Live music festivals are back!

Front 242 will headline Chicago’s Cold Waves festival.

Front 242 live

I’m just so happy to be able to type these words. Less than one week after the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or out, a handful of promoters have already unveiled plans for live music festivals in 2021.

I can only imagine how excited artists must be to return to the stage once again. Belgian EBM pioneers Front 242 will be headlining Chicago’s Cold Waves festival, as well as embarking on a U.S. tour. Emerging artists like Korine and Death Loves Veronica will be appearing on festival stages, and we might finally see the long-awaited follow-up to Actors’ incredible debut album.

As for music fans, there’s a lot of pent-up demand from people wanting to see live music again, so you can expect tickets for events like these to go fast. Don’t sleep on them.

Here’s a list of select music festivals coming to the U.S. this year. These are the ones I know of… hoping to add more! If you know of another music festival that features artists I regularly cover on Synthpop Fanatic, please let me know.

(Note that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and hopefully, further progress will be made by the time these festivals take place. Please enjoy live music responsibly, following local guidelines. Get vaccinated if you can.)

Cold Waves IX

Chicago, Illinois
September 24 to 26
Official Website

Lineup: Front 242, Clipping., Stabbing Westward, Consolidated, Youth Code, Dalek, Actors, Bootblacks, Barker + Connelly Luxapan, Provoker, Odonis Odonis, Korine, Wingtips, Fee Lion, Pixel Grip, Paul Barker, Blixaboy, Void Vision, Acucrack, The Pirate Twins, Zoltar, Bud Sweet, Choke Chain, Morgue VVitch

Absolution Fest 2021

Tampa, Florida
October 7 to 9
Official Website

Lineup: Korine, KANGA, Curse Mackey, Rosegarden Funeral Party, Bellwether Syndicate, Astari Nite, The Kentucky Vampires, Kiss of the Whip, Hallows, Death Loves Veronica, SINE, Cold Medicine, Gulf Blvd

The Unconvention

Iselin, New Jersey
November 12 to 14
Official Website

Lineup: Moris Blak, Genitorturers, Ego Likeness, Stoneburner, Abbey Death, Danny Blu, Interface, The God Bombs, Tryst, Finite Automata, Gender Clown, Cut Like This, Bunny Dancer, Raichyl Sinversa, Generation Empty

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