If you’re a music festival junkie, we’re sure you’ve heard of Coachella, the mother of all music festivals that takes place in the sweltering deserts of Indio, CA. And you’re probably also familiar with Washington’s chilled-out Sasquatch Festival which, in addition to great music, offers some of the most spectacular sunset views imaginable.
But now that summer is coming to an end, does that mean music festival season is over? Not quite!
There are several fall music festivals that are worth putting on your radar. If you’re looking for something new (and a tad less over-hyped), you’ll want to check out these five lesser-known fall 2015 music festivals happening across the globe.
1. The Social Festival
Headliners:
Richie Hawtin, Seth Troxler, Jackmaster, Jamie Jones, Marco Carola, Monika Kruse, Joris Voorn, Nic Fanciulli.
Location:
Kent, UK
Dates:
September 12, 2015
Price:
£45 for single ticket
Only an hour away from London, this boutique music festival provides a more intimate feel than most mega festivals are able to accomplish. It’s more than possible to be less than 10 feet away from your favorite artist rather than stuck 100 rows back. And let’s be real - when you‘re paying to see live music, it’s always better when you can actually, ahem, see the artist.
The Social Festival has been partnering with the local area of Kent to cook up some locally produced food (because nothing goes better with good music than good food). And the entertainment at this festival goes far beyond the musical acts. There are also fair rides and market stalls to keep you busy in between sets!
2. Life is Beautiful
Headliners:
Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Duran Duran, Hozier, Weezer, Major Lazer, Death Cab for Cutie, Brandon Flowers, Kygo
Location:
Las Vegas
Dates:
September 25-27, 2015
Price:
$255 for 3-day general admission
Held in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, Life is Beautiful features some of the biggest chart-topping musical acts out there (hello, Stevie Wonder and Imagine Dragons !). The festival is spread over 11 city blocks and boasts four massive stages, so you can bet it’s going to be a party. But the killer lineup isn’t all that this music festival has to offer. Foodies, rejoice! The Culinary Village offers tasty dishes from some of the country’s top chefs and local hot-spots. And if you’re feeling thirsty, Alchemy Garden serves up craft cocktails, wines and beers
Great tunes and great food are all pretty standard when it comes to popular music festivals, but what makes this one truly unique is The Learning Series, which spotlights social innovators, business leaders, activists, technologists and artists who each share their inspirational journey to living a beautiful life.
3. Landmark Music Festival
Headliners:
Drake, The Strokes, alt-J, CHVRCHES, Ben Howard, Chromeo, Band of Horses, Miguel, The War on Drugs, TV on the Radio, George Ezra
Location:
Washington, D.C.
Dates:
September 26-27, 2015
Price:
$200 for 2-day regular admission
Landmark Music Festival, which takes place at West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., is part of a national campaign to raise awareness and funds to help restore the National Mall. Talk about a music festival with a cause!
So, while you’re rocking out to The Strokes, you can feel good about contributing to the restoration of the National Mall, which hasn’t seen a major renovation in 40 years.
4. Austin City Limits
Headliners:
Foo Fighters, Drake, The Strokes, Florence + the Machine, The Weeknd, Disclosure, DeadMau5, Bassnectar, alt-J, Hozier
Location:
Austin, TX
Dates:
October 2-4, 2015 (weekend one) and October 9-11, 2015 (weekend two)
Price:
$250 for 3-day general admission
Austin City Limits (or ACL) is one of the biggest attractions that Austin, Texas, has to offer, and will take place over two different weekends this year. The festival features an eclectic lineup of more than 140 different bands and eight different stages.
It’s worth noting that most bands will perform both weekends, with the exception of the Strokes and Alabama Shakes (weekend one only), and Florence + the Machine and Modest Mouse (weekend two only).
5. Treasure Island
Headliners:
The National, DeadMau5, Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique, CHVRCHES, The War on Drugs, Azealia Banks, Father John Misty STS9, Run the Jewels, Panda Bear, Gorgon City
Location:
San Francisco
Dates:
October 17-18, 2015
Price:
$169.50 for 2-day general admission
If you’re looking for a more intimate music festival experience, Treasure Island Music Festival (TIMF) is the one for you. With a 15,000 person max capacity venue, it’s one of the smaller music festivals out there — meaning less crowds and more quality time with your favorite artists.
Ask any regular festival-goer and you’ll hear that the worst part about music festivals is when your two favorite artists have overlapping set times. The great thing about TIMF is that it’s a simple two-stage set-up. When one act ends on the Bridge Stage, just head on over to Tunnel Stage to see the next band perform. You won’t have to miss a single note.
6. Pitchfork Music Festival Paris
Headliners:
Beach House, Björk, Deerhunter, Ratatat, Run the Jewels
Location:
Paris, France
Dates:
October 29-31, 2015
Price:
€120 for 3-day general admission
An awesome place to hear all of your favorite music genres, from techno, to house music, rock, and even acoustic pop, the Paris Pitchfork Music Festival will leave all of your musical cravings satisfied. This festival features a diverse lineup of artists from around the world that are independent and underground. The European counterpart to the Chicago magazine, Pitchfork Paris stays true to the magazine’s selective and critical taste in music with the artists it has chosen to bring to the stage.
The festival is housed in the Grande Halle de la Villette, a former slaughterhouse that has since transformed into a cultural center. So come, be cultured and refine your musical palette in one of the most historic parts of Paris.
7. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Headliners:
Florence + the Machine, Jack Ü, Modest Mouse, Alesso, Girl Talk, Ozzy Osbourne (featuring Geezer Butler, Tom Morello and Slash), Jane’s Addiction, Santigold, Zac Brown Band, deadmau5
Location:
New Orleans
Dates:
October 30 – November 1, 2015
Price:
$195 for 3-day general admission
Combine America’s most haunted city and some killer tunes, and you’ve got yourself the perfect Halloween weekend. Voodoo Fest truly channels the unique culture and spooky vibes of New Orleans. The music festival offers three different stages: Le Carnival — a performance art space that features indie music as well as underground burlesque and circus acts; Le Flambeau — an area devoted to the local music scene; and Le Ritual — the stage that features national-level headliners and mainstream acts.
It goes without saying that you’ll want a Halloween costume for this event. Get ready for lots of spontaneous street parades! This city never sleeps.