Top 10 Winter/Spring Festivals

Published: January 19, 2014

By: Anand Harsh

It's the pits. The cold, dark months between New Year's Day and the first glimmer of hope that leads to spring. And then it's four long weeks between that first glimmer of hope and the actual string of good days that's filled with the bitter wind of defeat and despair. These are the tough months, people. How do we beat the winter blues? Music. Merriment. Another thing that starts with the letter "M."

It was not easy narrowing down our list of the Top 10 Winter/Spring Festivals. A lot of these bad boys rely on powerful lineups stacked with the biggest and best talent. Others rely on picking the right destination and the right vibe to entice us out of our cold, desolate hometowns. And others simply say "fuck it," we're going to do this outside in the cold, and you're going to bundle up and get down. This is how we do it. Kudos to you brave souls who refuse to wait until festival season. Carpe Diem, and what not.

10. SnowBall - Sports Authority Field - Denver, CO - April 4-6

We didn't know if it was going to happen. But just yesterday, SnowBall surprised everyone by announcing it was back, with new dates and a new location. Coming down from the mountains, and in to the city, the festval will hit the Park at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO April 4-6. We don't know the lineup yet, but we anticipate seeing Mr. Manning raging face and sportin' some new jewelry. Yeah, I said it.

9. Gem & Jam Festival - 1102 W Grant - Tucson, AZ - Feb 7-9

Time to get your rocks off. The annual gem and mineral trade show at the center of Gem & Jam Festival is an attraction for geology nuts from around the world, but the real attraction for fans of underground electronic music is a stunning lineup that runs the gamut from trap to indie house to downtempo and psychedelic delights. This linep is an absolute treasure trove for fans of The Untz who tend towards the headier, deeper side of the scene: Bluetech, Random Rab (live band), Desert Dwellers, Kalya Scintilla, and half the PLM family. And Tucson is pretty damn comfortable in early February.

8. Euphoria - Carson Creek Ranch - Austin, TX - April 25-26

It doesn't matter that we haven't seen the lineup for Euphoria yet. Each year, this Texas fest gets bigger and better with a lineup of heavy-hitters and up-and-comers. Last year, there was a great balance of electro, dubstep, livetronica, and psychedelic artists. Expect that roster to be revealed here in the next week--we've heard from rumors, and we're liking what we've heard.

7. Buku Musc + Art Project - Mardi Gras World - New Orleans, LA - March 21-22

You had us at The Glitch Mob, Buku... but boy did you take it to another level. This is one of the most impressive lineups we've seen, with highlights including Cashmere Cat, Lotus, Chromeo, DJ Snake, Dusky, and Seth Troxler. Can't really beat N'awlins in March. It hasn't gotten the opportunity to reach the heights of heat and humidity that will melt a tourist's melt face right off. That's the artists' job.

6. AURA - Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park - Live Oak, FL - Feb 14-16

A livetronica lover's dream, AURA is stacked with the best in bands going electronic. Lotus, Papadosio, Conspirator, Zoogma, The Werks, Particle, Future Rock, and so many more decorate a lineup that kicks off with its first ever pre-party the day before V-day. And this year, The Untz is sponsoring the Silent Disco, anchored by our resident nu-disco expert Luke The Knife. Get your rest during the day, 'cause we're going to have you raging well into the night. Happy f'n Valentine's Day.

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