It Ain't Hemingway

By: Brad Johnson

Summer may have come to an end, but festival season is far from over. We have handpicked five fall festivals across the United States that are definitely worth the trip. From hip-hop to EDM, to rock & roll, these festivals have something to offer for everyone. Check out our picks below.

1. Austin City Limits
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2
Oct. 7-9
Austin, TX

Named after the esteemed PBS lives music series, the Austin City Limits Festival is one of the hottest tickets in the country. The popularity lead festival organizers to add a second weekend in 2013. The lineup is always star-studded and extremely diverse, pleasing fans of all kinds. Headlining acts this year include Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, Mumford & Sons, Willie Nelson and Kendrick Lamar. There are over 100 acts on the bill, most of which will be there both weekend, making your decision a little less difficult. Austin is also known for its food, and “Austin Eats” is a big part of the festival, showcasing some of the tastiest snacks the city has to offer.

2. Roots Picnic NYC
Oct. 1-2
New York, NY

The Roots annual festival has taken place in Philadelphia the last nine years and is finally making its way to the band’s new hometown of New York City. Questlove and the rest of the gang clearly know how to pick talent, and diversity is their forte. The first night will feature John Mayer, D’Angelo, X Ambassadors and Kevin Gates. The second night will be billed as a “Love Letter to New York” and will be headlined by Wu-Tang Clan, David Byrne and Nile Rodgers, all backed by The Roots. The two-day festival will be the first ever ticketed event at Bryant Park, which is smack in the middle of Manhattan. There are also plenty of surprise guests slated to take the stage.

3. Desert Trip
Oct. 7-9
Oct. 14-16
Indio, CA

Where to even begin. The organizers behind Coachella are making history as they will bring six Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees to the same stage. The first ever Desert Trip Music Festival is comprised of The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Roger Waters and The Who. Desert Trip will take place on the same grounds as Coachella, and will surely be a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone able to get their hands on a ticket. Unlike most festivals, each act at Desert Trip will play a full concert set, which is why there are only two per night.

4. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Oct. 28-30
New Orleans, LA

New Orleans is one of the greatest live music destinations in the world, and the Voodoo Festival is a one of a kind tribute to the incredible city. In its 19th year, Voodoo will take place Halloween weekend in City Park with four unique performance areas. Each will be enhanced by interactive art and a powerfully eclectic lineup of artists, reflecting the myriad of cultures that defines the city. This year’s headliners include The Weeknd, Tool and Arcade Fire.

5. Suwannee Hulaween
Oct. 28-30
Live Oak, FL

Another great Halloween festival, Suwannee Hulaween is in its fourth year and boasts its most impressive lineup yet. The String Cheese Incident host this year Hulaween, and will be joined by My Morning Jacket, Disclosure, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, Big Gigantic, Lettuce and much more. The location, “Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park” is a truly special ground that includes a “Spirit Lake”, and “experiential artistic glowing menagerie of multimedia metalwork, painting, sculptures, light projections and live performances that morph the prehistoric-looking forest into a vivid-dream-like space”. That description alone is enough to make me buy a ticket.