Best Music Festivals This Month | August 2015
No music lover’s summer is complete without the quintessential experience of attending a festival. If you haven’t been to one yet this season, don’t fret! It’s never too late to get tickets to one, and there are still a lot to choose from. Although the month kicks off with HUGE, well-known festivals like Lollapalooza and Osheaga, there’s plenty more in store for the rest of August. We’ve picked some of the best music festivals happening in August, all of which still have plenty of tickets available, so you can get yours and attend one before the summer’s over.
Hard Summer
When: August 1-2
Where: Pomona, CA
Why you should attend: Electronic music fans can see some of the genre’s hottest artists of the moment at this year’s Hard Summer Festival. The lineup includes The Weekend, Jack U (a.k.a. Skrillex & Diplo), The Chemical Brothers, Chromeo, and tons more. Plus, the action all takes place just outside of LA, one of the biggest entertainment centers in the world. What more could you want?
Boots and Hearts Music Festival
When: August 6-9
Where: Bowmanville, ON
Why you should attend: As one of Canada’s best country music festivals, Boots & Hearts attracts quite the lineup this year, including the likes of Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, and more. This is without a doubt one of the best options for country fans this month.
Outside Lands
When: August 7-9
Where: San Francisco, CA
Why you should attend: Besides the obvious reason of seeing acts like Elton John, Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and Sam Smith all in one place, Outside Lands is also spectacular because of its location. Set in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the festival is right in the heart of one of the greatest and most picturesque cities in the country. The city also boasts milder weather and cool bay breezes, so you probably won’t have to worry about passing out from the heat like you would at almost any other festival.
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival
When: August 14-16
Where: Somerset, WI
Why you should attend: The lineup is great, and pretty diverse too. In addition to seeing some of the biggest names in EDM like deadmau5 and Bassnectar, at Summer Set you can catch big-name rap and R&B artists like The Weeknd, Action Bronson, and Earl Sweatshirt as well. You’ll also get that true festival experience if you decide to camp, as the festival grounds are located in beautiful Wisconsin.
FYF Fest
When: August 22-23
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Why you should attend: FYF is one of the coolest festivals that takes place each year, not having completely “sold out” yet like some of the bigger and more expensive festivals (we’re looking at you, Coachella). Still maintaining its indie cred, the festival draws in some great headliners each year, and 2015 is no disappointment. This year’s festival features Frank Ocean, Morrissey, Bloc Party, D’Angelo, Chet Faker, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and FKA Twigs among others.
Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival
When: August 22-23
Where: Wantagh, NY
Why you should attend: At the inaugural Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival, you can catch some of the hottest acts that are currently tearing up the charts, plus some up-and-coming artists who are bound to become the next big thing. Fans of pop music are sure to be overjoyed, but there’s actually a lot of diversity within the lineup. Headliners for the first-ever event include The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne. This one is bound to be HUGE, so don’t miss out on one of the biggest events of the summer.
Riot Fest Denver
When: August 28-30
Where: Denver, CO
Why you should attend: If you’re a fan of just about any rock genre, then Riot Fest is definitely the event for you this month. However, the festival’s lineup is so eclectic, that there’s really something for just about any music fan to enjoy. The Denver edition of the festival boasts a seriously impressive roster of artists, featuring the likes of Modest Mouse, the Pixies, System of a Down, Iggy Pop, Snoop Dogg, Tenacious D, Ice Cube, and many more.
Imagine Music Festival
When: August 29-30
Where: Atlanta, GA
Why you should attend: The Imagine Festival combines dance music with cirque-style artists in an aquatic themed experience like no other. This 2-day event is sure to provide stunning visuals to accompany an already amazing sonic experience, and just as the name suggests, it will be like something out of your imagination. Also, the fest is conveniently held in downtown Atlanta, making for a super accessible weekend getaway.