Concerts You HAVE to See This Summer

Three months. Three concerts. Three music festivals. Three+ reasons why you shouldn’t miss any of them.

If you’re one of the lucky few who have extra time AND extra money this summer, you might be wondering where to spend them – and what a better choice than concerts, the essential millennial summer pastime?  Whether you are looking for a place to hang out with friends (while engaging in, ahem, questionable activities), or simply for an opportunity to listen to your favorite artists perform live, the next three months sound incredibly exciting.  With so many options in sight, it might be hard to make a choice – so that’s where I step in: here are six suggestions that I came across and gladly endorsed, which should suit both unadulterated melomaniacs and those in search of an unforgettable festival experience:

Concerts

1. Gorillaz

Various dates and locations across North America, starting July 6th in Québec City, QC.

If you’re following the “band” on Facebook, you probably remember March 20th: that was the day Damon Albarn (or whoever his social media manager is) started teasing his followers by suddenly changing both the cover and the profile pictures on the official page. The images (an innocuous reinterpretation of the Test Card F, and an unexpressive black and white wavy pattern) sent the fan-base into frenzy – this was the first time in years they posted anything other than logos, so it wasn’t long before most people realized that something was up. Indeed, after a seven-year hiatus, Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are finally touring again to promote their newest album Humanz, and given the Brits’ history of (rather long) breaks, you definitely don’t want to skip this one.

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• Humanz is an incredible album. If you don’t want to take my word for it, give it a listen, or check out some of the critics’ reviews. Not only is the overall vibe more dance-y and fun than what we’ve been used to – though somehow still loyal to the sound that made the band famous – but the collaborations (Noel Gallagher, anyone?) are to die for.
• Even if you’re not a huge fan of Humanz, you should at least go for their older stuff, which is bound to come up at some point in the performance. Remember the times when you were singing along to Clint Eastwood, Feel Good Inc. or On Melancholy Hill? Of course you do. For many of us, it wasn’t even that long ago (*cough* right now *cough*).

Gorillaz always knew how to turn a concert into an unforgettable experience through amazing visuals and sound effects. But remember, their last concert was seven years ago. Who knows what they can accomplish with 2017 technology? In fact, they already released a really cool augmented reality app to promote Humanz, so if that isn’t enough to spark your curiosity, I don’t know what is.

2. Roger Waters

Various dates and locations across North America, starting May 26th in Kansas City, MO.

Although Pink Floyd remains one of the most important bands in music history, I must admit that I don’t know how popular the former frontman is anymore, at least within our age group. Being the Pink Floyd aficionado that I am, I got to see him live twice, most recently at Desert Trip in Indio, CA last October. The show he put on there is exactly the show he’s performing on tour this summer – and trust me, it’s something you shouldn’t miss even if the only contact you’ve ever had with Pink Floyd was Eric Prydz’s 2007 remix of Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two. If that’s the case, then you guessed it: I am silently judging, and you have no idea what you’re missing out on.

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• For the first time in, well, forever, you’ll have a chance to hear songs not only from The Wall (as was the case with Waters’ previous tour, The Wall Live), but from Pink Floyd’s other albums, too. The official name of the tour is Us + Them, which already hints to The Dark Side of the Moon. The show, however, combines a variety of PF highlights: Animals and Wish You Were Here are played almost in their entirety, while the selections from TDSOTM and The Wall are incredibly well-chosen: not even the most passionate of fans can complain about the setlist, which basically revisits all of the band’s most praised songs.
• The show is in itself an unforgettable experience. Waters is known for his attention to detail, and for sparing no expense in designing his shows. From stunning visuals projected on a giant wall, to oversized pigs flying over the concert-goers’ heads, to tearing the stage apart (and re-building it by the end of the show), nothing is off-limits – and nothing is boring.
• This one’s for all the audiophiles out there: of all the concerts that I’ve ever been to, not one could match up to Waters’ in terms of sound quality. The instruments, as heard on what must be an eight-channel system, sound pristine; when combined with surreal audio effects and the aforementioned visuals, you are guaranteed to be taken on a trip – from the maternal womb, to an aimless flight through outer space, and even the center of a WW2 battlefield. Just make sure you’re (relatively) sober, otherwise the experience might seem a bit too real.

3. Hans Zimmer

Various dates and locations across North America, starting July 13th in Dallas, TX.

If Hans Zimmer’s name sounds only vaguely familiar, that’s because he’s not exactly a Billboard Top 100 artist. This doesn’t mean he’s anything but a master of his trade, which is composing mind-blowing soundtracks for equally fantastic movies such as Interstellar or Inception. He has won one Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Grammys, along with several other important distinctions.  Why is he here, then, if he works in the movie-industry? Hans Zimmer’s work is more than just that – in fact, it is perhaps one of the most delicate examples of artistic expression you’ll find these days. If you don’t believe me, check it out, and imagine it performed live by an orchestra. Yeah, I want to experience that too.

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• He was touring last year, and the majority of his shows were sold out. Not only were they widely critically acclaimed, with important publications describing them as a “whirlwind of interlocking dreams” (The Guardian), but they were also enjoyed by the non-expert public –especially given Hans Zimmer’s friend network, which allowed him to invite renowned surprise guests (such as Pharrell Williams at Coachella in April). Who knows? Maybe you, too, can get more than what you pay for.
• This can easily become a family-bonding activity. Unlike more marketable shows, Hans Zimmer’s is guaranteed not to turn into the drug and alcohol-drenched mess that’s often a given in the case of millennial staples. I’m not pointing fingers, but I’m pretty sure your mom will be happier in a concert hall than in a sweaty, intoxicated crowd. Besides, the setlist’s got something for everyone: The Dark Knight trilogy for you, Rain Man and Gladiator for your parents, and The Lion King for your younger siblings – and for your inner Circle of Life-singing (screaming?) child.
• At this point you might think that I’m obsessed with visuals (which I am, #sorrynotsorry), but Hans Zimmer collaborated with Marc Brickman for the lighting, so I couldn’t overlook this aspect. This guy worked with Pink Floyd (see the pattern here?), and if that’s not convincing enough, he’s also responsible for lighting the Empire State Building. I don’t know about you, but I can only imagine what two great minds – and two great arts – can accomplish when put together.

Festivals

1. Firefly Music Festival

June 15 – June 18. Dover, DE.

What are the big acts?

• Glass Animals, Twenty One Pilots, Flume, Franz Ferdinand, The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper, Bob Dylan, Muse, The Shins, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Phantogram, Capital Cities, The Naked and Famous

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• Although in the past years, Firefly might have been an alt/indie rock-lover’s paradise, this year there seems to be something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to dance to The Weeknd’s critically-acclaimed hits from Starboy, immerse yourself in Flume’s otherworldly tracks from Skin (which, IMHO, is the best album of the year), or relive the 70s through Bob Dylan and his darling harmonica, you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your wishes.
• You can afford it. While the 4-day GA passes go for $309, the organizers have found a clever way to avoid a shortage of employees by selling discounted tickets at the price of $140 to those who agree to work at the venue. You get paid for your work, too! It’s true that you won’t get the full festival experience, but hey: if all you want to do is listen to your favorite artists, it might be worth it.  And who knows? Your fellow teammates could be super-nice, and the summer friendships you’ve been looking forward to might be just around the corner.
• It might be one of the few festivals where you will be able to enjoy a fantastic line-up without dying from overheating. Not only is the festival set on a really big site, which rules out the possibility of (exceedingly) annoying crowds, but the date/location combo even surprised festival-goers with some showers in the past. And even if it doesn’t rain, the organizers always make sure to set up numerous air-conditioned spaces across the grounds, so you’ll never be too far from an icy haven.

2. Panorama NYC

July 28 – July 30. New York, NY.

What are the big acts?

• Frank Ocean, Solange, Tame Impala, Alt-J, Nine Inch Nails, A Tribe Called Quest, MGMT, Tyler the Creator, Nicolas Jaar, Belle & Sebastian, Glass Animals, Cashmere Cat

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• This one might be a bit biased, but the line-up is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. If you’re as enthusiastic about alternative/indie as I am, then you’re definitely excited to see Alt-J and Tame Impala headlining the second day. And even if these two aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, you’ve got promising names representing virtually all genres: Frank Ocean and Tyler The Creator for rap, Nicolas Jaar and Mura Masa for electronic, and gifted up-and-coming acts such as Bishop Briggs or Honne.
• Even though this is only the festival’s second year, it has already been deemed a threat to one of its bigger counterparts, Governors Ball. Last year, the organizers had to petition Bill de Blasio to postpone Panorama, because they were afraid that people wouldn’t buy as many tickets. In my opinion, that is a sign of validation, and coming from the guys behind Gov Ball, it can only be a good sign.
• It’s not just about the music. The NYC art scene is celebrated all around the world; add to this the fact that the organizers behind Panorama are the same people that came up with Coachella (which is well-known for its artworks), and it is only natural that you’ll find something on the festival grounds to feed the artist in you. Panorama’s highlight is The Lab, which is an interactive space exhibition and a 360 VR theater. Prepare your cameras: The Lab is known to offer a lot of Instagram-worthy backdrops.

3. Lollapalooza

August 3 – August 6. Chicago, IL.

What are the big acts?

• Chance the Rapper, The Killers, Muse, Arcade Fire, The XX, Lorde, Blink-182, DJ Snake, Alt-J, Cage the Elephant, Foster the People, The Shins, Liam Gallagher, Rae Sremmurd, Migos, Tove Lo, Vance Joy, Milky Chance, and many others

Why you shouldn’t miss it:

• I’m not going to rave about the headliners – you and I both know that Lollapalooza has already established itself as the quintessential summer festival in the US, so obviously, the organizers have everything it takes to put together a jaw-dropping line-up. What surprised me this year was the quality of the mid and low tier – you know, those bands/artists that only get the medium-sized and small fonts on the official poster. Check out the names that show up once you get past Liam Gallagher: Crystal Castles are basically the king and queen of electropunk, Mac DeMarco has one of the best voices of his generation, and the guys in London Grammar, though MIA since 2014, are apparently making a strong comeback.
• Even if you don’t love the music, Lolla’s too good not to go to. Although the line-up is almost sure not to leave you with much time for additional entertainment, there are plenty of things to experience on the festival grounds. First of all, Lolla is famous for its culinary scene, so if I were you I’d check out some typical festival food, curated by celebrity chef Graham Elliott. Some recurrent highlights include the Lobster Corndog and the Rainbow Waffle Cone – feeling hungry yet? After you’re done stuffing your face (no judgment, really), head over to Lolla’s one and only art market which sells anything from posters to houseware and apparel designed by artists from all around the world. Also, the hipster in you can rejoice: it’s all eco-friendly, fair-trade, and/or artisanal, so you know what that means – better start saving up, because even though your shopping spree is bound to burn a hole in your pocket, you’ll still want to go on it.