Love the idea of a music festival but put off by the idea of roughing it for days at a campsite, using porta-potties? Luckily there are several city-based festivals in the South coming up this month, and all boast VIP options that will make festival life enjoyable for even the most hard-to-please music-lovers.
Fans enjoy VIP seating at the Mempho Music Festival
VIP ticket holders at the Mempho Music Festival can enjoy live music on comfy lounge furniture.Now in its second year, the Mempho Music Festival (Oct. 6-7 this year) is an ode to Memphis' role in shaping global music history and culture. The festival is set in Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, sprawling across 4,500 acres and encompassing more than 20 bodies of water. In addition to the festival, the park offers a variety of activities like zip lining, canoeing, kayaking, biking and horseback riding.
» Who's playing: A blend of top contemporary artists like Beck, Phoenix, Nas and Post Malone, as well as homegrown acts like Lucero and Project Pat.
» The scene: Check out the festival's art installations, as well as an interactive dome melding art, music, science and design. You can also nosh on top-notch eats, with options ranging from the city's famous barbecue to gourmet cuisine prepared by the area's top chefs.
» Turn things up a notch: The VIP experience, available for one or two days ($239 or $449, respectively), includes access to the VIP viewing area by the main stage and to a VIP lounge with a discounted cash bar and daily happy hour, catered hors d'oevres and cozy seating.
The Super VIP Experience, available for one day ($799) or the whole weekend ($1,299), includes access to a Super VIP-only viewing area by the main stage and to the Super VIP lounge, featuring an open bar, two catered meals daily prepared by the city's best chefs, complimentary massages, artist meet-and-greets, exclusive private performances and comfy lounge furniture.
All VIP and Super VIP guests have access to private air-conditioned restrooms with flush toilets, the opportunity to book tables with bottle service, VIP parking, and a dedicated entrance. These guests also have the opportunity to book exclusive camping experiences outside of the primitive campsites available to general admission ticketholders.
For $15,000, you can live like a rock star on your own tour bus, with sleeping accommodations for six to 10 people (each of whom must also purchase a VIP or Super VIP pass). Buses include air-conditioned lounges in the front and back with plush couches and TVs, a mini-kitchen, and water, electric and sewage hookups. You'll also get gourmet lunches and dinners, a dedicated concierge host, private air-conditioned restrooms, and the option to have the bus stocked with your favorite drinks and snacks prior to your arrival.
If leaving the festival community each night for the comforts of a hotel is more your style, there are four-star options about 20 miles from the event, including Hotel Napoleon, Westin Memphis Beale Street and Guest House at Graceland.
What better place to experience a music festival than Austin, Texas, known as the "Live Music Capital of the World"? The two-weekend Austin City Limits fest features more than 130 bands on eight stages over two weekends (Oct. 5-7 and 12-14 this year) at the city's Zilker Park.
» Who's playing: Headliners include Paul McCartney, Odesza, Metallica, Travis Scott, Childish Gambino and Arctic Monkeys, plus indie acts like Alvvays, Parquet Courts, Blood Orange and many more.
» The scene: The festival food court features options from area restaurants, and there's also an art market and mini-festival for kids.
» Turn things up a notch: VIP guests ($450 for one day or $1,100 for three days) have access to an elevated, shaded viewing deck at the main stage that connects to the new VIP Grove, a shady area with comfy seating. They also have access to exclusive VIP bars and complimentary catered lunch and dinner each day, concierge and locker services, and unlimited in-out privileges. They can skip the general ticketholders' line with the VIP express lane at the main entrance, avoid the dreaded porta-potties with access to air-conditioned restrooms, and indulge in express spa treatments. Platinum guests ($2,000 for one day or $3,600 for three days) get all of the above, plus their own dedicated entrance and access to the air-conditioned Platinum Lounge, platinum viewing areas at five stages, and side-stage viewing at two stages. The upgrade also gets you perks like free Wi-Fi and golf cart transportation around the festival.
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Held in New Orleans over Halloween weekend (Oct. 26-28 this year), Voodoo Music + Arts Experience features 65 bands on four stages, along with carnival rides and "The Mortuary Haunted Experience," an immersive art installation.
» Who's playing: A wide range of musical styles, including big names like Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino and Arctic Monkeys, along with lesser-known groups worth seeing like Big Thief and Sunflower Bean.
» The scene: Explore the interactive large-scale art installations located across from the festival grounds, enjoy the on-site carnival rides and pick up some souvenirs from the artisans offering handmade goods in the festival marketplace. Get all the gumbo, crawfish etoufee and shrimp po'boys you crave, and enjoy the mayhem that is Halloween in New Orleans.
» Turn things up a notch: All VIP and Platinum guests get unlimited carnival rides and re-entry to the festival grounds, plus concierge service, shaded lounge seating, air-conditioned premium restrooms, and complimentary haircuts, massages, face-painting and tarot card readings. Both packages also offer access to elevated viewing areas at the main stage, and to the Loa VIP and Foundation lounges as well as to the express lane at the main entrance.
VIP guests ($400 for three-day ticket) have access to a private full-service bar and get preferred pricing on lockers. Upgrading to platinum ($1,350 for three-day ticket) gets you complimentary prime parking, locker and food - curated by award-winning local chef Aaron Sanchez - throughout the day, access to a full-service open bar and to the Platinum Lounge, golf cart transportation around the festival, a dedicated entrance for platinum guests, and prime viewing areas at every stage.