A.V. Club's guide to trip-worthy festivals
Get in the van
Scott Gordon
Why stick around for Lollapalooza when you can drive for miles and have this experience?
It wasn't that long ago that big outdoor music festivals were things that seemed to happen exclusively in Europe or the U.K., but now we're party to an embarrassment of riches—with fests circulating everything from modern techno in city centers to wiggly jam bands in mounds of dirt. Here, The A.V. Club presents a guide to some of this summer's best—and because nobody has the money to fly these days, we’ve provided you with the mileage it would take to road trip it, as well as tips for what to see on the way, courtesy of Roadside America.
Mutek, May 27-31 (Montreal)
An ambitious gathering of techno and electronic music of different experimental extractions, Mutek takes a heady approach to music made by simultaneously human and post-human means. Panels and discussions give the whole thing a contemplative lean; though, club events know how to go bang when the night grows dark. In between are sets of atmospheric sound art and live/electronic stagings of artists who treat live/electronic distinctions as playthings.
This year's highlights: German legend Gas, dubstep great Appleblim, and Detroit figurehead Carl Craig join a diverse lineup from Montreal's fertile electronic scene and points spread across the globe. Plus, Ricardo Villalobos plays a seven-hour outdoor picnic in Montreal's futuristic World's Fair park.
Distance: 851 miles
On the way: Before exploring the poetic possibilities of post-human beep-boops, take a step back and relax in the low-brow shadow of the world’s largest fake nose and glasses. Wocka wocka?
Bonnaroo, June 11-14 (Manchester, Tenn.)
There’s no bigger festival than Bonnaroo, which started as a jam band summit but gradually evolved into the kind of omnibus, genre-bending event that unreconstructed hippies, rave kids, and music snobs of every stripe can agree on. Part of that has to do with the sheer amount of stuff on offer: Four days of music across six stages means more conflicts than dull spots, and comedy and film tents provide alternatives for those whose ears just need a break. The festival grounds, meanwhile, play host to all manner of hucksters, vendors, and dealers, who ply their wares amid impromptu jam sessions and sodden revelry. It’s a scene that’s almost as enthralling as Bonnaroo's best performances.
This year’s highlights: Big names include Phish, Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Bruce Springsteen, but mixed in are some very pleasant surprises like Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, St. Vincent, Bon Iver, Femi Kuti, King Sunny Adé, Wilco, and David Byrne.
Distance: 533 miles
On the way: Check out the Lost River Cave boat tours in Bowling Green, Ky. If the idea of an underground boat tour reminds you of Willy Wonka’s horrifying psychedelic boat trip, take heart: This one is far less hellish with calm waters, forest trails, and butterfly gardens. Think of it as your final moment of Zen before the following four-day clusterfuck that is Bonnaroo.
10,000 Lakes Festival, July 22-25 (Detroit Lakes, Minn.)
Held on the 600-acre Soo Pass Ranch near the northern Minnesota burg of Detroit Lakes, this four-day camping-friendly music fest leans toward a lineup heavy on the spiritual children of the Grateful Dead. But this year moves further away from the jam-band aesthetic (but not by much) by bringing in indie-rockers like Akron/Family and Cloud Cult, soul singer Sharon Jones, Rhymesayers rappers Atmosphere, and L.A.'s Latin/hip-hop fusion combo Ozomatli. All told, more than 60 bands will grace the festival's four stages, so expect a lot of wandering back and forth to put together your perfect itinerary. (Given the area's great natural beauty, it's also worth taking some time away from the music to visit one of the half-dozen nearby state parks and forests, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park.)
This year’s highlights: The headliners are Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, and Wilco; other draws include Umphrey's McGee, Mason Jennings, and Railroad Earth.
Distance: 606 miles
On the way: Erected in defiance of good taste and Frank Lloyd Wright, Wisconsin's House On The Rock looks like the mutant spawn of David Lynch and your packrat grandmother. Dolls, carousels, theater organs, the world's largest cannon, and other absurdities are all packed together under one roof. Just please hold off on any concert-enhancing substances until you get to Minnesota. This is a trip waiting to happen.
All Points West Music And Arts Festival, July 31-Aug 2 (Jersey City, N.J.)
A kind of eastern adjunct to Coachella, All Points West draws from that festival’s keen curation but seems equally inspired by Lollapalooza’s urban setting and penchant for more mainstream talent. The three-day event, now in its second year, takes place at a waterfront state park that overlooks Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, and the proximity to New York means that it’s easy to move on to more intimate celebrations after the show ends, or catch one of the countless after-parties that spring up in Manhattan and Brooklyn—both just a short train or ferry ride away.
This year’s highlights: As with last year, the lineup jumps among the au courant (Vampire Weekend, MGMT, and Fleet Foxes), the very famous (Coldplay, Tool, and Beastie Boys), and retro acts still in possession of musical capital (My Bloody Valentine and Echo And The Bunnymen).
Distance: 788 miles
On the way: Make sure you pack a few hammers with your road-trip supplies because you wouldn’t want to miss the awesome aural experience that is Upper Black Eddy, Pa.'s Ringing Rocks. Head toward the outcrop of boulders, smash them with hammers, and hear them ring like bells.
Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival, Aug. 28-30 (San Francisco)
Given San Francisco’s unpredictable summer weather, it makes sense that the City by the Bay doesn’t enjoy as many outdoor music events between Memorial and Labor Day as the rest of the country, but organizers from Another Planet and Bonnaroo decided to brave the elements last year by unveiling the inaugural Outside Lands. Despite some logistical nightmares (poor cell-phone reception, getting more than 60,000 people to and from Golden Gate Park in a city with no parking and poor public transportation, etc.), the occasional P.A. snafu, and Jack Johnson having a headlining slot, Outside Lands turned out to be both worth the hassle and worthy of a sequel.
This year’s highlights: The lineup is still coming together, but headliners Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys have already been announced. Those heavyweights, along with M.I.A., Modest Mouse, Deerhunter, Q-Tip, Os Mutantes, Band Of Horses, The Dead Weather, and, uh, Tom Jones prove that there’s going to be a little something for everyone.
Distance: 2,133 miles
On the way: After spending the summer driving across the country, pay your respects at the “America: Why I Love Her” map at Denver International Airport. Gary Sweeny, an airline customer service agent, threw off the trappings of corporate America, cashed in his frequent-flier miles, visited every state in the country, and photographed the weirdest roadside attractions he could find—and you might even recognize some of them.
