For two decades, except for the years between 1997 and 2003, this grandaddy of the modern-day overnight music festival has flourished. Originally conceived by Jane's Addiction lead singer, Perry Farrell, as a touring showcase for alternative and independent bands, the current Lollapalooza takes place over a long weekend at Chicago's Grant Park. Usually incorporating upward of 100 bands spread across many stages, Lollapalooza set the stage for the post-Woodstock annual multinight music and art festival.
Bonnaroo is an annual four-day music and art festival that takes place on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. In addition to performances by an eclectic group of popular performers from rock, jazz, hip-hop, electronica and country, Bonnaroo features movies, comedy clubs, art displays and more. With more of a mainstream vibe than Lollapalooza, this festival attracts families of all ages from around the world.
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas-based event that occurs in the spring. Originally started as a music festival, South by Southwest has expanded to include film and other art forms and runs over the course of several weeks. The music portion usually lasts about four days. By far the largest music festival in the world, South by Southwest features over 2,000 bands playing at over 90 venues of all sizes around the Austin Convention Center.
Coachella is a three-day music festival held annually in Indio, California. The inaugural event happened in 1999, drew about 25,000 people to the blistering desert location, and failed to turn a profit. More recent editions of Coachella have drawn about 75,000 daily, and features lineups offering a nice selection of mainstream and alternative acts, as well as a large art sculpture display. Unlike previous generations of music festivals like Altamont, the original Woodstock and the 1999 edition, Coachella prides itself on being a safe, drug-free event.