America’s summer shows no signs of slowing down as the month of June gears up for its set of music festivals. The Sherp rounds up the best of the lot.
1. Gentleman Stopover NJ 2015
Where: Seaside Heights, NJ
When: June 5 to 6
The Gentlemen Stopover series of festivals come with a unique premise. They promise to bring the bands and the music, whilst allowing the city to imprint its local culture on them. The festivals which happen at several big and small cities around USA, permeate music and local culture, including food, drink and community, making it one socially inviting festival, and fostering a sense of ownership and pride. The New Jersey edition will take place this weekend with a lineup involving Alabama Shakes, Mumford and Sons, The Flaming Lips, The Vaccines, among others.
(image source: Gentlemen Stopover Facebook)
2. Wakarusa
Where: Ozark, AR
When: June 4 to 7
Wakarusa amalgamates music and nature, thereby offering a more profound experience than many other festivals. Taking place in the naturally enabling and beautiful Mulberry Mountain, the festival allows attendees to be one with nature, while enjoying the best of music is the most earthy manner possible. This experience is bound to get heightened when featuring artists like Major Lazer, The Roots, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, STS9, Slightly Stoopid and Chance The Rapper among others.
(image source: Wakarusa Facebook)
3. Mountain Jam
Where: Hunter Mountain, NY
When: June 4 to 7
Mountain Jam is the result of the efforts of legendary festival organisers, Woodstock. But what makes Woodstock a clear favourite is its location, among the pristine Hunter Mountains in a natural amphitheater. And it’s four days of pure festival atmosphere coming to life, with the 2015 line-up featuring artists like Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Gov’t Mule, Moe, Shaky Graves, among others.
(image source: Mountain Jam Facebook)
4. Governors Ball Music Festival
Where: New York City, NY
When: June 5 to 7
Quite easily the biggest music festival of the weekend, the legend of Governors Ball pretty much precedes the festival itself. This multi-day music festival taking place in Randall Island in New York City has featured some of the bets line-ups in the history of music festivals. This year’s line-up features the likes of Drake, The Black Keys, DeadMau5, Florence + The Machine, My Morning Jacket, and Lana Del Ray, among others.
(images source: Governors Ball Music Festival Facebook)
5. Make Music Pasadena
Where: Pasadena, CA
When: June 6
With soaring festival ticket fares, it’s only real that you find yourself grappling for tickets, or perhaps, in some cases, completely left out. Which is what makes Make Music Pasadena so popular. It’s not only absolutely free, but it engages the city of Pasadena in a musical fervour. Throughout one single day, thirty venues across the city are employed to initiate a sort of a musical carnival. It’s worth the trip to California. Trust us.
(image source: Make Music Pasadena Facebook)
6. Free Press Summer Fest
Where: Houston, Tx
When: June 6 to 7
Free Press Summer Fest is yet another festival taking advantage of a natural, grassy amphitheatre as it unfolds every year within the hills of The Greater Buffalo Bayou Park. But the biggest highlight of the festival this year is its prestigious line-up loaded to give the best musical experience. Including artists like Skrillex, Belle & Sebastian, St. Vincent, Major Lazer, Chance the Rapper, Mastodon, Future Island, Tove Lo and Tycho, it’s a line-up that caters to one and all.
(image source: Free Press Summer Fest Facebook)
7. Hot 97 Summer Jam
Where: East Rutherford, NJ
When: June 7
The Hot 97 radio station is the home of hip-hop music, completely dedicated to the genre. So quite obviously, the Hot 97 Summer Jam presents a eclectic mix of hip-hop artists, coming together is what is the ultimate hip festival. Their 2015 line-up features a bunch of them including man of the moment Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign, Fabolous.
(image source: Hot 97 Facebook)