Run The Trap’s Top Festivals Of 2018

Though festivals like EDC, Ultra Music Fest, Coachella, Shambala, and ACL continue to be the leading destinations for festival goers, there’s a ton of festivals that really upped the ante this year. With lineups dropping left and right and festival season quickly approaching, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite festivals of 2018.

10. Hard Summer

Photo: HSMF2018

This year Hard Summer delivered another hot lineup to kick the summer into overdrive.  Marshmello, Zeds Dead B2B Jauz, Troyboi, Rick Ross, Travis Scott, Diplo B2B Dillon Francis, Trippie Redd, and Virtual Self are just some of the many performances that lit up their 2018 lineup for an all-out party at The Speedway in Fontana on August 4th and 5th.  Every year this festival continues to get better and better with hilarious trailers leading up to the big event and 2018 was their best to date.

9. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience

It doesn’t get any better than spending Halloween Weekend in New Orleans for Voodoo Music + Arts Expeience.  Hosted at City Park on October 26th-28th, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience offered a wide range of top-notch music performances from Travis Scott, Mumford & Sons, Arctic Monkeys, Odesza, A Perfect Circle, Modest Mouse, Zeds Dead, Troyboi and over 65 more artists.   From amazing food and music to even better vibes, Voodoo is more than just a music festival, it’s a full-on experience that’s worth every penny.

8. Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival

This year Bonnaroo threw down one huge party in Manchester, Tennessee on June 7th-10th.  Set on a 700-acre farm, Bonnaroo’s lineup featured some of the best in music with Eminem, The Killers, Muse, Bassnectar, Khalid, Alt-J, Dua Lipa, Alison Wonderland, Virtual Self and more across several stages.  With plenty of food trucks, lots of fun activities, a ton of camping options and music from every genre, Bonnaroo once again left its mark in 2018.

7. Electric Forest

Photo: Electric Forest

Electric Forest is worth the trip.  Spanning over two consecutive weekends, Electric Forest transformed the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan into an electronic dreamscape of positive vibes and good music.  Featuring a slightly different lineup for both weekends, Electric Forst upped their production and lighting and provided a huge lineup with Bassnectar, Griz, Keys N Krates, Malaa, The Glitch Mob and more.  With an already sold out weekend planned for 2019, Electric Forest continues to be one of the top festivals for music lovers to experience.

6. Lost Lands

Photo: Tessa Paisan

Excision’s Lost Lands Music Festival is a bass-face paradise filled with headbangers riding high on prehistoric vibes and never-ending bass drops.  Nestled in Thornville, Ohio, Lost Lands offered over 1,00,000 watts of bass, two full-size main stages, and life-size dinosaur replicas throughout the grounds.  With performances from Excision, Flux Pavilion, Ganja White Night, Nero, Rezz, G Jones, Funtcase and more, Lost Lands broke necks left and right and had bass enthusiasts in a state of pure bliss.  With each year this festival has gotten better and we’re looking forward to what they’ve got in store for us in 2019.

5. Outside Lands

Photo: Josh Withers

Outside Lands had one of the craziest lineups of the year.  Held at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on August 10th- 12th, Outside Lands did the unthinkable and managed to bring Janet Jackson, The Weeknd, Florence + The Machine, Odesza, Bon Iver, N.E.R.D, Portugal. The Man and more together for an unforgettable music experience packed with good food and even better vibes.  Their diverse lineup packed a serious punch and we can’t wait to see what they pull together next year.

4. Electric Zoo

This year Electric Zoo celebrated their 10th anniversary in style over labor day weekend in NYC.   Transforming Randall’s Island Park into every festival goers dream, E Zoo’s milestone lead to one of their best festivals to date.  Featuring an superb lineup, E Zoo rang in the big 10 with some of the heaviest hitters in the game.  Spread across 5 stages, Virtual Self, Zeds Dead, Illenium, G Jones, Troyboi, Mija, k?d, Medasin, Krane, Space Jesus, and Anna Lunoe threw down with over 50 other artists for an unforgettable weekend.

3. Lights All Night

Everything is bigger in Dallas, Texas and this year Lights All Night (LAN) ended 2018 on a high note and kicked up their festival game by offering an experiential and visual art experience in addition to their insane lineup.   Featuring Diplo, Excision, Gucci Mane, Kaskade, Rezz and Tiesto for their headliners LAN continued the party with Ekali, Sofi Tukker, What So Not, Mr. Carmack, Nora En Pure, Eprom, Bleep Bloop, 1788-L and more across their five immersive stages.  As the festival continues to evolve and grow, we’re ready to see what they have in store for us next year for the 10th anniversary.

2. Buku Music + Art Project

Photo: BUKU Music + Art Project

Since it’s conception, Buku Music + Art Project has continued to prove itself as one of a kind.  Calling New Orleans home, Buku Music + Art Project has consistently delivered forward-thinking lineups that feature the freshest talent in the game.  Unique stages, authentic New Orleans food, and incredible art installations are some of the many reasons why this festival continues to be at the top of our list for music lovers to experience around the world.

After an awe-inspiring 2018, 2019’s lineup promises to be the best one yet with Lana Del Rey, Excision, RL Grime, Dog Blood, Griz, A$AP Rocky and more scheduled to take over on March 22 and 23.  Snag your tickets now and enjoy Buku Music + Art Project next year.

1. Freaky Deaky Texas

Photo: Rukes

This year Freaky Deaky Texas made its spooktacular introduction to the EDM world in epic fashion on October 27 and 28 in Houston, Texas.  Leading with a huge lineup that featured DJ Snake, Porter Robinson, Kaskade and Excision, Freaky Deaky Texas continued to exceed lineup expectations with Alison Wonderland, Slander, Boombox Cartel, Chris Lake, Zomboy, Nora En Pure and many more artists spread across four massive stage setups.  Between an abundance of light shows, wild visuals, and never-ending entertainment this Halloween festival made a serious splash that we hope continues next year.

STAY IN THE KNOW! FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY

---

Read more from author Peach. Follow her on Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Run The Trap’s Top Festivals Of 2018