4 Iconic Music Festivals That Changed the World

Music festivals are still major social events today, but there was once a time when they weren’t really a thing. These four massive and legendary music festivals started it all, and fans who were lucky enough to attend them look back on them with a sense of fondness. They really don’t kick off like they used to back in the day! Let’s dive into four music festivals that changed the world of music for good.

1. Woodstock 1969

This would absolutely not be a list of music festivals that changed the world without bringing up the OG: Woodstock, 1969. Today, this event is still considered one of the greatest music fests of all time. It was the epitome of free love, new music, and counterculture.

Woodstock 1969 was held in August in Bethel, New York. A whopping 400,000 people gathered to witness performances from now-legends like Janis Joplin, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and so many more. We’re lucky that some footage of the event has survived all these years.

2. Glastonbury 1970

Glastonbury Festival started as an attempt to save a dairy farm and has evolved into something even more. It all started with a “small” gathering of around 1,500 people in 1970, but has since gone on to be a powerhouse festival in Somerset, England. The likes of David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Adele, The Rolling Stones, The Cure, and more have all performed at the fest in the years since.

3. Coachella 1999

Coachella is still the biggest music festival today, but it once had fairly humble beginnings. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a massive social and artistic gathering of musicians artists, and fans from around the world. And nobody seems to mind the hot California desert where it is usually held.

Unlike many music festivals, Coachella has evolved beyond just music. Back in 1999, the likes of Beck, Rage Against The Machine, Pavement, Moby, Morrissey, and more performed. It’s wild to think the fest initially lost $1 million and still managed to survive and evolve decades later. Today, the biggest musicians in the world perform at Coachella, and festivalgoers can enjoy a virtually endless stream of art installations, fashion displays, celebrity encounters, and local food in addition to live performances.

4. Burning Man 1986

Unlike many of the festivals on this list, Burning Man is one of few that have not really changed all that much since its inception in 1986. And that’s a good thing. Burning Man is still very much a micro-community of people who want to experience radical art, construction, self-expression, and connectedness. It still takes place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, and they’re still burning The Man. We hope it never changes.

Photo by Henry Diltz/Corbis

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.