When: April 1-2
Where: Raleigh, NC
More Info: Here

Dreamville, the record label co-founded by rap titan J. Cole, has also become a rap festival staple, launching its first iteration back in 2019 at Dorothea Dix Park. The Dreamville name has almost become a brand unto itself by this point, too, buttressed by its three Revenge of the Dreamers compilation albums. It retains a collective-minded ethos with the pro forma label technicalities, á la Top Dawg Entertainment, if you will.

Dreamville 2023 will occur on April Fool’s Day; that is, unless it’s a cruel April Fool’s joke (we’re pretty positive it is not). The lineup includes heavy hitters like Usher, Drake, Burna Boy, and J.I.D. Of course, J. Cole himself will perform, as has become the standard. It’s the kind of event that could only happen through an artist’s curatorial spirit, with Cole giving his home region something to look forward to all year long.

When: April 1-2
Where: Mexico City, MX
More Info: Here

AXE Ceremonia boasts a tantalizingly great lineup. Taking place across two days in Mexico City’s Parque Bicentenario, attendees can catch eclectic sets from the reggaetón rapper Tokischa, electronic auteur and producer Jamie xx, and indie songwriter Ethel Cain.

The fest’s headliners include the hip-hop behemoth Travis Scott on Friday and the Spanish, genre-bending superstar Rosalía. Houstonite Travis Scott has been returning from his post-Astrowordl hiatus of late, as he has slowly started reappearing on festival posters again. Rosalía will undoubtedly put on a fantastic set, blending the Flamenco stylings of El Mal Querer with the visionary pop of Motomami. And when it comes to a dance party, no one throws one quite like Fred Again.., who is turning into a force on the festival circuit.

When: April 6-8
Where: Iowa City, IA
More Info: Here

Iowa City, a college town with a thriving arts scene, hosts one of the most prestigious creative writing programs through the University of Iowa. It’s a highly literary city, housed in a state that’s often the butt of Midwestern jokes. When indie rock listeners and bookworms make their way to the 18th edition of Mission Creek Festival, they’ll realize that there’s plenty to love about the place.

Mission Creek unites music and literature for a few days across various venues in Iowa City, including the Englert, Riverside Theatre, and Hancher Auditorium. Performers include R&B shapeshifter Sudan Archives, indie-folk songwriter Kevin Morby, and classical guitarist Yasmin Williams. On the literary side of the bill, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner will do a reading from her beloved 2021 memoir, Crying in H Mart, and lauded poets like Camonghne Felix, Michael Torres, and Shelley Wong are on the itinerary, too.

When: April 13-15
Where: Pattaya City, TH
More Info: Here

Rolling Loud is a hip-hop heavyweight. The festival doesn’t call any one city its home, appearing all over the world with pit stops in the United States, Germany, Portugal, and Thailand, the latter of which heads to Pattaya City’s Legend Siam in the middle of the month. Over the course of three days, attendees can catch headliners Cardi B on Friday, Chris Brown on Saturday, and Travis Scott on Sunday.

The influential rap-minded festival includes several other big names, too. In the second line are artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, and Offset. If you’re planning on traveling to the Bangkok area for the festival, then you can conveniently exchange your currency for Thai baht on site at ATMs scattered throughout.

When: April 15-16
Where: North Charleston, SC
More Info: Here

Going to a music festival often means making some compromises. You’re rarely able to catch every set that you planned on seeing, so you inevitably have to decide which artist you’d rather see. Or you’re camping out at one stage for the entire day, accepting the fact that you’ll miss several bands you love in order to have a great spot for all the shows at a single stage. Because High Water Fest has only two alternating stages, though, attendees can watch every band on the bill.

The lineup is curated by Charleston folk duo Shovels & Rope, and they’re bringing an eclectic lineup to their hometown. Held at Riverfront Park, festival-goers can watch everyone from Atlanta rapper Big Boi to misanthropic crooner Father John Misty, the Bruce-indebted Jack Antonoff project Bleachers to indie darling Angel Olsen. Music fans can also head to the Low Country and learn how to make the perfect oysters in a cooking class taught by the experts at Seaborn Oyster Co.

When: April 28-30
Where: Indio, CA
More Info: Here

Have you ever looked at the Coachella lineup poster and thought, “How could I possibly yee haw to any of this?” The lack of country acts at Coachella may actually be a savvy business strategy, and that’s because Goldenvoice gives country fans their very own version of Coachella: Stagecoach. It’s even held on the exact same festival grounds. After the second weekend that Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Frank Ocean draw hundreds of thousands to the desert, Empire Polo Club will get cleaned up for a twangier round two.

Stagecoach’s headliners include industry behemoths like Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, and Chris Stapleton. There are some left-of-field inclusions, as well, such as Southern rockers ZZ Top, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Trixie Mattel, and Nelly. Guy Fieri will bring his Stagecoach Smokehouse; Diplo, a surprising recent Stagecoach staple, will bring his HonkyTonk. Whatever you happen to catch at Stagecoach this year, it’s bound to be memorable.

When: April 28-30
Where: Virginia Beach, VA
More Info: Here

Everyone knows a Pharrell Williams beat when they hear one. After all, Pharrell has practically claimed one of the most common musical devices as his own: the four-beat count-in. It’s not an easy feat to pull off, using one of the most rudimentary beats to herald in your distinct production style. He’s managed to bring that same idiosyncrasy to another field: the festival field.

The Pharrell-curated Something in the Water returns to Virginia Beach for the first time since 2019. It was temporarily moved to Washington D.C. in 2022 when Pharrell boycotted the murder of his cousin at the hands of Virginia Beach police officers. This year’s lineup is as eclectic as ever, including Clipse, 100 gecs, Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Maren Morris, and Skrillex. Of course, Pharrell himself, alongside his trusted Phriends, will perform at the fest, as well.

When: April 28-May 7
Where: New Orleans, LA
More Info: Here

New Orleans is a city famous for many things. There’s the delectable Creole cuisine, the non-stop, grandiose party that is Mardi Gras, and, of course, jazz. It’s even a custom to hire a brass band to accompany the funeral procession. So it only makes sense that New Orleans would have its own jazz festival, one that presents nearly everything the city is known for in a composite package. It’s a vibrant festival with rich, flavorful food and a bevy of jazz performers.

Taking place at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, New Orleans Jazz Fest offers plenty of music outside of the jazz spectrum, too. For instance, they’ve booked the jammy Dead & Company, top-of-the-pops acts like Lizzo and Ed Sheeran, and last year’s Grammy Album of the Year winner Jon Batiste. Even for the uninitiated jazz head, New Orleans Jazz Fest offers something anyone could enjoy.

When: April 14-16 and 21-23
Where: Indio, CA
More Info: Here

Coachella has become a ubiquitous catch-all signifier for music festivals, especially as glow sticks and flower crowns become things of the past and are replaced by AR experiences and foodie fantasies. Goldenvoice’s unstoppable festival titan has become the torchbearer and standard-setter for festivals across the globe, setting off waves of band reunions like LCD Soundsystem, OutKast, and Rage Against the Machine (that last one didn’t happen because of COVID, but you get the gist). This year’s lineup marks one of the first times there hasn’t been a quota-meeting “rock” performer like Radiohead or Jack White. Instead, we have three pop megastars: Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Frank Ocean, the latter of whom was originally booked for the 2020 edition.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty to love elsewhere in the poster, too. Former headliners have now been relegated to second-line status, like Damon Albarn’s animated project Gorillaz and Iceland’s most famous avant-rocker Björk. Reclusive English producer Jai Paul, who established a cultish fanbase after demos of his album leaked in 2013, will also perform his very first show at Indio’s Empire Polo Club. There’s a lot to dig into here. It’s the best lineup Coachella has had in years.