Solange, J. Cole, Ariana, And More — Here's Your Guide To 2019 Festival Season
By Nicole Briese
because the weather starts to heat up (any day right now, we’ve got just one thing on our minds: festival season. Per year, at the end of winter’s long, harsh reign, we’re rewarded with a bevy of events that take all of our preference things (music, food, alcoholic beverages) and combine them for extended weekends of fun.
theory, in case you had the time (and the money) you can fill just about every calendar weekend, starting and ending your adventures in Austin, Texas — the city’s bread and butter, SXSW, kicks things off starting today (March 11), while the
Austin City Limits Music Festival brings things residence in October. As for the months in between? You could travel from Indio, California, to Spain, Japan, Denmark, and beyond.
You’d definitely never be bored: Each festival, or celebration of music, has its own unique imprint — the newly-launched End of the Rainbow, for instance, is a raver’s paradise, while heavyweights like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Coachella preserve their years-long standards of excellence.
Read on for your very own guide to all of the ideal fests of 2019, and begin making those travel plans, stat.
The Dates: March 11-17
The Place: Austin, Texas
Can’t Miss: Laura Jane Grace,
Drinking Gentlemen and Ladies Choir, Swervedriver, Thee Oh Sees, Charlotte OC
As anyone who’s ever attended SXSW understands, this week-long Texas event is so much more than a music festival. Sure, you could discover your fair share of up-and-comers or rock out to veterans like ‘90s shoegazers Swervedriver, although you could also take part in wellness and gaming expos, hit up conferences on everything from food to the film and television industry, and network to your heart’s content. There’s more to do than one individual could ever take in (2,000-plus official performers is a lot to get through), nevertheless hey, it’s worth a shot, right?
The Date: April 6
The Place: Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh, North Carolina
Can’t Miss: J. Cole (and more to be announced)
This brand new fest from North Carolina native J. Cole got off to a little bit of a uncertain begin — its inaugural date of September 15, 2018, which was scheduled to feature Big Sean, SZA, Young Thug and Nelly, was
canceled due to Hurricane Florence. 2019 is looking up, yet, with a brand new date of April 6. Ticket holders have the alternative to keep their passes or receive a refund in full — though if the new schedule is half good because the opening one was, we’re guessing they’ll desire to keep ‘em!
The Dates: April 12-14, 19-21
The Place: Empire Polo Club, Indio, California
Can’t Miss: Ariana Grande,
Solange,
Childish Gambino,
Janelle Monae,
H.E.R.,
The 1975
By right now, Coachella needs no introduction. This two-weekend-long arts and music happening in the California desert has become
the go-to music destination for celebs, tastemakers, and the like. Everything about Coachella, from its uber-stylish attendees to its mind-blowing talent, usually be a cut above: Ariana Grande has been tapped to wow its audiences and
simultaneously make history — she’s the fourth female to ever headline the fest along with because the youngest female to ever take house the honor. Meanwhile, the fest will probably be Solange’s first live dates since her dropping her brand-new album,
When I Get Home.
The Dates: April 26-28
The Place: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Can’t Miss: Pharrell & Companions,
Missy Elliott,
Migos,
SZA,
Maggie Rogers,
Anderson .Paak
Produced by Live Country and Pharrell Williams (a native of Virginia Beach) this
three-day festival on the city’s most well known stretch of sand is set to kick its inaugural year off in 2019 with a bang. “It’s unlike anything anyone’s ever seen before," the legendary producer assured the
Virginian Pilot. Judging by the list of acts, he’s not kidding: additionally to its can’t-miss headliners, each person from Jaden Smith and Deepak Chopra to the Dave Matthews Musical group is scheduled to perform. And that’s not all: A basketball tournament and “programs focused on art, technology and health” are also expected to entice visitors.
The Dates: May 16-19
The Place: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Can’t Miss: Cardi B,
Travis Scott,
Khalid,
Vampire Weekend,
Bebe Rexha
Hangout Fest started with a bang in 2010 — not only was it the initial major music festival to be contained on Alabama’s Gulf Shores, its first-year lineup boasted musical heavyweights like John Legend and The Flaming Lips. And it’s only gotten better since: 2019’s artist list includes something for just about each person, from the punk enthusiasts who will love The Interrupters to rap fans who can take pleasure in spitting every line of headliner
Cardi B’s “Money” live, to the indie heads who can rejoice with Vampire Weekend’s expanded lineup.
The Dates: May 24-26
The Place: Gorge Amphitheater, Quincy, Washington
Can’t Miss: Santigold,
Lil Uzi Vert,
Young Thug,
Vic Mensa, Flosstradamus, Bassnectar
Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater is in for a big change this year with End of the Rainbow taking over for the fest formerly referred to as Sasquatch! The indie rock event, which featured Bon Iver, The National and Twenty One Pilots in recent years, ended its 17-year-run in 2018, making way for EOTR’s onslaught of EDM, dubstep, and rap. Santigold and Bassnectar are poised to take the stage for 2019, and camping options are accessible for purchase.
The Dates: May 30-June 1
The Place: Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona, Spain and Porto, Portugal
Can’t Miss: Solange,
Cardi B,
J Balvin, Rosalía,
Carly Rae Jepsen,
Future
Like Lollapalooza, this overseas festival has greatly expanded since its inception in 2001, growing from a crowd of roughly 8,000, to a six-figure headcount. Primavera Sound (not to be mistaken with its Portuguese counterpart, Nos Primavera Sound) treats fest-goers to a wide-ranging number of talent that spans nearly every genre a year, and 2019 is no exception: Each person from Liz Phair to Erykah Badu will be on hand. Carly Rae Jepsen will be there, also, yet will she have
a full album to perform? We’ll have to wait and see.
The Dates: May 31-June 2
The Place: Randall’s Island Park, New York City, New York
Can’t Miss: Tyler, The Creator,
The Strokes,
Lily Allen,
Florence + the Machine,
Charli XCX,
Lil Wayne
Not to be mistaken with the Oscars party of the same name, Governors Ball filled the gaping music festival void in the Big Apple in 2011 and has been gaining momentum ever since. Its sounds are diverse, its food selections are grand, and its backdrop features the city: wins all around!
The Dates: June 13-16
The Place: Fantastic Park Stage, Manchester, Tennessee
Can’t Miss: Childish Gambino,
Kacey Musgraves,
The Lonely Island,
Post Malone, Brandi Carlile
as a modern-day nod to Woodstock chock full of jam bands like Phish and folk rockers, this four-day extravaganza of music and arts has become a venerable who’s who of Grammy winners. Song and Record of the Year
winner Childish Gambino headlines on June 14, while
Album of the Year songwriter Kacey Musgraves is set to appear the following day. Closing out the fest on June 16 is reigning Best Rap Album champ Cardi B and three-time winner Brandi Carlile. Oh, and The Lonely Island are stopping by ahead of their (somehow)
first-ever U.S. Tour. What a roster!
The Dates: June 21-23
The Place: The Woodlands, Dover, Delaware
Can’t Miss: TLC,
Panic! At the Disco,
Dashboard Confessional,
Travis Scott,
Courtney Barnett
Right now in its seventh year, Firefly has grown into one of the most versatile music experiences out there for 2019. Music-wise, Panic! At the Disco is billed alongside acts like Tyler, the Creator, TLC, and Vampire Weekend, while the fest’s Woodlands locale is like summer camp come to life. In between sets, you could relax in an assigned hammock referred to as “The Nook,” groove to your own beats in the fest’s “silent disco” and explore art while traversing the pathway in between stages.
The Dates: June 27-30
The Place: Double JJ Resort, Rothbury, Michigan
Can’t Miss: Kygo, Bassnectar, Odesza, Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland
A raver’s dream, Electric Forest features all the essentials for living your best dubstep life, from fireworks displays and colorful lights to all of the EDM beats your heart could ever want for. 2019’s grooves will come courtesy of DJs Kygo and Bassnectar. Better get those glow sticks ready.
The Dates: June 29-July 7
The Place: Roskilde, Denmark
Can’t Miss: Robyn,
Travis Scott, The Cure, Tears for Fears, Cypress Hill
One of the oldest fests on the list, Denmark’s Roskilde (originally named Sound Festival) was dreamed up in 1971 by two high school students looking to bring music to the hippies of their generation. These days, it’s one of the biggest in Europe, attracting big name talent (The Cure, Travis Scott), plus lone theater acts, daring attendees (a “naked run” takes place a year with free tickets to next year’s show to the winners), and campers galore.
The Dates: July 19-21
The Place: Union Park, Chicago
Can’t Miss: HAIM,
Robyn,
Sky Ferreira, Neneh Cherry, Charli XCX
This Chicago festival, known for its alt-rock and indie acts, is usually top-notch in the talent department, and it's the same this year: Each person from electro-pop princess Robyn to ‘90s darling Neneh Cherry is on tap to perform. Pitchfork is also an excellent place to discover new and emerging artists, although, so keep your eyes peeled for the names at the bottom of the list!
The Dates: August 1-4
The Place: Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois
Can’t Miss: Ariana Grande (maybe)
What started as a touring alt-rock fest in 1997 as founded by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell has grown into a world phenomenon, with annual events in Chicago, where it has been headquartered since 2003, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Though 2019’s lineup has nevertheless to be released, a January rumor had Ariana Grande’s name up at the best of the headliners. Stay tuned.
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