Summer Music Festival Guide: 2013 Edition

In the last five years, music festivals have become the music industry’s hottest ticket. The summer season is packed with big name festivals happening across the globe like Glastonbury, Electric Forest, Firefly Music Festival and many more.

With the season underway, fans have an array of festivals that feature electronic dance music artists to choose from. I’ve gathered a list of some of the best festivals happening this summer across the globe:

Global Gathering – July

July is a busy month for Global Gathering as it holds its festival in the U.K., Russia and Ukraine. The festivals feature monster lineups of DJs including Mat Zo, W&W, Madeon, Hardwell, Dada Life and Mark Knight to just name a few. Fans are in for unique experiences in 2013 with a complete makeover of their production. The theme of this year’s production is Cubism giving the festival a modern look that will be dynamic for fans. Global Gathering has engineered new stages that go beyond anything most festivalgoers have experienced. The stages will consist of a forgotten bunker within the festival grounds in Long Marston Airfield, a stage built from industrial freight containers and Godkitchen Fusion Cube, a traveling stage production that features more than 130 lighting fixtures and LED screens. Tickets for Global Gathering are still available here.

Exit Festival – July 10 -14

Serbia’s Exit Festival strives to bring quality entertainment while providing young fans a platform to express their beliefs. The four-day festival is held at the Petrovaradin Fortress where it not only offers music from many genres, but also features various lectures and workshops that discuss science, social issues and government policy. This summer, the festival will feature more than 500 acts including: Atoms for Peace, Bloc Party, David Guetta, Nile Rodgers, Eric Prydz, Fatboy Slim and many more.

Tomorrowland – July 26 – 28

Tomorrowland has had an extraordinary 2013. The festival sold out in less than one hour and announced that TomorrowWorld would be held in the U.S. The festival is considered to be the best dance music festival in the World because of it incredible stages, art installations and lineup. Every electronic dance music genre is represented guaranteeing entertainment for festivalgoers.  Some of the notable DJs performing during this three-day music festival are Armin Van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Tiesto, Carl Cox, Eric Prydz and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Tickets for Tomorrowland are sold out.

Wanderlust – July and August

Wanderlust Festival has seven stops across the World from Chile to Canada. The festival’s premise is wellness and awareness. This July Moby will headline the festival in California and Colorado as well as participate in lectures. Festivalgoers are encouraged to attend these lectures, yoga workshops, outdoor expeditions and hikes. Wanderlust is definitely a soul-searching experience. You can purchase tickets for Wanderlust Festivals in California, Whistler, Tremblant and Austin here.

HARD Summer – August 3 and 4

Gary Richards aka Destructo founded HARD events in 2007. Among the concerts the company produces is HARD Summer. Held in Downtown Los Angeles, HARD Summer features electronic dance music acts that are harder on the bass. The two-day festival will feature the only U.S. tour stop of Ed Banger Records’ “Ed Banger 10 Years Anniversary World Tour”. Fans have their choice of four stages and more than 40 DJs including: Tommy Trash, Knife Party, Crystal Castles, Baauer, Justice, Empire of the Sun and Zedd. Grab your tickets here.

Mysteryland – August 24

ID&T’s Mysteryland is a one-day festival whose “festival soul” breathes on the philosophy of living in a sustainable manner and educating the community on these practices. The festival has expanded to Chile and it was announced earlier this summer that the festival will expand to a historic site in New York in 2014. Mysteryland Netherlands 2013 will feature Steve Aoki, Steve Angello and Headhunterz. Purchase your tickets here.

Kaleidoscope Music Festival – August 23 – 25

Kaleidoscope Music Festival is a unique experience of music and outdoor activities. The festival is held in the beautiful Emerald Meadows in Eugene, Ore. where artists from various genres perform during the three-day festival. The 2013 lineup features electronic dance music artists like Empire of the Sun, Cosmic Gate, Bassnectar, EDX and many more. The festival encourages unity and inner peace by providing fans workshops, lectures and guided hikes. Clik here to buy your tickets.

Creamfields – August 23 – 25

With 14 years of festivals under its belt, U.K.’s Creamfields is one of the veteran dance music festivals in the world. Acts like Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers have graced their stages. Creamfields attracts more than 45,000 fans and has expanded to other countries including: Brazil, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Chile and Abu Dhabi. This year, Creamfields will feature Ferry Corsten, Madeon, Hardwell, Alesso, Pete Tong and many more. Tickets are now on sale.

North Coast Music Festival – August 30 – September 1

Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival brings together hip-hop, alternative and dance music fans in this three-day city festival.  The festival was curated by local promoters from these genres who saw the increasing interest from fans for a music festival. This year, the festival will feature the legendary Wu Tang Clan, Passion Pit and Nas. Some of the DJs performing include Afrojack, A-Trak, Big Gigantic, Seven Lions, Laidback Luke and many more. Tickets are still available; buy yours here. 

Electric Zoo – August 30 – September 1

Held in Randall’s Island Park in New York City, Electric Zoo will be celebrating its fifth year this summer with an insane lineup of electronic dance artists including Above & Beyond, Tiesto, Hardwell, Bassnectar, Dada Life, Madeon, A-Trak and many more. Over 100 DJs will perform in five stages (two of these stages will be main stages) during the Labor Day weekend. Three-day and single day passes are still available. You can purchase your tickets here.