Mikala Lugen is a passionate music, journey, and holistic well being journalist with over a decade of expertise overlaying the intersection of sound, journey, and holistic well-being.
Because the founding father of M&M Leisure, she works with shoppers within the music and mindfulness sectors, bringing genuine storytelling to the forefront. Her present bylines embrace Uproxx, EDM.com, and MP3 Magazine, the place she crafts compelling long-form options, artist interviews, and pageant protection.
“Music has been in my DNA since day one—because of my mother and father’ love for ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s rock, which laid the muse for my lifelong obsession. I thrive within the vibrant vitality of music festivals, viewing them as playground utopias the place individuals from all walks of life join by sound and shared experiences,” says Mikala.
Primarily based in Asheville, NC, Mikala is continually chasing the following nice story—whether or not it’s trekking up a mountain, mountain climbing, working towards yoga, or dancing below the celebs at a pageant.
Her work isn’t nearly overlaying occasions; it’s about inspiring individuals to embrace music, wellness, exploration as a lifestyle, and the transformative energy of sound.
Try Mikala’s high music pageant picks for 2025!
#1 Domefest 2025
August 7-9, New River Gorge, WV
“It’s been almost two years since Pigeons Taking part in Ping Pong hosted their beloved Domefest, and I couldn’t be extra excited,” says Mikala.
Making its much-anticipated return on August Seventh-Ninth, the Flock – the band’s fanbase – will jam out for 3 nights at ACE Journey Resort in New River Gorge, WV, for a weekend celebration of music and artwork.
“It’s really among the best small and impartial festivals you possibly can select to go to this summer season, with an estimated 2,000-4,000 attendees,” she provides. “I’m past excited for this one this yr.”
Together with a weekend stuffed with music, attendees can discover the venue’s attractive 1,500-acre outside journey paradise.
In the course of the day, attendees can spend hours on the waterpark lake stuffed with waterslides, trampolines, and big inflatables whereas listening to music from the lake stage, whereas the mountaintop principal stage will gentle up at evening.
Domefest will even supply whitewater rafting, ziplining, climbing, and mountain biking within the coronary heart of New River Gorge Nationwide Park.
#2 Extremely Music Competition
March 28-30, Miami, FL
“It’s the twenty fifth anniversary of one of many largest and finest festivals on the earth,” Mikala says excitedly.”
Downtown Miami will gentle as much as have a good time its flagship occasion, Extremely Music Competition, from Friday, March twenty eighth – Sunday, March thirtieth, welcoming greater than 100 world artists to its levels.
Because the preeminent curator of digital music’s uncommon “you-had-to-be-there” moments, Extremely 2025 will current history-making performances, together with: the world-exclusive Anyma B2B Solomun set, the worldwide debut of Carl Cox’s Evolution stay present, the first-ever deadmau5 b2b Pendulum DJ set, the Miami debut of Dom Dolla and John Summit’s The whole lot All the time, the world debut NGHTMRE b2b Sullivan King set, and the U.S. debut of Chase & Standing’ new stay present.
“For those who’ve by no means made it to Extremely earlier than, that is the yr to make it occur,” she stated.
#3 Viva El Gonzo
Might 8-10, San José Del Cabo, Mexico
“All-American jam band Goose has introduced their inaugural music pageant, and I might not have anticipated it to be a vacation spot pageant in Mexico,” Mikala stated. “However hey, I’m not complaining.”
Slated to happen in San José Del Cabo from Might eighth to tenth, Viva El Gonzo guarantees an immersive discovery journey the place attendees can select their very own journey. A easy, all-in-one ticket buy contains pageant entry in addition to customizable lodging, wellness choices, seaside entry, and extra in Cabo’s tropical desert oasis.
Anchored by three consecutive nights of performances by Goose, the pageant will function units from The Battle on Medication, Tycho, Dawes, LA LOM, LP GIOBBI, and extra.
Attendees will have the ability to witness genre-blending and exploratory beachside performances in a stunning tropical setting, open fields, and elaborate installations.
As heard from inside the gang at a Goose present, “GOOOOOOOSEEEEEEEEE.”
#4 Lightning In A Bottle
Might 22-27, Buena Vista Lake, CA
Going down at Buena Vista Lake in Southern California throughout Memorial Day Weekend from Might Twenty second-Twenty seventh, Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) offers a dwelling and respiratory outpost for misfits, creatives, and expertise hunters to expertise an array of top-tier music curation, artwork installations, immersive environments, and academic programming.
“Why not examine North America’s unique boutique pageant off your listing for 2025?” Mikala stated..
“LIB is your gateway to the extraordinary, a technicolor beacon for individuality in a monochrome world. It’s principally what Burning Man as soon as was,” she says.
A spot the place outrageousness is foreign money and enjoyable triumphs over all – it’s a journey hand-curated by the counterculturists and occasion individuals of Do LaB, dotted with surprises that regularly reimagine what a pageant can imply to its attendees.
With a forward-thinking ethos, this yr’s eclectic music lineup options John Summit, Khruangbin, Jamie xx, 4 Set, Subtronics, Underworld, The Blessed Madonna, Channel Tres, Magdalena Bay, Tape B, Flowdan, Pleasure Orbison, Claude VonStroke, and extra.
What extra may you probably need in a pageant?
#5 Primavera Sound Barcelona
June 5-7, Barcelona, Spain
“I’ve at all times wished to go to a European pageant, and if there’s one definitely worth the aircraft ticket and jet lag, it’s Primavera Sound,” Mikala stated.
The twenty third version of the pageant will have a good time its distinctive identification with a state-of-the-art lineup that brings all walks of life collectively from June fifth to Seventh within the Parc del Fòrum.
Whereas Primavera Sound Barcelona itself is three days, town celebrates its love of music for an entire week, together with an official opening day, closing occasion, and a parallel program but to be revealed, transporting the musical exercise into totally different venues and areas round Barcelona.
Amongst a few of this yr’s 147 booked artists are standouts Charli xcx, FKA twigs, LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Parcels, Sabrina Carpenter, Turnstile, Nicola Cruz, Chappell Roan, and extra.
“Yeah…you need to in all probability guide your flights asap,” Mikala added..
#6 Bonnaroo
June 12-15, Manchester, TN
“I’m normally not one to advertise what many would name “mainstream” festivals. I’ve by no means seen a Bonnaroo lineup that made me wish to attend, however this yr is totally different,” Mikala defined.
“Returning to its acclaimed Bonnaroo Farm simply 60 miles southeast of Nashville in Manchester, TN, from June twelfth to fifteenth, I’m extremely contemplating checking this one off my listing,” she continues.
With this yr spanning 10 distinctive levels and its bevy of out-of-the-box artists—together with Glass Animals, Avril Lavigne, Justice, Queens of the Stone Age, and three units of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, it’s no shock that Mikala is happy.
Add in performances by Dom Dolla, John Summit, Goose, Max Styler, Foster The Individuals, Barely Stoopid, Tape B, Modest Mouse, Claptone, and Barry Can’t Swim—Mikala says she is past offered.
Past the music, Bonnaroo will reveal a brand-new, one-of-a-kind Infinity Stage this yr that includes spatial sound, synchronized lights, and an unprecedented three-dome, open-air design to create the world’s largest, most immersive, 360° stay music expertise. It’s set to be among the best festivals of the yr.
#7 Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights
July 18-20, Cook dinner’s Valley Campground, CA
“Dirtybird Campout is again. I repeat DIRTYBIRD CAMPOUT IS BACK. This actually wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025, however it’s nice information,” Mikala stated.
Uniting with Northern Nights, the comeback will go down in historical past as Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights Music Competition, going down July 18th-Twentieth at Cook dinner’s Valley Campground throughout the California Redwoods on the Eel River.
Whereas a music lineup isn’t formally introduced but, it shouldn’t matter. Put together for an epic weekend stuffed with hashish, wellness workshops, immersive artwork, and pioneering musical programming.
“The return of Dirtybird Campout additionally coincides with the label’s monumental Twentieth anniversary. It’ll be an epic occasion you shouldn’t miss,” Mikala suggested.
#8 Parts Competition
August 8-10, Lengthy Pond, PA
Be one with the weather this summer season at Parts Competition.
Often known as the Northeast’s premier immersive digital music expertise, Parts will host a boundless area of creativity, connection, and journey—the place music, artwork, tenting, and neighborhood seamlessly merge from August eighth to tenth in Lengthy Pond, PA.
“Designed to spark curiosity and encourage surprise, the pageant provides a singular haven for exploration and self-expression, uniting kindred spirits in a vibrant celebration of freedom and creativeness, paying tribute to the pure parts– water, hearth, Earth, and air” Mikala defined.
Headliners for this yr’s pageant are particularly thrilling, together with Illenium, deadmua5, Zeds Useless, Sara Landry, Sofi Tukker, Claude VonStroke, Chase & Standing, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Mau P, Wax Motif, LP Giobbi, Layton Giordani, Max Styler, amongst others.
“It’s really an ideal pageant match for each a newbie and seasoned raver,” she says.
Comply with Mikala’s journey and keep within the know for one of the best music experiences of 2025! You will discover her newest articles on Uproxx, EDM.com, and MP3 Magazine, in addition to adventures on Instagram and Substack.
Journey Journalist, Digital Writer, Creator