6 incredible summer music festivals

Photo by Karim Tibari, Gnaoua World Music Festival

Hot sun, cold beer. Summer is here, bringing with it the best music fests of the year. These six music festivals are some of the biggest and baddest in the world.

Bonnaroo, Manchester, Tennessee

June 12–15

Elton John, Kanye West, Jack White, Lionel Richie, Vampire Weekend, Frank Ocean and The Flaming Lips top the long, long list of headliners at this year’s party, but jams are only part of Bonnaroo’s appeal. This camp-tastic adventure also features a 24-hour cinema tent that will feature screenings and guest appearances by David Wain and The Farrelly Brothers, a live rendition of Comedy Central’s Drunk History, breakdancing workshops, a 5K run, a 40-foot water slide, and more makeshift night clubs than you can shake a stick at. No wonder approximately 80,000 fans turn out every year. Before you go, visit our Tennessee deals page.

Gnaoua World Music Festival, Essaouira, Morocco

June 12 through 15

More than half a million people gather to rhythmically salute musicians from across the globe at this world music celebration. Major artists for this year include French jazz violinist Didier Lockwood, Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and Nigerian-German singer-songwriter Ayo. A double bonus is that if money is tight, that’s ok. Many performances at the Gnaoua World Music Fest are free. Beforeyou go, visit our Morocco deals page.

Download Festival, Donington Park, Leicestershire, England

June 13 through 15

Punk, metal and harder rock fans flock to the other side of the pond to catch more than 140 bands at summer’s sweatiest rockfest. Against Me!, Aerosmith, Bad Religion, Behemoth, Dillinger Escape Plan, Killswitch Engage, Linkin Park, Sepultura, Fall Out Boy and Rob Zombie top the 2014 performer’s list. Festival goers who choose to upgrade to one of Download’s “RIP Packages” can opt for a stay at the pop up “Metal Hotel” which comes with continental breakfast and a t-shirt. Accommodations are also available in an RIP safari tent, sleep hut or local hotel. Before you go, visit our London deals page.

Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, Spain

July 17 through 20

You’ll find Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, M.I.A. and Cat Power on this year’s Benicàssim list, but you’ll also find a slew of artists that are less popular in the US including English rockers Kasabian, Paul Weller and Paolo Nutini. FIB, as it’s known to fans, features four straight days of music and eight days of camping by the sea. Swim and sunbathe by day, cool down with the sweetest rock acts around at night. Before you go, visit our Spain deals page.

Fuji Rock Festival, Niigata, Japan

July 25 through 27

More than 100 artists converge to rock Japan like it’s never been rocked before. Franz Ferdinand, Basement Jaxx, Arcade Fire, Jack Johnson, The Flaming Lips and Outkast headline this year’s show, but international acts hailing from both hemispheres abound as well. Lest you write off this fest as exclusively devoted to rock, know that the lineup is also punctuated with wildcard artists like country musician Hunter Hayes, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and Yoko Ono. Area hotels book up fast, so many music-hungry fans camp or hole up in their cars. Before you go, visit our Japan deals page.

Lollapalooza, Chicago

August 1 through 3

Close out summer with a quick jaunt to Chicago’s Grant Park where you’ll be greeted with sounds from well-knowns and those who will be flooding radio stations this time next year. Megastars of Lolla this year include Eminem, Outkast, Kings of Leon, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde and Foster the People, but the real draw of this fest is that it’s so darn good at giving hot up-and-comers a place to strut their stuff. (Just ask Lady Gaga who performed to an audience of a few handfuls in 2007, years before she returned to headline the fest in 2010). Lollapalooza is also one of the few family-friendly fests in the country. Kids 10 and under get in free and a special stage with acts suitable for all ages runs throughout the day. Before you go, visit our Chicago deals page.

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