‘Oh, when I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever’
Let’s suppose the summer of 2018 will be just as legendary as the summer of ‘69. Then, who would be our new Bryan Adams? This festival season a few fast-moving, stage-hopping musicians are working hard to provide the soon-to-be nostalgic soundtrack for the summer of 2018.
‘And if I had the choice
Yeah, I’d always wanna be there’
While we fight off our burnout symptoms with relaxing festival vibes, these festival headliners juggle through dizzying tour schedules. No hangover or sleep deprivation will hold them back. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.
With temperatures rising up to a 100 degrees Fahrenheit and sudden summer showers lurking around every corner; the 2018 artist makes her/his way through muddy backstage areas, while they plough through heaps of journalists and groupies to entertain one steaming crowd after another.
‘Those were the best days of my life’
Which names are center stage on this year’s posters? Perusing the lineups of the festivals, we notice some recurring headliners. These 8 artists are the architects of the soundtrack of the summer of 2018.
1 Dua Lipa
Roskilde (Denmark), Ruisrock (Finland), Mad Cool Festival (Spain), Tomorrowland (Belgium), Lollapalooza (France/USA), Osheaga Festival (Canada), Sziget (Hungary), Pukkelpop (Belgium), Lowlands (The Netherlands), Reading/Leeds Festival (UK), Electric Picnic (Ireland), TRSNMT Glasgow Green (Scotland).
2 Arctic Monkeys
Southside Festival (Germany), Hurricane Festival (Germany), TRSNMT Glasgow Green (Scotland), Open’er (Poland), Rockwave Festival (Greece), Rock Werchter (Belgium), NOS Alive (Portugal), Madcool Festival (Spain), Lollapalooza Festival (VS), Osheaga Festival (Canada), OYA Festival (Norway), Way Out West Festival (Sweden), Flow Festival (Finland), Sziget Festival (Hungary), Austin City Limits (USA).
3 Gorillaz
Rock Werchter (Belgium), Open’er Festival (Poland), Roskilde (Denmark), Gurtenfestival (Switzerland), Lucca Summer Festival (Italy), Monte Kobetamendi (Spain), Paleo Festival (Switzerland), Vieilles Charrues (France), Lollapalooza Festival (France), U-Park Festival (Ukraine), Park Live Festival (Russia), Sziget (Hungary), BoomTown Fair (UK), FM4 Frequency Festival (Austria), Lowlands (The Netherlands).
4 Kendrick Lamar
Øya Festival (Norway), Lowlands (The Netherlands), Sziget (Hungary), Way out West Festival (Sweden), Flow Festival (Finland), Zürich Openair (Switzerland), Pukkelpop (Belgium), Fuji Rock (Japan), Reading/Leads Festival (UK).
5 The Killers
O Son de Camino (Spain), Rock in RIo (Portugal) Open Air St. Gallen (Switzerland), Rock Werchter (Belgium), TRSNMT Glasgow Green (Scotland), Lattitude Festival (UK), Paleo Festival (Switzerland), Benicassim (Spain), Deichbrand Festival (Germany), Lollapalooza Festival (France), Panorama Music and Arts Festival (USA), Skookum Festival (Canada).
6 The War on Drugs
Ottawa Bluesfest (Canada), Festival D’ete de Quebec (Canada), Hallifax Jazz Festival (Canada), Forecastle Festival (USA), Sloss Music & Arts Festival (USA), Pitchfork Music Festival (USA), Panorama Music and Arts Festival (USA), XPoNential Music Festival (USA), Sziget (Hungary), Pukkelpop (Belgium), Lowlands (The Nederlands), Green Man Festival (UK), Open Air (Switzerland), Todays Festival (Italy), Skookum Festival (Canada), Grandoozy (USA).
7 Fever Ray
Body & Soul Festival (Ireland), Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival (Poland), Down The Rabbit Hole (The Netherlands), Roskilde (Denmark), Rock Werchter (Belgium), Exit Festival (Serbia), Melt Festival (Germany), Øya Festival (Norway), Way Out West (Sweden), Flow Festival (Finland), Sziget (Hungary), Pitchfork Festival (France), Club To Club Festival (Italy).
8 Travis Scott
Longitude (Ireland), Benicassim Festival (Spain), Super Bock Super Rock (Portugal), Lollapalooza (France/USA), Osheaga Festival (Canada), Hard Festival (USA), Pukkelpop (Belgium), Blockfest (Finland), Festival Cabaret Vert (France), Reading/Leeds Festival (UK), Austin City Limits (USA).
Obviously this is just a small selection of all the fantastic music out there. The nice thing about festivals is discovering new acts as well. For more festival inspiration check out the festival survival guide.