As many of us who grew up in the age of Napster and Limewire can attest, creating the perfect playlist is an art form, one that we should not hand over to the likes of streaming curators or even TikTok algorithms. Instead, curation is a ship that only tried and true music lovers should helm.

Witness this year’s Austin City Limits lineup, which has to be the result of someone who has listened to the radio for an hour with a cassette just to record one song and who interrupts conversations and even pulls out Shazam while sitting front row at the movies.

Sure, the lineup pays homage to the past with the indie post-punk heavyweights many of us grew up on, like The Killers and The Strokes. But whoever this lineup steward is also blended in the new class — making sure we didn’t miss out on the likes of pop behemoths like Sabrina Carpenter, alternative indie upstarts like MJ Linderman, and country-pop soothsayers like Maren Morris.

For two weekends in Texas, starting this Friday, Austin City Limits will be giving us a line-up that reflects the way we actually listen to music. A mix of Olivia Dean’s soulful love songs up against Wet Leg’s cheeky wordplay, Gigi Perez’s acute yearning up against the guitar thrashing of Mk.Gee, and John Summit’s EDM beats not too far from Luke Combs’ chart-topping Country.

It makes sense: a report released earlier this year from Ticketmaster boasted that fans want “hyper-personalized” festival experiences that match what they’re able to do when listening at home: picking from every genre, and creating a micro-line-up of their own. It’s also worth noting the prevalence of pop stars on today’s line-ups in comparison to the first US music festivals, which mostly catered to rock fans.

Likewise, it’s no surprise that the likes of Doechii, with her delectable mix of rap delivered over pop melodies, Marina’s glittery saccharine yet sad ditties, and Japanese Breakfast’s lucid symphonic sound have all made the cut this year (according to AP, women pop performers had the biggest streaming number’s last year).

But none of this would mean anything if millennial deity picking these acts hadn’t hidden some lesser known Easter eggs in the mix — reminding us that even the freshest and youngest emerging acts deserve to be discovered and placed against the bigger names: whether that’s flowerovlove, with her contagious love songs, the emo-folk moments brought by way of Hey, Nothing, or the poetic heartbreak ballads written by Jensen McRae.

So what does this line-up for the last of the official US festival season say about where the music industry is headed, and how we, music listeners, are consuming music now? For starters, despite the yearly worry that “[insert genre] is dead,” people seem to be embracing different sounds across the board.

It’s why country star Zach Bryan made history for putting on the largest ticketed event in US history earlier this month. It’s why Bad Bunny, our “King of Latin Trap,” will be playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show next year. It’s why — according to Music Business News — the industry has continued to see growth every year for the past 10 years. And, it’s also why early 2000s hits are making their way back to the top of the charts (ex: Rihanna’s “Breakin’ Dishes”), as Gen Z gives them a second life after discovering the decade old songs while scrolling.

As a festival, it turns out that ACL is giving music fans exactly what they want: everything.

The DC-area edition of the All Things Go festival is set to launch soon, running from September 26 to 28 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland. This year’s lineup is led by Noah Kahan, Doechii, Djo, Lucy Dacus, Clairo, Kesha, The Marías, Faye Webster, and more.

For those who can’t make it in person, Amazon Music announced today (September 16), that they will exclusively livestream this year’s festival. The broadcast will be available on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video.

Kirdis Postelle, global head of content for Amazon Music, said in a statement, “Streaming All Things Go was a no brainer for us at Amazon Music. All Things Go has built an incredible reputation for showcasing groundbreaking artists and fostering an inclusive community of passionate music lovers. This livestream allows us to extend that special festival experience beyond Merriweather Post Pavilion to audiences everywhere.”

Check out the full day-by-day lineup below.

All Things Go 2025 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion Lineup For Friday, September 26

Noah Kahan
The Marías
Last Dinner Party
The Beaches
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Lucius
Caroline Kingsbury
Joy Oladokun
Sunday (1994)

All Things Go 2025 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion Lineup For Saturday, September 27

Lucy Dacus
Clairo
Wallows
Faye Webster
Backseat Lovers
Julien Baker & Torres
Orion Sun
Hippo Campus
Gigi Perez
G Flip
Hazlett
Zinadelphia
Paris Paloma
Bartees Strange
Hey, Nothing
Carol Ades

All Things Go 2025 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion Lineup For Sunday, September 28

Doechii
Kesha
Djo
Lola Young
Role Model
Marine
Ashe
Rachel Chinouriri
Griff
Aces
Alemeda
Molly Grace
Maude Latour
Michelle
Peach PRC
Jasmine.4.t

Pack that sunscreen, your favorite swimsuit, a bubble shooter and your preferred flotation device, because Lake Perris California’s Same Same But Different is back, and this time it promises to be more than just another weekend of electronic beats and drops (but it’s going to be that too, so bring those dancing shoes). This year, SSBD is going full sensory overload with a chest-rattling lineup sound tracking a lakeside bash that is one part community, one part chaos, and a whole lot of fun.

This year’s headliners include the LSDREAM and CloZee super duo, LSZEE, as well as Zeds Dead, Dr. Fresch, Coco & Breezy, and takeovers by Bass N Babes, Good Society, Odyzey, and more — and that’s really just scratching the surface. The full lineup is a bouquet of electronic artists, all delivering high-energy drops and world-class bass music with a sunrise set by CloZee.

But SSDB is about more than music — explore the festival grounds to experience arts and crafts classes, multiple forms of yoga sessions (including stand-up paddle board style because this is SSDB after all), or brush up on your moves at one of the festival’s many dance programs. SSDB is a playground of wellness, art, community and above all else — music.

SSDB is simply one of the finest experiential festivals happening this year — you’re bound to come away from this one with memories you’ll never forget and a few new skills to impress your friends.

The festival will come to Lake Perris, California, from September 26th to 28th. Buy tickets here, and if you’re still not convinced, these photos from prior years will help you imagine what sort of fun (and good trouble) you can get yourself into.

For the past couple of years, Tyler The Creator — who never does anything the “normal” way, if he can help it — has shared the lineup for his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in a truly original and interactive way. Rather than sharing the flyer outright like any other music festival, he always gives fans a chance to figure out the lineup with the help of a word game. Last year, it was a crossword. This year, he’s trying something new.

The 2025 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival lineup is being revealed via an interactive word search that went live a few minutes ago, and fans are already clamoring for not only the unscrambled lineup, but also, for November 15-16, when Tyler and friends will once again take over Dodger Stadium for what has become one of the best festivals in music.

On a cursory glance as I try to write this, I see Tems, 2 Chainz, Larry June & The Alchemist, and Samara Cyn — so, yeah, I’m already queueing up for tickets. You can check out the word search here, or wait a couple of hours, and the unscrambled flyer will likely be up at CampFlogGnaw.com. We’ll update this post when that happens, but in the meantime, down the rabbit hole I go.

UPDATE: Here’s the solved puzzle, with the alphabetical lineup below.

Camp Flog Gnaw 2025 Lineup

A$AP Rocky
AG Club
Alemeda
AZ Chike
BB Trickz
Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
Chezile
Childish Gambino
Clairo
Clipse
Deb Never
Doechii
Domo Genesis
Don Toliver
Earl Sweatshirt
Ecca Vandal
Fousheé
Geezer
GloRilla
Kilo Kish
La Reezy
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Left Brain
Luh Tyler
Malcolm Todd
Men I Trust
Mike
Mike G
Navy Blue
Paris Texas
Partyof2
Ray Vaughn
Samara Cyn
Sombr
T-Pain
Teezo Touchdown
Tems
Thundercat
Tyler, the Creator
Zack Fox
Zelooperz

There were other candid moments when Badu spoke directly to the audience, like when she jokingly admonished the crowd for sitting down during the beginning of her set. “Right now Imma do one of my favourite songs, [but]  it’s not going to be ‘Tyrone’ because y’all were sitting down at the beginning and I’m vindictive so I’m punishing you for sitting down,” she said to laughs. Badu, of course, is referring to her 1997 classic (and my go-to karaoke song) “Tyrone (Live)”. Badu relented after cheers from the crowd and turned to her band and said, “If we do do it, let’d do it fast as fuck” before launching into a sped-up rendition of her fan-favorite hit. As someone who has heard the song about a million times and knows every run, every adlib and every “shhhiiit”, it was refreshing to hear a new version of one of my favorite jams. 

We are literally days away from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s final concert, dubbed the Back To The Beginning festival, and the event is reportedly expected to bring so much money into the metal legends’ home city of Birmingham, England.

According to Blabbermouth, the concert and other events happening in the area are set to increase the local economy by £20 million (roughly $27 million). Including the Back To The Beginning concert, around 300,000 visitors are expected in the West Midlands over the week and through the weekend.

In additon to the concert, other major events happening in the area include: Men’s Second Test between England and India (July 2-6, Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham); the Godiva Festival (July 4-6, War Memorial Park, Coventry); the Colmore Food Festival (July 4-5, Victoria Square, Birmingham); and Jeff Lynne’s ELO The Over And Out Tour (July 5-6, Utilita Arena, Birmingham).

On July 5, Fans ascend on Villa Park, Birmingham, for the Back To The Beginning festival, which is being called “the greatest heavy metal show ever.” It will be the absolute last time that Ozzy Osbourne and the original lineup of Black Sabbath perform together live.

“Birmingham is a city which means so much to Ozzy,” said Ozzy’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne. “When it comes to heavy metal music, Black Sabbath forming and his love of Aston Villa — it all started here.”

Back To The Beginning festival Livestream tickets are available

In addition to seeing the legendary heavy metal godfathers, fans in attendance at the Back To The Beginning concert will also be treated to sets by Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and 2025 Grammy-winners Gojira. Unless one of those bands ends up being who got booted.

Tickets for the charity benefit show went on sale on February 14, Valentine’s Day, and have sold out. All profits will go to three important causes and health facilities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

While many fans around the world will not be able to attend the big show, it will be livestreamed via the concert website. Fans can purchase tickets here.

Glastonbury, historically speaking, has a strong claim to the “biggest festival” crown. Glasto has been kicking since way back in the ’70s, before solidifying as an annual event in the ’80s (save for fallow years), with artists like Elvis Costello, The Smiths, and The Cure leading early lineups.

Of course, so much has changed since then. Today’s music industry would be unrecognizable to a time-traveler from Glasto’s early days (although they might be surprised by how much vinyl is still sold). The sorts of music that fans crave have undergone radical shifts; Charli XCX’s set from this year might have a “Victorian child” effect on a festivalgoer from 1982.

But, in another sense, many things remain the same. Heck, even The Cure’s Robert Smith is still involved, via a fest-defining moment when he shared the stage with headliner Olivia Rodrigo. Some of modern music’s most dynamic and exciting artists continue to lead lineups, whether it’s Rodrigo, Charli XCX, The 1975, Turnstile, Wet Leg, Doechii, or Lola Young. There were crowd-pleasing vintage favorites, too, like Rod Stewart, Travis, and Kim Deal of the Pixies and The Breeders. After all these years, it’s also still an event capable of surprising: Lorde opened the weekend with an unannounced daytime performance, during which she played the entirety of her new album Virgin live for the first time.

It’s an event of remarkable breadth as well. Even if you didn’t see a single one of the aforementioned acts, you could still have had a 10-out-of-10, no-notes weekend. This year’s fest had literally thousands of performances on dozens of stages. It’s a bit of a “how many grains of sand are on all the world’s beaches” situation when it comes to how many unique Glastonbury weekends are possible, depending on any given attendee’s musical interests and scheduling priorities.

That makes Glasto futile to sum up in any definitive way, but what can be said is this: The high points were high and the options beyond them were nearly limitless. It was hard to go wrong at Glastonbury this year, and it’s thanks to the mix of quality and quantity that the festival has endured as long and prosperously as it has.

The 2025 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was canceled and evacuated on Friday (June 13) — just hours after it opened its gates — due to concerns of severe weather over the weekend. According to Billboard, the evacuation order was issued at around 7:30 pm local time, as the Manchester, Tennessee area was threatened by thunderstorms, necessitating the cancellation of the festival. Headliners included Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler The Creator, Luke Combs, and Hozier, and a livestream was planned.

In a statement on social media, the festival’s organizers wrote:

Today, the National Weather Service provided us with an updated forecast with significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days. We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo. We are going to make things right with you, and you will find refund information at the end of this message, but let’s start with the next steps.

The number one thing we need from the Bonnaroo community is patience. Some of your fellow campers’ sites are in rough shape. The rain has settled in areas and made certain parts of Outeroo difficult to manage. We’d like to prioritize getting those folks as well as those with accessibility needs off The Farm as soon as possible this evening. To do this, we ask that if your campsite is in good shape or if you’re in an RV or pre-pitched accommodation, please consider spending the night with us and we’ll start working to get you out of here safely tomorrow.

We have put our hearts and souls into making this weekend the most special one of the year, and cannot express how crushed we are to have to make this decision. Thank you in advance for your patience, your positivity and your unfailing Bonnaroovian spirit.

Refunds are being issued; you can find more info in the post here.