2018 Summer Music Festival Roundup

The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter and summer Friday’s will soon resume for those who work 9-5. Hallelujah, it’s almost summertime, baby, and you know what that means! It’s FESTIVAL SEASON. Beyoncé already made that pretty damn obvious when she TORE UP Coachella weekend one. Now, don’t be sad that you missed the ultimate diva’s 20,000 costume changes. After all, traveling to California is expensive, and let’s be real, you’d be too worried about your outfit selection to enjoy the festivities in Indio Valley anyway. Lucky for you, there are a lot of great festivals happening right here in our backyard! At the risk of sounding cliche, there really is something for everyone these days. Whether you share a vision of sustainability or you just love an excuse to drink #roséallday, there’s a festival for you! Don your favorite ass shorts and get ready to boogie, because these heart pumping parties are just around the corner …

1.) BangOn!NYC Elements Arts & Music Festival Lakewood (May 25 – 27, Lakewood, PA) – I’m not sure if you heard, but Elements Lakewood is our new favorite festival. Produced by the expert party squad over at BangOn!NYC, Elements Lakewood blends the traditional summer music festival experience with that of an adult sleepaway camp. Set in the beautiful Poconos, Lakewood checks all the boxes of a perfect festival: great music, fun activities, laidback vibe and sustainable vision. The lineup is broad, diverse and certain to introduce you to your next favorite emerging artist (I recommend checking out Wax Future, Minnesota and Mad Zach) . Sets from house and techno scene heavyweights Claude VonStroke, Maceo Plex and Jamie Jones. Swing by the Roller Disco to rent a free pair of skates, or go for a ride on a real pirate ship. We even heard there’s a new Cookie Monster-themed art car stage serving up cookies and milk (ideal for when the munchies strike). There’s plenty to keep you busy at Elements Lakewood. Get tickets HERE.

2.) The Governors Ball (June 1-3, Randall’s Island, NYC) – The folks at Founders never fail to put on a hell of a show. This year is no different with Jack White, Eminem and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs heading up a wonderfully balanced bill. While music is the main attraction at Gov Ball, food takes a close second with more than two dozen of our favorite vendors reppin’ good eats out on the lush green fields of Randall’s Island. Save your appetite because elusive snacks like the Ramen Burger, Roberta’s Pizza and many more will be serving up dance fuel until the final guitar strums. Set times were recently announced, so download the app and start plotting out your weekend so your friends know where to find you! Get tickets HERE.

3.) Northside Festival (June 6-10, Williamsburg, BK) – Northside will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this summer! What started in 2009 as a gathering of local creative minds has become one of the East Coast’s most sought after innovation and discovery events. This week long event will bring more than 300 musical and acts and panel experts to various venues across Brooklyn. 2017’s main stage events in McCarren Park featuring The Dirty Projectors, Miguel and Thursday attracted sold out crowds of more than 6,000 fans, and this year is already shaping up to be just as big. Stay in the know by snagging your all-access badge HERE.

4.) Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival (June 16-17, Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY) – Just a short ride away in beautiful Westchester County you’ll find a festival that’s as big on folk music as it is on preserving the environment. The annual June event was founded by Pete Seeger, an American singer-songwriter who was responsible for reviving the popularity of folk music in the early 1950s. Today his legacy lives on through this two-day celebration of arts, culture and sustainability. The Great Hudson River Revival has also won numerous awards for it’s accessibility initiatives which include providing more than 20 wheelchairs for ADA guests, introducing braille versions of their schedule and featuring ASL interpreters on both main stages. Names like Jeff Tweedy and Ani DiFranco make this an attractive option for indie and alternative fans as well. Get tickets HERE.

5.) Pinknic (June 29 – July 1st, Governors Island, NYC) – Top me off! This rose-inspired picnic and music event comes with a strict dress code of pink or white summer chic. Sample frozen cocktails, sparkling varietals and other sips from Chateau D’esclans winery while watching electronic acts like Autograf and Aeroplane from the VIP pool deck. Get ready to amplify your instagram game with a gallery that screams #roséallday. Get tickets HERE.

6.) Full Moon Fest (June 30th, Governors Island, NYC) – Inspired by the monthly moon parties held on Thailand’s sprawling beaches, Full Moon Fest brings eclectic lineups and art installations to the Governors Island Beach Club, one of the city’s most picturesque venues. This upscale event always touts an interesting combination of rare hip-hop, electronic and live acts. This year’s lineup is still TBD, but former bookings have included SBTRKT, The Aston Shuffle, Yelle, Vic Mensa, Claptone and many more. Get tickets HERE.

7.) Camp Bisco (July 12 – 14, Scranton, PA) – The heavy emphasis on bass music may leave some feeling wary, but for others it’s Christmas in July! Founded by The Disco Biscuits, Camp Bisco has a longstanding legacy for being a wild party. The festival has settled in quite nicely in its new home at Montage Mountain, where fans can catch waves in the giant pool or hit the water slides in between sets from names like Excision, Illenium and Snails. Get tickets HERE.

8.) The Greatest Day Ever (July 14 – 15, Hunts Point, BX) – An event that’s grown into itself in recent years, The Greatest Day Ever brings EDM fans a music festival and carnival experience wrapped into one. Last year, Greatest Day Ever switched venues and expanded to a two-day format. An extra day means more ammo in the cannon. The New York Expo Center’s 10-acre plot is the perfect new home for GDE’s oversized thrill rides and rumbling trap lineup featuring names like RL Grime, Alison Wonderland, GTA and Valentino Khan, plus hip-hop icons Young Thug and Stefflon Don. Get tickets HERE.

9.) Panorama (July 27 – 29, Randall’s Island, NYC) – AEG’s imagining of an “East Coast Coachella” returns to Randalls Island this summer with one of the most compelling lineups we’ve seen yet. Janet Jackson makes a rare appearance, along with other legendary acts like David Byrne and The Xx. Hip-hop fans will be pleased to find names like Migos, Cardi B and SZA representing the genre on this notably diverse lineup. Get tickets HERE.

10.) BangOn!NYC’s Elements NYC (August 11, Hunts Point, BX) – If camping just isn’t your thing, then you’ll have a chance to catch BangOn!NYC’s festival offerings a little closer to home when Elements Music & Arts Festival returns for it’s fifth returning. Returning to it’s new home in the Bronx, expect this installment to be bigger than ever thanks to names like Bassnectar, SNBRN and Goldfish. This imaginative event brings the spirits of earth, wind, fire and air together through compelling stage designs, well-curated lineups and playful art installations. This year the event goes until 2 AM, so prepare for an action-packed day into night party. Get tickets HERE.

11.) AFROPUNK Fest (August 25-26, Commodore Barry Park, BK) – Activism and art come together at this annual Flatbush-based celebration. For the past 14 years, AFROPUNK has been lauded for redefining cultural stereotypes within the music industry, putting an emphasis on diversity in both their lineups and surrounding community initiatives. This year Erykah Badu, Tyler the Creator and Janelle Monae sit high atop a star studded bill of rock, electronic, hip-hop, R&B and world music acts. Get tickets HERE.

12.) Electric Zoo Festival (August 31 – September 2, Randall’s Island, NYC) – This one’s sure to be WILD, because Electric Zoo is celebrating the big 1-0 this year! Despite facing unique challenges in its formative years, Electric Zoo has managed to prevail as one of the East Coast’s most popular festivals. Well-balanced lineups are a forte of Electric Zoo’s, where in recent years international party brands like Ants, Elrow and Awakenings have brought rare house and techno acts to offset the Top-40 fueled builds and drops on the main stage. While Phase 1 seems to err on the side of mainstream with names like Kaskade and Martin Garrix, Phase 2 brought some exciting additions including what’s sure to be a slamming performance featuring Chris Liebing B2B Dubfire. There’s still more names to be announced so keep checking back. Get tickets HERE.

Which festivals are you hitting this summer? Tell us in the comments section!

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