Party Like a Rock Star: Music Festivals for 2010

By Melissa Daniels Posted Mar 12th 2010 08:01PM

Music festivals aren't just about the shows themselves, silly rabbit. Zany names, crazy crowds, overpriced everything, plus they can be an excellent getaway. And the good news is live outdoor music may be one of the best ways to pull yourself out of a winter of hibernating. Fortunately, there's a host of festivals coming this summer that look to be offering a great time for those long slumbering bears out there. Check out one, check out all, but beware. Be prepared to have your game face on - these festivals are generally held rain or shine, and things can always get wacky when there's a bunch of rock stars on stage and huge audiences jumping around channeling their inner Woodstock. And now, drum roll please, here's our esteemed line up! Read More After the Jump!

SXSW

The Austin, Texas spectacular that is SXSW can make or break a band. Groups play from March 17 to 21 as part of a city-wide film and interactive festival kicking off on March 12. The festival has become a destination for music fans wanting to be in-the-know – namely, indie hipster kids. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of lithe girls in high-waisted skirts, skinny boys in even skinnier pants and enough vintage T-shirts to make your eyes water with nostalgia. Also, no matter how hipper-than-hip you make yourself out to be, everyone here will know more about music than you do. Or at least walk around acting like they do. But don't get discouraged, it's the nature of the beast.

Coachella

From April 16 to 18, the desert city of Indio, California, will turn into a VIP mega-fest. With headliners like Jay-Z, Them Crooked Vultures, Muse, Gorillaz and Thom Yorke, Coachella continues its history of being a wild rock show with plenty to offer. Only the best reach here, it seems. But this fest is not for the faint of heart. Temperatures have been known to rise beyond 100 degrees, so only head out west if you know you can party like a rock star under any circumstance because you most certainly will have to.

The Bamboozle

The first Bamboozle festival in New Jersey dropped in 2005. And since then, the fun has spread from California all the way to Chicago, as well as grew into a touring show. It's no surprise because the punk-rock sideshow swagger makes for an awesome summer weekend. Here, it's all about the bands and people show up to catch their favorite live acts. Be aware of the potential for crowd smashing and elbowing, and the still-emo kids. Big acts this year include Paramore, Drake, Weezer and MGMT. Bamboozle will be held in East Rutherford, N.J. from May 1 to May 2.

Bonnaroo Music Festival

If you're looking to check out all the bands you've heard of, and all the ones you haven't, there's no place like Bonnaroo – a festival that might be the unofficial crossroads of popular music and hippie culture. No need for judgment here – it's all about having the most fun you can, any way you can. This year, from June 10 to 13, the four-day Tennessee-based music and arts fest draws together the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z and The Flaming Lips performing "Dark Side of the Moon."

Summerfest

The world's biggest music festival gathers more than 800 artists on eleven stages in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from June 24 to July 4. Summerfest attracts national acts as well as local talent, and it's a great destination for both country and rock fans alike. Bring out your cowboy hats and sleeveless denim shirts and get ready to drink so much Miller Lite you'll wanna scream "I shoulda had a Bud Light!" Headliners this year include Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood.