Month-long iTunes Festival kicks off today, will feature Paramore, Jimmy Eat World, Pixies, and more

September 1, 2013

The iTunes Festival, which takes place at The Roundhouse in Camden Town, London, and runs throughout the entire month of September, is set to kick off later today. We already told you that Paramore and Jimmy Eat World would be performing, and this year's lineup also boasts some other incredible acts- Thirty Seconds To Mars, Pixies, The 1975, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Sigur Rós, Arctic Monkeys, and many more! Below, find out everything you need to know about the 30-day fest, including how you can stream it from home for free:

What is the iTunes Festival?

The iTunes Festival is an annual, free, month-long festival, held in London and sponsored by Apple. Though it's called a festival, it's actually more of a marathon- boasting a nightly headliner and typically one or two openers, showcasing some of the biggest names in music and the most buzzworthy up and coming acts. Free tickets are given away via raffle to UK residents, and the fest is available to stream for free on a variety of platforms.

Why is it free?

When the iTunes Festival began, in 2007, Apple was nearing a milestone- the title of number one music retailer. iTunes sales have continued to climb in the years since, and Apple's industry dominance has grown even stronger. Just last year, the tech giant generated over $4.3 billion in digital music revenue. As a digital music retailer, the iTunes Festival is a way for Apple to flex its muscles in the real world, show off its stronghold on the music industry, and provide a goodwill offering to its many customers. Additionally, Apple hopes to expose fans to a host of new acts, and sell some music in the process.

How can I watch?

If you're not one of the lucky UK fans in attendance, there are still several ways you can watch the iTunes Festival from your home, on the go, or on demand. Performances will typically begin at 8 p.m. London time (3 p.m. EST).

Watch from your computer: Windows and Mac users alike can watch iTunes Festival performances live within the iTunes desktop client.
Watch from your iOS device: iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users can watch from the festival's official app.
Watch from your Apple TV: If you own an Apple TV (second generation or newer), you can watch the fest from your living room. An iTunes Festival app should appear on your homescreen.
Watch on demand: Can't catch your favorite band in real time? Performances will be available to stream after the fact on all platforms- but only for a limited time.

Who should I watch?

52 artists over 30 nights is a lot to keep up with. Here are our top five recommendations:

Paramore – Sept. 4

Jimmy Eat World – Sept. 11

Pixies – Sept. 25

Thirty Seconds To Mars – Sept. 18

The 1975 – Sept. 8

Who else is performing?

Here's the full list:

Sept. 1: Lady Gaga
Sept. 2: Sigur Rós with POLIÇA
Sept. 3: The Lumineers with Phox
Sept. 4: Paramore with Fenech-Soler
Sept. 5: Rizzle Kicks
Sept. 6: Queens Of The Stone Age with Palma Violets
Sept. 7: Phoenix with Little Green Cars
Sept. 8: Bastille with The 1975
Sept. 9: Arctic Monkeys with Drenge
Sept. 10: Jake Bugg with Valerie June
Sept. 11: Kings Of Leon with Jimmy Eat World
Sept. 12: Elton John with Tom Odell
Sept. 13: Avicii
Sept. 14: Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers with Janelle Monáe
Sept. 15: Vampire Weekend with The Olms
Sept. 16: Jack Johnson with Bahamas
Sept. 17: Ludovico Einaudi with Agnes Obel
Sept. 18: Thirty Seconds To Mars with The Family Rain
Sept. 19: Kendrick Lamar
Sept. 20: Primal Scream with Skinny Girl Diet
Sept. 21: HAIM with Dan Croll
Sept. 22: Ellie Goulding
Sept. 23: Jessie J with Lawson
Sept. 24: Robin Thicke
Sept. 25: Pixies with NO CEREMONY///
Sept. 26: Tinie Tempah with Naughty Boy
Sept. 27: Dizzee Rascal
Sept. 28: John Legend
Sept. 29: Justin Timberlake
Sept. 30: Katy Perry with Iggy Azalea, Icona Pop