Chris Clark a University of Idaho audio engineering student said the best part of music festivals is the volume of artists at a single venue.
“I get to see 15 to 20 of my favorite bands, in one place, in one day,” Clark said. “(Vans) Warped Tour is in the middle of the summer, and it’s big enough that everyone plans for it. You can go and hang out, have fun, relax and listen to great music.”
Ticket prices can be high, but divide the total cost by the number of bands you are going to see and they become incredibly economical. Here are a few to check out — they range from $12.50 to $400, and from 50 miles from Moscow to 2,500.
CALIFORNIA
Outside Lands
Golden Gate Park, San Fransisco, Calif.
Aug. 10 to 12
The San Francisco Chronicle said the festival is more than a rock concert.
“It’s an all-encompassing concert — a miniature city that rises in the middle of the park that bustles with great local food, beautiful people and non-stop music from every imaginable genre on about a half dozen stages,” The Chronicle said.
Samantha James Enea, UI freshman and biology major, said it was the best concert she’s been to.
“The overall vibe … was perfect. Everyone is relaxed and focused on having a good time,” Enea said.
Enea said tickets were pricey, but very worth it.
Price: $225 general admission, $495 VIP
Lineup: for fans of City and Colour, Santigold and Metallica.
Distance from UI: 897 miles, 16 hours 22 minutes
TENNESSEE
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Great Stage Park, Manchester, Tenn.
June 7 to 10
If you can find a way to Tennesse, Bonnaroo is a great musical festival.
“Bonnaroo was one of the best weekends of my life,” said Spyder Turco, an exercise science and health major.
Turco said music festivals are an awesome way to make memories that last a lifetime.
“People don’t realize how great they (music festivals) are until they experience them. You have to go into it open minded.”
Price: $259.50 general, $1399.50 2 VIP
Lineup: for fans of Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yelawolf.
Distance from UI: approximately 2,300 miles
WASHINGTON
Sasquatch! Music Festival
Gorge Ampitheatre, George, Wash.
May 25 to 28
“It’s a really good experience,” said sophomore Stephanie Turner. “I saw Macklemore, Skrillex, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and there were also a bunch of bands that I hadn’t heard of, which was fun.”
Rachel Livieratos, also a sophomoresmore, said the location of the festival was incredible.
“I love the Gorge, I think the location is probably the best part of the festival,” Livieratos said.
Price: $315 general
Lineup: for fans of STRFKR, Metric and Beck.
Distance from UI: 147 miles, 3 hours 11 minutes
Van’s Warped Tour
June 16 to Aug. 5
Clark has been to Van’s Warped Tour several times.
“Last year, I went to Warped Tour at the Gorge Ampitheatre, which is in George, Wash. I camped the night before — the camping is pretty crazy, it’s pretty hectic and crazy,” Clark said.
Warped Tour hosts a wide variety of music styles.
“It’s a huge festival, the turnout at the Gorge is … like, thousands of people. They have alternative, ska, reggae, rap,” he said. “They have more classic bands, too, like Bowling for Soup and stuff like that. They really try to appeal to everyone.”
Price: $35
Lineup: for fans of Rise against, Yellowcard and We the Kings
Distance from UI: 290 miles, 5 hours 21 minutes*
*This year, the Van’s Warped Tour will hit King County’s Marymoor Park Aug. 5 in Redmond, Wash.
Rockstar Mayhem Festival
June 30 to Aug. 5
Rockstar Mayhem Festival focuses on hardcore and metal genres.
“With more pop-y music everyone just kinds of goes and keeps to themselves. I have met a lot of good friends at metal shows,” Clark said.
When you’re in the middle of the mosh pit at the Mayhem festival, stuck in the eye of the fist-throwing storm, people tend to be friendlier, Clark said.
“People are more interactive. At metal shows, there is a big sense of family, and community,” Clark said. The Rockstar Mayhem Festival will be held at the White River Ampitheatre.
Price: $49.50
Lineup: for fans of Slipknot, Slayer and Anthrax.
Distance from UI to Auburn, Wash.: 296 miles, 5 hours 25 minutes
ILLINOIS
Lollapalooza
Grant Park, Chicago, Ill.
Aug. 3 to 5
Will Drier attended Lollapalooza in 2010.
“There were people everywhere, it was fun,” Drier said.
Lollapalooza is situated in downtown Chicago, so dining options abound.
“Food is good — you are in Chicago, so you have options. It was pretty awesome,” Drier said.
Also consider that Chicago has an average summer temperature of 80 degrees.
Price: $285
Lineup: for fans of Jack White, Neon Indian and the Dum Dum Girls.
Distance from UI:
1839 miles, 1 day 5 hours
IDAHO
National Old Time Fiddler’s Contest
Contest at Weiser HS, Weiser, Idaho
Camping at Fiddletown Campground, Weiser, Idaho
June 18 to 23
National Old Time Fiddler’s contest may be the least expensive music festival ever, at a cost of $2.50 per day.
Jen Emerson, a senior in environmental science, said the festival has much more than fiddlers.
“They have a fair set up, and they have vendors everywhere. Vendors are really good,” Emerson said.
They also have two kinds of camping. You can choose regular, run-of-the-mill sites or camp with the performers.
“They have a music camp, where the performers stay. You can walk around and hear everyone practicing,” Emerson said.
Price: $12.50 for the week
Lineup: fiddlers only (though all ages compete)
Distance from UI: 253 miles, 4 hours 52 minutes
Esthetic Evolution
Twin Springs, Idaho
June 22 to 2
Celeste Otero, a secondary education major, attended the Esthetic Evolution festival last year.
“They have themes every year, it’s really cool. Last year’s theme was the seven shakras, because it was the seventh year the festival had been held. This year is infinity themed, because it is the eighth year,” Otero said.
Otero said Esthetic Evolution is very concerned with reducing environmental impact, so everyone that camps is required to leave no trace.
“It’s quaint, it’s small,” Otero said.
You have to bring your own food, Otero said, but “they have a free tea tent.”
Price: $85
Lineup: for fans of techno, like Dopamine, Ziggy D and Rhines.
Distance from UI: 50 miles
Nicole Lichtenberg can be reached at [email protected]
CUTLINE: illustration by erin dawson