Contrasting with major festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza which tend to focus on pop, rock and hip-hop sounds, indie music festivals offer alternative sounds. This genre encompasses all forms of music as well as artists from different backgrounds.
Kendal Calling 2018 features an eclectic and indie lineup including Le Tigre, Ethel Cain, Slowthai and more! Don’t miss it!
Vans Warped Tour
Vans Warped Tour has become one of the longest-running music festivals ever, featuring punk rock and alternative bands from across genres for 25 years now. Kevin Lyman first launched the festival back in 1995 with a goal to create an eclectic summer lineup while creating community between young fans, up-and-coming acts, and non-profit organizations. As it evolved over time, more than just being an event, Vans Warped Tour now provides opportunities to enjoy summer heat and sunshine while discovering new artists and making connections between people who share similar interests!
Warped Tour’s festival lineup has long been criticized for not reflecting diversity enough; however, in recent years there has been more female artists and musicians featured. Warped Tour has also been widely recognized for providing an inclusive environment where youth culture thrives while encouraging healthy lifestyle choices and positive self-image development. Beyond musical talent being showcased there, Warped Tour offers many non-profits that promote healthy living lifestyles and self-worth promotion as part of its offerings.
Due to its size and long run, the festival has created a strong sense of community among attendees, leading many to form lifelong friendships or form their own bands inspired by its DIY spirit. In 2019, a documentary was released which provided viewers with insight into staging such an impressive event.
Warped Tour bands have recently come under scrutiny for allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior towards minors. Though these allegations have yet to be proven, it’s clear that sexual abuse within its community remains a problem at Warped Tour and continues to affect music industries in general.
Warped Tour has made an indelible mark on the music world and continues to bring young people from across the nation together for an unforgettable musical experience. Don’t miss your chance this summer to take in one of these shows for yourself and experience something truly exceptional – with its diverse mix of musical genres and positive message, Warped Tour shows are the perfect way to kick start summer vacation fun!
Reading and Leeds
Reading and Leeds Festival is one of the premier festivals for indie rock acts, yet also offers a diverse lineup. The Festival Republic Stage hosts acts that exhibit less commercial appeal but take an experimental approach to music while the BBC Introducing stage spotlights up-and-coming artists.
Blink-182, Gerry Cinnamon, Spiritbox and Skrillex were announced as headlining acts in this year’s lineup announcement, joined by RAYE (whose poetic lyrics and soulful vocals have catapulted her to mainstream indie) and Two Door Cinema Club bringing their brand of dancey indie rock to the stage – also featuring RZA for hardcore hip hop music as well as Lana Del Rey with new single “New Moon”, as well as Catfish and the Bottlemen playing their unique brand of post-punk sound.
Reading and Leeds Festival features several smaller stages that cover various genres. The Lock Up Stage hosts underground punk and hardcore acts while the Festival Republic stage showcases acts with less commercial appeal. New this year is 1Xtra Stage which targets younger audiences through featuring hip hop, RnB, and Rap musicians.
Beautiful Days 2017 boasts a stellar lineup, including Wet Leg, Loyle Carner, Steve Lacy, Becky Hills Central Cee Slowthai LF System. As always The Levellers make up part of this festival lineup too.
Beautiful Days has earned itself a strong reputation for being an authentic festival. Boasting an informal environment and celebrating its hippie roots through unique retailers, Beautiful Days’ roster tends towards folk-punk and punk bands; however, other genres may also feature prominently.
This festival takes place annually at an idyllic forest site in Staffordshire and attracts over 100,000 people since the 1980s. Activities offered at this year’s festival range from music and theatre performances, children’s events, workshops for teenagers and adults as well as an open food court area – attendees are also encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for a more comfortable experience!
Electric Forest
Electric Forest, situated on 400 acres in Rothbury, Michigan is an idyllic place to unwind and have fun. Renowned for its diverse lineup and welcoming community that brings people from different walks of life together for one unforgettable weekend, Electric Forest offers something for every genre of electronic music fanatics; everything from progressive house to jam-adjacent music is sure to please any lover of electronic music! Plus – Electric Forest offers other immersive experiences and attractions as well.
Electric Forest 2024’s line-up is still being finalized, but already some headliners have been confirmed: Pretty Lights is returning as Forest favorite; Excision has delivered earth-rattling dubstep music while Cyclops Recordings founder Subtronics will perform. Insomniac has added several exclusive collaborative artist sets including EVERYTHING ALWAYS (Dom Dolla + John Summit) and PSYREN (CloZee + LSDREAM) will perform as well as Grammy-winning singer Nelly Furtado and Atlanta rapper Ludacris.
Electric Forest Festival is known for its emphasis on spirituality and sustainability, including its philanthropic efforts that support local communities and environmental causes, with participants volunteering their time. Furthermore, Electric Forest hosts food drives to donate surplus items to Price Family Food Bank in Rothbury; their community members are very supportive of one another while creating a safe and clean atmosphere for everyone involved in attending this festival.
Electric Forest’s website includes a comprehensive list of recommended and prohibited items, along with an event grounds map and ticketing page link. In addition, local accommodations and accommodations for visitors are listed. It’s important to be mindful that security personnel may patrol the grounds; guests should remain visible at all times. Dreadlocks should not be worn; costumes with offensive words or symbols should not be worn; any unauthorized items can be confiscated by festival security.
Electric Forest provides its attendees with various resources, from lost and found pages to emergency hotlines, that may come in handy during their experience at Electric Forest. However, it’s important to remember that these resources only become valuable if used appropriately; make sure you prepare properly and remain hydrated as Michigan summer weather can be extremely extreme; bring sunscreen and sunglasses as protection; plus be aware that many lost and found items are donated directly back to charity following each event!
Download Festival
If you enjoy rock and metal music, then chances are you have heard about the Download Festival held every June at Donington Park in Leicestershire. Known for attracting some of the world’s biggest bands for an incredible weekend of music-making, this over two decade old event continues to draw huge crowds year after year.
This year’s festival will showcase an impressive roster of performers, such as Fall Out Boy, Queens Of The Stone Age and Avenged Sevenfold. Additionally, Limp Bizkit, Royal Blood and Bad Omens will all make appearances – making this must-see event for rock fans worldwide.
Download offers more than just its headlining acts; Download offers several smaller stages and bands to keep people entertained between acts. This year’s lineup features The Scratch’s punk-flavored take on acoustic folk rock; Twin Temple’s sinister doo-wop twist on classic rock; as well as heavy grime sound from AViVA and Cemetery Sun and PENGSHUi’s thumping beats.
Festival guests can take part in several special events at the park that ensure everyone makes the most of their visit, such as flipping its site map to reduce ecological impact and improve accessibility – such as adding an East Car Park and transport hub, as well as moving village closer to arena, as well as making all paths from entrance hard ground.
Keep an eye out for the Download Festival village when visiting, which offers food, beverages and band merchandise stalls as well as shower and restroom facilities to help keep you fresh during the event.
Take a ride on the Monster Truck track, which will have you screaming in delight as you race down an actual ramp at high speeds. For an unforgettable experience, purchase a VIP pass for front-row seats and access to a private bar – perfect for meeting some of your favorite artists as well as enjoying exclusive festival merchandise!