Bonnalollabury Festival?
It’s almost there: the sweet smell of summer freedom is right around the corner. For those music junkies out there, summertime means one thing: concerts. Forget the high school days of Warped Tour; the American college music scene is home to some of the best music festivals in the world. Three of the largest – Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Rothbury – offer a weekend of music, more music and just a bit of insanity. But, which one is the best? It might be like choosing your favorite child, but I’ll give it a shot anyway.
First, let’s take a look at logistics. Lollapalooza, located at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, has the great advantage of being in a big city. You also have the option of buying day passes if you don’t want to go every day. One downside, if you don’t have generous friends that live in Chicago, you will be dropping big bucks for a hotel – that is, if you can book one (rooms fill up quickly for Lolla weekend). Rothbury and Bonnaroo are a little different, in that they are basically in the middle of nowhere. That said, plan on bringing a tent because that is where you will be sleeping for the duration of the festival. But, if you are not afraid to rough it a bit, then one if these may be a good option for you. Rothbury is located in Rothbury, Michigan (go figure), which is convenient for many in-staters. But, if you are looking for a reason to get away for the weekend, Bonnaroo (in Manchester, Tennessee) is the best bet.
Most importantly, the line-up. While all of the festivals have secured amazing artists, some might have a few additional artists that’ll win you over. Rothbury is only in its second year, but it is already headlining indie rock legend Bob Dylan. Other notable artists include, The Dead, G. Love & Special Sauce, Cold War Kids, and Guster. Bonnaroo is headlining the Beastie Boys, which is a bit questionable in my book. But, they have a ton of other amazing artists including Wilco, Snoop Dogg, MGMT, TV on the Radio, Animal Collective and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Lollapalooza’s line-up is a pretty solid combination of the other two festivals, with artists like The Killers, Andrew Bird, Rise Against and Ben Folds.
University of Michigan sophomore, Killian Brady, says he would hands-down attend Lollapalooza. “Chicago is such a fun city, and there is a lot available to do outside of Grant Park. Plus, the festival combines a great mix of already established artists and ones who are just bursting onto the scene. There’s something for everyone.”
Joesph Thorn, a junior at the University of Michigan, already has his tickets for the Rothbury Festival in June. ”I went to Rothbury last year and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The environment was extremely safe and clean too.”
Chicago burbs native and University of Michigan freshman Kirsten Henshaw, said that even though she will always be partial to her hometown, she is choosing to go to Bonnaroo this year because, “Lolla’s headliners have become a bit too mainstream for my taste. Bonnaroo has most of the same bands as the other two, and there is just something about camping with your music.”
In my opinion, Lollapalooza is the best way to go. Unlike other festivals, you won’t feel trapped inside the festival site. Attendees have the freedom to come and go as they please, which is great because you are right in the center of downtown Chicago. (Water Tower, anyone?) Then again, I might be a little biased since I’m mildly obsessed with the city. Whether you are a music junkie or novice, every festival has plenty to offer. Since all of the festival tickets cost around the same price (about $200-300 for a weekend pass), it basically comes down to those few winning bands, and where and when you want to go. No matter what you end up going to this summer, you will almost certainly have an amazing experience!
- Megan Staake, Stylehop Correspondent
