Music Festivals
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Anyone who has attended a music festival has experienced the frustration of attempting to send and receive calls and texts amid tens of thousands of other phone-wielding fans. Messages often don’t go through, arrive an hour after being sent or show up en masse when the night is over, creating confusion and leaving meet-ups unmet.
Anyone who has attended many of the leading U.S. music festivals over the past few years has likely noticed improvements, however, with cell service approaching real-time efficiency. This isn’t a fluke, but the result of focused improvements in how service is provided both generally and at music-related mass gatherings specifically.
“Frankly, I consider phone conductivity kind of like running water these days. Venues have to have it,” says Matthew Pasco, who as vp of information for the Las Vegas Raiders oversaw construction of the distributed antenna system (DAS) at Allegiant Stadium, which has hosted major tours from Taylor Swift, Metallica, The Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks since opening in summer 2021.
That’s because while cellphones used to just be a way of connecting with (or trying to connect with) friends at shows, they’re now seen as part of the concert and festival experience, with mobile ticketing, venue apps and digital payment systems demanding fully functional coverage. Connectivity also fosters greater safety, allowing fans in need of assistance to dial out during emergencies. Social media is another important consideration, with coverage at events now expected to keep up with the ballooning data demands of TikTok, Instagram and even fans livestreaming entire shows, as has happened recently on tours by Swift and Bruce Springsteen. According to Verizon, at Governors Ball 2022, its subscribers alone used roughly 14.5 terabytes of data, which equates to one person streaming 3 million songs continually for over 10 years. So, too, do fans arrive with phones, Apple Watches and iPads — and the expectation all of them will work.
Until recently, cell coverage has been wonky at big events as the demands of smartphones collided with networks designed before devices burned through so much data. With upwards of 125,000 people squeezed into a square mile (the size of Coachella’s site), all of whom texting and posting simultaneously, carriers — primarily AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in the United States — would often overload. Event organizers, who sought to solve this by providing Wi-Fi, found those networks crashed easily due to high volume.
Enter Irvine, Calif.-based tech company MatSing. Founded in 2005, the company builds antennas that, instead of reflecting signals like a traditional antenna, refracts them, creating multiple independent signals beamed in multiple directions. Instead of implementing 10 individual antennas, an event can then employ one MatSing lens antenna that creates 10 separate coverage sectors and allows multiple carriers to utilize it.
“Festivals are the hardest thing to create coverage capacity for,” says MatSing executive vp Leo Matytsine. “That was our best way of getting a foot in the door.”
The first music carrier to use MatSing’s technology at a festival was AT&T at Coachella in 2014. “People actually got connectivity that year,” says Matytsine. “After that, Verizon and T-Mobile saw what was deployed, and it started to snowball because the technology worked.” Indeed, it’s how networks function — or don’t — in high-demand settings like festivals that typically cause carriers to lose subscribers, making performance at mass gatherings crucial to customer retention.
MatSing sells its 150-plus antenna models directly to carriers, and they are now permanently installed at 32 U.S. stadiums, arenas, raceways and venues including the Hollywood Bowl, with temporary deployments at myriad Super Bowls, presidential inaugurations and festivals including South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Burning Man. The lattermost employs one antenna — incorporated by law enforcement as a safety measure, but which provides many attendees with service — while Coachella uses a few to cover its entire festival grounds. Prices vary depending on size and range from a couple of thousand for smaller models to tens of thousands of dollars for larger ones.
Carriers have also caught up with demand. While companies previously deployed mobile cell towers (along with MatSing tech) at mass gatherings to supplement coverage, Verizon representative Karen Schulz notes that “the network has evolved significantly over the past several years.” Improvements include fiber network expansion, carrier aggregation (which lets data flow freely across multiple spectrum bands) and U.S. deployments of high-speed 5G networks starting around 2019.
Unsurprisingly, venues themselves are now building and retrofitting to suit coverage requirements. Allegiant paid for the venue’s eight-figure DAS to maintain ownership over this asset, which the three major carriers rent out. (“I don’t want to sign away all the plumbing in my building so every time someone flushes the toilet, someone else gets paid,” says Pasco.) This DAS system also utilizes 28 MatSing antennas that hang from the roof around the ring of the stadium and service the 60,000-capacity bowl. (This option was chosen over deploying mini antennas under every seat, an option Los Angeles’ 3-year-old SoFi Stadium went with for its DAS.) At Allegiant, traditional cellular antennas have been installed in walkways, VIP suites and other areas MatSing antenna signals can’t reach. The stadium also offers Wi-Fi that has a 60% to 70% adoption rate among fans.
Some older stadiums and arenas, which are often “cement monstrosities,” says Pasco, “really struggle with deploying premium DAS systems because they don’t have the pathway to run cabling.” When such retrofits happen, they’re often “a little bit ugly,” he says.
However this coverage is implemented, its evolution is fostering increased connectedness among individuals in massive crowds, between attendees and venues themselves and with audiences well outside the confines of a show. This festival season, attendees might not even have to ask, “Hey, U there?”
If anyone can make Made In America extra special this year, it’s Lizzo and SZA. On Wednesday (June 14), the festival announced the two “Special” collaborators as its 2023 headliners. From Sept. 2-3, 2023, the two Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping cross-genre stars will entertain fans at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. This year’s festival will […]
Get ready to party, New York City. The 2023 Governors Ball is right around the corner, with festivities kicking off Friday (June 9) and lasting throughout the weekend. And, with three big stages in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park and three consecutive days to catch your favorite artists performing, this year’s lineup is packing some […]
After teasing the return of his beloved festival Camp Flog Gnaw during Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s “The Hillbillies” video on Tuesday (May 30), Tyler, The Creator granted the wishes of his fanbase by announcing the dates for the forthcoming event on Wednesday.
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Slated for Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, Tyler, the Creator, will once again bring Camp Flog Gnaw to Dodger Stadium for the festival’s ninth installment. According to a press release, a limited number of sale passes will be available for purchase beginning Friday (June 2) at 12 p.m. local time.
For $335 plus fees, GA passes will allow fans to attend Saturday and Sunday’s showings, while an advanced price of $595 plus fees will guarantee VIP status. A VIP wristband will enable fans entry on both days along with “a dedicated entry lane, exclusive food and shaded/seating areas, a viewing area at multiple stages, and a VIP merch package including a backpack, water bottle, snow globe, mini helmet, carabiner, baseball keychain, and a pin,” according to the release. Attendees can get Super VIP passes for $1,495 plus fees.
According to the press release, “Super VIP passes will include 1 VIP wristband good for entry to both Saturday and Sunday of Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival with a dedicated entry lane, exclusive food and shaded/seating areas, access to the exclusive Super VIP Clubhouse, a viewing area at multiple stages, and a Super VIP merch package including a custom SE 29″ Big Flyer Bike, Converse x Golf Wang custom shoe, a Camp Flog Gnaw blanket, fanny pack, mug, and pin.” Those with GA and VIP passes will still be able to enjoy carnival rides, while carnival game tickets require a pass, which will be available separately.
Last year, Tyler canceled the festivities after logging in a lot hours on his on Call Me If You Get Lost Tour. “It’s really not that deep,” says Tyler’s manager Chris Clancy of the Goldenvoice-produced event. “Tyler toured all year and was busy with a number of projects. Reading the tea leaves and what’s happening with festivals coming out of the pandemic, we thought it would be best to come back next year.”
Check out the Camp Flog Gnaw website for more info on the festival.
This year, renowned New York radio station Hot 97 looks to shake things up with its annual performance staple, Summer Jam, with Cardi B set to headline June 4 at UBS Arena.
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Cardi B looks to bring her laundry bag of hits, including Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Bodak Yellow,” “WAP,” “Up” and more. The Bronx dynamo will have a practice round when she headlines Rolling Loud Thailand April 13-15 along with Travis Scott and Chris Brown. In June 2022, Cardi B headlined Wireless Festival, and in December, she reportedly netted $1 million for a 35-minute set at Art Basel. “I got payed 1 million dollars to perform at this elite bankers private event for 400 people and only for 35 minutes,” she tweeted in response to a mocking her “backyard set.”
In addition to Cardi B, Hot 97 enlisted a phalanx of female upstarts to perform along with the touted superstar, including Ice Spice, GloRilla, Coi Leray and Lola Brooke. More New York representatives will also hit the stage at UBS Arena, notably French Montana, Lil Tjay and Fivio Foreign. To commemorate 50 years of hip-hop, The LOX will lead the way.
Younger artists such as NLE Choppa, Kenzo B, 2Rare, Sha EK, McVert and TQ will perform at a pre-festival show hosted by Montana. According to the radio station, more acts will be announced later. Tickets go on sale Saturday (April 8) at 10 a.m., with presales starting today.
“HOT 97’s Summer Jam is a hip-hop staple, and we are excited to bring the most electric show of the summer back to New York for hip-hop’s 50th anniversary,” said Bradford Tobin, president, chief operating officer and general counsel in a press release.
“The show is all about bringing hip-hop’s biggest stars to the stage, and we are honored to have New York’s own Cardi B as our headliner this year,” added TT Torrez, multimedia personality and VP of artist and label Relations. “I am so proud of the strong female presence in our lineup, which represents women’s dominance over the airwaves this year.”
See the lineup below.
Baja Beach Fest turns five this year! Taking place Aug. 11-13 in Rosarito, the Mexican beachside festival continues to showcase the most exhilarating acts of reggaeton, Latin trap and a splash of corridos with Grupo Firma for a special premiere showcase.
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Returning as headliners are Wisin & Yandel, who is scheduled to appear the first night, along with Nicky Jam. Billboard’s March cover star Feid will bring his Colombian reggaeton vibes on day two alongside Puerto Rican hitmaker Ozuna.
“We’re really excited about supporting Feid in this amazing explosion of a journey he’s been having — this being his first time at the festival, but also as a headliner,” co-founder Chris Den Uijl tells Billboard Español. “This is his first major festival headlining in North America and Mexico, so we’re really happy to be a part of that story. Wisin & Yandel [are] doing their final tour in Mexico, and this being one of their stops is also super exciting.”
About half of this year’s lineup is performing for the first time at Baja Beach Fest. That includes reggaeton legends Don Omar and Tego Calderón, who will take the Baja Beach Fest stage on day three.
The “Danza Kuduro” icon recently spoke about releasing his long-awaited album Forever King. Calderón, whose timeless and influential El Abayarde album turned 20 last year, is launching his farewell tour, and his BBF appearance is one of the two Mexico stops he will be making.
The exclusively all-Latin lineup also features Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa, rapper Eladio Carrión and Manuel Turizo, as well as Tainy on Friday. The following day will welcome her reggaeton highness Ivy Queen, as well as Becky G, Ryan Castro and Young Miko. And for its closing night, attendees can expect to see Arcángel, Zion y Lennox and Tokischa rocking out the stage.
“It’s been a super fun journey from when we started with Bad Bunny, Farruko and Yandel being the first headliners in 2018, to growing the venue to a 35,000 cap and doing two weekends [last year],” co-founder Aaron Ampudia tells Billboard Español. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride and an honor to have everyone [in the música urbana scene] come through. We’re only missing a couple of guys from the genre, but hopefully we’ll have them next year. It’s an honor to have a little part in the reggaeton movement that has exploded worldwide.
Previously, Baja Beach Fest has featured megastars such as Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Farruko, Banda MS and many more.
“We set out a clear vision for [BBF], and that was to create a festival that could uplift Latin culture and build an event that Latinos could call their own,” says Den Uijl. “It wasn’t just for the fans, but it was also for the artists. Aaron and I continue to push ourselves to try to create the best experience possible from every touch point. As the years have gone on, we’ve been able to continue to find ways to infer into the experience and grow the production footprint, and all the things that make these gatherings really special.”
“We’re barely on year five, and we have a lot of new things [to bring to the table]. We challenge each other so much to keep it fun and creative,” adds Ampudia. “You’ll start seeing new stuff that we’ve been brainstorming this year and for future years to come.”
See the full lineup below:
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If you love music, there’s a good chance that you’ll be heading to Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Rolling Loud or another music festival, concert sometime this year. And you’ll need the right festival accessories or travel gear to pack for the trip.
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There’s nothing worse than traveling to a music festival only to get stuck outside in the heat without the proper sunglasses, a hat to keep your head cool, an portable phone charger just in case you’re low on juice, hand sanitizer (we’re technically still in a pandemic), face masks, bandanas and other essentials such as sunscreen, portable fans, waterproof mascara and liquid eyeliners, and a bag to carry everything from your identification to water bottles.
To help you out, we rounded up a list of music festival necessities, some of which you can buy at Amazon and Walmart to ensure that they get delivered quickly. For more festival-related gear, see our recommendations for the best ear plugs for concerts, best travel backpacks and venue-approved bags.
Amazon
veda Tinda Red Sunglasses For Women and Men Trendy Retro Polygon Red Polarized TAC Lens Metal Frame UV400 Protection Eyeglasses Chain
$14.98 $22.99 35% OFF
Finding the right music festival sunnies depends on your style preference and budget, but there are a bunch of affordable sunglasses online. The polarized glasses pictured above include an attached chain and you can buy them in seven different lens frames including red, black, green, grey, blue, gold and red. Click here for more festival shades.
Here Comes the Sun Colorblock Sunset Power Pod
$60
Blame it on the juice! A portable charger comes in handy regardless of whether you’re traveling to a music festival or not. Casely’s Here Comes the Sun Power Pod is an iPhone charging deck that fits in the palm of your hand. The power pod features MagSafe wireless charging and is available in tons of different colors and cool designs. Click here for a wider selection of iPhone and Android portable chargers.
Adidas
Adidas Crossbody Festival Bag
$25
Comfy and convenient, crossbody bags are great for music festivals. The Adidas Originals Crossbody Bag pictured above has a zippered pocket in the front and zip pocket in the back. The back compartment is roomy enough to fit your wallet, Airpods and other small items, while the front pocket can be used for your ID, money, room key, etc. If you need room but want the same style of bag, try this Mini Festival Crossbody Bag with a water bottle carrier ($30).
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga Terry Beachside Bucket Hat
$51 $64 20% off% OFF
Looking for headgear? The unisex Terry Beachside Bucket Hat from Alo Yoga is made from absorbent and lightweight French terry cloth and available in blue splash or cantaloupe. Click here fore more bucket hats.
Amazon
LED Glow Bracelets Light Up Wristbands Flashing Arm Wrist Bands, Flashing Sports Wristband Pack of 8
$18.99 $24.99 24% OFF
Get the glow! An LED wristband bracelet makes a cool festival accessory. The set above comes with eight bracelets (batteries included) featuring three light modes: fast blink, slow blink and full glow.
Amazon
Vibe Festival Gear Fanny Pack
$16.97 $29.99 43% OFF
How about a fanny pack? Apart from being timeless and easy to find, if you’ve seen Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, then you know that fanny packs can be used for more than carrying personal belongings. The fanny pack featured above is available in 24 different colors and currently on sale at Amazon.
Amazon
BAGAIL Clear bags Stadium Approved Clear Tote Bag with Zipper Closure (12 inch x 12 inch x 6 inch)
$12.99 $14.99 13% OFF
For music lovers attending Lollapalooza, bags larger than 6 x 9 inches must be clear bags (no liquids) made from vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches like the option above, which is available in green, black, blue, red and other colors. For Lollapalooza, all bags will be checked upon entry and hydration packs are allowed but must be empty and have no more than two extra pockets. Click here for clear backpacks.
Yeti
Yeti Rambler, 26 oz. Water Bottle
$40
Staying hydrated is the healthiest way to endure long days in the music festival sun. The Yetti Rambler is a 26-ounce water bottle that comes in 10 different colors including limited-edition green, orange, black, blue and white, plus you can cart it around in a Yetti Rambler Sling ($35).
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Amazon
GearTOP Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women – Mens Bucket Hats with UV Protection
$18.99 $24.99 24% OFF
The proper hat will help keep you cool in the desert heat, which is especially useful if you plan on hitting up Coachella or Stagecoach. The GearTop wide-brim, drawstring sun hat pictured above offers UPF 50+ protection and has been tested to ensure safety from harsh UVA and UVB rays. The mesh fabric allows for moisture and heat to easily escape to keep your head cool and reduce sweating.
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Amazon
Quiksilver mens Pierside Straw Lifeguard Beach Straw Sun Hat
$14.00 $20.00 30% OFF
If you’d rather have a straw option, Quicksilver‘s Pierside hat is made from weaved straw and features a wide brim, lined headband and adjustable chin strap. The hat is available in natural brown and dark brown in sizes ranging from S-XXL.
Amazon
Neck Gaiter Face Mask Reusable, Cloth Face Masks Washable Bandana Face Mask, Sun Dust Protection
$6.99 $19.99 65% OFF
You’re probably tired of wearing face masks, but there’s a lot of dust in the desert, so you might need some form of protection at Coachella. If you don’t want a cloth face mask or the more durable N95 mask, the reusable cloth face covering pictured above is a nice alternative. The washable face mask features four-way stretch and fits snugly on all size heads and faces, and it’ll stay in place, even if you’re running or doing other vigorous exercises. Find disposable face masks here.
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Walmart
Mato & Hash Canvas Drawstring Backpack $7.99
When you need a simple and affordable bag, drawstring backpacks rarely disappoint. This cotton bag from Walmart comes in 12 different colors including orange, blue, black, pink and green. Looking for a sturdier backpack option? Try a mini backpack from The North Face ($58.95).
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DIFF Eyewear
Diff Eyewear Carina Sun Visor by Araya
$65
If sunglasses aren’t good enough, you’ll get full coverage from the sun with this sunglass-visor hybrid from Diff Eyewear. The visor can also add an iridescent pop of color to your festival outfit, and it’ll probably look pretty cool in the sun. The skin-protecting and UV-blocking Carina visor provides maximum sun protection to block out over 98% of UVA/UVB rays. For a cheaper and slightly smaller design, check out the GloFx Face Shield Visor ($29.97).
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga Solar Visor
$54
Speaking of visors, this holographic headpiece features an adjustable band, breathable fabric and it’s available in a handful of colors including white, hot pink and highlighter yellow.
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Amazon
SOJOS Classic Aviator Sunglasses $14.99 $19.99
Love aviators? The Sojos sunglasses pictured above offer up a classic aviator style in nine different colors, including mirrored pink, brown and black.
Princess Poly
Mora Sunglasses
$30
Another trendy option, these ’90s inspired sunglasses feature a wraparound design and UV protection.
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Nomadix
Nomadax Striped Retro Festival Blanket $69.95 $
This fan-favorite, striped blanket from Nomadix is perfect for festivals, camping, picnics and other activities. Featuring a soft, microsuede top, the water resistant, sand resistant and pet-hair resistant blanket measures 60 inches x 70 inches and is made from recycled polyester. Not into stripes? Click here for more Nomadix blankets.
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Amazon
El Paso Designs Mexican Yoga Blanket | Colorful Falsa Serape | Park Blanket, Yoga Towel, Picnic, Beach Blanket, Patio Blanket
$21.49
These beautiful blankets from El Paso Designs retail for just $21.49. According to the manufacturer, the blankets are handwoven by artisans in Tlaxcala, Mexico, and each tassel is individually hand-tied. El Paso Designs blankets are available in over a dozen colors and measure 140 inches x 117 inches.
What to Wear to Music Festivals
Not sure what to wear to a music festival? Shorts, tees and comfortable shoes are a few fashion staples that you might already have in your closet, but if you’re looking for something more curated, you can find festival gear online at retailers such as Nasty Gal, ASOS, StockX, Amazon and Farfetch.
See below for a few examples of clothes to wear to a music festival.
Aeropostale
Aeropostale Cargo 10.5-Inch Cargo Short
$24.75
These Aeropostale cargo shorts offer a comfortable fit and plenty of pockets, making them great for a music festival or concert. The 10-inch cargo shorts are available in sizes 27-42 and in a range of colors including golden tan, black, hazelnut, blue, green and grey. If there’s more room in your budget, these top-rated Eddie Bauer Men’s Tahoma Cargo shorts are on sale for $44.99. See more cargo pants here and click here for cargo pants.
Amazon
MCEDAR Mens Casual Short Sleeve Button Up Vintage Summer Hawaiian Beach Vacation Shirts
$25.99 $29.99 13% OFF
When it comes to festival clothing for men, tees, button-up shirts and mesh shirts are an easy way to keep cool in the festival heat. If you like variety, the short sleeve shirt pictured above is available in more than two dozen different colors and designs.
Hollister
Hollister Low-Rise Medium Wash Denim Shorts
$29.96 $39.95 25% off% OFF
Need a pair of shorts? These low-rise denim shorts from Hollister are available in medium wash, dark wash, dark ripped wash, white and black. If you’d like a different style, these baggy denim jeans ($69) are on sale at Urban Outfitters and Gap has a bunch of denim jeans on sale.
Revolve
Lovers & Friends Flower Power Top
$158
Flower power! This crochet top and matching skirt would be perfect for a pool party of festival, and the pieces are sold separately, so you can mix and match the top and bottom.
Amazon
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Sneakers Black/White
$82.41
Shoes can make or break an outfit, and if you’re trekking through a festival in the wrong shoes, you’ll definitely be sorry. There’s actually a science to picking the perfect shoe but if you don’t have the time to test out different styles, go for comfortable walking shoes or running shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty such as Nikes, Pumas, Adidas, Salomon, New Balance, Vans or Converse Chuck Taylors. Other good options: Dr Martens, Burkenstocks, platforms and cowboy boots.
This year’s Beale Street Music Festival will feature sets from The Lumineers, Greta Van Fleet, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Earth, Wind & Fire, Hardy, Jazmine Sullivan, The Roots, AJR and 311.
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The event at Tom Lee Park in Memphis, Tennessee on May 5-7 will also feature appearances from GloRilla, Gary Clark Jr., Ziggy Marley, Young the Giant, Halestorm, Live, PJ Morton, The Struts, Gov’t Mule, Dru Hill, Mike., Andy Grammer, Yola, Toadies, Lucinda Williams and Living Colour.
Weekend VIP tickets will run you $995, while three-day tickets are $205 and one-day GA passes are $88.53; click here for more ticketing information.
Among the other acts slated to take the stage for this year’s fest are: Big Boogie, Cameo, the Bar-Kays, White Reaper, Shovels & Rope, Phony PPL, Low Cut Connie, Marcy Playground, Beach Weather, Jason D Williams, Myron Elkins, Dirty Streets, Mac Saturn, Tyke T, Sleep Theory and more.
The event will also host the Memphis Tourism Blues Stage on Beale at Handy Park — which is open to the public and free of charge — featuring Los Lobos, Keb Mo, North Mississippi Allstars, Bernard Allison, Ana Popovic, Cedric Burnside, Mr. Sipp, Colin James, Selwyn Birchwood, Ghost Town Blues Band, Blind Mississippi Morris and more.
“This year’s lineup reflects the broad musical tastes of our festival goers with a diverse lineup of some of today’s hottest artists as well past festival favorites and stars of tomorrow,” said Jim Holt, President and CEO of Memphis In May in a statement. “At the Beale Street Music Festival, we endeavor to offer something for almost every musical taste, and we have a few more surprise additions to come.”
Check out the full lineup below.
The 2023 Roskilde Festival in Denmark will feature headlining sets from Blur, Kendrick Lamar, Queens of the Stone Age, Christine and the Queens, Rosalía and others. Organizers announced a slew of new additions to the line-up on Monday (Feb. 27), including Angélique Kidjo, Caroline Polachek, Weyes Blood, Code Orange, Indigo De Souza and Special Interest.
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Other previously announced names on the roster for the fest slated to take place between June 24-July 1 are: Burna Boy, Sudan Archives, Big Freedia, GloRilla, Lil Nas X, Central Cee, Fever Ray, Hudson Mowhawke, Tinariwen, Lock Up, Benny Jamz, Clarissa Conelly’s Canon, 070 Shake, Derya Yildrim & Grup Simsek, Alice Glass, Rina Sawayama, Denzel Curry, Tove Lo, Japanese Breakfast, Nikki Lane, First Hate, Fulu Miziki, J.I.D., Rema, Armand Hammer, Billy Woods, Nora Brown and Phelimuncasi.
In a statement, Roskilde’s head of programming, Anders Wahrén, praised the eclectic lineup, saying, “This announcement features some of the most vehement vocalists and powerful performers right now, acts whom in each their own way convey hope, meaning and change. Roskilde Festival has shared a special, decade-spanning bond with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Angélique Kidjo, and they always bring something new to this festival.”
Speaking specifically about Lamar, Wahrén added, “Kendrick Lamar is one of the most requested artists among our festival audience, and he possesses a peerless artistic vision. He is no doubt the most influential rapper of his generation, and we’re excited to welcome him back.”
See the latest lineup announcement below.
The Foo Fighters, Lizzo and The Strokes are among the headliners for this summer’s 2023 Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. The event slated to take place July 28-30 at the Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefectur will also feature sets from Lewis Capaldi, Louis Cole, Anderson.Paak’s NxWorries, Weezer, Alanis Morissette, Cory Wong, Denzel Curry, Slowdive, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo and Black Midi, among many others.
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Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Viagogo. Among the other acts on this year’s bill are: Alexander23, Balming Tiger, Dermot Kennedy, Fever 333, G. Love & Donovan Frankenreiter, Ginger Root, Gogo Penguin, Gryffin, Idles, Jatayu, Neal Francis, Overmono, Sudan Archives and more.
The announcement is just the latest in a growing list of festival headlining dates announced by the Foo Fighters following a nearly year-long layoff; the band last headlined a show at Lollapalooza Argentina in March 2022 and they performed a number of songs at a pair of tribute concerts to late drummer Taylor Hawkins in London and L.A. in September.
The band has eight festival stops on their roster so far, kicking off with Boston Calling on May 26, followed by Columbus, Ohio’s Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival, Germany’s Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in early June — which they were just added to as replacements for Pantera — a June 18 stop at Bonnaroo, the July 15 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival in Milwaukee and The Town in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sept. 9.
Following Hawkins’ unexpected death at age 50 last March before a festival date in Bogotá, Colombia, the group performed with a series of fill-in drummers at the tribute shows, but at press time had not announced who would be behind the kit for this summer’s gigs.
Check out the full 2023 Fuji Rock poster below.