Summer Music Festival Guide

Summer is officially upon us and there’s no shortage of music festivals in the Bay Area and within a short drive. Eclectic lineups include some of the biggest names in music, along with emerging acts and local favorites.

Burger Boogaloo
The 5th annual Burger Boogaloo is coming to Mosswood Park in Oakland for two days of debauchery. The Fullerton based and highly admired independent label is hosting perhaps its strongest lineup while still maintaining an affordable ticket prices. Notable Acts this year include Ronnie Spector, Milk N’ Cookies, Reigning Sound and Thee Oh Sees.

Northern Lights Music Festival
This new festival dubbed is back for its second year with three days of great DJs and music acts on four stages on the boarder of Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. The festival site along the Eel River also includes a swimming hole, camping, yoga, standup comedy and a late-night Silent Frisco party. Craft Beers and wines and all organic foods are also offered on-site. Performers include Beats Antique, Zion I, Justin Martin, Odesza, Giraffage and many more.

Reggae on the River
After legal wrangling forced major changes at the festival, it appears Reggae on the River is regaining its footing as it returns for its 30th anniversary in Humboldt County. The festival brings some of the world’s most renown reggae artists, including Jimmy Cliff, Alpha Blondie, Gentleman, Iration, Israel Vibrations and Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang.

Outside Lands
Held in Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands is rivaled only by Coachella as the top festival in California. This year’s lineup once again does a great job of recruiting some of the best performers in hip-hop, electronic music and indie rock without, along with great food selections from local restaurants and more. Kanye West, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Killers, Tiesto and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are among the acts performing this year.

FYF Fest
Yeah it’s in Los Angeles, but it might be worth the trip to see some great bands of the last three decades. Held at the LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park, an eclectic lineup should appease all likes of music fans, from hipsters to hip hop heads to 90s enthusiasts. Notable Performers: The Strokes, Phoenix, Interpol, Grimes and Flying Lotus.

First City Festival
Monterrey’s First City Festival returns for its second year with Beck, The National, Phanotgram, Best Coast and many more.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
The biggest free festival in San Francisco has not yet released any rumors to whom is playing this year, but we’re not worried, they never fail to impress. With last years performers including Devil Makes Three, Bonnie Rait, Calexico, Gogol Bordello, and Chris Issak, to name a few, this year should be comparable with some of today’s best folk ridden talent.

Treasure Island Music Festival
The summer concert season ends well into fall as Treasure Island Music Festival reruns for two days with with Outkast, Massive Attack, TV on The Radio and several other acts.

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