The Best Music Festivals of all Time

Today we are going to look at probably one of the most debated topic in the music world: which music festival did it the best? There are hundreds and hundreds of factors that play into deciding which festival came out on top but year after year we see a theme of the same festivals at the top. We are going to look at those staple festivals, the reasons why they’re on top year after year and festivals that are making their way up to the top consistently. As an avid festival goer for about 8 years, I will also provide my insight on the factors that make a festival an overall unreal experience because that is what it’s all about – memories.

Obviously it is hard to say any one festival is the overall best festival in the world solely because each festival is directed at different scenes. The festivals that incorporate multiple genres, acts, and diversity of experience are the festivals that continue to make there way to the top of the charts. When someone mentions music festivals, names like Coachella, EDC, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Burning Man, Austin City Limits, Governors Ball, etc. seem to always come to mind. These are big name festivals that have been around for quite sometime, who continue to put on big name acts from all genres. The main reason attendees go to festivals is clear: music. What really makes a festival great is the combination of multiple factors on how the festival is put on.

Let’s start with what the world, me included, agree on what festivals are at the top of the charts and why.

Lollapalooza: Marking its 25^th anniversary this year, Lollapalooza is known as one of the best music festivals in the world at the home of Chicago, IL. Attendees travel from all across the globe to witness the 3-day (this year 4-day) experience with the Chicago skyline in the background, which creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Fortunately for me the festival is only about a 35-minute train ride, which has allowed me to attend 4 times with out much hassle. Lollapalooza is held in 5 other countries: Brazil, Germany, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. The main reason Lolla has managed to stay at the top of the list is solely because of the music. The curators put a great deal of effort into picking a wide variety of 170 artists to play on their 8 stages that stretch miles across Grant Park. With some of the best and biggest names that continue to headline the festival, they have a true knack for finding artists on the rise to fill the undercard, which is something that we love to see here at RisingMusicTalent.  Alongside some of the best names in music, Lolla makes an effort to show their culture side with an incredible art market on display. It is an all age festival, and as a result you will see people ranging from babies to parents and

everything in between with music and activities that are focused on all. This year Lollapalooza has one of the best lineups they have ever had, in fact probably the best of all festivals I have ever seen period.

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TomorowLand: Known as the most magical and surreal experience in music festivals, TomorrowLand is held in Brazil, Belgium and USA. Belgium is where the original festival took place and is still the home of the most incredible experience one can indure. I like to compare the festival to an experience a child would receive from going to Disney. The festival has not only the biggest names in EDM but has just about every single EDM artist that is somewhat relevant performing. The festival has a camping arrangement, known as Dreamville, that truly sets the festival apart from any other. It is a way the attendees to truly escape reality for five days and live in a fairy tale. 38,000 visitors from 200 different nationalities come together and unite as one all as a result of music. Dreamville has a marketplace with food around the world, jewelry stores and make up salons where attendees can make new friends from all over the world.

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Coachella: The festival dating back to 1999 is known for its unbelievable music acts from all genres and a strong focus on the culture of arts. Coachella is hled in Indio, California where the artists play two weekends in a row that gives attendees two options to attend based on their personal schedules. LCD Soundsystem, Guns N’ Roses and Calvin Harris will be the headliners for this years festival in April. At the festival they include theme park rides, the best food around and the biggest names in music that all play into the incredible experience. Although I have never attended, this festival has been on top of my list since day 1 and I’m sure a lot of you feel the same.

Tickets (sold out): Click Here

Every attendee makes the move to festivals for one reason: music. It is clear to be considered one the best festivals they need to put the best in the industry on the lineup. The experience is a combination of the music, the culture, the food, the activities, etc. that are all available to every attendee that usually do not get an opportunity to be involved in such a creative atmosphere. I believe it is the idea of creating a surreal experience where attendees can escape reality and truly express who they are with out worries. Another factor that is important with festivals is the crowd attending. All age festivals appeal to everyone while 18+/21+ festivals have different motives. There are pros and cons to both. The festivals above have all perfected the market they appeal to and continue to innovate the festival to make it better and better every year. All of these festivals are able to sell out tickets BEFORE they announce what artists will be playing. This is because they have created a positive stigma and fan base whom truly believe they are the best at what they do and no matter what, they will put together an all around incredible experience.

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