorium Stravinski, will feature soul and blues music. Montreux Jazz Lab will retain its pop-oriented lineup of musicians.
Pitchfork Music Festival
Where: Chicago , Illinois, USA
When: July 21-23
Headliners: The Smile, Big Thief, Alvvays, Bon Iver, Perfume Genius, King Krule, Panda Bear + Sonic Boom, Mdou Moctar, Charlotte Adigéry + Bolis Pupul, Lucrecia Dalt
In 2023, Pitchfork's flagship music festival returns to Chicago's Union Park. You may not recognize most of the names on the lineup, but if Pitchfork is hosting the event, these artists are definitely worth checking out.
A total of three stages will be set up: two large ones on one side of the park and one smaller one hidden in a green grove nearby. The easiest way to get to the festival is by bike. Free parking is provided for them.
In addition to music, a temporary market selling food, records, and handicrafts will be set up in the park.
If you can't make it to the festival in Chicago, it will also be held in Berlin from November 1 to 5, Paris from November 6 to 13, and London from November 7 to 13.
Let it roll 2023
Where: Prague , Czech Republic
When: August 3-5
Headliners: Andy C, Chase & Status, Modestep
Fans of the genre should definitely visit the world's largest drum and bass festival. First appearing on the Czech dance scene in 2003, Let It Roll has become one of the most successful festivals in the country. Fans from all over the world flock to it.
Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago , Illinois, USA
When: August 3-6
Headliners: Billie Eilish, Karol G, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, Rina Sawayama, Sudan Archives, Tems, Magdalena Bay, Dehd, Joy Oladokun, The 1975, Odesza, Tomorrow X Together
Running for four days, this massive festival features two headliners each night. As expected, it also brings together pop stars, rappers, electronic music artists, and indie rockers. It's going to be loud and fun!
In addition to Chicago, Lollapalooza will take place in Stockholm from June 29 to July 1, in Paris from July 21 to 23, and in Berlin from October 9 to 10, 2023.
Newport Jazz Festival
Where: Newport , Rhode Island, USA
When: August 4-6
Headliners: Herbie Hancock, Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shazad Ismaily, Thundercat, Big Freedia, Julian Lage
In its current incarnation, the Newport Jazz Festival is three days of jazz on four stages at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island.
Herbie Hancock is the star of this celebration of life, but he will be joined by rising stars such as Jon Batiste, Kamasi Washington, and Samara Joy. The festival will feature guitar solos, viral jazz, and energetic New Orleans music.
Outside Lands
Where: San Francisco, California, USA
When: August 11-13
Headliners: Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odesza, Megan Thee Stallion, Lana Del Rey, Janelle Monáe, Maggie Rogers, Interpol, Raveena, Yaya Bey, Grace Ives
Parked bicycles, a wine tasting tent, and stalls selling local eco-products—these are all signs that you've arrived at Outside Lands in San Francisco. Golden Gate Park, with its winding paths and majestic gardens, welcomes festival guests along with popular performers.
In a separate area of the festival, the Soma Tent, you can listen to house music and DJ performances all three days.
Oktoberfest 2023
Where: Munich , Germany
When: September 16 – October 3
Headliners: TBD
Oktoberfest is a traditional German festival held in Munich every year in late September and early October. It is a celebration of Bavarian culture, featuring beer, food, music, and carnival attractions. Millions of people from all over the world visit Oktoberfest every year to immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere and Bavarian traditions.
Unsound
Where: Krakow , Poland
When: October 1-8
Headliners: TBD
The Unsound Festival, which began in 2003, focuses on contemporary music by emerging musicians and experimental bands. The theme of the upcoming event is Dada. The festival utilizes artificial intelligence.
The commitment to atypical sounds is so strong that when Unsound was just starting out, its artists were kicked out of a club for playing music that was "too strange." Unsound will take place in Krakow at several venues.
The lineup for this year's festival has not yet been announced. However, previous events have featured performances by Lee Gamble, Alessandro Cortini, Amnesia Scanner, Kode9, Space Afrika, Loraine James, and Coby Sey.
Power Trip
Where: Indio , California, USA
When: October 6-8
Headliners: Featuring : Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne
Six bands will play classic heavy rock and metal at the Empire Polo Club over three days. Guns N' Roses and Iron Maiden will perform on Friday, AC/DC and Ozzy Osbourne on Saturday, and Metallica and Tool will close out the weekend on Sunday. Beavis and Butt-head would definitely be thrilled.
Club to Club
Where: Turin , Italy
When: November 2-5
Headliners: King Krule, Caroline Polachek, Flying Lotus, Moodymann, Yves Tumor, Overmono, Rachika Nayar, Lucrecia Dalt, Marina Herlop, Model/Actriz
The Northern Italian festival of cross-genre aesthetics will be held simultaneously with the Artissimo contemporary art fair. Club to Club will bring avant-garde sounds to many venues across the city, but the main location will be the old hangar at the Fiat factory — Lingotto Fiere. Flawless sound and lighting will add spectacle to even the most familiar and beloved artists' performances.
Le Guess Who?
Where: Utrecht , Netherlands
When: November 9-12
Headliners: TBD
Le Guess Who? is an annual festival in the Dutch student city of Utrecht, featuring artists from a wide variety of genres. This "underground hipster" event takes place at various venues throughout the city, including unconventional concert venues such as churches, warehouses, and galleries. This year's lineup and curators have not yet been announced.
