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If you love music, there’s a good chance that you’ll be heading to Coachella, Stagecoach, Lollapalooza or another music festival or concert such as Taylor’s Swift’s Eras Tour and other must-see tours. And you’ll need the right festival accessories or travel gear to pack for the trip.
There’s nothing worse than traveling to a music festival only to get stuck outside in the heat without necessities like proper sunglasses, a hat to keep your head cool, a portable phone charger just in case you’re low on juice, hand sanitizer, face masks, bandanas and other essentials such as sunscreen, portable fans, waterproof mascara and liquid eyeliners; and a bag to carry everything from your identification to water bottles.
To help you out, we rounded up a list of music festival necessities, some of which you can buy at Amazon and Walmart to ensure that they get delivered quickly.
Comfy and convenient, backpacks are great for music festivals. The Adidas Alliance Backpack pictured above has a zippered pocket in the front and zip pocket in the back. The back compartment is roomy enough to fit your wallet, Airpods and other small items, while the front pocket can be used for your ID, money, room key, etc.
For more options, check out this Mini Festival Crossbody Bag with a water bottle carrier ($21.99, this $10 Walmart bag and this mini backpack from The North Face ($59).
Blame it on the juice! A portable charger comes in handy regardless of whether you’re traveling to a music festival or not. Casely’s Here Comes the Sun Power Pod is an iPhone charging deck that fits in the palm of your hand. The power pod features MagSafe wireless charging and is available in tons of different colors and cool designs. Click here for a wider selection of portable chargers for iPhone and Android.
Looking for headgear? This cooling bucket is designed to keep you cool for up to two hours at a time. The polyester bucket hat comes in a range of colors including black, khaki and navy. Click here fore more bucket hats.
Get the glow! An LED wristband bracelet is a cool festival accessory if you’re traveling in a group. The bracelet set above comes with eight bracelets (batteries included) featuring three light modes: fast blink, slow blink and full glow.
How about a fanny pack? Apart from being timeless and easy to find, if you’ve seen Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, then you know that fanny packs can be used for more than carrying personal belongings. Alo Yoga’s Explorer Fanny Pack is available in black, white, limestone, fog and espresso. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, this Amazon fanny pack is available in 12 different colors.
Clear bags are required for entry into Lollapalooza (unless smaller than 6 x 9 inches to be clear bags are required it’s unless smaller than 6 x 9 inches) (no liquids). Bags must be made from vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches, like the option pictured above. The clear purse is available in 14 colors including black, blue, green, purple, red and pink. Walmart has a clear bag on sale for $6.98. Click here to shop clear backpacks.
Plan on standing in line? Get a portable lawn chair! If you’re looking for a basic option, the Coleman Broadband Mesh Chair pictured above is on sale for $20 at Amazon. The chair has cup holder with a mesh back, supports up to 250 pounds and fits into a carry bag. This Alpha Mart camping chair ($43.98) is another good option (that we’ve personally used) for long days in the sun. Click here for more portable, camping chairs.
Staying hydrated is the healthiest way to endure long days in the festival sun. Stanley released a neon collection of its bestselling Quencher H2.0 Tumbler. The neon collection is available in pink, green, orange and neon yellow. Click here for more tumbler cups.
You can expect to see a lot of Cowboy hats this summer thanks to Cowboy Carter. Hop on the cowboy hat trend with this Walmart hat, currently on sale for less than $2. The hat is available in black, red and brown.
The proper hat will help keep you cool in the desert heat, which is especially useful if you plan on hitting up Coachella or Stagecoach. The sun hat pictured above offers UPF 50+ protection and has been tested to ensure safety from harsh UVA and UVB rays. The mesh fabric allows for moisture and heat to easily escape to keep your head cool and reduce sweating.
Adidas Men’s Adicolor Original Relaxed Hat
How about a baseball cap? This Adidas hat features a curved brim and adjustable closure in the back and it’s available in several colors including red, purple, white, black, blue and green.
Achiou Neck Gaiter Face Mask Scarf Dust Sun Protection Cool Lightweight Windproof, Breathable Fishing Hiking Running Cycling
You’re probably tired of wearing face masks, but it can get dusty outside, so you might need some form of face protection at festivals like Coachella. If you don’t want a cloth face mask or the more durable N95 mask, the reusable cloth face covering pictured above is perfect for the dessert and other dusty destinations. The washable face mask features four-way stretch and fits snugly on all size heads and faces, and it’ll stay in place, even if you’re running or doing other vigorous exercises. Find disposable face masks here.
Finding the perfect music festival sunnies depends on your style preference and budget, but there are a bunch of affordable sunglasses online like these Sojo oval sunglasses. Another festival options, these polarized glasses pictured above have a chain attached, so you won’t have to worry about misplacing them while you’re out. And they’re available in seven different lens frames including red, black, green, grey, blue, gold and red. Click here for more festival shades.
The sunglasses pictured above offer up a classic aviator style in nine different colors, including mirrored pink, brown and black.
Another trendy option, these ’90s inspired sunglasses feature a wraparound design and UV protection.
It’s not just for picnics– despite the name. This portable picnic blanket folds up into a purse, so you can store your keys and other belongings. The waterproof blanket is available in different sizes including 60 x 79, 53 x 58 and 60 x 75 inches.
This fan-favorite, striped blanket from Nomadix is perfect for festivals, is another options for camping, picnics and other activities. Featuring a soft, microsuede top, the water resistant, sand-resistant and pet-hair resistant blanket measures 60 inches x 70 inches and is made from recycled polyester. Not into stripes? Find more Nomadix blankets here.
What to Wear to Music Festivals
Not sure what to wear to a music festival? Shorts, tees and comfortable shoes are a few fashion staples that you might already have in your closet, but if you’re looking for something more curated, you can find festival gear online at retailers such as Revolve, Nasty Gal, ASOS, StockX, Amazon, Walmart, and Farfetch.
See below for a few examples of clothes to wear to a music festival.
Cargo Pants
Hollister Slim Straight Cargo Pants
These Aeropostale cargo shorts offer a comfortable fit and plenty of pockets, making them great for a music festival or concert. The 10-inch cargo shorts are available in sizes 27-42 and in a range of colors including golden tan, black, hazelnut, blue, green and grey. If there’s more room in your budget, these top-rated Eddie Bauer Men’s Tahoma Cargo shorts are on sale for $44.99. See more cargo pants here and click here for cargo pants.
Short-Sleeve Shirts, Tees and Tank Tops
When it comes to festival clothing, T-shirts and tank tops and short-sleeve shirts like the one pictured above (and even mesh shirts) will keep you cool in the festival heat, but you’re clothing choice will probably be depend on the weather. If you like variety, the Bonobos Rivera Short Sleeve Shirt pictured above is available in more than two dozen different colors and designs.
A some flower power to festival season. This crochet top and matching skirt would be perfect for Coachella and other music festivals. You can wear it with a bikini underneath and the pieces are sold separately, so you can mix and match.
Denim Shorts
These denim festival shorts are on clearance at Garage Clothing and only available in select sizes. Denim shorts aren’t very hard to find but the price can vary depending on the brand. Wrangler, Walmart, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revolve, Anthropologie and Gap has a bunch of denim shorts on sale.
Wide Leg Jeans
Wide leg jeans are all the rage right now. If you want to stay under $50, these wide-leg jeans are 50% off Cotton On. For more styles try retailers such as ASOS, Revolve, Abercrombie & Fitch and Nordstrom.
Comfortable Shoes
Shoes can make or break an outfit, and if you’re trekking through a festival in the wrong shoes, you’ll definitely be sorry. There’s actually a science to picking the perfect shoe but if you don’t have the time to test out different styles, go for comfortable platform boots, walking shoes or running shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty such as Nikes, Pumas, Adidas, Salomon, New Balance, Cariuma, Vans or Converse Chuck Taylors. Other good options: Dr Marten, Burkenstocks, platforms and cowboy boots.
For more festival-related gear, see our recommendations for the best ear plugs for concerts, best travel backpacks and tote bags, and venue-approved bags.
American Idol is down to its top 24, and next week’s episode will feature a star-studded list of performers.
Teddy Swims, Lauren Spencer Smith and Paul Russell are all set to take the stage on the three-hour April 14 episode of the singing competition series, where the top 20 will be revealed.
Swims is fresh off a Hot 100 chart-topper with his viral hit “Lose Control,” off his 2023 album, I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1). “It’s only 1 o’clock, but it’s 5 somewhere, ain’t it?,” Teddy Swims marveled to Billboard after “Lose Control” crowned the tally. “I called my beautiful mother [and] said, ‘We did it.’ I couldn’t be more grateful. I feel so protected. I feel like God’s favorite kid right now.”
Spencer Smith, an Idol alum, revealed back in February that she’s working on the long-awaited follow-up to her debut album, Mirror. Russell recently released “Eat Pray Love” to follow-up his 2023 hit “Lil Boo Thang.”
American Idol airs Sunday (April 14) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, before it will be available to stream the next day on Hulu. Not subscribed? Hulu’s most popular plan is currently $7.99 per month after a free trial for seven days.
Vick Hope is a Swiftie, despite her husband’s history with Taylor Swift.
Calvin Harris’ wife shared on her BBC Radio 1 show Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie on Monday (April 8) that she listens to the DJ’s ex-girlfriend when he’s not around. “As soon as my husband goes away, I listen to Taylor Swift,” she admitted. “That’s just when I get my little fill — just a little fill, just a couple of songs, get it out of my system and then it’s done.”
Harris and Hope first started dating in early 2022, and were engaged by the end of the year. They tied the knot in September 2023 in a tent on the grounds of Hulne Priory, Alnwick, Northumberland. “You know what, I was very overwhelmed by the interest in it, but I’m keeping my private life private,” Hope previously told Hello! Magazine about their relationship. “I’ve never really experienced this before about my private life, but it’s just for us.”
Swift and Harris dated for nearly a year and a half back in 2015. In July 2016, it was revealed that Swift secretly co-wrote Harris’ hit “This Is What You Came For” under a pseudonym. Once the news broke, Harris launched a string of (since-deleted) angry tweets, claiming that Swift was trying to “tear” him down.
“It was completely the wrong instinct,” Harris told British GQ later that year, reflecting on the incident. “I was protecting what I see as my one talent in the world being belittled. It felt like things were piling on top of me and that was when I snapped.”
Spotify has launched a new AI playlist feature for premium users in the United Kingdom and Australia, the company revealed in a blog post on Sunday (April 7).
The new feature, which is still in beta, allows Spotify users in those markets to turn any concept into a playlist by using prompts like “an indie folk playlist to give my brain a big warm hug” or “a playlist that makes me feel like the main character.” The tool builds off of Spotify’s other recent features that focus on personalization and interactivity, like AI DJ and Daylist. Daylist, in particular, has found popularity among the streaming service’s Gen Z users who often post the wacky titles Daylist generates to their social media accounts.
These more personalized tools are a complement to Spotify’s editorial playlist offerings, which have been a defining part of the platform’s user experience since the 2010s. They also build off the legacy of its personal, shareable end-of-year Spotify Wrapped campaign.
AI Playlist can iterate a list of songs based on a user’s references to places, animals, activities, movie characters, colors and emojis, but it cannot respond to current events or specific brands. The company also notes that it has measures in place around text prompts to keep offensive language and ideas out of AI playlists.
The AI playlist feature can be found on Spotify’s iOS and Android apps under “Your Library,” where users can tap the “+” button at the top right corner and select “AI Playlist.”
“At Spotify, we aim to deliver the right piece of music for that exact moment in time,” reads the blog post. “With AI Playlist in beta, we’re excited to give Premium subscribers in the U.K. and Australia a new way to discover music. Over the coming months, we look forward to continuing to iterate on this new feature to best serve our listeners.”
Morgan Wallen was arrested on April 7th after allegedly throwing a chair off a roof of a bar in Nashville. The incident reportedly took place at Eric Church’s Chief’s Bar. The CMT Awards 2024 were last night and we’re showing you is everything you missed. Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and her collaborators are celebrating the news. And more!
Tetris Kelly
Morgan Wallen is arrested in Nashville. While the rest of country music was celebrated in Austin, we chat with Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ collaborators. We’re on tour with Larry June and reveal who’s on the top of the Hot 100.
Tetris Kelly
Happy Monday, y’all! It’s Billboard News for Monday, April 8th. We have such a show for you today. So let’s jump into our top story. Morgan Wallen was arrested last night on three felony charges. Here are the details.
Tetris Kelly
Just days after kicking off his 2020 ‘One Night At A Time’ tour, Morgan Wallen was arrested in Nashville on April 7, his attorney confirmed in a statement saying at 10:53pm Sunday evening,. Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities. They also confirmed his release from jail. According to WSNV the arrest warrant revealed that while in was at Eric Church’s Chiefs bar in Nashville on the opening weekend, when witnesses said he threw a chair off the roof of a six story building. The chair reportedly landed just three feet away from two Metro Nashville police officers who were standing outside of the bar on Broadway. After speaking with bar staff and witnesses offices reviewed security footage to confirm Morgan’s alleged action. According to WKRN a witness reportedly told officers they saw Wallen pick up the chair throw it over him, laughing afterwards, Morgan Wallen was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. He posted a $15,250 bond to secure his release. His next court date is scheduled for May 3rd the same day his tour is scheduled for Nashville.
Watch the full video above!
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Jelly Roll really is on a roll. The powerful singer and colorful personality won a night-leading three awards at the 2024 CMT Music Awards for the second year in a row. The awards, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, were presented at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday (April 7) and broadcast on CBS.
Jelly Roll took video of the year, male video of the year and CMT performance of the year, all for “Need a Favor.” Last year, he won male video of the year, male breakthrough video of the year and CMT digital-first performance of the year, all for “Son of a Sinner.”
“Need a Favor” reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is the third year in a row that the music video of the year winner was a top 15 hit on Billboard’s flagship all-genre songs chart. Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown’s “Thank God,” last year’s winner, also reached No. 13. Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You,” the 2022 winner, reached No. 15.
Jelly Roll is the first artist to win back-to-back awards for male video of the year since Blake Shelton won in 2013 and 2014 for “Sure Be Cool If You Did” and “Doin’ What She Likes,” respectively.
Jelly Roll’s award for CMT performance of the year was for his rendition of “Need a Favor” on last year’s CMT Music Awards. This year, he closed the show with a performance of “Halfway to Hell.”
Lainey Wilson won female video of the year for the second year in a row. She took the award for “Watermelon Moonshine,” having won last year for “Heart Like a Truck.” She’s the first woman to win in this key category two years running since Carrie Underwood won six years in a row from 2015-20. Wilson’s win here was hardly a surprise. She has amassed seven awards at the CMA Awards in the past two years.
In addition to her win, Wilson performed two songs on the show – her own “Country’s Cool Again” and a cover version of Toby Keith’s 1999 hit “How Do You Like Me Now?!” in a tribute to the late singer.
Dan + Shay won duo/group video of the year for “Save Me the Trouble.” The duo previously won duo video of the year three years running for “Tequila” (2018), “Speechless” (2019) and “I Should Probably Go to Bed” (2020). (The CMT Awards’ separate duo and group categories were combined in 2021. Now that they have three hours to fill, they should make them separate awards again, so they conform with the CMA Awards and the ACM Awards.)
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” by Carly Pearce featuring Chris Stapleton won collaborative video of the year. Both artists are past winners of the award for breakthrough video of the year. Pearce won in 2018 for “Every Little Thing”; Stapleton in 2016 for “Fire Away.”
Ashley Cooke and Warren Zeiders won the awards for breakthrough female and male video of the year, respectively. Many past winners in the CMT new artist category have gone on to very substantial careers, including Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt and Ashley McBryde, in addition to the previously-mentioned Stapleton, Pearce and Jelly Roll.
Trisha Yearwood received the June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award. “June Carter Cash was a force, and she was also married to a force – and I know a little bit about that,” she said in accepting the award. She added the she and her husband, Garth Brooks, try to live by the saying “Those to whom much is given, much is expected.” Yearwood also performed the tender ballad “Put It in a Song.”
Host Ballerini was nominated for three awards – video of the year, female video of the year and CMT performance of the year – but didn’t win. But she scored with a performance of “Love Me Like You Mean It.”
Dasha brought her viral hit “Austin” to the 2024 CMT Music Awards on Sunday night (April 7) — and she admitted that it was the first time she had ever been in the song’s namesake city.
The singer/songwriter gave the song its live television debut at Austin, Texas’ Moody Center, wearing double denim in a zip-up jean vest and daisy dukes with a bedazzled belt complete with a rhinestone D belt buckle. She was backed up by dancers wearing white shirts and camo or denim pants, and since one of the song’s biggest drivers has been its perfect line-dancing pace, it was fitting that Dasha and her dancers broke into a line dance mid-song to pay tribute to the song’s sudden success.
“Thank you to the CMTs for believing in me!” she said to wrap up the performance. “It’s my first time in Austin!”
That last revelation might be a bit surprising to fans of the song, since the Texas town plays a pivotal role in the tune’s plot. “I made my way back to LA and that’s where you’ll be forgotten,” the California-born artist sings. “In 40 years, you’ll still be here, drunk, washed up in Austin.”
On the red carpet ahead of Sunday’s show, Dasha told Billboard News host Tetris Kelly, “Actually, this is my first time in Austin,” after he asked what about the city inspired her. “My first time in Austin is playing ‘Austin’ onstage at the CMTs!”
“Austin” is the first Billboard Hot 100 hit for Dasha, with the song peaking at No. 53 on this week’s chart. Over on Hot Country Songs, the song hits its No. 11 peak this week — and it also becomes her first Country Airplay hit, debuting at No. 54. Late last month, Billboard broke the news that the previously independent artist signed a label deal with Warner Records.
