As a musician, running or curating your own festival can be a dream. Not only do you get to pick the artists to perform alongside you, you can also carefully choose a perfect venue, theme and be the main reason why people show up.
Here is a list of International artistes, bands, DJs and musicians who pioneered some great festivals!
1. Jay Z – Made In America
Founded and curated by the biggest star in Hip-Hop, Made in America is a relatively younger festival that doesn’t hold back on the talent it features. This massive two-day, two-city fest, usually includes a roster of close to 60 of the biggest artists that ’embody the American spirit’, effectively providing a platform for multiple genres in one venue. The rap mogul and entrepreneur earned himself bragging rights enough for a decade, as this may be his most successful venture yet.
2. Jane’s Addiction – Lollapalooza
We all are aware of Lollapalooza’s influence in world of live performance, but not many of us know that the festival was conceived and created in 1991 by the vocalist of Jane’s Addiction as part of a farewell tour of the band. Despite a six year hiatus from 1997 to 2003, Lollapalooza has been the epicentre of American music festivals and is easily one of the most iconic celebrations of music in American pop culture.
3. Pearl Jam – PJ20
Touted as the most popular American rock’n’roll band of the ’90s, Pearl Jam hosted The Pearl Jam Twenty Tour to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011. Part of the the tour consisted of a two-day festival at theΒ Alpine Valley Music TheatreΒ in East Troy, Wisconsin, on theΒ Labour DayΒ weekend. The same year a ‘rockumentary’ by the same name was shot, highlighting the importance of Pearl Jam to American rock music. Definitely worth a watch.
4. Dave Matthews Band – DMB Caravan
Dave Matthews Band followed suit and hosted their own (hugely successful) touring festival, the DMB Caravan in 2011, marking their 20th anniversary. The DMB Caravan, was the highlight of the summer of 2011, Β with the likes of John Butler Trio and The Flaming Lips on the festival’s roster.
5. Destructo (Gary Richards) – Every HARD festival
As the man behind every HARD event like HARD Summer, HARD Day Of The Dead, Holy Ship! to name a few, Gary Richards, better known as Destructo has become a pretty successful festival entrepreneur compared to his career in music. The HARD festivals haveΒ become synonymous with larger-than-life performances, educated party people, stunning productions, and the brightest rising stars in EDM.
6. Slipknot – Knotfest
Shock rockers Slipknot decided it would be apt to go ahead and create their own metal festival, something akin to Ozzfest. The first Knotfest took place in 2012 with bands like Deftones, Lamb Of God, Cannibal Corpse headlining the event. Β Owing to its dark theme,Β activities the festival offer as part of its ‘carnival experience’ involve circus big-top tents, pillars of fire, amusement park rides, burlesque performers, firebreathers, stilt walkers, drum circles made of junkyard cars and graffiti walls.Β This year, Knotfest will also take place in Japan, featuring the likes of Limp Bizkit, Korn, Papa Roach, Bring Me The Horizon. It’s safe to say, Knotfest is pretty popular among the metal community.
7. Rob Da Bank – Bestival
Being the brainchild of Β English DJ Β Rob Da BankΒ and his wife Josie, in the course of 10 years, Bestival has grown from a 10,000 to 60,000 strong festival that features an eclectic mix of EDM, indie, soul, funk and pop.The four-day fest is famous for its magical island venue, personal touch in elaborate stage designs and individual events –the boutique extravaganza you will never tire of.
8. Common – AHH! festival
There’s a special place in our hearts for musicians who choose to give back. This year, rapper Common is hosting a music festival titled The AHH!! Fest that aims at funding a job project that helps tackling the unemployment rates in the city of Chicago. Set to take place on September 20-21, the fest features an incredible line-up, including Lupe Fiasco, Jennifer Hudson, Common, and hosted by the super-funny Dave Chapelle.
9.Β Rage Against The Machine – L.A Rising Festival
Everyone’s favourite funk rock group RATM founded a rock concert festival in 2012, aiming to feature themselves as well as some carefully picked artistes. The L.A Rising stage has seen a curious mix of talents take stage like Muse, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Rise Against and Immortal Technique. We’re hoping to see what they’ve got in store for the next version.
10. Phish – A whole bunch of festivals
As the quintessential American jam band, believe or not, Phish has been hosting 9 festivals ever since 1996 – The Clifford Ball, The Great Went,Β Camp Oswego,Β Big Cypress,Β It,Β Coventry,Β Festival 8, Super Ball and IIXLemonwheel.
