September Music Festivals Calendar
Summer may be rapidly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that festival season is ending with it. There are tons of amazing festivals taking place in September, and in my opinion they’re some of the best of 2015. Check out our list of September music festivals, complete with event details, ticket links, and reasons to attend each one.
Be sure to also check out our list of the Best Music Festivals of 2015 to see what else is going on through the end of the year.
Electric Zoo: Transformed
New York’s best electronic music festival, Electric Zoo, is back for another year, this time as Electric Zoo: Transformed. The new Transformed concept promises “bigger stages, brighter lights, and recharged production,” so this is one to get excited about.
WHEN: September 4-6
WHERE: Randall’s Island Park – New York, NY
2015 Lineup: The Chemical Brothers, Above & Beyond, Alesso, Zeds Dead, Adventure Club, Deorro, Gramatik, Excision, RAC, Madeon, & more
North Coast Music Festival
The North Coast Music Festival is one that blends multiple genres, including but not limited to hip hop, EDM, indie rock, jam bands, and R&B. This is the perfect event for music lovers with eclectic taste.
WHEN: September 4-6
WHERE: Union Park – Chicago, IL
2015 Lineup: Widespread Panic, D’Angelo, The Chemical Brothers, Knife Party, Steve Aoki, The Disco Biscuits, Porter Robinson, Chromeo, Atmosphere, Portugal. The Man, The Glitch Mob, & more
Made in America
Jay-Z’s Made in America festival returns to Philly for the fourth consecutive year, offering yet another cant-miss-it lineup. The rapper has quite the influence in the music industry, and has been able to pull in some impressive headliners (it also pays to be married to Beyonce, as it seems like only one other festival was able to book Queen Bey this year).
WHEN: September 5-6
WHERE: Philadelphia, PA
2015 Lineup: Beyonce, The Weeknd, Axwell & Ingrosso, J. Cole, Bassnectar, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie, Banks, Meek Mill, Big Sean, & more
X-Fest
We didn’t forget about you, Canada. Calgary’s X-Fest offers some great alternative music to rock out to this Labor Day Weekend. Over the span of two days, you can catch well established bands like Tenacious D and The Flaming Lips, as well as newer stars like Ellie Goulding and Hozier.
WHEN: September 5-6
WHERE: Fort Calgary – Calgary, AB
2015 Lineup: Ellie Goulding, Tenacious D, Hozier, Brandon Flowers, The Flaming Lips, TV On The Radio, Alexisonfire, Kongos, St. Lucia, & more
Bumbershoot
I can’t think of a better way to spend Labor Day Weekend than attending a music festival, and Bumbershoot is certainly an excellent choice. With a large, eclectic lineup and a beautiful setting (a.k.a. the gorgeous city of Seattle), Bumbershoot makes for a perfect weekend getaway.
WHEN: September 5-7
WHERE: Seattle, WA
2015 Lineup: The Weeknd, Faith No More, Ellie Goulding, Chance the Rapper, Zedd, Hozier, Cake, Social Distortion, Bassnectar, Flying Lotus, Brand New, & more
Riot Fest Chicago
With a HUGE lineup and amazing headliners, the Chicago edition of Riot Fest is without a doubt one of the biggest and best festivals taking place this month. This one mostly caters to the rock fans, but there’s really something for everyone to enjoy.
WHEN: September 11-13
WHERE: Douglas Park – Chicago, IL
2015 Lineup: No Doubt, System of a Down, Modest Mouse, Faith No More, Iggy Pop, The Prodigy, Motorhead, Rancid, Snoop Dogg, & more
LouFest
St. Louis’ premier music festival, LouFest, will bring in some impressive headliners for its sixth annual run, but there’s plenty to enjoy in addition to the big guns. Alternative rock fans in particular will appreciate the lineup that includes members of several well-known bands, like Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Nate Ruess (fun.) and Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes), all of whom are focusing on solo projects at the moment.
WHEN: September 12-13
WHERE: Forest Park – St. Louis, MO
2015 Lineup: The Avett Brothers, Hozier, Ludacris, Young the Giant, Brandon Flowers, Billy Idol, Nate Ruess, Umphrey’s McGee, Lord Huron, & more
iHeartRadio Music Festival
One of the biggest annual music events, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, returns to Vegas once again with yet another star-studded lineup. This year’s event, hosted by Ryan Seacrest (of course), includes heavyweight headliners like Kanye West, Sam Smith, The Who, and Coldplay.
WHEN: September 18-1
WHERE: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV
2015 Lineup: Kanye West, Sam Smith, The Who, Coldplay, Demi Lovato, David Guetta, Kenny Chesney, The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, The Killers, Janet Jackson, & more
Music Midtown
If you’re looking for a small but incredible lineup, look no further than Atlanta’s Music Midtown Festival. Though the fest only includes 30 artists, it’s all about quality over quantity, boasting headliners like Elton John, Van Halen, Drake, and Sam Smith.
WHEN: September 18-19
WHERE: Piedmont Park – Atlanta, GA
2015 Lineup: Elton John, Drake, Van Halen, Sam Smith, Hozier, Alice in Chains, Lenny Kravitz, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Jenny Lewis, Billy Idol, & more
KAABOO
Brand new for 2015, San Diego’s KAABOO Festival is one for the more refined festivalgoer. If you want to catch a bunch of high-profile performers without the typical festival nuisances like heat, sun, and mud getting in your way, then this is the event for you. With mild weather, ample seating, and real restrooms, this fest offers a VIP-like experience for all attendees.
WHEN: September 18-20
WHERE: Del Mar Racetrack & Fairgrounds – Del Mar, CA
2015 Lineup: No Doubt, The Killers, Zac Brown Band, Train, Snoop Dogg, Foster the People, Slightly Stoopid, 311, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Counting Crows, Young The Giant, The Roots, & more
TBD Fest
With an interesting blend of EDM, hip hop, and indie rock, Sacramento’s TBD Fest offers a diverse lineup that appeals to various types of music fans. Over the years, this festival has evolved from a tiny little thing into a massive 3-day event, and we think 2015 is its best iteration yet.
WHEN: September 18-20
WHERE: Sacramento, CA
2015 Lineup: Tyler The Creator, Pretty Lights, Chromeo, RL Grime, Porter Robinson, Tears For Fears, The Glitch Mob, Chance the Rapper, Madeon, Death Grips, Cut Copy, & more
Summer Ends Music Festival
What better way to end the summer than with a festival literally called Summer Ends? The FOUR-DAY fest is sure to be an amazing event, with performances by Kanye West, Hozier, J. Cole, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, and more.
WHEN: September 24-27
WHERE: Tempe Beach Park – Tempe, AZ
2015 Lineup: Kanye West, Hozier, J. Cole, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, Chance the Rapper, Big Sean, Slightly Stoopid, Travis Scott, Rebelution, & more
Life Is Beautiful Festival
iHeartRadio isn’t the only amazing music festival taking place in Sin City this month. The annual Life Is Beautiful Festival is equally fantastic, and offers a gigantic lineup featuring the likes of Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, and Kendrick Lamar as headliners.
WHEN: September 25-27
WHERE: Downtown Las Vegas, NV
2015 Lineup: Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Duran Duran, Hozier, Snoop Dogg, Weezer, Major Lazer, Death Cab For Cutie, Chance the Rapper, Brandon Flowers, Kygo, & more
Boston Calling (Fall Weekend)
Boston’s bi-annual music festival, Boston Calling, returns for its second run of 2015 this month. Held right in City Hall Plaza, the 3-day event will include headlining performances from The Avett Brothers, alt-J, and Alabama Shakes among others.
WHEN: September 25-27
WHERE: City Hall Plaza – Boston, MA
2015 Lineup: The Avett Brothers, alt-J, Alabama Shakes, Of Monsters and Men, CHVRCHES, Ben Howard, Chromeo, Walk The Moon, Nate Ruess, Father John Misty, & more
TomorrowWorld
Most won’t argue that TomorrowWorld is the best EDM festival taking place in the U.S. this month, as it’s bringing in superstar DJs like David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, and Hardwell for its third consecutive year. Here, EDM fans will get an otherworldly experience as they watch their favorite DJs perform on elaborate themed stages.
WHEN: September 25-27
WHERE: Chattahoochee Hills, GA
2015 Lineup: David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Hardwell, Steve Angello, Bassnectar, Afrojack, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, Porter Robinson, & more
MidPoint Music Festival
This one’s for all you indie rock fans. At the MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, you can catch some of the hottest indie acts out there right now, as well as discover some up-and-coming emerging artists.
WHEN: September 25-27
WHERE: Cincinnati, OH
2015 Lineup: Purity Ring, Ride, Iron & Wine, Sylvan Esso, tUnE-yArDs, Heartless Bastards, JR JR, Zola Jesus, Patrick Watson, Cathedrals, & more
Global Citizen Festival
It doesn’t get much better than this: an incredible lineup, a FREE concert in Central Park, and knowing you’re making a difference in the world. The only way to get free tickets to Global Citizen is to earn them by taking action to end extreme poverty, so you know that by attending this festival you’ll be rocking out for a good cause.
WHEN: September 26
WHERE: Central Park Great Lawn – New York, NY
2015 Lineup: Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, & Coldplay
Landmark Music Festival
It’s about time our nation’s capital got its own music festival. The inaugural Landmark Music Festival is not only relatively inexpensive compared to other fests of its caliber, but it’s got a great lineup for its first year, including headlining performances from Drake and The Strokes.
WHEN: September 26-27
WHERE: West Potomac Park – Washington, DC
2015 Lineup: Drake, The Strokes, alt-J, Ben Howard, CHVRCHES, Band of Horses, Chromeo, Miguel, TV On the Radio, The War On Drugs, George Ezra, & more
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