Parker Evans
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Parker Evans is an economics senior and Mustang News music columnist.
Coachella regret is at an all-time high right now. We may have missed out on Solange bringing out her sister Beyoncé and Justin Bieber making a surprise appearance with Chance the Rapper, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the impromptu camaraderie and unique artist-crowd relationships music festivals are designed to create.
The list below is by no means comprehensive. Lineups for Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival, Sacramento’s Launch Festival, Los Angeles’ FYF Fest and Monterey’s First City Festival, among others, have yet to be announced. The West Coast has an answer for any and all music tastes, but these four manage to cover more than a few bases.
What: Outside Lands
Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.
When: Aug. 8-10
Price: Sold out, $450 on StubHub
Headliners: Kanye West, Tom Petty, The Killers, The Flaming Lips
Other must-see performers: Run the Jewels, Jenny Lewis, Phosphorescent
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better concert venue than Golden Gate Park, and San Francisco’s premiere music festival is geared up for another record-breaking turnout with some of the chillest crowds in California. Northern California’s anti-Coachella focuses on rock, indie-pop and psych-pop acts at the expense of hip-hop, but this year marks the most well-rounded lineup in a long time. For the 21-and-over crowd, Wine Lands and the new Beer Lands are perfectly suited to the pervasive Bay Area vibe.
What: High Sierra Music Festival
Where: Quincy, Calif.
When: July 3-6
Price: Advance four-day passes on sale for $207
Headliners: Lauryn Hill, Trampled By Turtles, STS9
Other must-see bands: Punch Brothers, The Budos Band, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
High Sierra is where the hippies go. Famous for its jam bands and long set times, Quincy plays host to a four-day fest that manages to stay family-friendly. Stations set up around the festival and campgrounds offer yoga, pilates and an extensive arts and crafts fair. The late-night shows are full of jammy psychedelic groups that play until morning in the forest. For those looking for an escape from the rah-rah of Fourth of July weekend, High Sierra might have what you’re looking for.
What: Sasquatch! Festival
Where: Gorge Amphitheatre, Central Wash.
When: May 23-25
Price: Sold out, $450 on StubHub
Non-Outkast headliners: The National, Queens of the Stone Age, M.I.A.
Other must-see performers: Chance the Rapper, Waxahatchee, Phantogram
The Gorge is a venue that needs to be seen to be believed. Located in remote central Washington, the biggest names gather in the greenest space. Aside from Outkast, which is playing most of the nation’s biggest festivals this summer, the lineup reflects a staunch indie rock ethos reflective of the Pacific Northwest. If you can manage to sneak out of midterms and catch a flight up north, Sasquatch! does it right.
What: Pickathon
Where: Happy Valley, Ore.
When: August 1-3
Price: Tickets still available for $260
Headliners: Nickel Creek, Blind Pilot, Warpaint
Other must-see performers: Mac DeMarco, Courtney Barnett, Foxygen
Positioned in part as the West Coast’s answer to the Newport Folk Festival, Pickathon places songwriters center stage. Most importantly, this might be one of only a handful of chances to catch the Nickel Creek reunion while it’s still touring, and missing Chris Thile on an intimate stage is not a good life decision. This tastemaking festival seems to always be one step ahead of everyone else, showcasing the next generation of songwriters before they hit it big.