Stunning Photos from America’s Best Music Festivals

Anyone that’s been to a music festival will tell you that it’s amazing. Sure, it’s dirty and sweaty, but there’s something behind it that makes it all worth it. Maybe it’s jamming out to your favorite band or discovering something new, we don’t know! Going to a music festival can truly change your life sometimes, depending on if you go to some of the bigger ones. 

America is known for having some pretty spectacular music festivals. We’re home of Woodstock! Of course, the concerts will be great. It doesn’t matter the type of music you listen to or the vibe, there’s a festival out there for you. Sometimes, it’s hanging out in the glaring sun, getting sand in places where you’d never expect, while other times, it’s dressing up in your best attire to take glitzy photos for the ‘Gram. Then there are those who prefer just to head down South to catch what Austin has to offer on one of the best weekends of the year!

Which music festival is your favorite vibe? Today, we’re going to go over some stunning photos that show us what American music festivals are truly about. These photos give us an inside look like we’ve never seen before. 

And It All Goes Up in Flames

If you haven’t journeyed to the desert to run around free and set something giant on fire have you really lived? If you haven’t journeyed to the desert to run around and set something giant on fire, have you really lived? That’s what regular Burning Man participants would probably say to all of us weirdo normal people.

Most people like seeing things explode as much as the next person, but running around flammable objects in the buff isn’t safe nor most people’s idea of a good time. But it does make for some cool social media pictures for everyone who wasn’t there to fantasize about for weeks.

Going for a Swing at Burning Man

Surviving in the desert isn’t always child’s play, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any time to have fun at Burning Man. They think of everything out there—including a giant trapeze playground! 

You’ve got lots of time to kill out there in the desert so why not spend it swinging the day away? Burning Man is basically one long recess for adults, isn’t it? 

Paris Hilton's Here?

Remember what we said about the Hollywood elite infiltrating Burning Man’s sacred community? Well, here’s Paris Hilton for you. She probably didn’t bat an eye at the ticket prices, and who knows how long she actually stayed on festival grounds. Do you see this socialite sleeping in the dirt? Yeah, probably not. 

This year’s Burning Man isn’t the first time she’s attended, and it’s certainly not the last. In fact, she’s made a habit out of reposting pictures from Burning Mans in years past to show off just how much fun she has to her thousands of followers. Not gonna lie, her outfit this year was pretty cool. We’re not jealous at all… Obviously…

The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

There he is—the Man of the hour himself. And to think, all this craziness happens just so people can set him on fire. I’d be a little miffed if I were him. Artists spend weeks and weeks designing, collaborating, constructing, and delivering the Man in one piece to the festival. 

But what do we do? Burn it down so that we have a pretty backdrop for our YouTube vlogs of us dancing and crying as it turns to dust. Perhaps that’s what Burning Man is going for. You can put a ton of hard work into a piece of art, and its ability to evoke emotions can continue even once it burns away.

Group Hug

To get a good grasp on just how massive these figures are, look at how they tower over the mountains in the distance. It’s all about perspective, of course, but even standing a few miles away from the mountains would further emphasize how massive these structures really are to the viewer.

Many of the art pieces constructed for burning Man are massive because they are built to encourage community participation, which usually means it’s a thing for people to party in or on. On the other hand, Burning Man is like an outdoor art gallery, only differing from brick-and-mortar galleries in that the massive wooden art pieces burn to the ground by the end of the week.

The Classic Ferris Wheel

It wouldn’t be Coachella without a giant Ferris wheel, and the 2022 festival was no exception. It’s the perfect way to escape the crowds for a few minutes at a time. 

The giant ride is officially known as Le Grande Wheel, and it’s actually the largest movable Ferris wheel in the world—and the third largest of every type of Ferris wheel! 

Surf's Up in Coachella

Is it really a music festival if no one crowd surfs? Maybe, but it’s definitely more fun if someone is riding the waves! 

This guy got the party going with a classic crowd surf, but not everyone seems to be enthusiastic about keeping him afloat. We hope someone is there to cushion his fall!

Leather & Neon

For her Coachella performance, Kim Petras decided to serve us quite the look. 

Despite the questionable neon yellows, she’s clearly got the goods to pull off a look like this! 

Dancing the Night Away

Coachella isn’t just a place to see big-name artists—there are plenty of colorful weirdos that come out of the woodwork to celebrate the two weekends of music and fun. 

If you know where to look, you might even run into an LED butterfly like this lady. We can’t tell if she’s a very good dancer, but she definitely drew a crowd! 

If You Build It…

We’re not entirely sure what this Dr. Seuss-looking structure has to do with music, but you never know what you’re gonna see at a music festival!

Judging from this photo, there was plenty of weird architecture to admire at Coachella this year. Wouldn’t have expected that, but it’s cool to look at! 

Getting Creative

Just so we don’t forget—because this is truly the incredible part of Burning Man—this giant art piece (and many others) was constructed and taken down in the span of this nine-day festival. This is like an engineer’s fantasy…or maybe their worst nightmare if you really think about it.

This piece is another installation that uses people as the basic theme, but this one has obvious differences from the usual Burning Man we usually see. For one, it shows two people that are embracing. That goes right back to the heart of the festival — be who you are and love who you want. 

Creepy but Amazing

Coachella may be two weekends’ worth of fun in the sun, but this performance by French DJ Madeon just looks terrifying. Is this a concert or an alien takeover? 

It might be terrifying, but the musicians at Coachella never disappoint in terms of over-the-top productions. 

Standing Room Only

If you thought you were going to spend a relaxing, low-key weekend at Coachella, you’re sorely mistaken! It doesn’t matter who’s on the stage, the crowds are gonna be crazy. 

We’re sure these people are happy to get a glimpse of their favorite musicians, but being packed in like sardines doesn’t sound like a good time to us!

Doja Cat Performs

Coachella has become a massive who’s who of big-name musical artists, and the 2022 festival was no exception. 

Musician Doja Cat gave her performance during the second weekend of the festival, and it’s clear from her and her dancers’ outfits that fringe (and a little cleavage) is definitely in! 

Peas in a Shiny Pod

This is why you don’t let your friends pack your bag for Coachella! At least everyone’s outfits are coordinated, I guess. 

Does he have the body to pull of this look? Sure. But all that sparkly fabric doesn’t pop as well when it’s engulfed by chest hair. 

Pagoda Style

How does a pagoda end up in the middle of the desert? The magic of Burning Man, of course! We’re honestly amazed at what people do out there with unfavorable conditions and few resources. This has to be one of the coolest buildings we’ve seen. 

Just like it wouldn’t be Burning Man without all these impressive structures, it’s also not Burning Man without tons of scantily clad women posing for photos. It’s the desert way of life—you just wouldn’t get it! 

ACL's Massive Growth

Austin City Limits didn’t start out huge, but look at it now! It’s getting massive names and thousands of people from all over flock so they can join in on the fun. 

While some concerts are in the middle of nowhere like Burning Man, ACL is smack-dab in Austin. Tons of great places to go if you need a break from the crowds. 

Dated? I Think Not

If this picture looks old, it’s because it is. It’s from 2009! It’s hard to believe that ACL has been going on since 2002. These kids look like they’re from 2009, too. 

That combed-over scene hair and the dozens of bracelets on one arm kinda give it away. Well, that and the fact some of those guys look like Fred Durst is their idol. 

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is famous for bouncing around during her shoes, and not even a sprained ankle will stop her from giving Austin everything she’s got. Turns out, before one of her shows, she fell down a flight of stairs! Most of us would cancel, but not this girl. 

She took the stage and even jumped around like she didn’t even have an injury. Billie might be young, but she clearly loves her fans more than anything out there. 

Photo Ops All the Time

Did you even go to a music festival if you didn’t snap a crap-ton of pictures while you were there? Naturally, ACL created some perfect little backdrops and frames for people to do whatever they want. 

The sky is the limit! We’re a little impressed with how high she jumped, honestly. That doesn’t look like an easy pose, but she’s pulling it off effortlessly. 

ACL Nightlife

The nightlife in Austin is never better than when ACL is going on. Not only can people attend the amazing concerts, which the biggest names happen a little later in the day, but there are tons of clubs and bars nearby. 

ACL gives fans a chance to listen to music under the stars. I mean, look at that! It’s beautiful! Where else would you see such an amazing view of both the city’s glittery lights and the glitzy stars in the sky?

In the Beginning…

No festival starts out massive with fantastic sights. ACL started out small, and it looked pretty kitschy. This just screams ’90s, but it was actually in 2005. By this time, the event coordinators knew what to expect, but did they know it would become as massive as it has?

In 2005, ACL pulled names like Deadboy and the Elephantmen, The Double, The Textiles, and more. Compare that to 2021, when it managed to schedule Billie Eilish, Twenty-One Pilots, Willie Nelson, Radiohead, and even Paul McCartney. What a glowup!

Packed Like Sardines

ACL isn’t anything like Burning Man. For one, there’s a lot less space. People are packed in like sardines, but it gives everyone a chance to really get to know each other. You kind of half to at this point, right? It looks a tad claustrophobic, though. 

This image was taken in 2016. By now, hundreds of thousands of people began to attend. On average, 450,000 people attend ACL every year. It goes from 10 AM to 10 PM, and you honestly don’t have to leave (until you’re forced to come 10 PM). 

Take Out Anyone?

Your best bet at Burning Man is to expect the unexpected. People routinely show up with some of the wildest, most out-of-the-box costumes and creations that you’ve ever seen. However, even for Burning Man, this has to be a first! 

Why a giant takeout carton? It’s best not to ask too many questions when it comes to Burning Man. And we won’t even begin to touch why this giant structure has the words “Hot Dumps” plastered on the side. People have to use the bathroom out there somehow, but we’d rather not know the details!

Lights, Camera, Action!

The lights are so bright at ACL that they’ll probably blind you. Okay, they probably aren’t that crazy, but they’re super bright. No one puts on a better show than dance and electronica bands. DJs know what people want, and they give it to their audiences in droves. 

This is Harley Edward Streten, who is better known by his stage name Flume. He’s from Australia, meaning artists come from all over the world to ACL. It makes sense after you attend and hang out with the crowds, though. 

Taping Never Stops at ACL

The goal of ACL is to give “viewers unparalleled access to featured artists in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances.” Think MTV if they actually kept showing music instead of…whatever the execs decided to do. 

This taping was Parker McCallum, a country singer-songwriter. This goes to show that ACL pulls talent from all over no matter the genre — pop, rock, country, dance, electrica, it doesn’t matter! It’s all welcome at ACL. 

Sylvan Duo at ACL

You may not have heard of Sylvan Duo, but they certainly pulled a crowd at ACL. The group recently were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic album following their release of What Now. 

The lights were crazy, and they rocked the crowd hard. This performance was actually taped for the TV program which preceded the actual music festival. Turns out, if you go to ACL, you may end up on TV.