Whether you’re a festival veteran or you are going to your first one, it is important to be more than prepared. Here are some tips to get you through the long, fun day.

Drink a lot of water before you go

It important to stay hydrated, and that is before you even get to the festival grounds. Drink a lot of water for a few days before the actual festival to be prepared.

Only bring the essentials

Theft can happen. Also, you will be out all day and don’t want to be carrying a heavy load. Only bring what you need for the day

• Sealed water bottles, but also a refillable water bottle, preferably one you wear on the wrist.
• Bring a packable raincoat or poncho
• Wetwipes and hand sanitizer-The porta potties will run out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer before the end of the night. Avoid these awkward moments by bring your own backup.
• Phone charger-Your battery dies quicker because it is going to be constantly searching for services in the crowded area. Have a portable charger that can at least charge your phone once.
• ID, $20 cash and Debit/Credit Card-Some things are cash only, but you don’t want too much that you lose something you can’t replace.

When buying merchandise, opt for the sweatshirt

You probably aren’t going to wear a t-shirt again; the sizing is weird and sometimes logos don’t integrate well into your wardrobe. You can wear a sweatshirt during the cool night sets, and you’re most likely to wear a sweatshirt to lounge around or keep cozy for quite some time after the festival.

Have paper schedule or screenshot on phone

While most festivals have an app, it will be hard to check during the festival do the the bad service. Screenshot the schedule and have it as your phone background, or carry around the paper schedule

For a big show, head over early

For huge acts, some people will be camping near the stage all day. Head over 30 minutes before for a good view

For the best view, side of stage or back of the crowd are the best places

A lot of people will be front and center, but the side of the stage will be less crowded and you could be relatively close to the stage. Another great view is in the back. You can see the whole stage, the screen and it is less crowded.

Do you have any tips to have a successful festival experience?

Lollapalooza caught a lot of flack this year by not having any female headliners (the first female’s name, St. Vincent, doesn’t appear until the fourth line of the poster). However, while many people will flock to see female acts like Camila Cabello and Dua Lipa, there are some other female acts further down the poster that should definitely be checked out.

Sabrina Claudio

I spoke about Sabrina Claudio earlier in Acts Should Do A Lollapalooza After Show. I think she is going to be one of those acts that will be big and you wish you were at her Lolla set before other’s put you on to her. This is probably one of the sets I’m most excited for.

Lykke Li

Okay, I admit I’m not super cool and I first heard about Lykke Li after Drake sampled her on “Little Bit” on So Far Gone. But I have since heard other songs from her and I think she will have an edgy set that will differentiate herself from a lot of the pop and rock acts that are playing the festival.

Alina Baraz

I had only heard of Alina Baraz after someone told me that they were excited to see her at Lolla. After checking her out, she’s definitely the brand of drowsy, moody R&B that I love and will be great for chilling during an afternoon set.

Jessie Reyez

Jessie Reyez is one of the unsung heroes in the music industry; she cowrote many of the songs on Calvin Harris’ “Funk Wav Bounces Vol 1.” I loved her solo song “Hard To Love” that closed out the album, so I’m very much looking forward to her set.

 

Lollapalooza released its lineup for the 2018 festival. While many are complaining about the high price of the ticket, which usually sell out before the line-up is announced (not this year though), you can still get your Lolla fix for a cheaper cost with their after shows around the city. Below are five acts that would be a great fit for an after show.

Sabrina Claudio

Her brand of R&B and sultry voice would be a great fit or a smaller venue at night. The acoustic version of “Tell Me” shows an intimate set would be fantastic. Also, her only previous tour was being an opening act for 6lack’s “Free 6lack” tour.

Both of her projects “Confidently Lost” and About Time, shows me that I would love to vibe out at an after show starring her.

Khalid

I know his set is going to be so crowded and full of people who just want to listen to “Location.” But can we have an intimate set with the full album and all his features and moan about exes and star crossed loves?

Zedd

Special request: Silent disco with Zedd. In air-conditioning. 21+ so know suburban high-school kids tripping on drugs.

Daniel Caesar

I feel like his set will be a very chill vibe, which would be great during the day at Lolla, but also a way to turn down after a long day at the festival.

Goldlink

I think Goldlink would be a great late night set to party to, maybe on a Thursday or earlier in the week while energy is still high.

In celebration of Lollapalooza tickets going sale today, there was a Lolla Train going along the Orange line track this afternoon in Chicago. Lollapolooza tweeted that the train might offer clues who will be on this year’s lineup, which has yet to be release. Tweets from Lolla Train riders said artists that were being played included:

Bruno Mars

Cardi B

Brockhampton

Zedd

Playboi Carti

Nav

Bebe Rexha

Lil Pump

Quinn XCII

Vampire Weekend

Tyler The Creator

Walk The Moon

Rex Orange County

CHUVCHES

Portugal. The Man

Superorganism

Cuco

Pale Waves

R.LUM.R

Twitter user @nicoleeooo made this playlist below of songs that were played during the train ride.

Does this make you more excited about Lollapalooza? Have you bought tickets yet or waiting for the official lineup?

Pitchfork Music Festival released its first wave of performers for its lineup for the 2018 Chicago festival. As they did last year, Pitchfork painted the lineup on a mural in Chicago. So far, only one of the headliners has been announced, Tame Impala on Friday. Other performers include DRAM and Chicago’s Ravyn Lenae.

You can see the lineup so far below, and also the live video of the painting of the video.

Friday, July 20:

Tame Impala
Julien Baker
Lucy Dacus
Melkbelly
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society

Saturday, July 21:

Raphael Saadiq
This Is Not This Heat
Kelela

Sunday, July 22:

DRAM
Kelly Lee Owens
Irreversible Entanglements
(Sandy) Alex G
Japandroids
Ravyn Lenae

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPitchfork%2Fvideos%2F10156037818056000%2F&show_text=0&width=560

The very anticipated line-up for Rolling Loud Miami was just released, and I have to say it was not overhyped at all. Every act I am willing to see, even acts that I haven’t heard before because hip-hop is definitely my wheel house. I also feel like I would discover a lot of new music here.

Acts that I for sure would want to check out each day are:

Friday: J. Cole, N.E.R.D., Young Thug, Jaden Smith, Juvenile, Smino

Saturday: Travis Scott, Migos, Wiz Khalifa, Cardi B, Gucci Mane, Metro Boomin, Fetty Wap,

Sunday: Future, Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, Juicy J, Machine Gun Kelly

Friday is the best night in my opinion. I’ve said several times I’m a fan of Smino and he puts on a great show. I’m very curious on a Jaden Smith show and what Juvenile will bring to the stage.

Tickets go on sale February 2 here. Prices have yet to be announced.

 

Festival line up announcement season continues with New York’s Panorama throwing themselves into the mix.  Here are the acts that I would like to see:

Friday: The Weeknd, Migos, Jhene Aiko, Daniel Caesar

Saturday: Janet Jackson, SZA, Cardi B, Gucci Mane

Sunday: The XX

There aren’t a lot of acts that I want to see at this festival, but the ones I want to see, I would be really excited to see.  The Weeknd headlining yet another festival makes me think he is definitely releasing new music soon. Janet Jackson is an interesting pick, but I enjoy the fact that the festival is taking a risk.

Tickets are discounted until February 3, but then they will be $125 for a one day, $215 for a two day, and $295 for a three day. You can get them here.

 

 

Essence just announced its 2018 lineup for its annual festival in New Orleans, and I can’t help but think it is finally the chance to have my own version of “Girls Trip,” minus the cringeworthy moments.

You can see the full line up for the event here but my must-sees are: Janet Jackson, Mary J Blige, Miguel, Snoop Dogg, Xscape, Blackstreet, Fantasia, DVSN, Daniel Caesar, 112, The Read.

I’ve seen Mary and Miguel live before and they are great. Mary definitely still has her power vocals and who wouldn’t want to hear “Family Affair” live? Miguel always brings his album to life in this crazy, sonic musical journey way so seeing him do that with War and Leisure and older hits would be great.

For great throwbacks, Janet, Snoop, 112, Blackstreet and Xscape are all excellent options.  They all have a vast catalog that I would love to see live and I hope it means that all of them will be releasing new music soon, or at least touring.

DVSN and Daniel Caesar are two new acts that I would love to see live. Both of their versions of R&B are so unique it would be great to experience it in concert.

The Read is a podcast that I’m obsessed with and have been wanting to see a live show, so I think its amazing that the festival is adding this in this year.

A free event that I think is definitely worth checking out is the Entertainment All Access Daytime Experience. With the interviews and the meet-and-greets, I think it would a cool way to see celebrities that you love.

You can get tickets here now and check out a playlist for the festival below.

TDE just announced a summer tour featuring most of the artists of TDE.  This is a pretty incredible line up; most music collaborators don’t go on tour together, so this will be a pretty unique concert opportunity.

Below are the tour dates and locations.  As you notice, the Chicago date in in June, and since Lollapalooza has a clause that artists can’t have other concerts in the area for a couple months around that time Lollapalooza is happening, its seems like Kendrick, SZA and other TDE will not be apart of the lineup.

Are you going to any of the shows?

 

TDE 2018 TOUR DATES:

DATE	CITY	VENUE
Fri-May 04	Vancouver, BC*	Rogers Arena
Sat-May 05	Seattle, WA	White River Amphitheatre
Sun-May 06	Portland, OR	Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
Tue-May 08	Oakland, CA*	Oracle Arena
Thu-May 10	Los Angeles, CA*	The Forum
Sun-May 13	San Diego, CA	Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Mon-May 14	Phoenix, AZ	Ak-Chin Pavilion
Tue-May 15	Albuquerque, NM	Isleta Amphitheater
Thu-May 17	Dallas, TX	Starplex Pavilion
Fri-May 18	Austin, TX	Austin360 Amphitheater
Sat-May 19	Houston, TX	The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman
Tue-May 22	Tampa, FL	MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Wed-May 23	West Palm Beach, FL	Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Fri-May 25	Atlanta, GA	Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Sat-May 26	Raleigh, NC	Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sun-May 27	Virginia Beach, VA	Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Tue-May 29	New York, NY*	Madison Square Garden
Wed-May 30	Wantagh, NY	Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Fri-Jun 01	Bristow, VA (DC)	Jiffy Lube Live
Sat-Jun 02	Hershey, PA	Hersheypark Stadium
Sun-Jun 03	Buffalo, NY	Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Tue-Jun 05	Boston, MA	Xfinity Center
Thu-Jun 07	Hartford, CT	XFINITY Theatre
Fri-Jun 08	Philadelphia, PA	BB&T Pavilion
Sat-Jun 09	Saratoga Springs, NY	Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Tue-Jun 12	Toronto, ON*	Budweiser Stage
Wed-Jun 13	Detroit, MI*	DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri-Jun 15	Chicago, IL	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat-Jun 16	Pittsburgh, PA	KeyBank Pavilion

Acts to go see: Eminem, Future, Bob Iver, Paramore, Anderson .Paak, Khalid, Playboi Carti, T-Pain, Snakehips, Knox Fortune.

Another day, another festival line up. I guess this is what Januarys are made of.  Eminem is making another appearance, so at this point, expect to see him at the majority of festivals.  I’m actually most excited to see Anderson. Paak make a festival apperance and I hope he will be at more.  I saw him at Pitchfork back in 2016 and he was incredible. I have only heard about him in passing, but after seeing him live I became a huge fan.

We are also seeing a lot of repeat acts, including Eminem (obviously), Snakehips, Khalid and Knox Fortune.

Check out a playlist for Boonaroo below.