The Best Music Festival Lineups of 2019
While we are still waiting on a few huge music fests to drop their lineups (Austin City Limits, Hulaween, Lost Lands), a vast majority of them have released their 2019 lineups. We did a list of the best festival lineups of 2019 back in December, but there were still a ton of fests that had yet to announce theirs. This new and updated list is broken down into a few different categories, including Best Rock Festival Lineup, Best Regional Festival Lineup, Best Major Festival Lineup, Dirtiest EDM Festival Lineup, Jammiest Jam Festival Lineup, and a few more. So without further any further ado, here are the best music festival lineups in the United States for 2019.
Best Heavy Rock Festival – Sonic Temple
Sonic Temple is a brand new music festival happening in Columbus, Ohio, from May 17-19. The entire lineup is chock-full of insanely talented musicians. Some of metal’s most beloved musicians will play at Sonic Temple, including System of a Down, Foo Fighters, Lamb of God, Meshuggah, Killswitch Engage, and Gojira. The undercard at Sonic Temple is nothing short of glorious. Made possible by some of the people that made Rock on the Range happen, Sonic Temple is sure to be a headbanger’s paradise.
Best Large-Scale Indie/Alternative Rock Festival Lineup – Shaky Knees
Shaky Knees was one of the first music festivals to drop its 2019 lineup. Ever since then, it seemed like every festival was going to have to fight tooth and nail to create a better list of artists. Shaky Knees, in Atlanta May 3-5, absolutely blew the minds of festival-goers nationwide and has a well-deserved spot on our list. The top two lines of their poster have enough star power to get almost anyone excited, including Gary Clark, Jr., Incubus, Beck, Cage the Elephant, and Tame Impala. The lineup is deep, like super, super deep. Some of my personal favorite undercard acts are The Ruen Brothers, Slothrust, and The Nude Party. There won’t be a minute at this festival in which amazing music isn’t happening.
Best Small-Scale Indie/Alternative Rock Festival – Bellwether
Bellwether Festival burst onto the scene in 2018 and became one of the most beloved small festivals of 2018. Since its inaugural year, the team over at Bellwether have made some changes to the grounds and camping, which got fans very excited to see what 2019 would have in store; no one was disappointed when it was released. Indie rock gods Beach House and Cake are set to headline this festival held in Waynesville, Ohio.
Best Large-Scale EDM Festival – Electric Forest
It seems that every year that Electric Forest takes place it outdoes itself, not only in terms of the overall scale and grandeur of the grounds and the art that fills it, but also their lineups, always stacked. Their 2019 lineup is no exception; it is an electronic music lover’s paradise. Tickets for Electric Forest sold out in five hours, so if you’re looking for a ticket you will probably have to purchase it second-hand. Remember to buy only from someone you can trust, and DO NOT send money through Venmo, Zelle, or the Cash App. Use PayPal or cash in person.
Best Small-Scale EDM Festival – Bass Canyon
There is no shortage of dirty bass to be had at Bass Canyon. This festival is held at the absolutely stunning Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Some of EDMs most beloved artists will be at Bass Canyon, including 12th Planet, Space Jesus, Flux Pavillion, Ganja White Night, Liquid Stranger, and Excision. This festival takes place on August 23-25.
Best Festival to Help You Go to a Different Dimension – Camp Bisco
Camp Bisco has become one of the most beloved music festivals in the United States. This is a heady fest on Montage Mountain in Scranton July 18-20 for people who are looking to get weird, be weird, and remain unjudged. Six sets of the Disco Biscuits, Tipper, Space Jesus, Bleep Bloop, Odeza, Bassnectar, STS9, and Umphrey’s McGee await in that parallel universe.
Best Large-Scale Jam Festival – Summer Camp
I know that every band on the Summer Camp lineup isn’t a jam band, but there is no denying how insanely strong this lineup is. Summer Camp is well known and well respected among music festival fans as being one of the most well-run and spectacular music fests in the United States. It’s hard to go wrong when you have Umphrey’s McGee, Ben Harper, Moe, STS9, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Sunsquabi, George Clinton, and Trampled by Turtles all playing at the same music festival. It takes places in Chillicothe, Illinois, May 24-26.
Best Mid Scale Jam Festival – High Sierra
High Sierra Music Festival has been taking place for 29, years and their 2019 lineup may be the best they have ever had. Stacked from top to bottom with talent, they truly outdid themselves this year. Jim James, Greensky Bluegrass, The Marcus King Band, Big Something, Mandolin Orange, and Umphrey’s McGee will all be at High Sierra this year in Quincy, California, July 4-7.
Best Small-Scale Jam Festival – Suwannee Rising
Suwannee Rising is right around the corner, but you can still get tickets to this amazing jam festival. A little later than planned, Paul Levine and Purple Hat Productions announced that there would, in fact, be an April jam festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Festival in Live Oak, Florida. There had been hints for months that something would be planned for the first weekend in April, and finally, we discovered that it was true. It was well worth the wait.
Best Midwest/Southern Regional Music Festival – Bourbon & Beyond
Bourbon & Beyond is held in Louisville, Kentucky, September 20-22. Camp or get a hotel and experience some of the greatest live bands touring and performing today. A magical blend of today’s greatest acts and some of the biggest names in classic rock will play at Bourdon & Beyond. From Robert Plant and John Fogerty to The Flaming Lips and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, this lineup is glorious.
Best Northeast Regional Music Festival – Boston Calling
Boston Calling came in hot this year for the 10th edition of this magnificent Northeastern festival. Even if you don’t live within 100 miles of Boston, it is well worth a roadtrip for a lineup this strong. Headliners, Twenty One Pilots, Travis Scott, and Tame Impala are able to sell out arenas on their own with ease. A sensational second and third line along with a stacked undercard made it easy to add Boston Calling to the best music festival lineup list. In case you didn’t notice there are also some spectacular comedians on there, including Jenny Slate, Fred Armisen, and Michael Che. As a cherry on top, the Boston Ballet is even going to be there. You don’t want to miss this.
Best OG Music Festival Lineup of 2019 – Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo helped create the music festival scene in the United States. It has evolved over the years and has one of the most die-hard music festival fan bases in the world. From its roots as a jam festival, Bonnaroo has turned into a paradise for music lovers. Its 2019 lineup is easily one of the best and most well-thought-out lineups that the fest has had in years. While some people have complained about the headliners, there is no arguing that there is something here for everyone. Bonnaroo deserves to have the reputation that it does, and the lineup proves that they are still among the best music fests in the world.
Best “New” Music Festival Lineup of 2019 – Woodstock 50
The long awaited 50th anniversary of the most famous music festival is finally here. After an infinite amount of speculation, they released their official 2019 lineup. Each day contains enough talent to fill up multiple festivals’ top lines: just look at Friday! The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Santana, The Lumineers, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant, Nathaniel Rateliff, John Fogerty, Run the Jewels, The Head and the Heart, and Maggie Rogers. Add in Jay-Z, Dead & Company, The Black Keys, Leon Bridges, Sturgill Simpson, Chance the Rapper, Cage the Elephant, The Zombies, and Dawes – this lineup is beyond deep.
It’s a celebration of rock and roll and hip hop on a scale that we haven’t seen in recent memory. While there is no EDM on here, we still believe that there is enough star power to warrant it being listed here. Woodstock 50 will be taking place in Watkins Glenn, New York, from August 16-18. Tickets aren’t on sale yet, but they will be soon.
