The scene is set for the music festival season of 2022
By Funnyvot Auditorial - - 5 Mins Read
As governments relax the rules on public gatherings and open borders, more large and small events – complete with international performers – are announcing their impending return to the stage.
Over the course of the pandemic, music enthusiasts all over the world have had their expectations cruelly shattered, with optimistic announcements leading to postponements, and depressingly predictable cancellations. It's difficult to blame concertgoers for their skepticism. This set of announcements, though, feels different because of vaccination rates and governments' determination to treat the coronavirus as endemic.
Coachella
When: Friday, April 15–Sunday, April 17; Friday, April 22–Sunday, April 24
Where: Indio, California
What to know: Coachella is returning for the first time in three years. That's a big thing, because the festival is regarded as the ultimate festival and serves as the official start to the mainstream festival season (despite having turned into more of a luxury party over the years).
The event was one of the first to close after the pandemic broke out in 2020, with plans to reschedule for October 2020 before the situation became untenable and it was canceled once more in June. Regardless, it's back with a new lineup of A-list celebrities.
Headliners: Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, and Ye
Beale Street Music Festival
When: Friday, April 29-Sunday, May 1
Where: Memphis, Tennessee
What to know: The Beale Street Music Festival is the formal start of Memphis in May, the city's yearly festival. A barbeque cooking contest, a marathon, and a "international week" honoring the art and culture of a foreign country (this year's being Ghana) are all part of the month-long festival. Beale Street, on the other hand, is the place to be for music fans.
It is usually hosted at Tom Lee Park, but due to construction, it will be moved to The Fairgrounds in Liberty Park this year. Beale Street is attracting a handful of superstars and upstarts from rock, country, folk, and rap to the so-called birthplace of rock 'n' roll for the first time since 2019.
The festival notes that it will respect any precautions taken by traveling artists and will follow any COVID-19 guidelines imposed by the county at the time of the event, if any exist.
Headliners: Foo Fighters, Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Van Morrison, and Weezer
Shaky Knees
When: Friday, April 29–Sunday, May 1
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
What to know: This one is aimed for rock aficionados. Every year in Atlanta's Central Park, the Southern festival is a rare modern event dedicated to everything rock music. This year, it's also committed to a lineup of heritage acts as headliners, as well as a few times throughout the bill. You'll need proof of vaccination or a negative test to get anywhere near the pit, though.
Shaky Knees is more than just a music festival. With on-site activations like cell phone charging stations, fun photo booths, official festival merch, and screen prints of your favorite bands, there’s something for everyone.
Headliners: Green Day, My Morning Jacket, and Nine Inch Nails
Lovers and Friends
When: Saturday, May 14–Sunday, May 15
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
What to know: Whether you're all for nostalgia because it makes you feel old, or you're anti-capitalist because everything you grew up with is being re-commodified and sold back to you, we're living in the age of nostalgia festivals designed just for millennials.
Lovers and Friends, presented by Snoop Dogg, Bobby Dee, and Live Nation, is a brand-new event that celebrates hip-hop and R&B classics from the 1990s and 2000s. It was originally scheduled to debut in 2020, so it's safe to say it's a hotly awaited event. However, there are currently no details on what health and safety regulations may be in place.
Headliners: Ashanti, Ciara, Ja Rule, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Nelly, TLC, and Usher
Hangout Fest
When: Friday, May 20–Sunday, May 22
Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama
What to know: Not every music festival also doubles as a massive beach bash. Hangout Fest is held on the Gulf Shores beachfront, with waves breaking right behind the stages and opportunities to soak up the sun by playing volleyball, swimming, lounging in the sand, or roller blading in between sets. To add to the cheerful feelings, the event has a mostly pop roster.
The festival's COVID-19 standards have yet to be announced, however it may issue vaccine or negative test requirements closer to the day.
Headliners: Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, and Tame Impala