(June 5th)
Some Performers Include:
Enter the Haggis, Patty Griffin
Located at:
Appel Farm, Elmer, NJ
More than Music:
Arts and crafts, poets and activities for kids
Why We Recommend it:
Summer is just starting and it's going to be a warm, sunny Saturday (hopefully). Get out of the city for a while...it's only about 30 miles from Philadelphia. Beautiful scenery, great music and a good reason to get up, go outside, and see what lies just outside of the city limits.
(June 5th)
Some Performers Include:
The Discobiscuits, Pretty Lights, Wolfgang Gartner, Lotus, Subfocus, DJ Dan, Future Rock
Located at:
Ft. Armistead Park, Baltimore, MD
More than Music:
Aside from live acts and DJs, there is an art tent and visual performances. Lots of vendors, bars, and diverse food is spread throughout the festival. The park also features a wooded area and a great coastal backdrop.
Why We Recommend it:
It's not a far drive and Baltimore is a cool city to check out. The festival starts on a Saturday afternoon and ends with sunrise on Sunday morning. So take in the aquarium before you go or have a photo shoot by the Chesapeake Bay. And if you don't want to drive to Baltimore, the festival is organizing bus trips from a lot of major cities on the east coast. Philly is one of those cities! So, check out the website for prices and departure times!
(June 5th-6th)
Some Performers Include:
The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk, Ra Ra Riot, Stars, Slim Thug, Dead Prez, Sugar and Gold
Located at:
Eleanor Tinsley Park, Houston, TX
More than Music:
Dozens of local artisan booths will be available to check out when you're ready to take a break from the music. There are also misting tents to cool off in...Texas is HOT in the summer! And a shaded beer garden puts the icing on the cake for this festival.
Why We Recommend it:
Sure, Texas is quite a distance. But two days of music at a green friendly venue and lots of great new acts to check out seem like good enough reasons to head to a far away fest this summer.
(June 10th-13th)
Some Performers Include:
Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon , Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Conan O'Brien, Tenacious D , Weezer , The Flaming Lips, Phoenix, Norah Jones , Regina Spektor, Rise Against , Tori Amos, Zac Brown Band , Les Claypool, The Black Keys , Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Beck...and basically everyone else in the music business right now.
Located at:
Manchester, TN
More than Music:
Lots of well-known comedians will be performing, a cinema tent, cafes (including even more performers), a kids tent, auctions, yoga classes, a silent disco, a brew festival (yup a fest inside a fest which will feature 20 beers), and a plethora of other activities and attractions.
Why We Recommend it:
It's a camping festival situated on a 700 acre farm. And everyone knows someone who has been there. So why not go yourself? There's also a good chance you and your friends will be seeing a few of these acts this summer, so put your money together and take this road trip. This is a big deal. Ben & Jerry even created an ice cream flavor just for the festival! Check out the website for everything that wasn't mentioned here...because it's a lot! There are plenty of travel packages to choose from including airfare and airport shuttles
(June 12th)
Some Performers Include:
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Lonnie Shields Band, Leroy Hawkes and the Hipnotics, Deb Callahan Band
Located at:
Media, PA
More than Music:
Not much information on the website, so it's hard to tell if there will be any vendors or other activities. But, all the performances are at local bars, restaurants and cafes, so there will be lots of food to enjoy.
Why We Recommend it:
Media isn't far. It's a great way to check out a genre of music you might not listen to otherwise. And with all the local bars and restaurants hosting the acts, it's a good reason to walk down the street with a drink in your hand. New music and an unofficial bar crawl!
(June 20th)
Some Performers Include:
Good Charlotte, Third Eye Blind, LMFAO, Boys Like Girls, Simple Plan, Forever the Sickest Kids
Located at:
Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA
More than Music:
Nothing is mentioned, but there will most likely be vendors and food.
Why We Recommend it:
It's actually in Philadelphia! You can walk there, or take public transportation. With all the money you'll save on transportation, you can splurge for a VIP ticket (which includes a special lounge to relax, private acoustic performances from certain artists, early admission, a meal ticket, a gift bag, and t-shirt).
(May 14th-16th)
Some Performers Include:
Trey Anastasio, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper and Relentless 7, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station, The Flaming Lips, Gov't Mule, Ray LaMontagne, Blind Boys of Alabama..
Located at:
The beach in Gulf Shores, AL
More than Music:
It's an art festival as well, so lots of visuals!
Why We Recommend it:
The first ever large scale festival on a beach. Over 60 acts on four stages, including two main stages rising from the sand. Sounds like a great beach party with plenty of photo ops against the Gulf. Southern rock, blues rock, hard rock, folk rock...the music and location are the perfect combo and kick-off to summer 2010.
(June 24th-July 4th)
Some Performers Include:
Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Kool & the Gang, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 311, Jeff Beck, Justin Bieber, Eric Clapton, Brooks & Dunn, Usher, The Moody Blues, Santana, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, O.A.R., Rush, Counting Crows, Carrie Underwood. Over 800 bands total!
Located at:
Henry Maier Park, Milwaukee, WI
More than Music:
Much like our local Musikfest, Summerfest has plenty of local sponsors, a ton of vendors, various artistic performances and sights, a kid tent, and family activities.
Why We Recommend it:
It's the world's largest music festival (Guinness World Records says so). Almost all shows are free with admission tickets (which are pretty cheap, unfortunately most headlining acts are what costs extra). There are a bunch of admission promotions, though, to get you in free or even cheaper. And it's perfect for the whole family (if you still have to go on yearly vacations with the parents and siblings but you're old enough to make suggestions). And according to the website, there are still a bunch of job openings. Forget working at the beach and renting a beach house...do this instead.
(June 25th-27th)
Some Performers Include:
Scythian, Brother, Ceann, Rathkeltair, Enter the Haggis, The Young Dubliners
Located at:
The Mount Hope Estate and Winery, Manheim, PA
More than Music:
Lots of arts and crafts, great vendors, wine tasting (and a winery...take home lots of affordable wine), highland games, storytellers, animals, a castle!
Why We Recommend it:
Day trip! It's near Lancaster county! The faire grounds are perfect for photographers, artists, and creative folk in general. There's lots to see and try. It's also a great place to do volunteer work. Hang out in a Renaissance themed environment for a weekend...you won't regret doing something out of the ordinary. Going on a first date? This is a great place to go. You'll have lots to talk about.
