Florida music festival field guide
February 17, 2014
While the thought of music festivals may conjure up images of hippies dancing at Woodstock, there are hundreds of festivals put on across the nation. Today, it’s not uncommon to run into people you know at these music festivals. Some FAU artists, including The Pathetique, Phantomime, Raggy Monster, and Mylo Ranger were featured in the first Aloha Winter Music Festival this past December. There are so many festivals to attend, so many people there, and everyone is there for the same reason: the music.
Junior biology major Bishop O’Connell has been to Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, Warped Tour and Tampa Jazz Festival. “The best part is meeting new people and just having care-free fun,” O’Connell said. “There are no differences between everyone because we are all there for the same reason, everyone feels easy to talk to.”
Though he’s losing interest in some of the electronic music festivals he’s used to attending, O’Connell said he’d still be going to festivals and encourages others to do the same. “There is a music festival for every genre of music and there’s a festival right for everyone. I feel everyone should attend at least one festival of their choosing. Some of the best memories I have are from festivals.”
There are hundreds of music festivals in Florida that cover all styles, including electronic, jazz, rock, reggae and more, so you have to seek them out. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of some of these festivals to make the process a little easier. Check out some of these festivals and their line-ups for an experience you may love.
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Aura Music Festival |
|
City |
Live Oak |
|
Date |
Feb. 14 – 16 |
|
Website |
auramusicfestival.com |
|
Description |
Spend your Valentine’s Day weekend camping in the Suwanee River State Park (a park that hosts numerous music festivals) grooving to funk, reggae, jam and electronic artists as well as checking out art exhibits, yoga and other activities. |
|
Cost |
$30-$165 |
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Soulfrito Urban Latin Music Festival |
|
City |
Miami |
|
Date |
Feb. 22 |
|
Website |
soulfrito.com |
|
Description |
Enjoy local and national Latin, reggaeton, hip-hop, funk and electronic artists as well as multicultural live and digital art exhibitions at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. |
|
Cost |
$34-$145* |
*Does not include Ticketmaster service fee and tax
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Florida Country Superfest |
|
City |
Jacksonville |
|
Date |
March 14-15 |
|
Website |
visitjacksonville.com/events/florida-country-superfest |
|
Description |
Tailgate at EverBank Field for food, football and country music including Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and more. |
|
Cost |
$65-$500 |
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Winter Music Conference |
|
City |
Miami Beach |
|
Date |
March 21-30 |
|
Website |
wintermusicconference.com |
|
Description |
Bring a towel and a turntable to Florida’s Winter Music Conference which hosts a plethora of performances, events, conferences and meet and greets with people from all over the world in the electronic dance music scene. |
|
Cost |
$245-$495 |
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Ultra Music Festival |
|
City |
Miami |
|
Date |
March 28 – 30 |
|
Website |
ultramusicfestival.com |
|
Description |
One of the largest music festivals in the United States, UMF brings some of the biggest electronic music acts in the world to Miami for a mega-weekend of EDM. |
|
Cost |
$399* |
*Price subject to availability and does not include service charges, taxes and fees
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Wanee Music Festival |
|
City |
Live Oak |
|
Date |
April 10 – 12 |
|
Website |
waneefestival.com |
|
Description |
Hosted by The Allman Brothers Band every year, Wanee Fest brings some of the biggest blues, southern rock and jam bands around to the Suwanee River State Park. |
|
Cost |
$195.00* |
*Does not include service fees
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Tortuga Music Festival |
|
City |
Fort Lauderdale |
|
Date |
April 12 – 13 |
|
Website |
tortugamusicfestival.com |
|
Description |
The Tortuga Music Festival brings huge names in Rock, Country and Reggae to Fort Lauderdale beach to raise money for ocean conservation efforts. Some of this year’s artists include Luke Bryan, Train and Slightly Stoopid. |
|
Cost |
$155-$165 |
|
Name |
Sun Fest |
|
City |
West Palm Beach |
|
Date |
April 30 – May 4 |
|
Website |
sunfest.com |
|
Description |
Sun Fest brings an eclectic mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, indie and blues artists for a weekend festival including art exhibits and family friendly events. |
|
Cost |
$30-$71 |
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Warped Tour |
|
City |
West Palm Beach |
|
Date |
July 26 |
|
Website |
vanswarpedtour.com |
|
Description |
Arguably one of the more popular music festivals in South Florida, Warped Tour brings independent rock, punk, metal and electronic artists from around the country to this travelling festival that stops off at Cruzan Amphitheatre every summer. |
|
Cost |
$37.50-$48.50 |
[divider type=”thin”]
|
Name |
Bear Creek Music Festival |
|
City |
Live Oak |
|
Date |
Every November |
|
Website |
bearcreekmusicfestival.com |
|
Description |
You’ll find an funky mix of artists from all different styles including funk, rock, fusion and jamtronica at Bear Creek, from local bands such as The Resolvers and ¡Suenalo! as well as national acts such as Galactic and The Roots. There is also a good deal of other activities including art shows, costume contests and charity games. |
[divider type=”thin”]
Out of state festivals within driving distance
|
Surely, this will depend on what you consider “driving distance,” but what’s a few hundred miles when you get to see that band that never comes to Florida? Hangout Music Fest Gulf Shores, AL Counterpoint Music Festival Kingston Downs, GA Voodoo Music Experience New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz Fest New Orleans, LA Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, TN South by Southwest Austin, Texas Austin City Limits Austin, Texas |
