Blooming flowers, longer nights, and unbearable allergies: official signs that spring season is finally here! With the revival of warmer weather comes the return of live music. Anticipation is through the roof as most spring festivals were unable to be held due to the ongoing pandemic. Now, fans and the live entertainment are looking to kick off this spring with a bang. A lot of major festivals are looking to return in full force with a number of stacked lineups. Here are some of the best spring festivals you do not want to miss.
Dreamville Fest (April 2nd – 3rd in Raleigh, NC)
Easily, the Dreamville Fest is setting out to be one of the most biggest festivals of the year. The festival is bouncing back after having to outright cancel their shows in April and later August. To no surprise, the bill of performing artists is A-grade. The big headliners include Dreamville label head J. Cole, along with Lil Baby and Kehlani. The lineup has a great balance of having rap’s current heavy-hitters with classic acts and up-and-coming genre-benders. Of course, fans can expect to see a family affair as majority of the Dreamville will be performing. Tickets are still for sale on their website here.
Coachella (April 15th – 17th, April 22nd – 24th in Indio, CA.)
The festival giant Coachella is gearing to make its return after an absence last spring. Arguably the nation’s biggest festival is coming back to eager anticipation. Granted, the lineup is different than the one confirmed for last year. The most noticeable difference is the absence of Frank Ocean headlining, slated to perform in 2021 (he’ll headline in 2023). Still, the list of great acts performing stick out like a sore thumb. Festival goers can anticipate seeing Billie Ellish, Harris Styles, and ‘Ye (with Travi$ Scott) headline, along with a slew of artists during the three-day event.
Smokers Club Fest (April 30th in San Bernardino, CA.)
Zaza enthusiasts definitely have a great lineup to look forward to with this year’s Smoker’s Club Fest. For a one-day event, they did a great job packing the roster with music’s most beloved stoner cult favorites (Berner, Larry June). The headliner list is great (Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Playboy Carti) but it’s the supporting acts that stand out. One of the best performances fans can expect is Wiz Khalifa performing his classic mixtape Kush & Orange Juice. So bring your friends, your smoke, and get ready for the show! Tickets for the Smoker’s Club Fest are available now on their website.
Sol Blume (April 30th + May 1st in Sacramento, CA.)
In comparison to other spring festivals, their lineup is smooth like butter. Looking at the names, it’s hard to not explain the fest as a vibe. Where Smoker’s Club plays like a sativa turnup, Sol Blume features an indica aura of silky sounds. The performances are R&B and lo-fi heavy, with names like Jhene Aiko, Smino and SiR covering the bill. The Kitty Ca$h and Esta-hosted festival is definitely one that you don’t want to miss.
Broccoli City Festival (May 7th – 8th in Washington, D.C.)
This is easily one of the most overlooked festivals that’s happening this spring. Anticipation for the festival is through after having to cancel shows the past two years. So you can expect for the DMV to set off Broccoli City’s return with a bang. The lineup has a number of the industry’s hottest acts in rap (Lil Durk, Don Toliver) and R&B (Summer Walker, Tems). For anyone familiar with the regional sound, you can expect go-go giants and rising artists to make appearances. It’s also important to note that this is Broccoli City’s first time hosting two days. As festival organizers pull out all the tricks, this is one you don’t want to miss. Tickets for Broccoli City Fest are available now on their website.
Lovers & Friends Festival (May 14th – 15th in Las Vegas, CA.)
Easily, the Lovers & Friends Fest is one of the most anticipated lineups of the year. Anticipation for this festival began in 2020 when their inaugural year was cancelled. Due to the pandemic, the festival never got a chance to officially kick off. This year, it looks like that’s finally about to change. The nostalgic festival heavily features some of the most popular rap and R&B from the ’90s and ’00s. From top to bottom, the bill is filled with veteran acts with strong catalogs that can have fans singing for hours. When this year goes crazy, please tell your lovers and friends that Usher, Jon, and Luda that they have to do it again. Tickets for the Lovers & Friends Fest are now available on their website.
