Music

10 of This Year’s Best Summer Music Events You Need to Attend

Published

4 months ago

June 23, 2026

PHOTO | Adobe

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival kicked off the festival season and set the tone for a music-filled summer that’s packed with many incredible, once in a lifetime opportunities. From rock festivals to bucket list concerts, to kid-friendly events, there’s something for everyone’s musical taste. Check out our list of some of the best summer music events happening throughout the U.S. this year.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

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When: June 13-16, 2019

The ultra-popular festival is set to return to The Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, with an impressive lineup of artists, activities, and a more fluid set schedule than before.

The 2019 lineup features performances by Cardi B, The Avett Brothers, Childish Gambino, Hozier, Post Malone, Gucci Mane, The Lumineers, Solange, and many more.

Phish, one of the headlining acts, will play multiple sets throughout the four-day event, while other performances will be spaced out to provide more opportunity for attendees to see their favorite artist.

According to Nashville Scene, “For fans of country, Kacey Musgraves, Ruston Kelly, and Maren Morris’ sets are spaced far enough apart on Saturday that you can definitely see all of them, and they could even guest on each others’ sets should they choose.”

Bonnaroo 2019 will also feature Plazas or public spaces with activities and access to amenities. Altogether, the event plans to provide more than 70 different activities and experiences for attendees, including a sex therapy booth by Durex, glitter, and hair dye stations, a pride parade, food and more.

Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

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When: September 2018-December 2020

Elton John is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest musicians of our time. His final tour offers fans a chance to experience the multi-award winning artist, and his greatest hits, one last time before he retires from the road. This is not just one of the best summer music events of this year, it’s possibly one of the best summer music events of all time.

The tour is nominated for the Top Rock Tour at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. But even if it doesn’t win, “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” will go down as one of the greatest tours in modern history. The concert series is set to include more than 300 performances in cities throughout the world. Each show features a 24 song setlist, reports Rolling Stone.

The first leg of the tour just ended in March, there’s still a chance to see it when it returns again to the U.S. in September, or before it concludes in London in December 2020.

Flo Rida, Nelly, TLC Amphitheatre Tour

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When: July 23-August 31, 2019

The festival season brings music lovers plenty of opportunities to experience their favorite modern artists in one place, but not many gather the hitmakers we grew up listening too… until now. Flo Rida, Nelly and TLC will join forces for an epic North America summer tour that’s scheduled to hit amphitheaters in 21 cities nationwide.

The tour launches on July 23 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama before it wraps up in Irvine on August 31.

Hootie and the Blowfish “Group Therapy” Tour

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When: May 30-Oct 16, 2019

The summer, Hootie & The Blowfish and the Barenaked Ladies will launch their much anticipated Group Therapy tour. As one of the most talked about concert series of the year, it’s sure to rise to the top of any music-lovers’ (and 90s kids) bucket lists.

The North American leg of the tour is set to hit 47 cities in the U.S. and Canada — including Cleveland, Nashville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles — before heading to the U.K and Ireland later this year.

The concert series is the first full tour in more than a decade for Hootie and the Blowfish, and is accompanied by new music, reports Music Mayhem Magazine.

The Governors Ball Music Festival

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When: May 31-June 2, 2019

Dubbed a “festival with a New York Heart,” the ninth annual, multi-stage music event will take place on Randall’s Island Park in New York City.

The contemporary music festival will host performances on four stages from more than 60 different artists. Aside from the music, attendees can expect food, urban art, and activities including life-sized board games and interactive photo booths, according to the event’s website.

The 2019 Governors Ball lineup includes Tyler the Creator, Lil Wayne, Major Lazer, Florence + The Machine, Saba, and more.

Lollapalooza

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When: August 1-4, 2019

With more than 170 scheduled acts spread throughout eight stages, it’s easy to see why Lollapalooza is one of the nation’s most popular festivals. The Chicago-based event will be held lakeside at Grant Park, and feature a massive mix of rock, pop, country, hip-hop, and EDM artists throughout four days.

Headlining acts include The Chainsmokers, Janelle Monae, 21 Pilots, Tenacious D, and Ariana Grande, who is set to perform on the final day.

Kids under the age of 10 get in free with adult ticket holders and have access to Kidzapalooza, an enclosed, family-friendly area of the park with music, activities like skateboarding demos, and a music video tent.

Seven Peaks Music Festival

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When: August 31-September 1, 2019

The Seven Peaks Music Festival is heading back to the Colorado mountain ranges for the second annual event, created by country star Dierks Bentley and LiveNation. The music, camping, and adventure focused festival will take place on Labor Day weekend in Buena Vista, Colorado.

This year’s lineup is so far set to feature Travis Tritt, Luke Bryan, Aydamn, Tenille Townes, and more. Bentley, who is also set to perform, told the Taste of Country the region was an inspiration for his latest album, “The Mountain.”

Aside from musical entertainment, attendees can expect to fill their days with the natural sights, and activities like water rafting, zip lining, and ATV tours.

Sonic Temple Arts and Music Festival

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When: May 17-19, 2019

Some of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal will come together for the first annual Sonic Temple Arts and Music Festival, located at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

System of Down, Disturbed, and Foo Fighters are just of a few of the multi-platinum artists scheduled to hit the stage during the three day event. Other headlining acts include Ghost, Papa Roach, Lamb of God, Chevelle, Action Bronson, Killswitch Engage, Pussy Riot and more.

In addition to performances, there will be food and beverages that celebrate the local Columbus flavor, and an art section with live murals, screen printing, and more.

Wiz Khalifa: Decent Exposure Tour

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When: July 9-Aug 15, 2019

Wiz Khalifa hyped his North American summer tour for fans while performing at Coachella this April. Tickets just went on sale for the Decent Exposure tour, which features special guest, French Montana. The rapper will also be joined by Palyboi Carti, Moneybagg Yo, Chevy Woods and DJ Drama.

The concert series will kick off July 9 at the Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta. The tour is scheduled to hit 29 cities including Boston, Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, San Diego, and more before it wraps up at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre in Boise on August 15.

The announcement comes fresh after the release of rapper’s latest album, a mixed tape with 14 new songs, titled “Fly Times Vol. 1: The Good Fly Young” released on 4/20.

Woodstock 50

The Woodstock 50 Lineup Is out and It's as Good as You Thought

When: August 16-18, 2019

The 50th-anniversary festival is going back to its roots, bringing back legacy artists, and some of the biggest names in music today. Woodstock 50’s lineup features a dynamic blend of more than 40 pop, rock, and hip-hop acts, who will perform on three stages throughout the weekend of August 16-18th.

The three-day festival is located at Watkins Glen in New York. John Fogerty, Miley Cyrus, The Killers, and Run the Jewels are just a few of the artists slated to perform on Woodstock 50’s opening day. Chance the Rapper, Dead and Company, The Black Keys, will perform on day two, while the third and final day will close with performances from Jay-Z, Halsey, Imagine Dragons, The Zombies and more.

The festival’s organizers are also planning a tribute to original Woodstock performers, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and Joe Crocker.

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Cannabis

Khalifa Kush Plans a Halloween Debut in New York

Khalifa Kush plans to bring KK and Violet Sky flower and pre-rolls to New York on October 31 through a partnership with cultivator and distributor Skyworld.

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2026

Cannabis Aficionado Staff

Dried cannabis flowers beside a glass jar

Khalifa Kush is planning a Halloween entrance into New York’s licensed cannabis market. Wiz Khalifa’s brand says sales are set to begin October 31 through a partnership with New York cultivator and distributor Skyworld. As of October 23, that date is still ahead: this is a preview of an announced launch, rather than a report that the products have already reached stores.

The company’s corrected October 14 announcement identifies two starting cultivars, KK and Violet Sky, in flower and pre-roll formats. It describes an initial rollout to 36 dispensaries: seven in New York City and another 29 across Upstate New York and Long Island. These are the brand’s announced distribution plans, not independently confirmed inventory at every location.

A local partner behind a familiar name

Skyworld will handle New York cultivation and distribution, according to the announcement. That makes the local operation central to what consumers eventually buy. A recognizable national brand name tells only part of the story; the cultivation partner, specific batch and store availability are the details shoppers can check when launch day arrives.

Skyworld’s own website describes the business as Indigenous-owned and New York-based, and lists cultivation, processing and distribution license numbers. It identifies SJR Horticulture, LLC as its operator. The company also provides a lab-results section, giving readers a place to look for product documentation rather than relying solely on launch publicity.

Those details establish how Skyworld presents its operation; they do not substitute for checking the state’s licensing resources or a particular product’s certificate. The announcement also corrected its partner’s name from “Skyworld Cannabis” to “Skyworld.” We use the corrected name here.

KK brings a longer backstory

On its KK product page, Khalifa Kush says the original cultivar was developed for Wiz Khalifa’s personal preferences in the early 2010s. The brand describes a period of private use before its first flower sales at Tryke’s Reef dispensaries in the southwestern United States in 2016. That is the company’s account of the cultivar’s commercial history.

It explains why this New York release carries a recognizable identity before any local customer opens a package. The name connects the artist’s cannabis persona with a product line that has moved through multiple state markets. It is also a reminder that a New York debut is a new distribution milestone for an established brand, rather than the creation of an entirely new cultivar.

The broader KK catalog includes formats beyond flower and pre-rolls. That does not mean all of them are included in the New York opening. The dated announcement is the appropriate guide to the initial local offering; later additions should be reported when the company or retailers confirm them.

Violet Sky adds a different genetic branch

The brand’s Violet Sky page describes a selection effort beginning in early 2021 and a cultivar emerging in late 2022. It identifies the cross as Khalifa Mints and GastroPop, and presents Violet Sky as the third addition to its lineup. Those are breeder and brand descriptions, not independent genetic testing by Cannabis Aficionado.

That distinction is especially useful with cultivar coverage. A lineage can help enthusiasts understand how a company positions a release, but it does not tell an individual reader exactly how a product will feel. We have not sampled these New York batches, and the announcement does not establish their final laboratory results, retail pricing or freshness at any particular shop.

Readers following New York’s plant pipeline can also see our coverage of the state’s upcoming nursery application window. Nursery licensing and a branded retail rollout are separate developments, but both make the people and businesses behind the genetics worth paying attention to.

What to check before making the trip

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management consumer guidance recommends checking the dispensary verification tool displayed at licensed storefronts. It also directs consumers to look for the state’s universal symbol on regulated products and a QR code or link to the batch’s certificate of analysis. The agency’s resources are intended for adults 21 and older.

For a planned launch, store-level confirmation is another practical step. Check a participating dispensary’s current menu or contact the store before traveling. An announced statewide rollout does not establish that both cultivars, every package size or every format will be available at the same time in every shop.

For now, the appeal is a clear date and a focused starting lineup: two cultivars, two formats and a named New York partner. The next reporting milestone is October 31 itself, when actual menus and batch information can show how the promised launch translates into a local shopping experience.

Illustrative stock cannabis photograph; not identified as KK, Violet Sky or Skyworld products. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels.

Music

Major Record Labels to Become Carbon Neutral by 2050

Published

4 months ago

June 23, 2026

Cannabis Aficionado

Three major record labels — Sony, Universal, and Warner — have made a pledge to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, joining a slew of independent labels that have set similar or more aggressive goals. Following the Secretly label group’s pledge last week to be “climate positive” by 2026, the major labels joined indies like Beggars Group, Warp, and Ninja Tune to sign the Music Climate Pact, which addresses activities like touring, vinyl manufacturing, and music streaming that are currently unsustainable in terms of carbon emissions.

Aside from the emissions reductions, the signatories pledge to track and reduce subsidiary emissions related to music listening and fandom, encourage artists to discuss the climate crisis, and collaborate with streaming companies to track and reduce subsidiary emissions related to music listening and fandom.

Beggars Group and Ninja Tune made similar commitments earlier this year, with the latter aiming towards carbon neutrality by the end of 2021. Massive Attack completed a climate analysis in September, recommending “an immediate and major reassembly” of the industry.

Music

Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty Star in New ‘Sonic’ Music Video

Published

4 months ago

June 23, 2026

Todd Farmington

When you think of Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty and Sueco the Child, what springs to mind? If your answer is Sonic the Hedgehog, you’re ahead of the curve.

The quartet has teamed up to record “Speed Me Up,” the lead song on the upcoming Sonic movie soundtrack. They appear in the just-released video as 8-bit avatars and sing about topics including Sonic’s pal Knuckles and the fast-moving world of their lives.

The video starts with Wiz blowing into a Sega Genesis game cartridge and, real talk, you’ll be hooked from there. He’s then transported to the pixelated world of Sonic the Hedgehog, teaming up with Sonic and his fellow rappers to collect rings, jam out in Sonic’s bedroom and take on the evil Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey.

The song is the first drop from the soundtrack by Atlantic Records.

Things haven’t been smooth sailing for the Sonic movie. The first trailer featured Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise, which felt really ill-fitting. The movie was scheduled for release in November 2019, but the initial rendering of everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog was met with less than positive feedback, leading to a design overhaul and a three-month delay on release. It’s now scheduled for release on February 14. Romantic!