Spring and summer are right around the corner and that can only mean one thing–music festivals.
A music festival consists of thousands of people from every background joining together to hear a multitude of bands and music groups play a few songs live. By the end of the festival, one may end up sleep deprived, food deprived and covered in the seat of others, but there is no doubt that it was worth it.
The southeast has a variety of upcoming music festivals to have the time of your life with your friends there by your side.
A popular festival held in the heart of Jazz is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival held April 22 through May 1 at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Although its called the Jazz Fest, the festival exhibits other kinds of music associated with Louisiana culture. Many big names will be attending this 10-day festival including Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Nick Jonas and Flo Rida. Nearly 400,000 people attend this event every year.
The Memphis in May Foundation puts on another popular festival called Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis at Tom Lee Park every year. This year it will be held April 29 through May 1. The lineup is expected to be released sometime in February, but the festival is known to bring in big names such as Ed Sheeran, Lecrae, The Avett Brothers, Hozier and Paramore.
The Hangout Fest is a festival that attracts many young adults eager to get to the beach whenever they can manage to find an excuse.
Freshman Claire Kullman has attended the festival before.
“My favorite part was when they would throw out these huge floats and crowd surf and the concerts at night were so much fun because it wasn’t so hot and the whole festival was there,” Kullman said. This year the festival will take place in Gulf Shores, Alabama. on May 20 through the 22. If you plan to attend this event, expect to see appearances from The Weeknd, Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, The Chainsmokers, Fetty Wap and The Neighbourhood.
Another well-loved festival is Bonnaroo, which is located in Manchester, Tennessee, on a 700-acre farm. For the weekend of June 9-12, this 700-acre farm becomes the seventh largest city in America over night. Attendees set up tents to live in throughout the weekend.
Freshman Tolley Yoste enjoyed her time at Bonnaroo.
“To me, it’s like four days of peace in my little world where people from literally all over come together to enjoy music and not worry about anything else,” Yoste said.
Sloss Fest is a music festival held in Birmingham, Alabama. This year the festival will be July 16-17 at the Historic Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Just in time to get that last road trip in with your friends before being forced to head back to college. Big artists such as Modest Mouse, the Avett Brothers and Primus will be there.
Music Midtown is one of the most popular music festivals among MSU students. There was a live performance from Drake last year. The festival takes place in Atlanta on Sept. 16-17.
Freshman communications major Emma Bond said Music Midtown was her favorite experience.
“Music Midtown was my favorite festival because it had the most diverse music on each stage and it was in the middle of the city of Atlanta, which is really unique,” Bond said. “The atmosphere was incredible.”
Austin City Limits Festival will be held later on this year in the fall on Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 and Oct. 7 through 9 in Austin, Texas.
Freshman Kyle Holliman described the experience.
“It’s held in a huge park that overlooks the city,” sophomore Holliman said. “You can just jam out to your favorite music with a complete stranger from somewhere in the world while eating a Tex-Mex burrito out of a cone while watching the sun set over downtown Austin…that’s hard to beat.”
