Forget Bonnaroo! 10 Off-the-Radar Music Festivals to See This Summer
By Ross Scarano | May 2, 2011 | 12:05 pm | Permalink
Soundset
WHEN: May 29
WHERE: Canterbury Park, Minn.
TICKETS
We're breaking our promise to ignore niche festivals. Since Soundset's niche is our niche, we've got to say some kind things about this all hip-hop festival sponsored by Rhymesayers. For Soundset's fourth year they've assembled quite the roster: Big Boi, De La Soul, Slaughterhouse, Curren$y, and many more. Looks like you just found a reason to visit Minnesota that doesn't involve a pilgrimage to Prince's boyhood home.
For a complete list of bands, click here.
Mike May 2nd, 2011 at 01:11 PM
MILE HIGH MUSIC FESTIVAL!!! HOW CAN YOU FORGET THAT
chad shearer May 2nd, 2011 at 03:38 PM
Thanks for including Camp Bisco. We just made our second round announcement and curated label showcase tents. It's going to be an exciting year for the festival. Chad Shearer Camp Bisco Festival Publicist.
Matt May 2nd, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Off the radar? Only about half of these would qualify as that. Definitely a lot of good festivals listed, but trying to play these against the big 3 is unnecessary and childish. Why take a shot at any of the three for one thing, like Coachella's heat, when some of these offer about the same level of heat/exhaustion. To ignore that without the big 3, especially Bonnaroo, there would be no market for any of the 10 you listed (or any other big festivals in the US) is simply selecting your facts to fit your premise. There is plenty of room for people to enjoy multiple festivals, both large and small. I've been to many festivals, from camping ones to downtown ones, and will be attending 3 or 4 this summer as well, and I assure you that hating on a festival because of it's size is just stupid. Large festivals and small ones each offer something different, and it's important to have both. Also, Outside Lands is not a "start-up festival" (as you said), it's run by the same people who run Bonnaroo. I apologize for attacking you, but you attacked large festivals for no reason. I really do appreciate the advertisement you offer for smaller festivals. Music festivals of all sizes are possibly my favorite part of the summer, and the more they get popularized by articles like this, the better. So I thank you for advertising for them, but I think it could do without the negativity.
Frank Bombaci May 3rd, 2011 at 12:50 PM
B.O.M.B. Fest! Weezer, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Kahlifa, Coheed & Cambria, Edward Sharpe, Best Coast, Waves New Pornographers, Neon Trees, Titus Andronicus, The Cool Kids, Shpongle! best under the radar festival !
bbuckner May 3rd, 2011 at 01:35 PM
How can you leave out the KOTA HIP HOP FESTIVAL in Akron, OH?
Ross S May 3rd, 2011 at 01:52 PM
"Author here." It's exciting to see readers engaging with the list in this way. Putting this list together, I understood that things would be left off; I hope that the readers can appreciate that as well. Internet content like this is more about beginning a conversation than offering a last word on any subject. So every time someone looks at these comments, they might learn about some other quality festival that this initial list failed to mention. For instance, B.O.M.B. has a great lineup. Now, with regards to Matt's comments—I was unaware that Superfly ran both Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. This makes you correct, Outside Lands isn't an underdog. Still, it's a young festival bringing quality music to the West coast. So I'm not mad at it. Likewise, I wouldn't want anyone to be mad at a harmless dig at Coachella. Coachella is a fantastic festival (have you seen the footage of Kanye's performances?). But this is an Internet list; little digs and jokes are ubiquitous, part of the form. This list isn't an academic study of music festivals across the continent, nor was it meant to be. This is a list of music festivals that aren't Bonnaroo, Coachella, or Lollapalooza that might appeal to Complex's readership.
Chaka May 3rd, 2011 at 03:36 PM
Don't forget your Earlove hi-fi earplugs!
Janice Second May 4th, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Hey Matt, not everyone likes the super huge mega festival. Around 60,000-80,000 people attend Coachella and Bonnaroo. Also, while they typically have good line ups and passes range from $200-400 bucks, both are expensive to travel to since they're not in the most convenient locations. Coachella-- getting to Indio, staying in a hotel, getting from the hotel to the festival and back every day, that stuff adds up. Also, there isn't shit in Manchester, TN. At Sasquatch and Hopscotch and Rock the Garden, you can expect attendance to be in the 20,000-35,000 range. Much smaller and manageable and pleasant, in my opinion. Plus, passes to those festivals tend to be cheaper. I think you overreacted a bit about the negativity in the article... "childish"? It's just an internet list dude. You're reaction was like they insulted your family or something.