Just one short week away, with only a few measly finals blocking the road to freedom, lies the annual sigh of relief to burnt-out students everywhere: summer vacation. The perfect time to relax, travel and – judging by this summer’s lineup – experience some amazing live music. Don’t worry if you have nothing penciled in for the next three months; just grab some friends, load the car and blow its speakers all the way to these upcoming fests – you can always tackle that great internship next year.
With 80,000 hippies piling onto a 700-acre farm, drenched in mud and sweat that only the south of Manchester, Tenn., can provide, Bonnaroo (June 14 through June 17) is a guaranteed scrapbook entry. For it’s fifth year, the White Stripes, DJ Shadow, the Flaming Lips and pretty much everyone else on your playlist will watch as the Police reunite on stage after a 20 year hiatus.
You never thought you’d see Manchester either, so why not make another stop along the beaten trail as one of the million Milwaukee visitors during Summerfest (June 28 through July 8) to help the world’s largest musical festival celebrate its 40th year. Established to rival the infamous Oktoberfest, Summerfest boasts over 10 stages and, this year, everything from the fuzzed-out Violent Femmes to head-splitting Puddle of Mudd – along with a slew of budding artists.
If 10 days of rock is too much, head to New Orleans for some modern soul at the Essence Music Festival (July 5 through July 7), where the brainy raps of Ludacris – a Nola native – will boom alongside hip-hop darling Ciara and R&B songstresses Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone and Beyonce Knowles (who is taking a break from her own tour to heat up the Louisiana stage).
Chicago’s Union Park and Pitchfork Magazine – every legitimate hipster’s online survival guide – host the Pitchfork Music Festival (July 13 through July 15) – and with a three-day pass priced at only $50, it’s the best deal all summer. Yoko Ono, Sonic Youth, Of Montreal, Clipse, Deerhunter, the Field and Cat Power are just a few of the indie powerhouses set to give you more than your money’s worth.
Another Chicago event, Lollapalooza (Aug. 3 through Aug. 5) brings the grit back to Grant Park as founder Perry Farell schedules a third day atop the usual two, featuring garage godfathers Pearl Jam and French electro-duo Daft Punk.
To finish the summer, return to the West Coast right before school picks up for Bumbershoot (Sept. 1 through Sept. 3) in Seattle. This diverse fest not only features top-notch performers, but also an arts portion with film and stand-up comedy to complement soothers like the Shins or Devendra Banhart and uppers like the Wu-Tang Clan.
