The phrase from modern-day poet Jon Bon Jovi, “it’s all the same, only the names will change,” also applies to music festivals. In 2018, LeeFest in the UK transformed into Neverworld, while the Free Press Summer Fest in Texas became the In Bloom Festival. Fests have to swap names for a variety of reasons, something we at Music Festival Wizard (aka Music Festival Junkies) very much understand, although we’re definitely the only one on this list that incited an angry online wook attack. Here are the latest brand new festivals coming in 2019 and what they’ll be replacing.
Camp Anarchy (replacing Camp Punk in Drublic)
When the founder of Camp Punk in Drublic, Fat Mike from NoFx, made some tasteless comments about the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy, he became the first artist to be booted from his own festival. The band has since apologized and join the lineup this year.
Sonic Temple (replacing Rock on the Range)
Epicenter Festival (replacing Carolina Rebellion)
Danny Wimmer and partner AEG have been in a messy divorce for the better part of year over their rock-themed events. Technically, both Rock and the Range and Carolina Rebellion are gone — they’ve just been replaced with similar lineups, dates, and locations. AEG has been pushing back with more legal attacks on the new festivals, so be prepared for more possible name changes.
TBA (replacing V Festival)
After 22 years, rebel billionaire Richard Branson retired Virgin Fest, but he promises it will be back this year with a new name because of disruption and innovating and other buzzwords that CEOs like.
TBA (replacing Mutiny Festival)
With two deaths in 2018, organizers of this UK fest announced they would be changing the name out of respect for the tragedy. There’s been no updates posted on the website or social media recently.