April 13, 2010 - Sustainable Music: Ten Summer Music Festivals

Summer is only a few short weeks away, ready to bring beach bonfires, long days at the beach and best of all, music festivals. This summer, grab a few friends, lather on sunscreen, and head to the closest festival for a great outdoor show.  Our three part series will show you the best music festivals, best bands and how to stay safe and green.

Part 1: Where To Go

Here are our ten must-see music festivals. Picked for a combination of great acts and sustainable practices, these festivals are both fun and eco-conscience.

1. Bonnaroo

Each summer, hundreds of college kids pack into vans to road trip to the Mecca of musical festivals, Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN.  If you are looking for a festival with a great lineup, outdoor camping and a variety of activities, this is it. This year's lineup includes Dave Matthews Band, Jay Z, Kings of Leon, Weezer and Stevie Wonder with dozens of other artists.  Set of a 700-acre farm, Bonnaroo has set the standard for greening American music festivals.  This year, the festival aims to use more renewable energy, source food locally and expand the onsite compost system. For more info, visit www.bonnaroo.com.

2. Coachella

Coachella is arguably the most popular musical festival in California and with good reason.  A large venue, great bands and young enthusiastic crowd make this one of the best shows of summer.  From April 16 to April 18, a musical oasis will appear in the desert sands of Indio. This year's acts include Jay Z, Muse, Grizzly Bear, MGMT and Passion Pit, not to mention a boatload of other popular indie, dance and hip-hop artists.  Coachella also does a fantastic job of promoting sustainability and recycling by allowing attendees to trade ten used water bottles for a new free bottle and providing water for those who bring a reusable container.  One of the coolest green initiatives at Coachella is the Energy FACTory, a human-powered DJ station.  More info at www.coachella.com.

3. Outside Lands

San Francisco's Outside Lands has one of the best lineups of summer with artists Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, M.I.A., Modest Mouse and the Mars Volta.  Located in the heart of the historic Golden Gate Park, the festival will feature music, art, local food and wine tasting. This carbon-neutral festival, which will occur sometime in August (dates TBA), offers environmental talks, solar phone charging and a beach clean up, along with many other "greening" projects. More info at www.sfoutsidelands.com.

4. Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits, created to benefit the Austin Parks Foundation, consistently has great bands and atmosphere. The bands have yet to be announced for this year, but if last year's lineup is any indication (Pearl Jam, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, John Legend), it will be top notch entertainment. Held at Zilker Park in Austin, TX, the festival is carbon neutral, offers sustainable transportation and recycling, and guests can neutralize their festival travel emissions with a $3 carbon offset tag. More info at www.aclfestival.com.

5. Treasure Island

Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA, draws a vibrant crowd and top bands. This year's bands haven't been announced yet, but last year's lineup included big acts like MGMT, Mstrkrft, Girl Talk, Passion Pit, Grizzly Bear and The Flaming Lips. Sustainability measures include zero-emission transportation, biodiesel generations and recycling and composting of waste. Expect a high-energy festival in a beautiful location with great bands and little environmental impact. More info at www.treasureislandfestival.com.

6. Chicago Green Music Fest

The Chicago Green Music Fest focuses on family fun, green activities and live music.  Sustainable measures include recycling, free bike valet, using reusable materials for signs and banning the sale of bottled water.  Bands have not been announced yet but check the website closer to the event (June 26-27) for a list of bands and family activities. More info at www.greenmusicfestchicago.com.

7. Pitchfork Music Festival

Pitchfork Music Festival quickly earned a reputation for consistently having one of the best lineups of summer and this summer is no exception. From July 16 to 18, bands such as Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem and Broken Social Scene will rock out in the heart of Chicago.  Sustainable measures include recycling, hybrid transport cars, free bike parking and bio-diesel generators. More info at www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

8. Summer Camp

Summer Camp is part music festival, part camping get-together.  Held in Chillicothe, IL, on May 28, 29 and 30, Summer Camp features bands like Umphrey's McGee, The Avett Brothers and The Hood Internet. Green initiatives include recycling, composting and education initiatives. More info at www.summercampfestival.com.

9. Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza is one of the largest festivals, held in Chicago's Grant Park. This year, acts such as Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, MGMT and more will take the stage from August 6 to 8. Lolla features "Green Street", a place where visitors can learn about being green at the Honda Eco Zone, offset their carbon footprint or learn about local non-profit greening efforts. More info at www.lollapalooza.com

10. Harmony Fest

In its 32^nd year, Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA, focuses on music, art, ecology, healthy living and spirituality.  Extensive sustainability measures include an Eco Village, composting, recycling and free water refill stations. Acts include Lauryn Hill, Slightly Stoopid, Steel Pulse and Zappa Plays Zappa. More info at www.harmonyfestival.com

Danielle Stowe is a writer for Green Guide Network. She can be reached at daniellestowe@gmail.com

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