Music festivals with at least SOME GenX representation

Posted by BumblingBarefoot@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 30 comments

We missed a lot of the 90s music scene because we were poor, got married early, and had kids immediately thereafter. We are still super young at heart and are catching up on the things we missed.

We'd like to go to an EDM festival, but we'd consider any music festival that has good music and good vibes. Ideally, we'd like to not stand out as the only 50 year olds there.

Suggestions?

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Oily_Bee@reddit

I just went to Movement in Detroit, I got into Detroit techno back in the early 90s. There were mostly 20-30 sometimes but I wasn't out of place at all. The scene has been thriving in this town for a long time so there's plenty of older heads. Unfortunately you just missed it.

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chuckdieselCA@reddit

Just like heaven festival reps late Gen X

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79killingtime@reddit

Some good ones mentioned already. Riot Fest in Chicago has become a yearly tradition for me and some friends.

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gidget1337@reddit

Oceans Calling has a lot of Gen X vibes.

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Texaswheels@reddit

Oh I have the festival for you! Rocklahoma!

https://www.rocklahoma.com/

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JCo1968@reddit

That's a rough one. Alcohol flowing, extremely hot temps, and drunk metalhead Okies running around.

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Temporary_View_3303@reddit

Yah…HARD pass

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Texaswheels@reddit

That's as festival as it gets! I've never been but my sister lives 30 minutes away and has gone several times. They have a decent line up now, used to be like every 80's hair band that was still around going to it.

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JCo1968@reddit

I haven't been in years. It's definitely a good time!

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MaudieLebowski@reddit

Darker Waves here in Huntington Beach…

https://www.vividseats.com/darker-waves-festival-tickets/performer/166907?sem=eyJsb2MiOnsibmFtZSI6Ikh1bnRpbmd0b24gQmVhY2giLCJsbmciOi0xMTguMDA0Mzc1MDAsImxhdCI6MzMuNjU0OTA2NzB9fQ&_&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23711206318&utm_term=darker%20waves%20festival%202026&adgroup=194801902773&target=kwd-2478787669144&loc_i=&loc_p=9031541&syn_kw=darker%20waves%20festival%202026&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23711206318&gbraid=0AAAAADejqrc9tvatx2SZzztrjTzlYEN5x&gclid=Cj0KCQjww8rQBhDjARIsAE43KPN1F9kNp12JkYoHrkmN9YA_aeam5pUnwkgQdkvQtqTKj1kmWmH7ILcaAopEEALw_wcB

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lilspark112@reddit

Ohana Fest in Dana Point CA. Eddie vedder either started it or runs it or something like that. Lots of 90s bands.

https://www.ohanafest.com

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Embarrassed-Shake314@reddit

Both of these are held in Louisville, KY in September and feature several genX bands. I know both will have people our age attending.

https://bourbonandbeyond.com/lineup/

https://louderthanlifefestival.com/lineup/

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Which-Inspection735@reddit

If I was going to BBB, I would have legit anxiety trying to figure out how I’m going to see all the acts that I want to. That’s the best fest lineup I I’ve seen in a while, but too bad the Dread Pirate Johnny Blue Skies won’t be there.

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CitizenChatt@reddit

Dang!

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Which-Inspection735@reddit

A good bluegrass festival is was you need. Any recent mainstream festivals are full of bands I’ve never heard of. There are some metal festivals I’ve been to with several of the bands I want to see, then other metal festivals are just a bunch of generic bands along side butt rock bands who are trying to remain relevant. The vast majority of country festivals are just another pop show with a double portion of bootlicking.

Nothing will ever surpass Lollapalooza 93 for me though.

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vankirk@reddit

Not necessarily a festival, but every EDM show I've been to has a wide variety of ages. I saw a couple in their 70s at Above & Beyond and we went to see Massane x Qrion a couple weeks ago and there were plenty of age variation. EDM shows are really about the vibe and the dancing. Nobody cares.

Which EDM artists do y'all listen to?

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CitizenChatt@reddit

Daft Punk 👽

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LithiuMart@reddit

https://www.shiiineon.com/

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photog_in_nc@reddit

I really enjoy Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival every year. The usual structure of the festival is 2 outdoor stages downtown with bands that go until maybe 10:30 or 11, and then various indoor venues all over downtown that go until 1 or 2am. They book a variety of genres, so you might have a neofolk artist on one stage, a hip-hop act on another, and various indie, garage rock, and metal bands kicking off in the clubs. maybe even a comedian. A big part for me is discovering new, up-and-coming acts. For instance, saw Geese last year just before they blew up. The crowd has plenty of older music fans, mixed in with younger festivalgoers. There’s been a good bit of older acts booked over the years, in addition to all the newer bands. Among them: The Breeders, Jesus and Mary Chain, Flaming Lips, Dwight Yoakum, Sunny Day Real Estate, Guided by Voices, Drive-by Truckers, X, De La Soul, Nile Rodgers, MC5 (MC50), Jesus Lizard, Archers of Loaf, Liz Phair, Dinosaur Jr, Public Enemy, etc.

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Thirty_Helens_Agree@reddit

Milwaukees Summerfest will have Wcho & The Bunnymen, Styx, Modern English, Kim Gordon, Lisa Loeb, Candlebox, Gin Blossoms, the Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

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Emergency_Bike6274@reddit

The Jayhawks!

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xBobaFattx@reddit

My wife and I go to raves sometimes and have been to a couple EDM festivals. It's a pretty welcoming community overall and I've seen a good amount of "older" people. I'm 52, she is 50. We went to EDC Las Vegas last year and had a great time. I'm pretty sure I read there was a 40+ raver group on Facebook but I never hooked up with them. We went with our oldest and her husband. Having kids too early wasn't ideal but now that we can go do fun shit with them as adults, it's awesome.

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doveinabottle@reddit

https://www.darkerwavesfest.com/

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doveinabottle@reddit

https://www.cbgb.com/