Summer music festivals

Vans Warped Tour is a summer staple in the Bay Area. The concert has taken place at Shoreline Amphitheater the past two years.

Juhi Gupta

Vans Warped Tour is a summer staple in the Bay Area. The concert has taken place at Shoreline Amphitheater the past two years.

BFD

Headliners:

Foster the People

M.I.A

Fitz and The Tantrums

Phantogram

New Politics

When: June 1st

Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View

Hosted by 105.3, an alternative radio station in the Bay Area, BFD is a great one-day festival for those looking to experience a variety of tunes. The acts are spaced out throughout the day and are located at different stages. Attendees can enjoy headliners, lesser known acts, and a number of local bands from San Francisco and Oakland which play at a separate stage. The festival also features an autograph booth, allowing fans to get up close and personal with their favorite artists at scheduled times for signings.

Warped Tour

Headliners:

All Time Low

Bowling for Soup

The Maine

We the Kings

3OH!3

Breathe Carolina

The Summer Set

When:  June 21st

Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View

A summer staple since the festival began in 1995, Vans Warped Tour makes stops all over the US and brings together artists from a multitude of genres. Everything from indie to rock to metal bands play this festival, offering up a variety of music for guests to enjoy. The festival also has its own iPhone app to help attendees keep track of showtimes of the 59 artists playing to ensure no one misses their favorite band.

Outside Lands

Headliners:

Friday

Kanye

Arctic Monkeys

Saturday

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Sunday

The Killers

Tiesto

Death Cab for Cutie

When: August 8-10

Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

One of the biggest music festivals in Northern California, Outside Lands is a three-day event in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The venue allows concert-goers a city experience before entering the wooded park which features four stages. Each day, new artists take the stage giving attendees the dilemma of deciding what days to choose and which artists to watch. However, this festival isn’t just about the music. Concessions are unique, as many local eateries cater the event with an abundance of gourmet food. Even though Outside Lands takes place during the summer, a tip is to make sure to bring at least a light jacket because of San Francisco’s classic foggy weather. Parking is also extremely limited around the park, so it is important to consider purchasing an additional shuttle pass or using public transportation.