Bonnaroo, for example, will run you about $200 for a three-day pass. With Radiohead getting top billing and a slew of other bands with a wide array of sounds on the card, Bonnaroo seems to be taking a turn toward more rock 'n' roll instead of jam bands.

Bonnaroo is sporting one of the strongest, most-diverse lineups of this year's festivals.

Other big acts include Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Beck, Oysterhead and Phil Lesh and Friends -- OK, maybe there are a few jam bands there.

While Bonnaroo seems to have gotten stronger this year, Coachella seems to have weakened a bit as far as big names. Perhaps the festival is trying to get back to its roots as a springboard for little-known bands.

Depeche Mode and Tool are set to each headline a night of the two-day festival in the middle of the California desert. The rest of the bill leaves a bit to be desired.

As usual, South by Southwest is chock-full of interesting acts.

If you have a spare hour or two, scroll through the list of more than 1,200 bands that are scheduled to perform.

Later in the summer, the always-riveting Austin City Limits awaits. The festival has yet to release details on its lineup, but you can count on it being appealing.

Last year's performers were Coldplay, Widespread Panic, Oasis, The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers Band, Wilco, Roky Erickson & The Explosives, Lyle Lovett, John Prine and dozens of other bands.

Lollapalooza is possibly the biggest wildcard of the year.

The Chicago Tribune reported this week that the festival will double in size. It's held at Chicago's Grant Park, and organizers are expecting 225,000 people over the three days. Last year's monster lineup was composed of the Pixies, Weezer, the Killers, Cake, the Dandy Warhols, the Kaiser Chiefs and others.

This year, rumor has it that the Smashing Pumpkins are going to reunite to headline the festival.

Of course, that rumor was also surrounding Coachella before the official lineup was announced.

Either way, you can pretty much pick a region of the country that you'd like to visit, and you'll almost be certain to hit a good festival.

This is cache, read story here

login or register to post comments