Festival Fever: 2019 Outlook

TL;DR, the outlook is hot. Who knows if we’re at the height of festival culture or if we’ll see it continue to rise, but the one certainty is that 2019 is going to be another packed year of great music and art festivals. Not only do festivals have amazing music and art, they bring together and form incredible communities of people over extremely short periods of time. Festivals provide a sanctuary for pure freedom of expression, respect, creativity, and a nearly endless loop of happiness and dance moves. Since there are an unbelievable number of festivals for every niche, new and old, we’re going to break down our (100% biased) music and art festival lineup for you to check out this year.

What: Lightning in a Bottle

Where: Buena Vista Lake, CA

When: May 8 - 13

Why: Time to put those phones away and actively participate in all the experiences LiB has to offer. Beyond the music, there are workshops, yoga classes, health and healing, food and wellness, talks and discussions, and tons of environments and art installations to explore across this huge, independent camping festival. Learn their ethos and take them back with you into your society.

Featured Lineup: Disclosure (DJ Set), Big Gigantic, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Lane 8, The Polish Ambassador, Opiuo, Shiba San

What: Outside Lands

Where: San Francisco, CA

When: August 9 - 11

Why: Paul Simon. Although no longer touring, he’s making a special comeback to headline the San Francisco music festival, Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. All proceeds for his performance will be donated to many of the environmental philanthropic organizations and charities he’s involved with, and said he loves SF’s reputation for being at the forefront of environmental issues. We can’t wait for this one, as we’ve already purchased our tickets with the headliners upon headliners lining the headline.

Featured Lineup: Paul Simon, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Lumineers, Flume, Blink-182, Kygo, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Leon Bridges, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Wayne

What: Woodstock 50

Where: Watkins Glen, New York

When: August 16 -18

Why: Fifty year anniversary gig! The iconic festival that started it all is back again with a few of the OG bands from the first Woodstock, including Santana and the Grateful Dead. Their slogan of “Peace, Love, and Music” still rings true to this day.

Featured Lineup: Dead & Company, Santana, The Killers, The Black Keys, Chance the Rapper, Jay-Z, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters

What: Snowglobe

Where: South Lake Tahoe, CA

When: Some time around NYE

Why: The ultimate winter festival. Not only will your festival dance moves be jammin’ through the fresh pow, but it happens over New Years. MTV now owns the festival, but we know their roots will stay true. Also, could there be a better time to groove in your Selk in the snow?

Featured Lineup: TBA

MORE PLEASE

We know we’re missing a ton of festivals in a lot of the country/world, so here are a bunch more on our list for the year to research:

• Coachella
• Lollapalooza
• Bonnaroo
• Govenor’s Ball
• Glastonbury
• Primavera Sound
• Shaky Knees
• Dreamville Festival
• Rolling Loud
• Dirtybird Campout
• Northern Nights
• EDC