Skip to main content

THE TOP 5 US EDM FESTIVALS TO ATTEND THIS YEAR

EDM is taking over the world, one festival at a time

While electronic dance music has been a part of our lives for decades here in the UK, mainstream America took a little while to get on board with the music that was originally conceived on their shores. That being said, with the way the US EDM scene has exploded in recent years there’s little doubt that America knows how to party. The US is now host to more of the top EDM festivals than any other country worldwide. If you’re looking to head stateside this summer to make the most of the warm weather, here are the top 5 US EDM festivals that you may conveniently want to arrive just in time for...

EDC LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas, NV, June 17-19 2016

The Electric Daisy Carnival is one of the biggest, most impressive EDM festivals in the world, with several events being held in different countries every year. In 2016 there will be festivals in Mexico City, Las Vegas, Tokyo and right here in the UK. Unsurprisingly, the city of Las Vegas, the city of glitzy lights and impressive shows all year round – is widely known for putting on the best EDC by far. 

Not only is the EDC Las Vegas it the best EDC you can visit, but it’s also the biggest, with more than 400,000 visitors in 2015 alone. If you’re flying all the way out to Vegas, make sure you stop by one of the many, many casinos in the area. Considering how far you’re travelling, this is the perfect excuse to focus make a mega holiday out of your trip, trying your hand at blackjack once the festival ends.

ELECTRIC FOREST
Rothbury, MI, June 23-26 2016

The Electric Forest Festival in Michigan is a four day long party featuring some of the best EDM, jam bands & psychedelic artists out there. While the artists have yet to be announced, the line-up hasn’t disappointed in the past, with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Soul Clap, Pete Tong & Skrillex all taking to the stage last year.

LOLLAPALOOZA
Chicago, IL, July 28-31 2016

No music tour of the US is complete without stopping by Lollapalooza. While it may not be a pure EDM festival, the electronic and dance artists taking to the stage at Lollapalooza get bigger & better year on year. For those of you that like a good multi-genre festival, Lollapalooza is the way to go – last year festival goers were treated to the likes of Paul McCartney, Metallica, Florence + The Machine, Kaskade, Nero, DJ Snake & Alesso. If that’s not an epic line-up, we don’t know what is. 

IMAGINE
Atlanta, GA, August 27-28 2016

If you have time to head on over to Georgia this August, make sure you stop by the Imagine Music Festival. If circus acts to the sound of The Crystal Method, Lil Jon, 12th Planet, Brillz, The Glitch Mob, Dada Life & Datsik sounds like your cup of tea, you would have loved last year’s set – and that was only the second time the event has been held. 

Again, the line-up is still TBA – unsurprising considering we’re still months away from the gig. Keep an eye on this festival, because if this year is anything compared to what we saw last year, Imagine will very quickly become one of the top EDM festivals the world over.

ELECTRIC ZOO
Ney York City, NY, September 2-4 2016

A 3-day EDM festival in New York over Labor Day? What’s not to like!? Last year the Electric Zoo had 140 different DJ sets over six different stages, including performances from the Chemical Brothers, Alesso, Above & Beyond, Grammatik, Alison Wonderland, Mako, Bassjackers, Griz and Robin Schulz.

The festival organisers outdid themselves last year, improving upon what was already a truly impressive festival. While we don’t have the line-up just yet, we expect to find out just what’s going to be making Electric Zoo 2016 an event to remember sometime around May 2016.