Life sucks. But music heals! Music is something I don’t believe I could live without. And I bet many could say the same thing. There’s nothing better than putting Bob Marley on while at the beach when it’s 90 degrees out, or tuning into some calming Lizzy McAlpine with the rain pouring outside. 

Being in the state which hosts hundreds of pop culture events, us Californians really have the leg up on many music lovers in other states. But you may be wondering: What’s more to it than just some concerts? The answer: Music festivals. California hosts some of the most renowned festivals known to man. But, maybe you’re the person who loves music, but hasn’t really thought of the big festival scene. Well, here’s a basic what-to-know about the music festivals in California and why California is the best state for music events.

#1: Outside Lands

Let’s start off local with a Lamorinda favorite: Outside Lands. Many Lamorinda high school students are seen frolicking over to Golden Gate Park towards the end of the summer to attend this electrifying festival. 

This festival has been in San Francisco for about 17 years, having its first festival in 2008. Originally, the festival was very hard to get approved. Golden Gate Park used to have a 7 p.m. curfew so as to not disturb the neighboring houses. However, in the end, the group who pitched the idea of the festival ended up getting their wish, creating one of the most cultural and musical events hosted in San Francisco. On its first year, the major headliners included Radiohead, Tom Petty, and Jack Johnson. Since then, Outside Lands generates on average about $60 million for the city per year (Bain).

This festival is typically held at the end of August, and normally the park sees more than 200,000 attendees. The event spans over three days, where music lovers can buy single day passes or a pass for the full three days. The tickets are broken up into tiers, where they start at a lower price, but of course as more people buy, the less tickets there are, and the higher the price. Another fun part of the festival is how they strictly feature local businesses, only pulling brands and groups created and run in Northern California. 

This year, some of the headliners include Tyler, The Creator; Hozier; Doja Cat; John Summit; and Gracie Abrams. On the site, general admission tickets for three-day passes range from $499 to $529. But hey, maybe you’re not the three-day type of person. So, once the lineup is decided, the festival will also release single-day passes which you can enjoy.

#2: Stagecoach

If you’re a country person, let’s just say this you’ll really be in tune with this festival. Haha, get it? Like a guitar? Knee-slapper right there. Ok, sorry, continuing on… 

Stagecoach is mainly definitely a favorite if you enjoy some country music. Being the sister-festival to Coachella while being held in Indio, Calif., Stagecoach is known as one of the biggest country events in the country. With many events such as CMA Music Festival and Bonnaroo being held in Tennessee, West Coasters were granted easier access as this event entered California. The first festival was held in 2007, with headliners George Strait and Kenny Chesney. Since then, country-music legends such as Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Tim McGraw and Little Big Town have made their way through this festival. 

#3: Coachella

Now let’s talk about the big boy here: Coachella. The name itself is legendary. History has been made at this festival. Remember Daft Punk’s electric performance which changed the course of electronic music forever? Check it out on Youtube. Seriously. I wasn’t even born yet, but heck, what a performance to be at! Some of the most incredible artists have played at this festival, and, let’s just say, if you were invited to play, you’ve made it to the big leagues. Now let’s talk about the lineup for 2025. Lady Gaga opened on Day 1, and as we move over to Day 2, we’ve got Green Day. And to close it out we have Post Malone. Oh, and can’t forget Travis Scott performing at midnight after Green Day!

This festival first came into play in October 1999 in Indio, Calif. The headliners featured at the opening weekend were Beck and Rage Against The Machine. However, this festival turned out to be pretty unsuccessful, especially with it being held months after Woodstock 99’. So, the festival went away for a year, returning in April 2001. They changed the month in order to escape the harsh heat of the desert. As time went on, the festival changed from a two-day festival to a three-day festival in 2010, and later in 2012 came to spread across two weekend, making it a six-day event (Britannica). From its first appearance, the attendance population has risen from a mere 25,000 to 125,000 average in the 2020s over the course of the three days at the festival.  

This festival features typically more electronic, pop, rock, and hip-hop artists. Some significant headliners include Weezer in 2001, Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2003, Coldplay in 2005, Prince and Jack Johnson in 2008, Paul McCartney in 2009, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in 2012, ACDC and Drake in 2015, Beyonce in 2018, Tame Impala and Childish Gambino in 2019, Harry Styles and Billie Eilish in 2019, and Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat in 2024 (Independent). Let’s just say, this festival is full of relevant pop culture. 

Okay, let’s talk prices. Depending on the weekend, prices do vary. Coachella also carries out similar tier pricing to the other two festivals. So, the longer the tickets are on sale, the prices tend to rise. Weekend 1 General Admission started at $649 and carried to $599 at Weekend 2. Prices however can reach up to $1,399 for the VIP passes. But hey, I guess those people are really committed to the music experience. No shame in that!