Festivals AF: 10 Music Events To See This Summer

New Orleans’s Essence Festival (July 5-8)

Known as “the party with a purpose,” held in New Orleans, La., this annual festival offers everything from empowerment to education and always a good time. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this festival delivers great food, wares from around the country, and all the best headliners. Grab your squad and “laissez les bon temps rouler” with performances from the likes of Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. Learn more HERE.

Detroit’s Mo Pop (July 28-29)

Located at Detroit’s 20-acre green oasis, West Riverfront Park, this event boasts activities galore that include custom dart blaster gameplay and the Craft Bazaar, which featuring an assortment of handmade goods from dozens of the Motor City’s most talented craftspeople. With plenty of great food vendors and plenty more to drink, festivalgoers are encouraged to take advantage of the waterfront bikeways and people movers. This year’s lineup includes Bon Iver, Vince Staples, and St. Vincent to name a few.

Learn more HERE.

New York’s Panorama (July 27-29)

Panorama, held in New York City off the coast of Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx at Randall’s Island Park, this event is a three-day music festival, run by the company behind Coachella. In its third year, Panorama is chock full of amazingly talented artists. With EDM (electronic dance music) ranging from house to indie to soulful, there’s something for everybody to get their life! More info HERE.

Afropunk Fest in Brooklyn (August 25-26)

Afropunk is more than a festival; Afropunk is a lifestyle-- an influential community of millennials of all walks of life and musical tastes creating history. The festival celebrates the intersections between different music genres and the cultures that surround them. Deemed “the world’s #1 destination for alternative Black culture,” Afropunk touts major headliners, live bands and acts including the extraordinary “Battle of the Bands” and is an experience like none other.

Afropunk Fest in Atlanta (October 13-14)

This year, Afropunk presents Carnival of Consciousness Atlanta Edition 2018. Feel the music, free your mind, and enjoy an amazing lineup of revolutionary icons and emerging talent. Afropunk Atlanta also will host the Spinthrift Market, an array of one-of-a-kind jewelry, natural health and beauty products, apparel, books and art inspired by Africa.

Chicago’s Lollapalooza (August 2-5)

This four-day music festival has occurred at the historic Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois since 2005. Lollapalooza actually began in 1991 as a daylong concert, yet over the years has seen a few evolutions. This year's lineup embraces hip-hop more than ever with a range of weekend acts spanning the generations-- from the legendary LL Cool J to contemporary artists like Travis Scott, Logic, Lil Uzi Vert and Tyler the Creator.

Ohio’s Breakaway in Columbus (August 24-26)

With its biggest lineup to date, Breakaway Music Festival returns to Columbus’ Mapfre Stadium and is expanding into a three-day festival experience. The multi-genre outdoor jam will also feature a slew of stars in the making, like Jaden Smith, and headliners like Migos, and Kaskade with Khalid as special guests.

Nevada’s Burning Man (August 26-September 3)

Burning Man is not a festival, but “a community. A temporary city. A global cultural movement…” as cited by the organizers. With no sponsored entertainment, participants are free to create their own experience in collaborative, inclusive, and creative activities. Led by their ten practical principles, partakers are as limitless as their imaginations through art, performance, and full-on creation.

New York’s Electric Zoo (August 31-September 2)

This three-day celebration and electronic music festival, EZoo (as called by festivalgoers) combines unique themes and concepts, delivering high-impact moments to uplifting house vibes. The New York event boasts everything from lighting and laser to stages and street art. EZoo gives different effects and experiences that will make fans dance to the best of Trance, Bass, and Electro House.

Atlanta’s One Musicfest (September 8-

Tons of artists are heading to Atlanta, Ga. for the ninth incarnation of One Musicfest 2018, a two-day celebration of live music. Nas, Cardi B and Miguel are slated to headline, while additional performers include Jeezy, T.I., George Clinton with Parliament, Big Sean, Common with his super group August Greene, Kelis, Brandy, Jessie Reyez, DJ Nabs’ ATL Crunk Set featuring YoungBloodz, Ying Yang Twins, Eastside Boyz, Trillville, Kilo Ali and DJ Taz, and a handful of others.