THE COUNT: A LABOR (DAY) OF LIVE-MUSIC LOVE

Labor Day weekend may signal the end of summer for some, but for festivalgoers, it means an extra day to par-tay!

Electronic music is all the rage this weekend as pulsating bass-heavy sounds dominate monster festivals in the Netherlands, Madrid, Lisbon and Chicago.

At Mysteryland 2024, in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands, Nicky Romero (CAA), R3hab (CAA) and Charlotte De Witte (Wasserman) headline the longest-running dance festival in the world. The two-day happening (8/30-9/1), which has spawned a spin-off in the U.S., describes itself as “the mystical place where you end up at a party within the party of a party. Creating happy accidents that take you to places you never expected.” Have a safe trip, fam.

The Kalorama Festivals in Madrid and Lisbon (8/29-9/1) feature a diverse lineup of established and cutting-edge acts led by Sam Smith (CAA), Massive Attack (WME) and LCD Soundsystem (WME).

Meanwhile, the NorthCoast Music Festival at SeatGeek Stadium outside Chicago (8/30-9/1) is a collaboration of independent promoters from the Windy City. Billed as “Summer's Last Stand,” the event encompasses electronic, house, jam-band, indie and hip-hop sounds. ILLENIUM (UTA) and Above & Beyond (Wasserman) will headline. 

Want to rock a little harder? Danny Wimmer’s Rocklahoma pulls into Pryor, Oklahoma, 8/30-9/1 with Avenged Sevenfold (CAA), Disturbed (CAA) and Slipknot (CAA). In Seattle, the New Rising Sun/Third Stone-produced Bumbershoot will offer up what is for now the second-to-last stop of Pavement's two-year reunion tour, plus James Blake (WME) and Cypress Hill (IAG).

But perhaps the jewel in the crown is Live Nation/Redrock Entertainment's Fool in Love fest on 8/31 in Inglewood, California, at the Hollywood Park Grounds. This one-day R&B and soul gathering showcases living legends from Diana Ross (CAA) to Lionel Richie (CAA) to Al Green. Take us to that river!

  
Charlotte De Witte and James Blake