With summer quickly approaching, music fans are counting down the days to their favorite music festivals. With festivals held across the country and internationally, there is no excuse to miss out on the time of your life.
Heavy metal fans rejoice, Rockstar’s Mayhem Festival actually has a decent lineup this year. It includes thrash metal legends Megadeth and Testament, which will appeal to older fans of the genre. The lineup also includes thrash up and comer Trivium who are quickly making a name for themselves in the international metal scene. Other bands include Godsmack, Dethlok, Machine Head, In Flames, Suicide Silence, Hatebreed, and All Shall Perish.
People looking for a more pop oriented lineup may enjoy this year’s Vans Warped Tour. This year’s acts include 3OH!3, A Day to Remember, Asking Alexandria, and Sum41. Be ready to spend some serious change though, Warped tour is notorious for their high prices.
Even though it has already passed fans looking for a more musically diverse festival should prepare for next year’s Bonnaroo festival. With its wide range of artists there is an artist for everyone. This year’s lineup included Eminem, Arcade Fire, Primus, Henry Rollins, Wiz Khalifa, Mumford & Sons, and The Strokes. Bonnaroo also doubles as an art festival, so artists may want to check it out as well. Critics have nothing but good things to say about the festival which was held on June 13, so you know you know you’re in for a good time. Bonnaroo is held annually in Manchester, Tennessee.
For fans that are travelling this summer there are is slew of festivals being held around the world. For example, if you are in Donington Park, England you are going to want to hit up the Download Festival. There are four words to describe why you should go to Download, System of a Down. The band is reuniting after a six year hiatus and going to the festival would be worth it just to see them perform after so many years. But the festival does come with a star-studded lineup that includes Def Leopard, The Darkness, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, The Cult, Children of Bodom, and Linkin Park.
The legendary heavy metal festival Wacken Open Air begins August 4 and will be held in Wacken, Germany. Last year’s W:O:A attracted more than 80,000 fans and is estimated to attract even more in 2011. The festival itself is three days long, and fans usually camp out on festival grounds. Bands playing Wacken this year include Airbourne, Apocalyptica, Dir en grey, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Sepultura, Motorhead, and Suicidal Tendencies.
If you are looking for something more local, the HFStival may be the event for you. The festival is known for showcasing local bands from D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. This year’s lineup of major label artists includes Flogging Molly, Dr.Dog, The Avett Brothers, Clutch, Gin Blossoms, Minus the Bear, and Diane Birch.
Music festivals are a summer time staple and it gives bands a great chance to bring their music to their fans. So buy your tickets, pack your sun screen, and prepare for the time of your like at any of these summers festivals.