Why Does Austin City Limits Rule?

Hedgpethfest
Location: Shadow Hill Ranch, Twin Lakes, WI
Dates: July 28-29, 2006
Performers: The Flaming Lips, Primus, Kings of Leon, Peeping Tom featuring Mike Patton, Blue October, They Must Be Giants, and more
Tickets: $24.95 single day, $44.95 2-day pass
Why it's cool: Hedgpethfest offers a great chance to hear older indie rockers plus the new blood, with acts like the Flaming Lips on the same stage as Kings of Leon.

10,000 Lakes Festival
Location: Detroit Lakes, MN
Dates: July 19-22, 2006
Performers: Phil Lesh and Friends, Trey Anastasio, String Cheese Incident, Benevento/Russo Duo feat. Mike Gordon, The Keller Williams Incident, O.A.R., Umphrey's McGee, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and more
Tickets: $135 4-day pass incl. camping, $50 single-day
Why it's cool: Keep out of the sweltering heat by heading to the 10,000 Lakes Festival where the vibe is like a giant communal campground cookout with a dose of low-key rock.

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
Location: Lyons, CO
Dates: August 18-20, 2006
Performers: Kris Kristofferson, Ani Difranco, Jeff Tweedy, Amos Lee, The Waifs, Martin Sexton, Decemberists, and more
Tickets: $155 3-day pass
Why it's cool: Camp near the St. Vrain River and enjoy three days of great folk music.

High Sierra Music Festival
Location: Plumas Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA
Dates: June 29 - July 2, 2006
Performers: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, My Morning Jacket, Nickel Creek, Umphrey's McGee, The Greyboy Allstars, Keller Williams, Son Volt, Zero, Railroad Earth, The Disco Biscuits, Garage a Trois, The Radiators
Tickets: $167 4-day pass, $156 3-day pass, $131 2-day pass, single day also available
Why it's cool: Mellow rock with a liberal action feel; you can register to vote in-between sets.

Kuyahoga
Location: Blossom Music Center, Cleveland, OH
Dates: August 3, 2006
Performers: The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Sonic Youth, Secret Machines, The Hold Steady, She Wants Revenge, Wolfmother, The Go! Team, and more
Tickets: $19.50 - $39.50
Why it's cool: K-Rock presents this awesome lineup of superhyped artists. Almost everyone you need to see this summer is playing here.

Siren Music Festival
Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
Dates: July 15, 2006
Performers: Scissor Sisters, She Wants Revenge, Stars, Art Brut, Tapes 'n Tapes, The Stills, The Cribs, Man Man, The Rogers Sisters, Celebration, and more
Tickets: FREE
Why it's cool: Fried Fish. Seriously, the combination of Coney Island's creaky Cyclone rollercoaster plus fried food plus really great indie rock equals the perfect summer Saturday.

Bumbershoot
Location: Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
Dates: September 2-4, 2006
Performers: Kanye West, AFI, A Tribe Called Quest, Yellowcard, Atmosphere, Feist, The Blood Brothers, The English Beat, Gossip, Metric, and more
Tickets: $30 single day, $80 3-day pass, premium tickets available
Why it's cool: Besides the fact that Seattle's waterfront vibe makes for a great rock & roll-hearing atmosphere, if you join the Bumbershoot fan club and buy tickets in advance you get forty percent off!

Summer Festivals continued