6 Summer Music Festivals Worth Traveling For
One telltale sign that summer's in full swing is when music festival season kicks off. Get ready to follow your favorite acts from stages in Somerset, England, to Manchester, Tennessee, whether that means you're camping out at farms in the middle of nowhere or dancing the night away on the beach. To get you in full festival mode, we've narrowed down the seemingly endless list of events happening around the globe, highlighting six of the ones you won't want to miss this year.
1. Glastonbury Festival
Set on the 900-acre Worthy Farm in Somerset in southwestern England, Glastonbury is seen by many as the modern-day Woodstock. With more than 800 acts playing on 80 different stages, the festival brings the best in the biz, from pop stars like Katy Perry to rock legends like Radiohead. Camping fields are included in your ticket price, so pitch a tent — or Tipi if you managed to score one before they sold out — and get ready for the five-day non-stop party.
Dates: June 21-25
Headliners: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, The Flaming Lips, Haim
Ticket Cost: Full weekend tickets are £238 (~$304), plus a £5 (~$6) booking fee
VIP Access: Not applicable
2. Primavera Sound
Now in its 17th year, Barcelona's Primavera Sound will bring more than 200 acts — from punk band Descendents to the legendary Grace Jones — to this five-day indie and electronic festival that’s one of the largest in Europe.
Dates: May 31-June 4
Headliners: Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, The xx, Slayer, Solange, Van Morrison
Ticket Cost: Full festival tickets are already sold out, but you can buy a day ticket for Thursday for 80 euros (~$86)
VIP Access: Sold Out
3. Hangout Music Festival
Half of Hangout’s allure is its beachside locale, set on the sand in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Think of this as a grown-up version of summer vacation, complete with oceanside condo stays and dancing on the beach to a top-notch lineup that gets better every year.
Dates: May 19-21
Headliners: Mumford & Sons, MGMT, Major Lazer, Weezer, Chance the Rapper, Frank Ocean
Ticket Cost: $309 for a general admission wristband
VIP Access: Tickets start at $1,099 and include access to the Thursday kick-off party, stage-side pool and food and drinks all weekend long. If you really want to go all out, Super VIP tickets are $1,599 and include gourmet fare and hot tubs with prime views of main stage acts.
4. The Governors Ball Music Festival
The best part about this music fest is how convenient it is to reach. Set on Randall’s Island in New York City, the three-day event is perfect for those who can’t make it to larger festivals across the States — or who aren’t big on camping — but still want to catch big-name acts like Flume and Phoenix.
Dates: June 2-4
Headliners: Phoenix, Flume, Lorde, Childish Gambino, Air, Wiz Khalifa
Ticket Cost: $125 per day or $335 for a three-day pass
VIP Access: $285 per day or $740 for a regular three-day VIP pass; VIP Plus is sold out
5. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Crowds of up to 80,000 make their way to the farm in Manchester, Tennessee, each June for four days of music, art, comedy and camping. Catch 150 performances from heavy hitters like U2 spread across 10 different stages, with music that plays on until sunrise.
Dates: June 8-11
Headliners: U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper
Ticket Cost: From $349.50 for a four-day pass or $210.50 for a one-day ticket, which includes a Nashville shuttle pass
VIP Access: From $1,648.50 for a pair of two VIP tickets
6. Lollapalooza
As if you needed another reason to visit Chicago, Lollapalooza's not a bad one. The four-day festival in the center of the city brings together more than 170 bands from across the globe, as well as some of the Windy City's best eats.
Dates: August 3-6
Headliners: Muse, Arcade Fire, The xx, The Killers, The Shins, Blink-182
Ticket Cost: Sold Out
VIP Access: From $650 for one day or $2,200 for all four days
Which music festivals are on your summer travel bucket list? Tell us about your favorites, below.
Featured image courtesy of Lollapalooza's Facebook page.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.