Mancation Music Festivals
For those guys about to rock out, pump the phat beats or cruise the indie scene, consider yourself mancated. Download the iPhone lighter app or go old school with a Bic lighter, because when you go on a Live Music Festival mancation, you’re following your most primal of impulses: the beat. You’ll end up soothing your soul along the way. Year-round in the US, no matter what your musical taste, from Jazz to Bluegrass, there’s a music festival crammed with big names and rising stars.
Summerfest, June 29 to July 10, Milwaukee, WI
The biggest, longest, music love fest in the world, Summerfest 2011 spanned 11-days and drew more than 700 bands, from smokin’ hot stars to local bar bands. The Marcus Amphitheatre hosted Peter Gabriel, Jason Mraz, Def Leppard, Britney Spears, Kid Rock, Katy Perry, the Black Keys and Sugarland, among others. You’ll know more about music, beer and brats after Summerfest.
Essence Music Festival, July 1-3, New Orleans, LA
Leading the star-stuffed beat pageant at the 2011 event were Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and other African American superstars who helped ignite the Creole night. Add in some spicy crawfish touffee and the sultry Bayou air and you’ve got a mancation for guys looking for a little soul, a touch of deep swamp and a lotta banging beats.
Lollapalooza, August 5-7, Chicago, IL
One of the icons of music fests, Lollapalooza brings the big guns and the hot gunslingers of the music world to Chi-town — Coldplay, Eminem, The Foo Fighters, Muse, Cee Lo, Cage the Elephant and the Mountain Goats. More than 60 bands will fill your soul with live rhymes and enough raw energy to fuel your fire for a year. And, don’t forget Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza, a mancation must.
Outsidelands, August 12-14, San Francisco
You won’t find a more cutting edge lineup than in this festival. The super hot Black Keys and Deadmau5 headline with Phish, Muse and John Fogerty. Rising stars like Christina Perri and Little Dragon lead you through a Who’s Who of the fringe scene. In addition to music, the mancation staples of wine and food fests happen simultaneously.
Electronic Daisy Carnival, August 27, Puerto Rico
You’ll need to get lots of rest for the EDC. House music, DJ superstars and a brain thumping beat that won’t stop all night in what many consider to be the de facto 51st state: sexy, tropical and exotic Puerto Rico. EDC’s take place throughout the year from May to August, from Orlando to Vegas, but we like Puerto Rico because when the EDC is over, you’re still in a steamy Caribbean adventureland.
Monterey Jazz Festival, September 16-18, Monterey
Your dad probably mancated in Monterey. This jazz festival has been smooth, edgy and cool for 54 years. Sonny Rollins will chill the California nights with smoky notes drawn from the soul through a saxophone. Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman and modern groovers like Idan Raichel ensure the festival remains the de rigueur Jazz event to attend in the world.
Austin City Limits Music Festival, September 16-18, Austin, TX
Eight stages light up the scene at this festival in the heart of Texas. Performers include such giants as Coldplay, Stevie Wonder and Kanye to vocal rippers like Sara Bareilles to the smooth folk harmonies of Fleet Foxes and Canadian Indie rockers, Arcade Fire. If there’s a live music mecca for the modern man, it’s Zilker Park in Austin, TX.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, September 30 - October 2, San Francisco, CA
This festival, unlike all the others on this page, is FREE. So, if the economy has stifled your mancation plans, you’ve got a good reason to step out to the Golden Gate Park to feel the raw and real pulse of Americana.