Popular Music Events in 2021

After more than one long, hard year of lockdowns, cancelled events, isolation, and staying home, many are itching to get outside or into the arena for the return of live music events. Many live music pubs like The Rocksteady are already scheduling many live music events. 

Here is a rundown of some notable events, but not all, happening in North America and Europe this year, in no particular order. 

Mad Cool Festival

Hosted in Madrid, Spain, this is a relatively new festival that is gaining popularity among festival goers. It began in 2016, but this year the summer festival expects to serve over 100,000 music fans a range of genres in July. The well-known names in rock headline at the main stage, but other stages feature artists from indie and pop. Electronic music can even be found here. With names like The Killers, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cardi B, and Kings of Leon, it’s a sure bet you’ll hear familiar music while gaining exposure to new sounds from lesser known artists. 

Isle of Wight Festival

Taking place this September in East London, this festival is so epic that British government banned it for a few decades. Having hosted amazing headliners, such as Jimi Hendricks, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, to name a few, this festival is coming back after a year off (thanks again, Covid) with Snow Patrol, Liam Gallagher, and Duran Duran among a list of attractions. So go out and enjoy a bit of nature and culture in London’s Victoria Park. 

Jazz Fest

This New Orleans music and heritage festival usually takes place on The Fairgrounds in late April. This year, however, dates have been moved to October. The 2021 lineup has yet to be announced, but with past big name acts like Nelly, Lionel Richie, Aerosmith, The Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, and Gladys Knight, this year’s lineup is sure to satisfy the need for quality music. 

As for the heritage portion of the festival, you can take a walk around the grounds and pick up some Cajun cuisine classics and settle in to hear jazz artists plays their hearts out. 

Riot Fest

In Douglas Park, Chicago, Illinois you can reminisce on a time when we gathered in crowds without worry or concern of being hospitalized two weeks later. In September, this event will kick off with acts from the early 2000s. My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Smashing Pumpkins, and The All-American Rejects are just a few of the artists set to take the stage and overtake the crowd with pre-pandemic nostalgia. 

Imagine Festival

If you’re thinking, “An EDM fest in the South? In Georgia?” I know, but, hey, EDM is everywhere now. This is going to be a hot one, and not just because Georgia in September is always hot. The lineup includes 3Lau, Black Tiger Sex Machine, and Liquid Stranger. 

As I said, these are no where near all the events scheduled for 2021. So, get online and get searching for some happening near you. With lockdown and travel restrictions easing, it’s time to reclaim this portion of “normal” in our lives.

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