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Music Festivals We Can't Wait to Attend Again

Photo Courtesy: [Douglas Mason/Getty Images]

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020, we were all hoping for things to get back to normal sooner rather than later. We certainly adapted — by altering social plans, pushing travel dates back, and carefully following newly implemented restrictions and quarantine measures. That's not to say anything was easy; it's been a challenging time, and we've all been looking forward to resuming some semblance of our "normal" lives.

Music lovers in particular have been looking forward to attending the in-person festivals that were simply not possible with pandemic health restrictions in place. On the flip side, virtual concerts and live-streamed events have become much more pervasive. Folks have learned how to "rock out without going out" as they wait for COVID cases to subside and for famous music festivals to make their triumphant return.

Most of us have realized how resilient we can be in the midst of the pandemic, and the cavalcade of freedoms we took for granted in the past. Rest assured, we're heading to the following concerts ASAP once the pandemic is quelled.

_{Editor's Note: For information on the latest pandemic-related guidelines, be sure to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites, as well as federal, state, tribal, and local policies, so that you're following the most up-to-date requirements regarding mask-wearing and gathering in both public and private spaces.}

Rolling Loud

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According to the official Rolling Loud website, "WE BACK OUTSIDE!" — in several places along the East Coast, to boot. Both the Miami and New York 2021 lineups, which take place at the Hard Rock Stadium and Queens' Citi Field, respectively, are nothing short of a who's-who of today's hip-hop. This is understandable, as Rolling Loud does bill itself as "the world's largest hip-hop festival." Even California is set to see its own Rolling Loud rolling in at San Bernardino's NOS Event Center by the end of this year.

Understandably, tickets for both the California and Miami shows are already sold out, and NYC's go on sale June 11. It might be best to hop on one of the waitlists if you dream about seeing performers like 50 Cent, Travis Scott, Post Malone and Kid Cudi in the flesh.

Bonnaroo

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The first music festival to officially release set dates and a confirmed lineup for 2021, Bonnaroo's 2021 lineup includes Megan Thee Stallion, Tyler the Creator, Foo Fighters, Lana del Rey, Run the Jewels, Lizzo and Tame Impala — just to name a few. The festival's organizers have made it pretty clear that they'll continue to stay in contact with public health officials and closely monitor the COVID-19 situation as the festival's September start date gets closer, just in case they need to make any necessary adjustments. But as of now, it's all systems go and the excitement is bubbling over for eager "Bonnaroovians."

Riot Fest

Photo Courtesy: [Katja Ogrin/Getty Images]

Set to take place in mid-September, the Chicago-based festival will likely resemble Riot Fests of years past with a mix of hip-hop, rock and other alternative acts throughout the weekend. The event's organizers haven't announced any specific COVID-19 protocols or precautions at this time, as they're planning to reassess and develop further health and safety guidelines once they have a better idea what the situation looks like closer to September. They've acknowledged that "Entry may be subject to vaccination, testing, masking, or social distancing requirements."

In the meantime — while you're getting prepared to riot with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, NOFX, Pixies, Devo and Andrew W.K. — why not rock out to the official festival playlistto pump yourself up?

Outside Lands

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Golden Gate Park is getting ready to vibe on Halloween weekend. Festival organizers have acknowledged the challenges that COVID-19 could pose and remain understanding of potential risks, which is why the open-air event will have certain safety measures in place to ensure everyone in attendance stays protected and gets the full festival experience. Just thinking about head-bobbing to The Strokes and Glass Animals or feeling the bass pounce when J Balvin takes the stage is enough to get us excited, and we'll gladly don our masks for the opportunity.

Railbird

Photo Courtesy: [Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images]

More than just a music festival, Railbird wouldn't be Railbird without a whole lot of bourbon. Celebrating the spirit of Kentucky, the highly curated bourbon experiences and the up-close culinary demonstrations at this event offer some extra-special appeal to the weekend experience. But, of course, the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Billy Strings, Black Puma, My Morning Jacket and Leon Bridges provide a perfect soundtrack to all the sipping and sampling going on over the course of the two-day festival that's set to run from Saturday, August 28, to Sunday, August 29.

And as the festival's name suggests — a "railbird" is a horse-racing enthusiast — you can get in on even more action and wager on off-track betting. The venue, Keeneland, is a famous racing track and auction center.

Summerfest

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A few of the original headliners have had to back out due to scheduling conflicts, but it doesn't matter who you want to see most or even what genre you love. Justin Bieber, Blink-182, Guns n' Roses and Luke Bryan are confirmed as a few of this year's Summerfest headliners, with the festival planned to run across three consecutive weekends starting September 2. Chance the Rapper, Ludacris, Chris Stapleton, Miley Cyrus and Green Day are just a few other artists set to take the stage.

Organizers have stated they hope that by the time September comes around vaccination rollouts and public health precautions will be in a good place to ensure the festival goes off without a hitch. Over 80 artists in total are scheduled to perform throughout the month, so the hardest part will be choosing who you want to see most.

While these are only a select handful of the festivals that have officially made public their dates and lineups, there are still a few others that are patiently waiting for more information surrounding COVID-19 and safety protocols before they finalize their schedules or cancelations. Keep checking in on festival information to stay up-to-date with any changes — before you know it we might be together again enjoying the universal language of music.