Peace, Love & Summer Music Festivals Part I: The Midwest

If there’s one thing I love more than listening to music from the comfort of my own bedroom, it’s listening to music live. Particularly at music festivals, where a hefty chunk of change can enable me to see like, 20 of my favorite bands all at once.

By Erica

Although I always hit my local festies (including Hookahville and any festival @ Nelson’s Ledges – check them out if you’re in the area!), after my amazing, mind-bending experience at Bonnaroo two years ago, I feel that it’s time to expand my horizons and venture out of state (and of my mind) another time.

But, while scouring the internet for my next super-hippie-indie-rock-y adventure, I realized that what I really needed was one list. A list that compared not only locations and dates, but also prices of the various festivals spreading good vibes and sweet music throughout the summer. So, I’m going to create it. Here is the first installment of my semi-comprehensive list of the major (and minor) music festivals still to come this summer: the Midwest.

So bust out the flowy skirts, a nice pair of Birkenstocks and some moonshine and hit the road. And act fast, cause most ticket prices increase the longer you wait to buy them.

Midwest Festies:

Name: Summer Camp

Date: May 23-25

Location: Chillicothe, IL

Ticket Price: Currently $155, $170 at gate

Who’s gonna be there? moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Flaming Lips, O.A.R., The Roots, Blind Melon, The New Pornographers and more

Website: www.summercampfestival.com

Name: Wakarusa

Date: June 5-8

Location: Lawrence, KS

Ticket Price: 4-Day passes currently at Level 4 (“Procrastinator”) for $159 while supplies last

Who’s gonna be there? The Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, Ben Folds, Sound Tribe Sector 9, CAKE, Built to Spill, Tea Leaf Green, Blackalicious and more

Website: www.wakarusa.com

Name: Bonnaroo

Date: June 12-15

Location: Manchester, TN

Ticket Price: On Sale Now. Priced at three levels. First level starts at $209.50. After that level is sold out, prices increase to $229.50 and then again to $244.50.

Headliners: Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson

Other popular acts include: Kanye West, Death Cab for Cutie, Against Me!, M.I.A., Tegan & Sara and many, many more

Website: www.bonnaroo.com

Name: All Good Music Festival

Date: July 11-13

Location: Preston County (Marvin’s Mountaintop Masontown), WV

Ticket Price: Weekend pass now $139.00

Headliners: Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic

Other popular acts include: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Keller Williams, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival, Gov’t Mule and more

Website: www.allgoodfestival.com

Name: Rothbury Festival

Date: July 11-13

Location: Rothburg, MI

Ticket Price: Weekend ticket $244.75

Headliners: Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic

Other popular acts include: John Mayer, 311, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse, Colbie Callat, Atmosphere, The Dresden Dolls

Website: www.rothburyfestival.com

Name: 10,000 Lakes Festival

Date: July 23-26

Location: Detroit Lakes, MN

Ticket Price: $130.00 for music and camping. Ticket prices increase on May 15

Headliners: Phil Lesh & Friends, The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti

Other popular acts include: Leftover Salmon, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Slightly Stoopid, Dark Star Orchestra

Website: http://www.10klf.com

Name: Lollapalooza

Date: August 1-3

Location: Chicago, IL

Ticket Price: Advance day pass currently $190, will go up to $205 when Advance sells out

Headliners: Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West

Other popular acts include: Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, G. Love, The Raconteurs, Bloc Party, Brand New, Girl Talk

Website: www.lollapalooza.com

Did I forget your fave festival? Post a link the comments to share with your fellow CC readers. Rock On.