Photo: Anthony Pidgeon/Redferns
Swedish musician Daniel Norgren perfoms at Pickathon in 2018
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Beyond Coachella: 10 Smaller Festivals Beloved For Their Homegrown Vibes & Huge Lineups
With genre-specific stages and unique locations, these 10 under-the-radar, independent and locally loved American festivals offer an alternative to major events like Coachella and Lollapalooza.
GRAMMYs/May 8, 2023 - 03:53 pm
Coachella’s two-weekend festival in April is the unofficial kickoff of music festival season in the United States — a party period generally stretching from late spring to mid-fall. After a few years of risky, restricted and canceled events due to pandemic uncertainty, the 2023 festival season looks pretty unbeatable.
But between general admission and VIP ticket options, festivals of Coachella’s magnitude can easily cost thousands of dollars to attend for a few days, if tickets don't sell out completely.
Luckily, there are plenty of other options for those who seek a different sort of music festival experience — one that might be smaller, independent or more musically specialized. To assist in your planning, GRAMMY.com has some suggestions for unique and beloved music festivals taking place around the country in 2023, including one that’s absolutely free!
Kilby Block Party
May 12-14 - Salt Lake City, Utah
The Strokes, Pavement and Yeah Yeah Yeahs headline this year’s three-day Kilby Block Party, a festival that started in 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of local all-ages venue Kilby Court.
Promoters expect 10,000 revelers per day to fill the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City and enjoy the thoroughly stacked lineup of performances from artists like Pixies, Japanese Breakfast, Caroline Polachek, Deerhoof, Cuco, Run The Jewels and the Walkmen.
Hangout Music Fest
May 19-21 - Gulf Shores, Alabama
This premiere beachside music festival has been rocking in the sand since 2010. Major artists performing this year include Red Hot Chili Peppers, SZA, Calvin Harris, Paramore, Lil Nas X, Flume, Skrillex, The Kid Laroi and GloRilla.
Goldenvoice, which produces Coachella, has been an event partner since 2015. Other planned experiences include a roller disco, art installations and an onsite wedding chapel, should you want to tie the knot.
The Governors Ball Music Festival
June 9-11 - New York City
What began as a one day affair in 2011 is now a three-day highlight of the East Coast summer festival circuit. First launched on Governors Island, the event is now held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the borough of Queens.
This year's Governors Ball offers big festival talent including Odesza, Kendrick Lamar and Lizzo as daily headliners, plus in-demand festival acts like Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Rina Sawayama and HAIM.
Mosswood Meltdown
July 1-2 - Oakland, California
The incomparable filmmaker John Waters plays host to this quirky annual indie fest that takes place over two days in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you're a Waters fan, admission to the small festival is worth it to catch a glimpse of him alone.
Otherwise, perhaps you’ll be tempted by the fierce woman and non-binary energy of bands like Le Tigre, ESG, Bratmobile and Twompsax (the latter band fronted by trans skating star Cher Strauberry). Vegan food is also a highlight at the event, which despite its name usually takes place during relatively mild summer temperatures in the Bay Area.
Pickathon
Aug. 3-6 - Happy Valley, Oregon
The 24-year-old event takes place over four days and is billed as an "experiential" music wonderland. Located 16 miles from Portland, the woodsy Pendarvis Farm offers an idyllic and immersive setting to help attendees connect with nature, music and art.
This model makes the participants just as important as the musicians and other artists involved, which is part of the reason why Pickathon draws loyal regulars every year just as much as the biggest mainstream fests. Those who go this year will get to see Lee Fields, Watchhouse, Dehd, Madison Cunningham and Florist, to name a few.
Supernova International Ska Festival
Sept. 15-17 - Fort Monroe, Virginia
The Supernova International Ska Festival began in 2014 in Fredericksburg, Virginia and has since moved two hours south to Fort Monroe, home to the country’s largest stone fort.
This year’s event is basically a masterclass in multigenerational heroes in ska and far, far beyond, with performances by acts such as Fishbone, Sister Nancy, the Toasters, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and the Untouchables. There’s even a planned DJ set by Don Letts, the celebrated filmmaker and collaborator of the Clash who’s cited in the early cross-pollinations between the punk and reggae worlds.
Bourbon & Beyond
Sept. 14-17 - Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville — a city with its own Bourbon District — of course boasts the world’s largest bourbon and music festival. Launched in 2017, Bourbon & Beyond now books world-class talent such as Bruno Mars, the Killers, Duran Duran, Brandi Carlile and the Black Keys to the Highland Festival Grounds.
The "Beyond" includes culinary events and additional spirits tastings. Last year’s event brought an estimated 140,000 revelers over four days.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - San Francisco
The second of two major music festivals to take place annually in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park (the other being Outside Lands), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has been going strong since 2001 and draws a massive 500,000 attendees over three days.
This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, though Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco and John Prine have all been HSB regulars over the years. True to its name, the weekend festival highlights much more than bluegrass: rising country stars like Charley Crockett, alt rock legends such as Elvis Costello and groups as diverse as Las Cafeteras, Les Claypool and Conor Oberst have come to the park.
The festival remains gloriously free thanks entirely to the gracious endowment of the late founder, the billionaire investor F. Warren Hellman, who passed away from leukemia in 2011. The gratis admission fee and summer-like temperatures usually ensures a wonderfully broad audience that’s prime for people-watching, though the multi-stage event does get crowded.
GoldenSky Festival
Oct. 14-15 - Sacramento, California
Coachella’s country offshoot Stagecoach has likely inspired multiple country fests, including GoldenSky, a two-day event that’s now in its second year.
Stars like Jon Pardi, Maren Morris, Wynonna Judd, Eric Church, Parker McCollum and Elle King are slated to appear before approximately 50,000 fans at the 302-acre Discovery Park in California’s state capital. Featured ancillary experiences within the event include the GoldenSky Beer Festival, a wine tasting area featuring Sacramento wineries and line dancing lessons inside the River City Saloon and Dance Hall.
III Points
Oct. 20-21 - Miami
An indie festival that rivals Coachella’s concentration on the visual arts, III Points has taken place in Miami’s Wynwood Art District since 2013. This year’s hefty "Phase 1" lineup includes Iggy Pop, Fred Again, Jamie Jones, Tokischa, the Blaze and an area curated by techno vet Richie Hawtin, with even more acts to be announced over the summer.
If you’re looking for a great way to wind the 2023 festival season down, a trip to sunny Miami might be something to consider.
7 Jaw-Dropping Sets From Coachella 2023 Weekend 1: BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny, Blink-182 & More
Lightning in a Bottle 2018
Photo: Aaron Glassman
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Your 2019 Guide To The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals
Having trouble keeping up with 2019's many music fests? We've got you covered with this comprehensive list of 20+ ones to check out across North America—plus a few abroad
GRAMMYs/May 8, 2019 - 09:40 pm
Both weekends of Coachella 2019 have come and gone, which means that we are fully entrenched in music festival season in North America. Since late last year, the fest lineups keep coming, and, like many of you, we couldn't be more excited for the sunny, music-filled days around the corner.
To help you keep abreast on all the major fests you can explore this summer, we've compiled this handy list to highlight some of the ones across the country (plus a few abroad) you may want to check out.
Related: Jan Blomqvist Talks Playing Coachella, Berlin Techno & Covering The Rolling Stones
MAY
Lightning in a Bottle | May 8–13 | Bakersfield, Calif.
Need to get away and lose yourself in the music ASAP? Well, Lightning in a Bottle is probably calling your name. Bring your pool floaties to cool off in Buena Vista Lake, home to the new location of the Southern California camping music fest. Run by the good time experts/electronic music connoisseurs at the DoLaB, which just made an appearance at Coachella; the environmentally and socially conscious event was one of the first major "transformational music festivals" that so many others have been modeled after.
This year's stacked musical lineup features seven stages and a variety of house, techno and bass artists, featuring GRAMMY-nominated British dance duo Disclosure, a 3D experience from Flying Lotus, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Gramatik, Channel Tres, DJ Koze and Damian Lazarus. There will also be yoga, sound healing, and engaging talks, like one with activist hip-hop duo Climbing PoeTree titled "Creativity is the Antidote to Destruction: Artistic Tools for Urgent Times."
Tickets are still available with options that range from two to five days; more info here.
Corona Capital Fest | May 11 | Guadalajara, Mex.
Taking place on Mexico's West Coast in the city of Guadalajara, Corona Capital will bring the country some of the biggest names in rock, electronica and pop. Featuring Phoenix, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tame Impala, The Chemical Brothers, Christine & the Queens and more, the fest will give people in Mexico the unique opportunity to see artists that tend only to stop by in Mexico City, which hosts its own Corona Capital fest.
Those visiting the country for the fest will find the one-day event a convenient factor, as they can explore the rich history and culinary vastness of the second-largest city in the country, which is known to be the area where tequila and mariachi originated. Sports fans will find excitement in listening to music at the festival site, which is also home to the city’s soccer team, Las Chivas. For more information, visit the festival's website.
GRAMMYs at Corona Capital: Holy Ghost! On What "Do This" Is Really About & Why They Feel So Good About 'Work'
Electric Daisy Carnival | May 17–19 | Las Vegas
Rave lords Insomniac have been bringing the beats with their now-global Electric Daisy Carnival (and its many other EDM events) at the 23rd annual EDC. The flagship fest's ninth year in Las Vegas will take over Sin City from May 17–19 this year. The 2019 lineup is positively stacked with dance music greats, featuring GRAMMY winners Diplo, David Guetta and Tiësto, plus GRAMMY nominees TOKiMONSTA, Paul Oakenfold, Deadmau5, Above & Beyond and Kaskade.
Deadmau5 will be making his first return to the fest since 2010, bringing his new "Cube 3.0" stage setup, and Guetta will be back for his first time since 2012. Australian singer/songwriter DJ/producer extraordinaire Alison Wonderland, plus GRAMMY-nominated rave icons Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren will bring fire to the three-day event.
If you want to get your dance on and check out the carnival rides, interactive art and plenty of lights and lasers with EDC in Vegas, you're in luck; tickets are still available. Check out EDC's website for more info.
Hangout Music Fest | May 17–19 | Gulf Shores, Ala.
If you're looking for something where you can chill in one spot, perhaps by a body of water, Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala. may be more along the lines of what you're craving. The 10th anniversary, which the organizers have coined a "music vacation," will take place on May 17–19 on the beach.
The stacked lineup of over 50 acts is pretty diverse among artists and genres, with big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, along with Detroit hero GRiZ and dance festival favorite Alison Wonderland.
Meanwhile, artists in the pop/indie-rock arena include GRAMMY nominees Hozier and Bebe Rexha, as well fan favorites The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World.
For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the Hangout Fest website.
BottleRock | May 24–26 | Napa, Calif.
If you want to experience the literal fruits of the world-renowned Napa Valley wine country while listening to some solid jams, BottleRock, which is located in wine-rich Napa, may be the fest for you. Its seventh-edition festival's top-tier headliners are GRAMMY winners Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and Neil Young, who will be playing with Lukas Nelson's band Promise Of The Real. Other notable acts include Santana, Pharrell Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Sylvan Esso, Logic, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Tash Sultana.
Other festival highlights include the Culinary Stage, which features both music from the likes of Big Boi and Juanes, as well as more culinary-focused guests, including Antoni Potowski, the resident foodie of "Queer Eye." No matter your fuel of choice, attendees can expect an amazing selection of Northern California wine, beer and even craft cocktails, as well as food prepared by your neighborhood Michelin-starred Napa faves. The Silent Disco offers even more music, with GRAMMY-nominated dance greats The Crystal Method and Paul Oakenfold taking the decks.
Tickets, including one-day and three-day options, are still available on the fest's website.
More: Tomasa Del Real On Bringing Her Take On Reggaetón, NeoPerreo, To Coachella
Primavera Sound | May 30–June 1 | Barcelona
If you've been itching to take a trip abroad in a scenic European city and have eclectic music tastes, you'll have a blast at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. The 19th edition of the music festival offers what organizers coined "The New Normal," a 50/50 gender split among performers. Of the 226 billed artists, over half are women.
The beautifully dense lineup includes both big names and hidden gems across genres, yet the headliners alone show that they are walking their talk. Erykah Badu, Future, Interpol, Tame Impala, Janelle Monáe, Solange, J Balvin, Rosalía, Nas, James Blake and Robyn all take the top spots.
The rest of the lineup is also filled with gems, including Kali Uchis, Liz Phair, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clairo, Cuco, Mura Masa, Empress Of, FKA Twigs, Pusha T and Big Red Machine (the National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon collab project).
The festival has also highlighted Primavera's commitment to urban music, with a focus on reggaeton and hip-hop. From the Latin side, in addition to unofficial second-wave reggaeton leader J Balvin, old-school genre legends Ivy Queen (one of the first and few women in the emerging scene in the '90s) and DJ Playero will be throwing down. From the U.S. side, Primavera 2019 will feature an exciting selection of female rappers, including Tierra Whack, Princess Nokia, CupcakKe and Rico Nasty.
Tickets, including single-day options, are still avaible on Primavera Sound's website.
Governors Ball | May 31–June 2 | New York City
Governors Ball Music Festival is returning for their ninth year on Randall's Island Park in New York City on May 31–June 2. 2019 will bring performances by headliners The Strokes and GRAMMY nominees Tyler, the Creator and Florence & the Machine.
The three-day music, art and music event certainly brings an N.Y.C.-inspired melting pot approach to their lineup, and this year does not disappoint. Other highlights include GRAMMY winners Lil Wayne and Kacey Musgraves, GRAMMY nominees SZA, Nas, The Internet, Jorja Smith, Bob Moses, Charli XCX, ZHU, plus Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Blood Orange, Clairo, Bazzi, MØ, Major Lazer (DJs Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and GRAMMY winner Diplo), Noname, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein and King Princess.
More info on tickets, as well as the complete lineup and event details, can be found on the Governors Ball site.
Related: Tinder Teams Up With EDC, Gov Ball & More Music Fests For "Festival Mode"
JUNE
Roots Picnic | June 1 | Philadelphia
The Roots Picnic is back for its 12th year on June 1 and will feature a special headline performance from GRAMMY-winning band The Roots in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album Things Fall Apart.
H.E.R., 21 Savage and Lil Baby are among other artists on the music festival's bill. Raphael Saadiq,Tank & The Bangas and City Girls will also perform at the one-day event, taking place at its new location at The Mann At Fairmount Park in Philly.
"We finally have a Roots Picnic in the Park," The Roots' manager Shawn Gee and President of Live Nation Urban said. "The vision 12 years ago was always to provide an all-day musical and cultural experience in Fairmount Park. Black Thought, Questlove and I grew up spending our Sunday afternoons at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park watching Philly DJs spin, and enjoying the vibe and the culture. It's a great feeling to be able to come full circle."
For more information on tickets, visit the Ticketmaster website.
Splash House | Jun 7–9 | Palm Springs, Calif.
Splash House has been bringing the beats to the pastel-colored desert of Palm Springs for several years now, and will return June 7–9 (as well as in August). GRAMMY-winning French electro heavyweights Justice, GRAMMY-nominated U.S. house music stalwart Armand van Helden, New York-based house producer Jai Wolf and U.K. bass/trap champ TroyBoi will headline. The three-day fest takes place poolside at three beautiful desert aesthetic hotels: The Renaissance, The Riviera and The Saguaro.
The rest of the lineup offers an equally impressive and diverse group of electronic artists, including GRAMMY nominees Jax Jones and Dirty South, along with Pete Tong, A-Track, CRAY and more. Shiba San, Dusky, Kidnap and a few others will keep the vibes going into the nighttime, with official after-hours shows at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Daytime tickets for the June edition of Splash House went quickly, but they can be requested via a ticket exchange program. More info on all options can be found on Splash House's website.
Bonnaroo | June 13–16 | Manchester, Tenn.
Founded in 2002, this down-south outdoor fest once specialized in all things folk and jam. Nowadays, the lineup's diversified a bit, welcoming artists of nearly every popular genre. This year's Bonnaroo will take place June 13–16 at Great Stage Park, a 700-acre farm and event space in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville.
The diverse group of artists on Friday alone include Phish, Childish Gambino, Solange, The Avett Brothers, Brockhampton, Courtney Barnett, Gojira, K.Flay and more. Post Malone, Odesza, Kacey Musgraves, The National, ZHU, John Prine, Maren Morris, The Lumineers, Cardi B and more will also get the farm grooving.
New for 2019, Bonnaroo will feature a "Sanctuary of Self-Love" campground experience curated by Paramore's Hayley Williams. There will also be circus acts, immersive cinema shows, theme parties, and the fest's first-ever Pride parade.
Tickets can be found on the festival's website.
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Ruido Fest | Jun 21–23 | Chicago
For three days, Ruido Fest takes over Union Park, also home to Pitchfork Fest, and turns Chicago into a Latin alternative music mecca. This year, the music festival happening June 21– 23 celebrates its 5th edition and will gather iconic music groups like El Tri, Los Tigres Del Norte, Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes on the same stages as rising stars like Latin urban artist Tomasa Del Real, Helado Negro, Monsieur Perine and many more. From rock, to pop and electro, this festival boasts some of the best in established and up-and coming music artists in the Latin genre For more information on Ruido fest, visit their website.
Firefly | June 21–23 | Dover, Del.
Firefly Music Festival, which touts itself as "the East Coast's largest music and camping festival," returns for its eighth year in The Woodlands of Dover, Del. The June fest will feature GRAMMY-nominated headliners Panic! At The Disco, Post Malone and Travis Scott.
GRAMMY winners TLC, Vampire Weekend and Zedd, as well as GRAMMY nominees Courtney Barnett, Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Snake and Tyler, The Creator will also perform at the woodsy fest. Alison Wonderland, Brockhampton, Dashboard Confessional, GRiZ, Kygo, Gucci Mane, Jessie Reyez, Snail Mail, Walk The Moon, and Young The Giant are also on this year's bill.
Tickets, along with "glamping" options, can be purchased on Firefly's website.
JULY
Essence Festival | July 4–7 | New Orleans
Essence Festival returns for its 25th year of celebrating black culture in New Orleans. The music portion of the event will take place from July 4–7 at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, with billed performers like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Brandy, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Ledisi, Mary J. Blige and many more. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will also bring extra inspiration to the main stage on Saturday.
Four other stages at the Superdome will showcase more talented artists such as AlunaGeorge, City Girls and Normani, as well as Mase, Ginuwine and Slick Rick.
Several different music fest ticket options are available, more info here.
Essence 2018: H.E.R. Opens Up On Mystery, Musicianship & Essence Fest
Mad Cool | July 11–13 | Madrid
Mad Cool Festival's diverse musical lineups have brought out a global fan base to its home in Madrid every year since 2016. Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds top the lineup on Thursday, which also features Canada's Kaytranada, La Dispute and The Hives. Friday will bring out The National and the Smashing Pumpkins as headliners, plus Madrid's own Vetusta Morla, Wolfmother and Germany's Sophie Hunger, among other exciting acts. Saturday closes off the musical celebration with The Cure, The 1975 and Greta Van Fleet.
If this lineup hasn't inspired you to experience the fest, maybe visiting the beautifully historic city of Madrid will. Single-day and three-day tickets can be found on Mad Cool's website.
Pitchfork Music Festival | July 19–21 | Chicago
The 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival, held at Union Park in Chicago, offers an eclectic lineup perfectly embodied by its headliners: GRAMMY-nominated dancefloor-pop innovator Robyn, GRAMMY-winning godfathers of funk The Isley Brothers and GRAMMY-nominated sister trio HAIM.
The Isley Brothers, consisting of remaining members Ronald and Ernie Isley, will be celebrating 60 years as a group at the fest, bringing the funk with "special guests," Pitchfork reports. GRAMMY-winning blues and gospel icon Mavis Staples will also bring her longtime musical excellence to the three-day event.
GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop powerhouses Earl Sweatshirt, Jeremih and Pusha T, along with fellow GRAMMY nominee and electro-pop stalwart Charli XCX, are also slated to play. Several innovative '90s acts will also be performing: London-based avant-garde dream-pop group Stereolab, Scottish folk-pop band Belle & Sebastian (who will be playing their 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister in full) and Swedish GRAMMY-nominated MC Neneh Cherry, who earned a nod for Best New Artist at the 32nd GRAMMY Awards in 1999.
The festival prides itself on highlighting emerging talent; some of the up-and-comers on the lineup are 20-year-old dream-pop artist Clairo, L.A.-based social activist/rapper JPEGMAFIA, French-Cuban electro-soul sister duo Ibeyi and 21-year-old N.Y.C. rapper Rico Nasty.
Both weekend and single-day tickets are available; visit the fest's site for more info.
Float Fest | July 20–21 | Gonzales, Texas
Billed as the "only festival in the world to combine the Texas tradition of floating the river and live music," Float Fest 2019 will feature Gucci Mane, Major Lazer, Ice Cube, Kaskade, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead, Grouplove, Big Boi, Jungle and more at its new home at a private ranch on the Guadalupe River in Gonzalez, Texas.
"We're thrilled to be moving to a new city and keep the tradition of our fest going. Gonzales is known as the birthplace of Texas independence and we can't think of a better place to celebrate a festival rich in Texas traditions such as live music, floating the river, and camping," Float Fest founder Marcus Federman said.
Additional performers include G. Love & Special Sauce, Missio, St. Lucia, Houndmouth, The Floozies and more. The fest will also be partnering once again this year with local business to organize a river cleanup project.
Tickets, including weekend and day passes, can be found on Float Fest's website.
Related: Exclusive: Lizzo On Lollapalooza, New Music & RuPaul's 'Drag Race'
Lovebox | July 12–13 | London
Chance the Rapper, Solange, Cypress Hill and 2 Chainz are among the headliners that make the U.K.'s Lovebox an international music festival with one of the most exciting lineups. Taking place in London's Gunnersbury Park, the two-day fest will also have Lizzo, Brockhampton, Action Bronson, and Kaytranada hit the stage.
The fest will also feature plenty of U.K.-based artists, including J Hus and Slowthai. For more information, visit the festival's website.
Newport Folk Festival | July 26–28 | Newport, R.I.
Newport Folk Festival returns for its 60th year to Newport, R.I., for a three-day fest. Taking place at Fort Adams State Park, Newport offers rolling lineup announcements, meaning some artists are still yet to be announced.
The genre-diverse bill is absolutely stacked: Audiences can expect sets from Maggie Rogers, Noname, Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Portugal. The Man, Stephen Marley and The HighWomen. The latter is a new country supergroup consisting of Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, who have yet perform together publically.
Even without the complete lineup, tickets to Newport have sold out. That said, tickets can be still requested via Newport's fan-to-fan exchange; more info here.
GRAMMYs at Newport 2018: Exclusive: Brandi Carlile On 'By The Way, I Forgive You' & "The Joke"
AUGUST
Lollapalooza | Aug. 1–4 | Chicago
Lollapalooza, the iconic Chicago fest held annually in the Windy City's Grant Park, always gets a long lineup of some of the biggest names in music, along with plenty of artists steadily rising to household-name status. For example, prior to dropping their major-label debut LPs this year, both Billie Eilish and Lizzo performed at the 2018 fest.
This year's flagship (organizers have launched Lollas globally now, too) event offers a diverse lineup, including GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Flume, Lil Wayne and H.E.R.. Janelle Monáe, The Strokes, J Balvin, Rosalía, Tame Impala and RÜFÜS DU SOL will also bring heat to the four-day fest.
For ticket information, visit Lollapalooza's website.
Lolla 2018: Exclusive: Billie Eilish On Success, Her Radio Show & New Music
Outside Lands | Aug. 9–11 | San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco's biggest music festival returns for its 11th year in the city's gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Outside Lands' 2019 lineup features 2019 GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lauren Daigle, Ella Mai, PJ Morton and Anderson .Paak.
This year's stellar lineup also includes earlier GRAMMY winners Twenty One Pilots, Edie Brickell, Flume, Lil Wayne, Paul Simon and Mavis Staples. GRAMMY nominees Bebe Rexha, Tierra Whack, Blink-182, Counting Crows, Hozier, the Lumineers and Bob Moses will also perform among the trees of Golden Gate Park.
Three-day tickets are currently available for the fest, while Outside Lands typically offers one-day options closer to the event.
Made In America | Aug. 31–Sept. 1 | Philadelphia
Made In America Festival, started by GRAMMY-winning rap legend JAY-Z in 2012, boasts GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott and GRAMMY winner Cardi B as this year's headliners. The two-day event will also include performances from GRAMMY winners Anderson .Paak, with The Free Nationals, James Blake and Kaskade.
61st GRAMMY Awards first-time nominees Jorja Smith and Tierra Whack are also on the bill, along with rising rappers Juice WRLD and Blueface, among others. The eighth annual festival will take place outdoors at Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and is a great way to close out a busy festival season.
Tickets and more info are available on the fest's site.
No matter your musical and venue taste, there are plenty of festivals to keep you dancing all summer long. Stay tuned to grammy.com for updates on new lineup releases, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes artist interviews from the biggest events as we approach festival season.
Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2019 Coming In November
Ultra Music Festival 2018
Photo: Sergi Alexander/Getty Images
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2019 Music Festival Preview: Noise Pop, Coachella, Ultra & More
With next year’s lineups dropping left and right, we've created a helpful roundup to help you decide which music fests to attend (or livestream from your couch)
GRAMMYs/Jan 1, 2019 - 10:51 pm
Music festivals the world over have been releasing their 2019 lineups for a hot minute. Such an abundance of choice can be overwhelming, so to help you prepare, we organized an overview of some of the biggest events you may want to snag tickets to.
From the desert-set musical smorgasbord that is Coachella, to Ultra and Electric Forest's laser-filled dance floors, to SXSW and Noise Pop's up-and-coming indie events, read on to narrow down which music fests you’ll travel to (or livestream from the couch) in 2019.
West Coast
Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
Tupac's iconic lyrics are just as relevant as ever: "California knows how to party." It's definitely the case when Coachella lights up Indio, Calif. every April. The iconic desert fest always brings an exciting and stacked mix of artists both big and rising across genres—and the upcoming 20th anniversary event more than lives up to the hype.
The headliners alone are enough to get excited about, with this year's lineup featuring GRAMMY winner Childish Gambino and GRAMMY nominees Tame Impala and Ariana Grande. Even more impressive, Grande will be the fourth-ever solo female headlining artist at the event, following in the footsteps of GRAMMY winners Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
There are plenty of other gems on the lineup, with Latin music artists making big waves beyond the Spanish-language market: Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY nominee Bad Bunny, Latin GRAMMY winner Rosalía and Latin GRAMMY winner/GRAMMY nominee J Balvin are on board for Coachella. Plus, plenty of rising stars are represented, including first-time GRAMMY nominees H.E.R. and Ella Mai, viral teen sensation Billie Eilish, indie/electro R&B artist Blood Orange and GRAMMY-nominated dance/pop duo Sofi Tukker.
The 2019 event will return for two three-day weekend events, on April 12–14 and 19–21. Tickets and more info can be found on Coachella's website.
Noise Pop Festival
While you probably can't rock your denim cutoffs in San Francisco in February, you can get your live music fix early with Noise Pop Festival, which runs from Feb. 25 to March 3. The 26-year-old event specializes in up-and-coming indie acts, with a solid sprinkling of well-established fan favorites. Noise Pop prides itself on bringing "early exposure to many emerging artists," with plenty of previous acts going on to become household names, including GRAMMY winners The White Stripes and The Flaming Lips and GRAMMY nominees Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse. Additionally, the event takes place at venues across the San Francisco Bay Area, making use of the historic venues around S.F. and beyond, giving attendees the ability to not only explore all the area has to offer, but to also pick and choose which shows they want to see.
Noise Pop 2019 will include performances from indie rock/folk darlings Beirut, The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., Bob Mould of '80s alt-rock group Hüsker Dü, along with electro/dream-pop artist Baths, indie-pop singer/songwriter Caroline Rose, Aussie electro-R&B duo Kllo, Latina rapper Princess Nokia and more.
All access passes are available for purchase, as well as individual tickets for specific shows. Check out Noise Pop's website for more info.
CRSSD Festival
If warmer weather and dance music is more your scene, check out CRSSD in San Diego, Calif. The electronic music-focused festival hosts an event every spring and fall by the ocean in sunny Southern California. Their spring 2019 event will be held on March 2–3 and features some big names, including GRAMMY nominees ODESZA and dark electro-pop duo Phantogram, as well as plenty of popular underground house and techno favorites, like Luttrell, The Martinez Brothers, Avalon Emerson and more.
Head to CRSSD's site to snag tickets and view the full phase one lineup.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Find your new favorite artist at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SXSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SXSW</a> 2019. <a href="https://t.co/SZbtHbK1Vo">https://t.co/SZbtHbK1Vo</a> <a href="https://t.co/oAHSvsUkNf">pic.twitter.com/oAHSvsUkNf</a></p>— SXSW (@sxsw) <a href="https://twitter.com/sxsw/status/1078435861497331712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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South
SXSW Music Festival
The week-long extravaganza of SXSW Music Festival will take over Austin, Tex. From March 11–17 with hundreds of music acts in venues across the city. Similar to Noise Pop, SXSW populates its lineup with up-and-comers from around the world, plus features a handful of established stars—like Prince—popping up in intimate venues: The late GRAMMY-winning icon gave a small crowd of lucky fans an almost three-hour show at SXSW 2013.
While there are countless unofficial SXSW shows all over the city, the SXSW official 2019 lineup boasts over 480 diverse acts so far. Some of the showcasing artists announced are GRAMMY-winning rapper Wyclef Jean, who will also be a featured speaker, Los Angeles-based (by way of San Francisco) psych-rock group Thee Oh Sees, and Chicago-based electro R&B duo DRAMA. There’s also plenty of international talent on the docket, including Argentinean Latin trap star Ecko, Netherlands-born, Australia-based pop songstress Wafia and Nigerian Afrobeat singer/songwriter Mr. Eazi.
To pore over the extensive lineup, check out ticket options and more, visit SXSW's website.
Hangout Music Fest
If you're looking for something where you can chill in one spot, perhaps by a body of water, Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala. may be more along the lines of what you're craving. The 10th anniversary, which the organizers have coined a "music vacation," will take place on May 17–19 on the beach.
The stacked lineup of over 50 acts is pretty diverse among artists and genres, with big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, along with Detroit hero GRiZ and dance festival favorite Alison Wonderland.
Meanwhile, artists in the pop/indie-rock arena include GRAMMY nominees Hozier and Bebe Rexha, as well fan favorites The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World.
For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the Hangout Fest website.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES RELOCATION TO VIRGINIA KEY AS NEW HOME<br><br>AGREEMENT REACHED WITH CITY OF MIAMI<br><br>Ultra Music Festival has announced its indefinite new home ahead of the monumental 21st edition, the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and Miami Marine Stadium Flex Park. <a href="https://t.co/9f8ujz2yUc">pic.twitter.com/9f8ujz2yUc</a></p>— Ultra Music Festival (@ultra) <a href="https://twitter.com/ultra/status/1063248388823703552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Founded in 2002, this down-south outdoor fest once specialized in all things folk and jam band. Nowadays, the lineup's diversified a bit, welcoming artists of nearly every popular genre.
This year's Bonnaroo will take place June 13–16 at Great Stage Park, a 700-acre farm and event space in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville. In its 18th year, the festival will feature a wide range of artists performing around the clock across more than 10 stages. Festival organizers also promise an array of new features and improvements this year, including upgrades to the site's communal areas, known as Plazas, with free public WiFi, showers, charging stations, medical and safety stations, and more.
The festivities kick off On June 13 with Grand Ole Opry Featuring Special Guests. Friday, June 14 headliners include Phish, Childish Gambino, Solange, The Avett Brothers, Brockhampton, Courtney Barnett, Gojira, K.Flay and more. Saturday, June 15, will showcase Post Malone, Odesza, Hozier, Musgraves, The National, ZHU, John Prine, Maren Morris, and more, while Sunday, June 16 will see Phish return with two sets, plus The Lumineers, Cardi B, Carlile, Walk The Moon, Mac DeMarco, King Princess, The Wood Brothers, and many more.
Also new for 2019, Bonnaroo will feature a "Sanctuary of Self-Love" campground experience curated by none other than Paramore's Hayley Williams. There will also be circus acts, immersive cinema shows, theme parties, and Bonnaroo's first-ever Pride parade.
Tickets for Bonnaroo go on sale Thursday, Jan. 10 at 12 p.m. EST exclusively via the festival's website.
East Coast
Woodstock 50th Anniversary
In the summer of 1969, a dairy farm in Upstate New York hosted one of the most renowned music festivals of the 20th century, the Woodstock Music And Arts Fair. Now, as Woodstock approaches its 50th anniversary this August, the excitement to relive the summer of '69 returns, with two music festivals aiming for just that. An official Woodstock 50th music festival has been announced by one of the iconic gathering's original promoters, Michael Lang. It will be held at a different location, further upstate in Watkins Glen, complete with glamping. The Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, located on the site of the original event, has also announced that they will host an unofficial celebration—the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival on Aug. 16–18.
There's no lineup announcement or tickets offered for either event yet, so we’ll just have to wait to see if any living Woodstock legends, like the GRAMMY-winning group Santana, who launched their career on the famed Woodstock stage, will return.
Ultra Music Festival
The EDM-centric Ultra Music Festival is returning for the 21st year of their flagship festival in its home base of Miami on March 29–31. The dance music mecca's new oceanside venue on Virginia Key will allow the 2019 offering to host more attendees for longer hours. The artists this year are sure to get you moving, with a wide range of dance music favorites, from big room house to some more underground acts.
Some of the big DJ/producers on the list include GRAMMY winners Afrojack, the Chainsmokers, Dubfire, David Guetta, Tiësto and Zedd, plus GRAMMY nominees Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5, Galantis and ODESZA. Underground faves include The Martinez Brothers, Maceo Plex and Tale of Us.
To scope the complete lineup and ticket options, check out Ultra's website.
Governors Ball
Governors Ball Music Festival is returning for their ninth year on Randall's Island Park in New York City on May 31–June 2. Governors Ball 2019 will bring The Strokes and GRAMMY nominees Tyler, the Creator and Florence & the Machine as headliners.
The three-day event of music, art, food and fun certainly brings an N.Y.C.-inspired melting pot approach to their musical lineup, and this year does not disappoint. Other musical highlights include: GRAMMY winners Lil Wayne and Kacey Musgraves, GRAMMY nominees SZA, Nas, The Internet, Jorja Smith, Bob Moses, Charli XCX, ZHU, plus Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Blood Orange, Clairo, Bazzi, MØ, Major Lazer (DJs Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and GRAMMY winner Diplo), Noname, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein and King Princess.
More info on tickets, as well as the complete lineup and event details can be found on the Governors Ball site.
Electric Forest Festival
The annual Electric Forest Festival likes to keeps things interesting with a solid mix of jam bands and electronic acts among the forest in Rothbury, Michigan. The 2019 fest will take place on June 27–30 and lists ethereal electronic duo ODESZA, tropical house DJ/producer Kygo and bass music heavy hitters Bassnectar and Zeds Dead as the headliners.
Other artists range from GRAMMY-nominated deep-house duo Bob Moses, Detroit house legend Claude VonStroke, female bass powerhouses Alison Wonderland and TOKiMONSTA, who is a first-time GRAMMY nominee this year.
The jam bands are led by The String Cheese Incident, an Electric Forest mainstay, who will be doing three performances over the weekend, along with the The Floozies and STS9, who blur the line of electronic music, psych-rock and hip-hop.
GRAMMY winner T-Pain represents the smaller hip-hop contingency, along with rising female rapper, and first-time GRAMMY nominee, Tierra Whack.
For more info on tickets, including on the VIP lodge camping offering, check out Electric Forest's site.
No matter your musical and venue taste, there are plenty of festivals this year to keep you dancing all year long. Stay tuned to grammy.com for updates on new lineup releases, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes artist interviews from the biggest events as we approach festival season.
Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey & More Broke Big Music Records In 2018
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Warren Hellman Remembered At The 12th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
GRAMMYs/Dec 3, 2014 - 04:22 am
By Baron Lane
Nearly 250,000 music lovers attended the 12th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, three days of free premier roots music featuring more than 80 acts on six stages across Hellman Hollow, formerly Speedway Meadow, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It was renamed Hellman Hollow in 2011 in tribute to the festival's founder and benefactor Warren Hellman, who died in December 2011 at age 77 from complications resulting from leukemia.
This first post-Hellman event was anything but a somber affair. Many performers offered their praises in honor of Hellman and asked the crowd to voice theirs, which they enthusiastically obliged. The Hellman commemoration was complete with performances by his band the Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and special guests the Go To Hell Man Clan, a band comprised of Hellman family members.
Texas was represented with the dusty harmonies of the Trishas, followed by the rowdy Reckless Kelly. Legendary country singer/songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker put the crowd in a trance with performances of songs such as "Mr. Bojangles." The Flatlanders — an Americana super group from Lubbock, Texas, featuring Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock — brought their collective talents to a performance that brought the crowd to its feet.
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant performed with fellow Band Of Joy member Patty Griffin. Picking up the harmonica, Plant literally blew the audience away as he joined Buddy Miller's set for "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go" with Griffin, Emmylou Harris and Victoria Williams. Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones made a surprise appearance to play mandolin alongside bluesman Seasick Steve, who drew a huge crowd with his closing set.
Local bands made their presence felt as Jeremy D'Antonio and his band Tiny Television delivered a spirited performance to an enthusiastic crowd. Fellow Bay Area resident Boz Scaggs organized a tribute to Texas' legendary singer/songwriter the late Doug Sahm with the Doug Sahm's Phantom Playboys, which consists of Texans Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton, Jimmie Vaughan, and "honorary Texan" Dave Alvin.
Southern California was represented by the Knitters, an incarnation of the legendary Los Angeles punk band X. Singer Exene Cervenka and bassist John Doe performed revved-up country-tinged versions of X classics while guitarist Alvin wailed on guitar.
Next was GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam, who shimmied and twirled across the stage, reminding the crowd that he can still master the craft of song and performance. Folk-rock trio the Lumineers' spirited performance wowed a capacity crowd as fans lovingly sang along.
The event was capped with festival veteran Emmylou Harris, who took the stage with her Red Dirt Boys to a still-rowdy crowd. GRAMMY winners the Civil Wars also performed to a packed crowd. "This is the most people we've ever performed in front of," said singer/songwriter and guitarist John Paul White.
As the California sun sank over the towering trees and the Pacific Ocean, the beautifully weary voice of Harris and the soaring harmonies of White and Joy Williams met under the smiling spirit of Warren Hellman, who surely would have approved.
(Baron Lane is a Bay Area-living ex-pat Texan. You can read his thoughts on Americana/roots music at www.twangnation.com. He is also the official GRAMMY.com Community Blogger for the Americana genre. He's onry, but good-natured.)
Oasis in 1996.
Photo: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images
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10 Songs To Get Into Britpop: Listen To Classics By Oasis, Elastica, Blur & More
Thirty years after the Britpop explosion began with Blur's 'Parklife,' discover (or revisit) 10 essential tracks from the movement that defined British music culture in the '90s — and still influences artists today.
GRAMMYs/May 7, 2024 - 02:16 pm
The Britpop movement first gathered pace in 1993 — its pure optimism, laddish mentality, and colorful Union Jack aesthetic an attractive proposition for those who couldn't relate to the alienation and angst that defined grunge. Drawing from the classic guitar music of the 1960s, it was also steeped in nostalgia, and, perhaps more notably, a fervent belief that anything the Americans could do, the Brits could do better.
Unsurprisingly, the deeply patriotic scene didn't travel too well: only a handful of acts, most notably Oasis and Blur, made any notable impact across the Atlantic during its four-year golden period. On home turf, however, Britpop defined the zeitgeist, turning the London town of Camden into the nation's cultural hub, sweeping up everyone from future Prime Minister Tony Blair to sheep-preserving artist Damien Hirst, and sparking a chart battle so intense it made the BBC's Six O'Clock News.
And it continues to resonate. Oasis' Liam Gallagher and Stone Roses' John Squire recently topped the UK album chart with their collaborative self-titled LP. The middle episodes of Netflix's must-watch romantic drama One Day is heavily soundtracked by the scene's finest. And Dua Lipa recently cited its two biggest bands — as well as Britpop-adjacent acts Radiohead, Massive Attack, and Primal Scream — as a key influence on her new album Radical Optimism.
With the catalyst for Britpop's domination, Blur's Parklife, recently celebrating its 30th anniversary, what better time to look back at its finest contributions. Ignoring any acts that sat on the outskirts (like Manic Street Preachers or Saint Etienne), or who broke through post-1997 (see Catatonia, Embrace), and sticking to just one track per artist, here's a look at 10 songs that embodied the term Cool Britannia.
Oasis — "Live Forever"
How do you choose from the era's two biggest blockbusters, 1994's record-breaking Definitely Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story) Morning Glory? "Wonderwall" is by far Oasis most recognizable hit, "Cigarettes and Alcohol" summed up the Mancunians' hard-partying ethos in five glorious rock and roll minutes, and "Don't Look Back in Anger" remains the scene's greatest Beatles pastiche. And then there's game-changing single "Supersonic," orchestral sing-along "Whatever," and the truly epic "Champagne Supernova."
But it's the aptly titled "Live Forever," the third single from the Gallagher brothers' near-flawless debut, which has weathered the best. Showcasing the elongated delivery that would become his forte, Liam delivers both an all-time great vocal and a positive meditation that essentially serves as a Britpop manifesto. And unlike on the more bloated Oasis albums to come, Noel's wall of guitar sounds here is anthemic, evocative and downright thrilling.
Blur — "Girls and Boys"
The audience at this year's Coachella might not be particularly familiar with Blur's "Girls and Boys," much to frontman Damon Albarn's annoyance (it did only peak at No.59 on the Hot 100 30 years previously, to be fair). But anyone old enough to remember the spring of 1994 across the pond will know every word.
Ironically, one of the defining Britpop anthems has Mediterranean roots. It was inspired by the Brits-abroad debauchery that the scene's ultimate power couple, Albarn and Elastica frontwoman Justine Frischmann, witnessed during a vacation in Spain. And with its self-described "disco drums, nasty guitars, and Duran Duran bass," Parklife's gender-fluid, multilingual ("You get nasty blisters/ Du bist sehr schön"), and insanely infectious lead single was tailor-made to soundtrack such dance floor hedonism.
Pulp — "Common People"
Pulp had been plugging away on the fringes of the UK's indie scene since the late 1970s, but had to wait until the Britpop explosion to progress beyond cult concern. After making their long-awaited breakthrough with 1994's His N Hers, the Sheffield outfit then joined the big league with Mercury Prize-winning 1995 follow-up Different Class and an instant classic lead single that established eccentric frontman Jarvis Cocker as the scene's ultimate satirist.
As referenced by Rosamund Pike's prime suspect in Saltburn, "Common People" was inspired by a real-life barroom encounter with a privileged art student with ambitions of roughing it with the lower class simply for fun. Cocker initially indulges the unnamed woman in the hope of some bedroom action. But he eventually admonishes her lust for social voyeurism over an exhilarating flurry of guitars, violins and erm stylophones. A true one-off.
Supergrass — "Alright"
Although the impressive sideburns suggested otherwise, Supergrass — aka frontman Gaz Coombes, bassist Mick Quinn, and drummer Danny Goffey — were only on the cusp of adulthood when they released their debut album, 1995's I Should Coco. And saving the best until the last, its fifth single brilliantly encapsulated their youthful exuberance.
Just ask Steven Spielberg. After seeing the video for "Alright," where the trio get up to various japes while traveling across North Wales on a king size bed, the director propositioned the band with a The Monkees-esque TV show, an offer politely declined. The song itself, which did enjoy a taste of Hollywood as part of the Clueless soundtrack, is similarly mischievous, combining jaunty piano riffs and summery surf guitars with joyous tales of teenage kicks ("Got some cash, bought some wheels/ Took it out 'cross the fields/ Lost control, hit a wall/ But we're alright").
Suede — "Trash"
The lure of the Britpop world was so impossible to resist that even Suede, a band renowned for their sexual ambiguity, animalistic art rock, and odes to the seedier side of life, eventually jumped on board. Indeed, while their self-titled debut and equally nihilistic follow-up Dog Man Star had seemed designed for wallowing in student bedsits, third album Coming Up was a far more celebratory affair primed for the indie disco.
The unlikely blockbuster, recorded in the wake of guitarist Bernard Butler's departure in 1994, spawned five consecutive UK Top 10 hits, the most immediate of which was lead single "Trash." An outsider anthem written about the band itself ("Oh maybe, maybe it's the clothes we wear/ The tasteless bracelets and the dye in our hair/ Maybe it's our kookiness"), the David Bowie-esque glam rocker instantly made you want to become an honorary member of Brett Anderson's gang.
The Bluetones — "Slight Return"
As with Suede and Pulp, London-four piece The Bluetones didn't automatically fit into the Britpop landscape. Mark Morriss was at the more unassuming end of the frontman spectrum, his tender, softly-sung voice a far cry from the more boorish delivery of Gallagher, Albarn, et al. And their sound owed just as much to the jangly guitar pop of Teenage Fanclub and melodic songcraft of Squeeze as the Fab Four.
But their debut album, 1996's Expecting to Fly — which knocked (What's The Story) Morning Glory? off the UK top spot — proved that the Cool Britannia era wasn't entirely averse to something a little more sensitive. Flagship single "Slight Return" (very nearly a British chart-topper, too), was undeniably its piece-de-resistance, its intimate verses and propulsive, life-affirming chorus neatly encapsulating their everyman charm.
Babybird — "You're Gorgeous"
Perhaps Britpop's most misunderstood classic, Babybird's "You're Gorgeous" isn't a declaration of undying love tailor made for a first dance. As countless newlyweds may be horrified to learn, it's the tale of a creepy photographer sweet-talking his models into suggestive poses ("You took an instamatic camera/ And pulled my sleeves around my heart") with the false promise of worldwide fame.
Also featured in Saltburn (on this occasion, musically), the feminist statement briefly turned Stephen Jones' one-man-band into a major chart force — "Don't Look Back in Anger" was the only Britpop song to sell more in 1996. Although it proved to be something of a one-hit wonder, its subversive themes and bittersweet melodies — reminiscent of Echo and Bunnymen at their commercial peak — have aged far more gracefully than most of Britpop's more straightforward serenades.
Elastica — "Connection"
There was a brief moment in 1995 when Justine Frischmann looked as though she would equal, or even eclipse, the success of her then-boyfriend Damon Albarn. Elastica's self-titled debut album reached No. 1 in the UK, becoming the second fastest-selling ever in the process. And it reached a creditable No.66 on the Billboard 200, a chart which had completely eluded Blur.
Even so, thanks to a combination of crippling drug addiction, constant lineup changes, and lost momentum, Elastica's reign proved to be short-lived. Still, they'll always have one of the scene's greatest singles runs, encompassing "Stutter," "Line-Up," "No More Heroes," and their biggest US hit, "Connection." The latter also boasts the scene's greatest intro, a ferocious ball of energy which includes squalling synths, guttural grunts, and a primitive guitar riff brazenly borrowed from Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba." Britpop never sounded more explosive.
Ocean Colour Scene — "The Day We Caught the Train"
Occupying the same unapologetically retro space as Cast, The Boo Radleys, and the Godfather of Britpop Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene were never one of the scene's most fashionable bands. But breakthrough album Moseley Shoals' mix of '60s rock, mod, and Northern Soul spawned two undeniable classics.
Firstly, there was "The Riverboat Song," a triumphant pastiche of Led Zeppelin's "Four Sticks" that became the walk-on music for Chris Evans' zeitgeist-defining TV show TFI Friday. And then the Birmingham four-piece delivered the even more majestic "The Day We Caught the Train," a nostalgic ode to escapism ("You and I should ride the coast/ And wind up in our favorite coats just miles away") complete with a carefree sun-soaked video that foreshadowed the good vibes of Summer '96. Who cares about being cool anyway?
The Verve — "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
The general consensus is that Britpop died the day Oasis released their self-indulgent third album Be Here Now in August 1997. Released just two months beforehand, The Verve's crowning glory, therefore, was something of a last hurrah, a lush orchestral affair that briefly transformed a bunch of unsung psychedelic rockers into Britain's biggest band.
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" was famously built on a sample of Andrew Loog Oldham's version of The Rolling Stones' "The Last Time"; the band were forced to relinquish all royalties as a result. But there's more to the urban hymn than those sweeping strings — its emphatic beats, for one thing, Richard Ashcroft's vocal swagger for another. Let's not forget the iconic Hoxton Street video where Ashcroft displayed a staggering unawareness of personal space. The second highest-charting Britpop track Stateside (No. 12 on the Hot 100) and only the second to receive a GRAMMY nod, too, "Bittersweet Symphony" was a majestic Britpop send-off.