Because every man needs a plan, and some of us need that plan with pretty pictures, we present Where to Take Her: a series that answers a gentleman’s most pressing lifestyle questions and recurs whenever we get around to it. Today: the summer music festival edition. Remember: always go for the VIP tickets, make good use of StubHub, and check out our Spotify playlists to keep up on all the bands you’re going to see.
Your key:
Bonnaroo (June 12-15, Manchester, TN) Camping. Funky dancer contests. Super late-night jams. A “clean vibes” trading post. It’s a bit Burning Man, but the lineup makes up for it. You and your lady can enjoy Lionel Richie, Elton John, Skrillex and Frank Ocean. A different artist for every mood.
BottleRock Napa (May 30-June 1, Napa Valley) Easily the most relaxed, romantic getaway for music, Bottlerock features 60 bands (veering toward classic acts like The Cure and Weezer, with a few outliers like TV on the Radio and Deerhunters), dozens of Napa vineyards and … Outkast!
Capitol Hill Block Party (July 25-27, Seattle, WA) The summer fest for those who hate hot weather. A mix of indoor and outdoor, the Block Party has the year’s most eclectic line-up (Chromeo, Matt and Kim, Tanlines, A$AP Rocky) and a new fave, The War on Drugs. All should provide you with some hazy chills.
Electric Daisy Carnival/EDC (May 24-25, New York and June 20-22, Las Vegas) An EDM dance line-up that runs the gamut from classic (Carl Cox, John Digweed) to pop (Calvin Harris) to the underground (Dusky, Tale of Us). Plus, helicopter transport and a VIP Ferris Wheel for you Vegas big spenders.
Governors Ball (June 6-8, New York, NY), Firefly (June 19-22, Dover, DE), Summerfest (June 25-29, July 1-6, Milwaukee, WI), Lollapalooza (Aug. 1-3, Chicago, IL) Just a few of your many, many chances to see Outkast this summer (But be warned: “They had zero chemistry … totally phoned it in,” according to one Coachella attendee/InsideHook editor). Good news: all these fests feature an abundance of alternative/indie faves, from Foo Fighters to Jack White.
Newport Folk Festival (July 25-27, Newport, RI) Abutting Newport Harbor, this classy and secretly hip fest is not really folk: it’s geared toward adults who like good music and hot showers (no on-site camping, FYI) . Ryan Adams, Band of Horses, Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst, Lucero and more.
Outside Lands (Aug. 8-10, San Francisco, CA) A diverse mix of A-listers (Kanye West, The Killers, Tom Petty) and up-and-comers (Warpaint, Dum Dum Girls) in beautiful Golden Gate Park. Also: very eco-friendly, lots of vegan options, and plenty of art and wine.
Pitchfork (July 18-20, Chicago, IL) Sure, Pitchfork the publication is occasionally insufferable, but props to their affordable ($60/day), forward-thinking fest, one where Danny Brown rubs elbows/speakers with Cloud Nothings and Beck. Totally an 8.3.
Vans Warped Tour (June 14-Aug. 3, Nationwide) What are the kids listening to? Complex prog rock (Of Mice and Men), ’90s ska-punk (Less Than Jake), aggressive New Jack swing (Bad Rabbits) and singalong post-punk (Plague Vendor). And also: a lot of crap. But there’s a beer tent with NO line.
Wakarusa (June 5-8, Ozark, AR) More mellow groove than dance, this camping festival — sorry, “pilgrimage” as they call it — mixes psychedelic rock faves (The Flaming Lips) with jammy/electronic vibes (Infected Mushroom, STS9).
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