Fall Festival Feature: Please Don’t Stop The Music

Oh my god. Did Lollapalooza and Outside Lands just come and go without me even looking up from Netflix? I guess it’s time to put down the 40, put on some pants (or jorts or whatever), and head out to these fall events that are sometimes out-hyped by their summer counterparts. Here are my choices for three can’t-miss festivals to look forward to in the coming months.

Decibel Festival

September 23 – 27
Seattle, WA
dbfestival.com/

While Bumbershoot, with its mostly-decent weather and Space Needle views might get all the press, those in the know often visit the Emerald City for this more unique sampling of artists. Spread out over the course of four days at a handful of venues, Decibel Festival has the format of SXSW rather than a confined festival: Your ticket gets you entrance into venues, boat parties, after hours spots, and art exhibits.

Thievery Corporation, Cyril Hahn, John Tejada and Dan Deacon might draw crowds at venues throughout Seattle, but there will be more than just music and art that weekend. More than 15 workshops and lectures on audio and visual technology and the music industry are slated, making Decibel’s demeanor that of a serious music event instead of simply an excuse for teenyboppers to romp around in daisy dukes.

My picks: Shiba San, J. Phlip, Roman Flugel

CRSSD Fest

October 10 – 11
San Diego, CA
crssdfest.com/

CRSSD’s inaugural festival might have occurred fewer than six months ago, but this two-day music event on downtown San Diego’s waterfront caused quite a splash. Hailed as “Coachella’s hot young sister” by Magnetic Mag, the March CRSSD Fest brought a host of electronic artists who don’t typically make it all the way to the West Coast.

This festival packs a heavy bill in two-thirds of the time as similar events. Headliners include The Flaming Lips, TV On The Radio, Jamie XX, Todd Terje, Maya Jane Coles, and that’s just scratching the surface.

My recommendations: Bob Moses, Gallant, Andhim

Voodoo Festival

October 30 – November 1
New Orleans, LA
worshipthemusic.com/

Music, dressing up and trying to party hard while not appropriating an ancient religion with African roots? Sign me up! This yearly all-ages festival takes place around Halloween weekend in New Orleans, so the three-day bash is aptly named.

Florence + The Machine, Modest Mouse, Girl Talk, Ozzy Osbourne, Deadmau5 provide an upbeat headlining with something for probably everyone. But seriously, Third Eye Blind is playing, so I think we’ve covered every type of human who could be interested in this festival.

My picks: Wax Motif, Hundred Waters, Django Django