By Miranda Miller, Staff writer
1. Lollapalooza- Chicago, IL
Chicago’s historic Grant Park provided an appropriate background for Lollapalooza’s nostalgia filled line-up. Artists such as Eminem and OutKast, whose biggest hits are years old, were put to the test by the youthful spark of many newcomers. Out of the 130 artists performing, many of the most revered artists were outshone by the talk of the festival, 17-year-old, New Zealand bred, Lorde. She provided a solid mix of lyrics, music, wisdom, and best of all, hair flips. You could tell this girl was knowledgeable in ways very few people her age are when she sat at the edge of the stage and discussed growing up fast and realizing what she wanted to do at an age when most her age couldnt think beyond that night’s meal plan. Besides the other-worldliness that is Lorde, Lollapalooza proved to be a well-rounded, well-organized, and well-executed festival that, for years to come, will definitely attract some of the greatest artists and crowds.
2. Outside Lands- San Francisco, CA
Being surrounded by some of the most talented artists in the truly beautiful place that is San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was a surreal experience. OSL continues to be home to one of the most diverse line-ups, with artists ranging from Kanye West and Macklemore to The Flaming Lips and Tom Petty. The weather, although chilly in the morning, balanced out the body heat the large crowds brought. Outside Lands also attracted more than just music lovers with its “A Taste of the Bay Area” food line-up. Another big attraction was the Digital Detox room, where you could go to take a break from the digital suffocation of technology that is ever-present at festivals. Some surprising highlights were Capital Cities, whose set was essentially a huge party, and The Flaming Lips, whose set is one of most unique you’ll ever experience, complete with a toy baby, crowd-surfing bubbles, and many performers dressed up in mushroom and rainbow costumes. Outside Lands never fails to disappoint with its wonderful atmosphere and music.
3. Firefly- Dover, DE
Despite the fact that this is only Firefly’s third year, it was home to one of the most solid line-ups of the summer, hosting bands such as The Foo Fighters, The Arctic Monkeys, and Weezer. The variety of genres attracted a wonderful mix of people. Firefly welcomed 80,000 fans to their new and permanent home, almost three times as many as their inaugural year in 2012. Out of these 80,000, 50,000 of them were campers, creating a very fun, close community for the weekend. To accommodate all these people, Firefly has expanded their venue and has also become rather philanthropic in their partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Firefly has raised $75,000 for the cause and expects to raise more in the years to come.
4. Governor’s Ball- New York, NY
For a festival that’s still under five years old, Governor’s ball has definitely made a name for itself. The good weather, which is definitely not a guarantee at this time of the year in New York, was very much appreciated (This was most definitely not the case at Governor’s Ball 2013). The music did not disappoint with epic performances by The Strokes, Skrillex, Foster the People, and many more elite musicians. However, logistics wise, this festival was slightly sub-par. Ridiculously long lines, lack of paper maps, and sound bleed were a few of the many complaints. However, ya gotta give some slack to whoever’s putting on a festival in one of the largest cities in the world. Although these technical difficulties did disturb the flow of the weekend, the music did a good job of overshadowing these faults. It’s hard to spend too much time thinking about the line to the bathroom when you’ve just experienced the perfection of your favorite artist.
5. Bonnaroo- Manchester, TN
Rumor has it that Bonnaroo translates loosely in creole/Cajun slang to “a real good time”— which is exactly what it was! Life at “The Farm,” the name of the actual farm that is home to Bonnaroo, is definitely an experience. It is hot, it is dusty, its is, at times, smelly, but it is also home to some amazing food, people, and most importantly, music. One of the most scandalous performers of the weekend was Kanye (what a surprise). After his notorious 2008 set, which began at approximately 4:30 A.M., hours after the designated start time, Bonnaroo’s Kanye grudge is alive and well. However, Yeezus paid no attention to this. He provided an inspiring, sermon-like set, filled with wonderful Kanye quotes about being yourself and never caring about what others think. Bonnaroo did not fail to provide an equally unique mix of people, artists, and setting, keeping the weekend endlessly exciting.