Summer is here, and there’s no better way to enjoy the sun than with your favorite artist or band. This summer will be jam-packed with music festivals all over the United States. We’re here to keep you updated on everything you need to know about your favorite foreign artist, and whether they’ll be able to play this summer. Find out which foreign artists will be rocking the stage, information for traveling fans, and the most updated CDC guidelines so you can be fully prepared for your festival experience.
Your favorite artist just might be traveling to the U.S. for a music festival this summer, and you don’t want to miss out. For most, this will be the first time in more than a year that they will be able to enjoy a concert or music festival since the pandemic. Every major city around the U.S. is gearing up for a summer filled with great music, entertainment, and energy. The hype around the music festivals has caught the attention of foreign talent, and more artists are booking lineup spots. Let’s break down some of the foreign artists that we’re looking forward to seeing at music festivals this summer.
HARD, a music festival located in San Bernadino, CA, will have many foreign artists looking to put on their best performance since before the pandemic. It’ll be one of the first live summer EDM and riddim concerts in over a year. Canadian artists KAYTRANADA, Ekali, and Rezz will be performing, as well as UK artists Maya Jane Coles and Born Dirty. The event will take place July 31st, August 1st and tickets are already on sale.
In the Midwest, Summerfest Music Festival in Milwaukee, WI spans over three weekends, beginning September 2nd. The Kid Laroi, a rising Australian artist, and Modern English, a post-punk band from England are just a few of the foreign artists on the lineup. With 23,000 fans in attendance, this festival is sure to be an incredible experience.
This summer in Chicago, Lollapalooza will make its long-awaited return to the summer music festival lineup. There are many foreign headliners you won’t want to miss, such as Ireland’s Dermot Kennedy, French DJ Tschami, and Dutch house artist Oliver Heldens. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is allowing the summer music festival to be at full capacity starting Thursday, July 29th. Prepare for great music and a packed venue of nearly 100,000 festival-goers each day. Check out the full lineup here.
If you’re staying nearby this summer, you’re in for some great music as Chicago is home to more music festivals than just Lollapalooza. Pitchfork Music Festival, located in Union Park has pushed its annual festival from July to early September, taking place September 10th-12th. This year, Pitchfork has many unique foreign artists such as Ghanian-American singer Amaarae, as well as The Weather Station and Andy Schauf, both from Canada. The festival will also feature many artists from the U.K. such as British musician Bartees Strange, London-based black midi, and Kelly Lee Ownes, a Welsh electronic musician. To check out even more foreign music favorites, head to the lineup here.
Just one week later, Riot Fest, located in Chicago’s Douglass Park, offers a lineup of rock, punk, alternative, and hip-hop artists. Check out Swedish indie rock band The Sounds and Filipino singer Eyedress on the opening night of the festival. You also won’t want to miss Canadian rock bands Mother Mother and White Lung. Dropkick Murphys, the popular Celtic punk band, will be a headliner of the festival. The music festival will take place September 17th – September 19th. For now, tickets are still available, but they’re selling quick—don’t miss your chance!
New York City is one of the most iconic tourist destinations in the world. As concerts and music festivals are allowed again in the city, there is an expectation of increased foreign visitors this summer. This year, the concert to watch out for is the Electric Zoo festival in Randall’s Island, New York. The Labor Day weekend festival will have some of Europe’s best and brightest DJ’s and artists as headliners. Ben Nickey and Chris Lorenzo, two of the hottest and best-known DJs from the United Kingdom will be performing at the New York event. Swedish DJ Alesso and Russian DJ Alpha 9 will also be in attendance. This will be an incredible festival filled with artists from different countries with a variety of styles and genres of music.
So far, Coachella 2021 has been cancelled due to the current state of the pandemic and there is no news on if there will be a festival later this year. Stay tuned.
As things open up, it’s still important to keep in mind the CDC requirements and personal safety during the summer music festivals. Wearing a mask is currently still mandated in many states. The CDC recommends not to travel internationally unless you are fully vaccinated, and to only travel internationally without full vaccination in the case of an emergency. Before international travel, the CDC recommends that travelers receive a negative COVID-19 test within 3 days before travel to the U.S.After travel, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within 3-5 days for the most accurate COVID-19 virus test results. At festival venues not at full capacity, social distancing is still recommended. If you are sick or are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms it is recommended that you stay home.
In addition to complying with the current CDC guidelines, your favorite international artists must also ensure that they have the necessary music visas that will allow them to perform at your favorite U.S. music festival this summer. Musicians typically get O-1, P-1 or P-3 music visas to perform in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the visa process dramatically and the COVID-19 travel bans have further complicated things for your favorite international artists looking to get here.
Here at McEntee Law, we have a lot of experience working on music visas for international artists. Our office is also located in the wonderful music and entertainment ecosystem – 2112 / Fort Knox in Chicago.
We’ve spent the past year helping our clients navigate the Embassy closures, travel bans, national interest waivers, etc. If you need assistance with music visas or just need general immigration advice, we’re here to help.
Hoping to see you all at a music festival soon. Stay safe and have fun. Long live live music!