Why Does Austin City Limits Rule?

All Good Festival
Location: Marvin's Mountaintop Masontown, WV
Dates: July 14-16, 2006
Performers: The Black Crowes, Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon with Benevento/Russo Duo, Ween, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Les Claypool, The Wailers, The Greyboy Allstars, The Disco Biscuits, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Umphrey's McGee, Galactic, and more
Tickets: $119 3-day pass, incl. camping
Why it's cool: The name is the festival's mantra: With loose, jam-rocking bands it's all about relaxation and good music at the All Good Fest.

Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash
Location: Terra Alta, WV
Dates: August 4-6, 2006
Performers: Blues Traveler, Keller Williams, New Riders of the Purple Sage, ekoostik hookah, and more
Tickets: $85 - $95
Why it's cool: Lest you think deadhead culture passed away with Jerry Garcia, check out the scene at his annual Birthday Bash.

Bleeding Kansas Music Festival
Location: Burcham Park, Lawrence, KS
Dates: August 5, 2006
Performers: Death Cab for Cutie, Keane, Broken Social Scene, Mates of State, Murder by Death, Boy Kill Boy, Secret Machines, more
Tickets: $37.50
Why it's cool: A great lineup that includes now-classic-emo-meets-indie bands and the groups following in their footsteps.

Island Getaway with Dave Matthews Band
Location: Randall's Island, New York, NY
Dates: August 6-7, 2006
Performers: Dave Matthews Band, Gov't Mule, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Slightly Stoopid, Tea Leaf Green, Yonder Mountain String Band
Tickets: $62.50
Why it's cool: Pretending that Randall's Island is a tropical island and rocking out to this excellent lineup of relaxing, pleasantly crunchy rock.

Intonation Music Festival
Location: Union Park, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 24-25, 2006
Performers: Bloc Party, The Streets, Ghostface Killah, dead prez, Roky Erickson, The Stills, Boredoms, Lady Sovereign, and more
Tickets: $20 1-day pass, $35 2-day pass
Why it's cool: Chicago's Union Park makes a great spot to hear the hippest of all hipster bands at one of the preeminent indie-rock fests of the year.

Loudoun Summer Music Fest
Location: Belmont Country Club, Ashburn, VA
Dates: June 4 - August 6, 2006
Performers: Dwight Yoakam, STYX, Blues Traveler, Little Feat, TOTO, Rick Springfield, Switchfoot, Charlie Daniels Band, and more
Tickets: $12.50 - $40
Why it's cool: Rock & roll at a country club is a juxtaposition too wonderful to miss.

Rock'n the Rally
Location: Sturgis, SD
Dates: August 6-10, 2006
Performers: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Black Crowes, Nickelback, Big & Rich, Sammy Hagar, Joe Cocker, Keith Urban, Foghat, Shooter Jennings, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Live, more
Tickets: $50 - $70 single day
Why it's cool: The lineup offers a nice mix of mainstream rock and country-tinged artists.