Music Festivals This Summer in Chicago

It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s Lollapalooza. You got to hand it Perry Farrell, the bizarre and quirky visionary who reinvented the American music festival with Lollapalooza, first taking it on the road in the last century and then putting down stakes in Chicago. Despite a firm homebase in the Windy City, Lolla hasn’t forgotten its traveling roots with editions in South America and Europe.

For fans of punk, alt rock, and artists you won’t see on other festival lineups, Riot Fest should be on your bucket list. Started as a showcase festival in Chicago in 2005, Riot Fest has transformed into a multi-day outdoor festival and has spawned editions in Toronto and Denver. The original in Chicago’s Humbolt Park remains the best and most solid lineup of the bunch.

Mamby on the Beach, Chicago’s only beachside summer music festival takes place on the grassy fields and sand-swept coastline of Oakwood Beach in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. The two-day boutique festival features not only a stunning view of Chicago’s skyline and the shimmering waters of Lake Michigan, but also the best in indie, electronic, and hip-hop.

As one of the leading voices in the musical landscape, you would guess right that Pitchfork knows how to throw an outstanding festival. The Chicago based festival takes place in Union Park. You may not recognize most of the names on the lineup poster, but if it's curated by Pitchfork, then these artists are definitely worth checking out.

With a new home at Addams/Medil Park, the five year old Spring Awakening Festival continues to supply Chicago with a summertime burst of EDM cacophony. There’s over 100 artists on the bill supported by trippy stage production like fireworks, smoke plumes, and pyrotechnics.

North Coast Music Festival is a collaboration of independent promoters in Chicago that have presented everything from small shows to selling out large scale concerts. Summer's Last Stand descends upon Union Park during Labor Day Weekend with the world's electronic, house, jam-band, indie, and hip-hop communities.

Chicago’s biggest weekend for country music returns with all the genre superstars that has made it famous. 50,000 fans take to the scenic shores of Lake Michigan on Northerly Island for three days packed with music and outdoor fun.

From chilled out late night campfire jams to beat busting dance shows, the party at Summer Camp goes long past the end of scheduled performances. “Scampers” can apply to become camp counselors which means free tickets, free camping, and free beer in exchange for being an official party ambassador to the other attendees. Our resident festival expert calls Summer Camp — “The best festival of the Memorial Day Weekend.”