Dozens of Bands, Thousands of Fans
A roundup of where you'll find your favorite band this season.
June 8, 2007 — -- If it's live music you're after this summer, read on for what's on, where.
What: Vans Warped tour
Who: More than 100 bands including Yellowcard, The Used, Flogging Molly
When: June 29-Aug. 5
Where: Venues across the country
Why: The Vans Warped Tour celebrates its lucky 13th year with its biggest and best lineup to date. The tour crisscrosses the country with acts like Coheed and Cambria, Hawthorne Heights, New Found Glory, Sum 41 and Underoath headlining. Sharing the stage will be bands like Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Bayside, Monty and I and Karate High School.
Taking advantage of the huge crowds, several service organizations have teamed up with the Warped Tour to increase blood donations, raise money for the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia and host a Battle of the Bands in which all the proceeds go to the YouthAids Organization.
Cost: $23-$43
Bring: T-shirt that's a size or two too small
Info: http://www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/index.asp
---
What: Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Who: 100-plus bands including The Police, Widespread Panic, The White Stripes
When: June 14-17
Where: Manchester, Tenn.
Why: It's like Woodstock without the bad acid from 1969, the violent mud fights from 1994 and the riots from 1999. From June 14-17 the Bonnaroo Music Festival will bring A- and B-list acts like The Police, Tool, Widespread Panic, The White Stripes, The Hold Steady, Franz Ferdinand and String Cheese Incident to entertain hordes of fans gathered at a 700-acre farm in rural Tennessee.
In addition to the music, the festival features more than 30 activities from yoga classes to an arcade.
This year Bonnaroo organizers have teamed up with Clean Vibes to lead recycling initiative throughout the festival.
Cost: $184.50-$214.50
Bring: Snacks to ward off the munchies
Info: http://www.bonnaroo.com
---
What: Lollapalooza Music Festival
Who: 100-plus bands including Pearl Jam, Snow Patrol, Interpol, The Roots
When: August 3-5
Where: Grant Park, Chicago
Why: For the third consecutive year, the former national tour anchors in Chicago for the days, with more than 100 bands on nine stages featuring a wide variety of rock genres.
In addition to the regular lineup, the winner of an online Battle of the Bands will be allowed to take the stage and attempt to make its break.
The festival is partnering with the city of Chicago to reduce waste through an interactive area called Green Street.
Cost: $195
Bring: Raggedy jeans and a guitar-pick necklace.
Info: http://www.lollapalooza.com/
---
What: Summerfest
Who: 400-plus music and comedy shows
When: June 28-July 8
Where: Milwaukee, Wisc.
Why: Claiming to be the "world's largest music festival," Summerfest of Milwaukee, Wisc., celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer from June 28-July 8 by serving up more than 400 music and comedy performances.
In a venue that claims 75 acres along the shore of Lake Michigan, the festival features an impressive mix of bands from aging rockers Def Leppard, Styx and Foreigner, to newer acts like O.A.R., The Fray and AFI.
Continuing its 2006 partnership, Summerfest will join with Milwaukee Center for Independence in recruiting volunteers to make the festival accessible and welcoming to those with disabilities.
Cost: $15-$20
Bring: A hankering for beer
Info: http://www.summerfest.com/index.html
---
What: Ozzfest
Who: Ozzy Osbourne with friends
When: July 12-Aug. 30
Where: Venues across the country
Why: 14 heavy metal bands join the Prince of Darkness and onetime MTV icon Ozzy Osbourne as Ozzfest enters its 11th year.
Ozzfest kicks off on July 12 in Seattle and ends on Aug. 30 in West Palm Beach, Fla. The main stage will feature Osbourne along with Lamb of God, Static X and Lordi. Playing on the second stage will be Hatebreed, Behemoth and Nick Oliveri and nine others.
Ozzfest is offering its charity to its fans by making tickets free on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Cost: FREE
Bring: Eyeliner and your angry face
Info: http://www.ozzfest.com
---
What: Virgin Festival
Who: The Police, Beastie Boys, The Smashing Pumpkins and 311 among others
When: Aug. 4-5
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore
Why: Taking over the site of horse racing's Preakness Stakes, The Virgin Festival presents not only some of the most popular bands in the country, but also a host of wild sideshows like Incredibly Strange Wrestling and the Charm City Roller Girls.
As if the presence of the newly reunited Police wasn't enough of a draw, Incubus, Modest Mouse and Matisyahu should be. In all, the lineup includes 40 bands from all genres.
Virgin has also taken nine precautions including clean energy generators and lights and mass transit to make the festival "as close to a zero waste event as possible."
Cost: $97.50-$175
Bring: Sunblock (there's virtually no shade)
Info: http://www.virginfestival.com/2007/index.html
What: Projekt Revolution
Who: Linkin Park and nine others
When: July 25-Sept. 3
Where: Venues across the country
Why: Another hard rock tour, Projekt Revolution, now in its seventh year, is dominated by A-list acts like My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and HIM.
American Forests' Global ReLeaf program will receive a $1 donation from every ticket sold.
Cost: $25-$150
Bring: Aspirin and sore throat drops
Info: http://www.projektrevolution.com/index.html