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Your Music Festival Road-Trip: 9 Shows To Hit

If your ideal summer includes traveling around the country in search of music festival nirvana (hey, we can all dream), then this list is for you!

Are you a music festival junkie like us? If so, nothing sounds better than a summer full of the hottest music artists and most colorful festivals. Stop dreaming and start planning that perfect road trip!

We have you covered with this guide to Summer 2020 can’t-miss, multi-day music festivals! Which festivals will make it onto your map?

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Mark your map for these music festival stops

The Governors Ball Music Festival – June 5-7, NY

Kick off your summer music festival tour in New York with The Governors Ball. This year the fest is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. As such, the yet-to-be-released lineup is sure to be packed with stars! Recent years have included top artists such as Florence + The Machine, Khalid, and Shawn Mendes.

According to inside sources, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend and Stevie Nicks are set to headline. Miley Cyrus, Solange, Flume, and H.E.R. are expected to make appearances, as well. You won’t want to miss this!

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival – June 11-14, TN

The lineup for the annual music festival was announced earlier this month. Tool will be heading up the Friday bill. Breakout stars Lizzo and Tame Impala will be the headliners for Saturday and Sunday.

Additionally, Thursday’s kickoff festivities will feature a Grand Ole Opry salute with unnamed special guests.

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Recording artist Lizzo

Country Jam – June 18-20, CO

This music festival is “The Biggest Party of Your Summer,” so it has to make the list! Country Jam showcases the biggest names in country music. For example, the 2020 lineup includes Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Dan and Shay, and Kane Brown. And SO many more artists!

Immerse yourself in great music on multiple stages, surrounded by Colorado’s awe-inspiring red rock landscape. 

Essence Music Festival – July 1-5, LA

Billed as the event that “Parties With a Purpose,” this music festival draws over 600,000 attendees. Even the famous City of New Orleans is a selling point!

Essence is a unique experience, with Essence Eats offering live demos with celeb chefs and cooking experts. Essence After Dark showcases comedy shows, live podcasts, and underground performances. 

The 2020 lineup has not been announced, but last year featured A-List performers. In addition to Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, and Ginuwine, Jacquees, Ledisi and many more have performed. You know it will be amazing!

Alive Music Festival July 17-19, OH

Alive Music Festival brands itself as “the best 3 days of summer.” With a killer lineup, they may be right! Performers include TobyMac, Skillet, Switchfoot, Newsboys UNITED, Jeremy Camp, Lecrae, Hillsong Young & Free, and more still to be announced! 

Certainly one of the more picturesque festival settings, Alive features four stages, 40+ artists, speakers, and seminars, beautiful camping and RV sites, and swimming and boating in their 1,500-acre lake. In other words, be sure to pack a swimsuit!

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Alive Festival (Stage Banners by NorthCoast Banners)

FYF Fest – Date TBA (rumored July 21), CA

FYF Fest 2020 is a multi-genre music festival. Its recent lineup include Hot Water Music, Bicep, Serpentwithfeet and many more. The event aims for “futuristic musical transcendence” with a lineup that “will keep on dazzling spectators and exceeding expectations.”

Likewise, it will be worth the wait to get all the details on this fest!

Lollapalooza – July 30-August 2, IL

Lollapalooza is one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, taking place annually in Grant Park in Chicago. This multi-genre, four day affair offers up a lineup of the biggest acts in the world along with the hottest up-and-comers. 

Last year’s performers included Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Strokes and so many more talented groups and solo acts. For example, this year’s rumored headliners include Post Malone, Lana Del Ray, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Guns N’ Roses, Travis Scott, Pearl Jam, and Kendrick Lamar.

Newport Jazz Festival – August 7-9, RI

You won’t want to miss “the granddaddy of all music festivals” – the Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI.

Founded in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival was the first jazz festival in America. Most importantly, it has been host to numerous legendary performances by iconic figures and contemporary geniuses. 

AFROPUNK FEST Brooklyn – Date TBA (typically August), NY

AFROPUNK FEST Brooklyn is a music festival born out of the documentary Afro-Punk. The film highlighted black punk artists around the United States.

In fact, the original festival started in 2005 and has grown into a global movement, evolving over the years to encompass artists from a wide range of genres to augment its inclusive atmosphere.

However, not limited just to music, the festival is a diverse cultural showcase, featuring film, fashion, visual arts, and skate/BMX parks. 

Now that you have your summer music festival route all lined up, it’s just time to load up on sunscreen and decide what to pack. Or if you’re a band looking for ideas of music festivals to apply to, check out these great options!

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