Rock Festival Guide 2008: From Coachella to Lollapalooza

Rothbury Music Festival
July 3-6
Double JJ Ranch, Rothbury, MI

The Lineup: Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, John Mayer, 311, Phil Lesh & Friends, Primus, Thievery Corporation, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gov't Mule, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Gogol Bordello, Drive-By Truckers, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Of Montreal, Gomez, Secret Machines, Jakob Dylan & the Gold Mountain Rebels, Bettye LaVette and more.

The Cost: A standard weekend ticket goes for $244.75; VIP tickets, which get you access to prime camping and viewing locations, are a bit more expensive: $475. And if you're not buying all that hogwash about a "recession," you can spring for the Good Life package: $1,423, which gets you "unrivaled VIP amenities."

The Skinny: There are many, many music festivals this summer, but only one promises to be a "Musical Festival Revolution." That's not just glib ad copy: Rothbury, in its first year, dovetails its bill of mostly jammy acts (plus Snoop Dogg) with thoughtful discussions about climate change at the festival's Think Tank and theater and interactive demonstrations. Accordingly, the Festival aims to be 100 percent green, from stage power to waste disposal. If all that's not enough, the festival is hosted on the 2,000-acre Double JJ ranch, which boasts nature trails, lakes and beach views. Those sports arena music festivals aren't looking so good anymore, are they?

Check out all of the 2008 Rock Festivals