When: July 28-30
Where: Napa, CA
More Info: Here

Jazz and wine are an immaculate pairing. Perhaps that’s why the Blue Note Jazz Festival, held for the first time at Napa’s Silverado Resort, feels so auspicious. The fest is also known for its flagship edition in New York City, but the wine country setting seems truly picturesque. Although its lineup isn’t based on jazz in the traditional sense, it has aggregated a roster of artists that all draw from the genre’s lineage in one way or another.

All three of its days are hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle, featuring pianist Robert Glasper as the artist in residence. Napa’s headliners for Blue Note are powerhouse vocalist Mary J. Blige, ‘90s rap titan Nas, and mixtape-purist-turned-The Voice-judge Chance the Rapper. Other performers include Gary Clark Jr., BJ the Chicago Kid, Big Freedia, George Clinton, and Smino, to name just a handful.

When: July 28-30
Where: Niigata, JP
More Info: Here

As the largest outdoor music festival in Japan, Fuji Rock, which takes place at the Naeba Ski Resort, has a lot to live up to. Back in 2005, the attendance rate hit six figures. That’s why it’s so impressive that it exceeds expectations higher than the ski resort’s altitude. With a scope this (literally) mountainous, it’s quite the feat to pull off. Somehow, they’ve done it again. Its lineup, boasting more than 200 Japanese and global musicians in total, is mind-numbingly huge.

At the top of the bill are headliners like Foo Fighters, Lizzo, and The Strokes, as well as many exciting names in the second and third lines: Denzel Curry, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo, Slowdive, Weezer, Alanis Morissette, Cory Wong, Black Midi, and so many more. It looks like it’s time to hit the slopes.

When: July 7-9
Where: Marshfield, MA
More Info: Here

Roughly one hour outside of Boston, Marshfield, Massachusetts rests on the state’s South Shore. The town’s five beaches provide miles of sand, water, and, as its name implies, marsh vistas. This beach destination is an apt location for Levitate Music Festival, a three-day event centered on roots, reggae, folk, and funk. This year, Levitate celebrates a whole decade since its inaugural fest, making it a special one to remember.

Also, 1% of all proceeds go to the Levitate Foundation, celebrating 20 years since its inception, a non-profit dedicated to children’s education in the arts. People who make their way to the beach town can watch artists like Brandi Carlile, Ziggy Marley, Goose, Rebelution, and the Trey Anastasio Band. Complemented by the music itself, the sandy setting feels just as important.

When: July 6-8
Where: Madrid, ES
More Info: Here

For a festival that has only been around since 2016, Mad Cool already feels like a household name. With its home base in Madrid, this multi-genre, eclectic fest appeals to music fans of all stripes. Across a span of three days, festival-goers can enjoy a thrilling mix of pop, rock, rap, electronic, and more. Starting in 2018, Mad Cool moved from the Caja Mágica to an open-air space in Valdebebas, a setting conducive for an optimal festival experience.

Lineup-wise, headliners include pop stars like Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Janelle Monáe. The rock crowds can enjoy Red Hot Chili Peppers, Liam Gallagher, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Black Keys. Even the electronic fans are satiated with rave enthusiasts The Prodigy on Saturday. There’s a lot going on in the second and third lines, too: The 1975, Rina Sawayama, Franz Ferdinand, The Offspring, Sylvan Esso, Jamie xx; the list seems endless.

When: July 1-2
Where: Oakland, CA
More Info: Here

Hosted by filmmaker John Waters, best known for flicks like Hairspray (1988), Pink Flamingos, and Female Trouble, Mosswood Meltdown brings transgressive punk rock to Oakland, California. In Waters’ own words, the festival formerly known as Burger Boogaloo “is a joyously pissed-off July 4th weekend celebration for the punk rock elite, slum-goddess feminists, butch twinks, [and] homo-masculine straight guys – we’re all ready to pogo our way to musical mayhem.”

Judging from the fest’s two-day lineup, it looks like there is going to be plenty of musical mayhem to go around. The first day features Le Tigre, Twompsax, and ESG, and the second day includes the likes of Bratmobile, Gravy Train!!!!, and Mika Miko. As its name implies, the fest takes place at Mosswood Park, where it has always been since its inception in 2009. Get ready to open up the pit once again.

When: July 28-30
Where: Newport, RI
More Info: Here

It’s where Bob Dylan famously went electric back in 1965, much to the crowd’s chagrin. It’s where, last year, Joni Mitchell delivered a surprise set that marked her first full show in over two decades. Suffice it to say that the Newport Folk Festival is an event brimming with history, both in the recent and distant past. Fittingly taking place in Newport, Rhode Island, this festival is a bucket-list experience for music fans writ large.

Although the fest is rooted in folk music, its lineup is always wide-ranging. For example, this year’s roster includes Lana Del Rey, Goose, Bartees Strange, Jon Batiste, Orville Peck, My Morning Jacket, Maggie Rogers, The Beths, The Hold Steady, and the list goes on and on. Surely, there will be some fun surprise appearances, as well, if last year’s Joni Mitchell performance is any indication.

When: July 6-8
Where: Lisbon
More Info: Here

NOS Alive has earned its reputation as one of the leading music festivals in Portugal. Taking place at Lisbon’s scenic, spacious Passeio Marítimo de Algés, this gargantuan fest is hospitable for music fans of all types. Accessibility options for people with disabilities are implemented through its Special Access program, and pregnant attendees can apply for that program, too, and receive a wristband that grants them access to a space designed for those expecting.

In terms of the music itself, there is plenty to be excited about no matter what type of music you listen to. Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Queens of the Stone Age take the headlining slots. Plus, Spoon, Yaya Bey, Rina Sawayama, and many, many more are on the bill. NOS Alive seems like the type of festival that will truly make you feel alive.

When: July 21-23
Where: Chicago, IL
More Info: Here

Besides being one of music criticism’s torchbearers, Pitchfork throws a music festival in Chicago every summer. In Union Park, some of the most critically lauded artists in indie rock, hip-hop, electronic, R&B, and punk congregate for a weekend of live music, morning yoga classes, an on-site vinyl shop, and even a craft and poster fair. Simply put, it sounds like a music aficionado’s dream come true, and we haven’t even gotten to the artist roster yet.

As always (or should I say, Alvvays), the lineup is unparalleled. On top of headliners The Smile, Big Thief, and Bon Iver, there are indie songwriters like Snail Mail and Julia Jacklin (who are playing at the exact same time; good luck making that choice), hardcore punks Soul Glo, electronic experimentalists Jlin and Axel Boman, Tuareg guitar hero Mdou Moctar, outré rapper JPEGMAFIA, and plenty more. Held across three color-coded stages, fans will get to experience nearly everything if they want to.

When: July 21-23
Where: Miami, FL
More Info: Here

Seldom few festivals boast a lineup with more than 100 artists, but Rolling Loud Miami exceeds that three-digit threshold. As one of the biggest names in hip-hop festivals, Rolling Loud’s cultural cachet has earned it editions across the globe, including versions in the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal, all of which take place in July. Still, its flagship fest in Miami is where it all began, and it’ll kick off in late July after the three European iterations have wrapped up earlier in the month.

As expected, the lineup plays out like a who’s who in contemporary rap: Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and A$AP Rocky are the primary headliners, and special guests Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, and 21 Savage will also make appearances. The outliers on the festival poster are Baltimore hardcore punk mainstays Turnstile. Given their previous tours with JPEGMAFIA and $uicideboy$, though, their inclusion doesn’t feel that out of place. The festival’s first reggaeton and dembow artists, Anuel AA and El Alfa, round out a special edition.

When: July 21-23
Where: Yelgun, AU
More Info: Here

Given the sheer amount of music festivals worldwide, each fest needs to try something new and make its case to differentiate itself from the crowd. With Australia’s Splendour in the Grass, however, this festival goes beyond the music itself. It features all kinds of activities that will surely appeal to many types of festival-goers. Featuring a Science Tent with interactive experiences, visual art installations, and its very own comedy club, Splendour abounds with, well, splendor.

But a music festival’s most important facet is, unequivocally, the music. Fortunately, the festival has booked plenty of big-name performers. Over the weekend, you can watch headliners Lizzo, Flume, and Mumford & Sons, plus exciting artists such as hyper-pop pioneers 100 Gecs, NYC indie rock legends Yeah Yeah Yeahs, violinist and pop visionary Sudan Archives, and the brilliant UK rapper Little Simz.

When: July 7-9
Where: London, UK
More Info: Here

Every summer, Wireless brings in hundreds of thousands of attendees, eager to hear the latest in hip-hop. Across the pond in London, festival goers can catch tons of rap A-listers and exciting up-and-comers in just a single weekend. This year’s iteration heads to Finsbury Park, in the northern district of the city, a verdant space with an ornamental garden and a lake for boating.

Wireless includes showstopping headliners like Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and the British hip-hop collective D-Block Europe. There will even be some special guests on the bill, such as Lil Uzi Vert and 50 Cent. Modern talents like GloRilla and Ice Spice are slated to perform, too. If you’re an ardent rap fan in the UK, then this seems like it’ll be right up your alley.

When: July 1-2
Where: Dublin, IE
More Info: Here

For the past decade, Dublin’s Marlay Park has been home to Longitude Festival, a music fest that bridges the halfway point between EDM and contemporary hip-hop. Although both days contain some degree of the two genres, day one leans toward EDM with headliner Calvin Harris and other acts like Belters Only and MK. Still, Ice Spice will have attendees “Actin’ a Smoochie” on Friday, as well.

Meanwhile, rap dominates the second day of the fest. Alongside headliner Travis Scott, other big names include the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, GloRilla, and Lil Tjay. Let’s hope that Lil Tjay and Ice Spice perform their collaboration, “Gangsta Boo,” at some point over the weekend. Whether it happens or not, Longitude seems like a great excuse to cross the pond and kick off the new month with some fun music.