Summer festival season is upon us, time to make road trip plans and get tickets for some great shows going on around the country. Here’s the low-down on what’s happened and what’s to come.
(last updated 7/7/09)

Quick Links:
Ultra Music Festival (photos)
SXSW (photos)
Coachella (photos)
JazzFest (website)
DEMF
Bonnaroo (lineup)
Rothbury (lineup)
Electric Daisy Carnival (photos)
All Points West Festival (lineup/tickets)
Outside Lands (lineup)
Lollapalooza (lineup)
LovEvolution
Austin City Limits (lineup)
CMJ (website)

Early memories of 2009
Ultra @ Winter Music Conference Miami: March
The last two days of Winter Music Conference, Ultra 2009 included Tiesto, Bloc Party, The Prodigy and over 100 electronica and live acts. Check out our Ultra Music Festival Photos.

SXSW, Austin: March
SXSW is much more than a music festival. For 8 days, the city of Austin celebrates technology, film, art and music with over a hundred thousand attendees. This is THE platform for rock music, record labels, producers, artists and legal and social issues. 2009 was an epic ode to indie rockers and techie start-ups. Check out our SXSW Photo Gallery for more.

Coachella, Indio: April
One hundred degree plus temps didn’t deter thousands of LA hipsters from a three day party in Indio. Our personal favorites, Girl Talk, Thievery (with a guest Perry Ferrell appearance) , and MSTRKRFT. Props to Paul McCartney for a 30 song set, who doesn’t want to sing Hey Jude with 30K people. Great photos from Coachella and our friends at the Anthem Magazine pool party.

New Orleans Jazz Festival: April/May
To say the New Orleans Jazz Fest is a major economical, social and cultural movement would be an understatement. It's almost a way of life. New Orleans lives for Jazz, and for this monumental occasion the city invites all genres of music and people from around the world into their homes and lives. There are also about 1,000 bands.

Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit – 5/23/09 – 5/25/09
The DEMF aims to connect the world through dance and electronic music. Taking place in the birthplace of techno music, Detroit hosts this major electro festival every year. With the economy at an all time low in Michigan, DEMF and Rothbury are huge ways to boost morale and the state economy.

Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN: June
Bonnaroo went down with a vengeance this summer with the return of Phish (playing two epic sets), and the likes of Public Enemy, David Byrne, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit and the Boss performing. Check out the festival's website to get the full recap of this year's festival in Manchester and catch the photos while you're at it and get to salivating for next year's festival in the fields.

Electric Daisy Carnival, Los Angeles, CA: June
With 5 stages, over 150 artists/performances, and over 100,000 people, the Electric Daisy Carnival brought electrical madness for a full two days this year. With aerial performers, fire eaters, vendor villages, and full-size carnival rides, EDC is much more than just a music festival. Click here to see the photos from Electric Daisy Carnival 2009.

Rothbury: July
Rothbury Music Festival was ablaze with environmental awareness and good-feeling beats in the festival's second year. Classics like The Dead, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson joined forces with younger stars like Broken Social Scene, Girl Talk and Chromeo to rock Michigan this summer. Check back with Rothbury's website to see photos and get a full recap of 2009's party in the woods.

Still to come in 2009

Pitchfork Festival, Chicago – July 17th-19th
Pitchfork Media, one of the best music publishing sites around brings us the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago’s Union Park. As always, it’s one of the best music festivals of the year. The line-up continues to grow, check out the recent additions here.

All Points West Festival, Jersey City, NJ - July 31st, August 1st - 2nd
Known as the Coachella of the East coast, All Points West is sure to blow away all 30,000 plus attendees with performances by The Beastie Boys, Tool, MGMT and many more. This 3 day festival is held in New Jersey’s Liberty State Park, within a mile of Lady Liberty herself. If you’re trying to score tickets to the festival, you just might be in luck. MetroWize is giving away tickets to All Points West Festival - Click here to sign up for a chance to win!. Click here to get the full scoop and buy tickets.

Lollapalooza, Chicago – August 7th - 9th
Another major festival to hit Chicago this year will land in Grant Park. Lollapalooza was such a success in last year, that only 5 days after the concert, they announced the 2009 festival dates. Get your tickets and info here.

Outside Lands – August 28th – August 30th
Like last year, this year’s 3-day event will be held in Golden Gate Park. Remember how amazing (possibly life-altering) it was to see Radiohead play their set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s signature foggy night? This year’s event will not disappoint, with a lineup worthy of a road trip. MetroWize is giving away tickets to Outside Lands Festival this year - click here to sign up for your chance to win! and check out the full lineup.

Electric Zoo Festival, New York City, NY - September 5th - 6th
Looking for a festival to hit up over Labor Day vacation? Allow MetroWize to help you out. New York City’s Electric Zoo Festival consists of four stages and over 50 artists who will provide musical mastery for you to enjoy all weekend. Break it down to DJs such as Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5, Benny Benassi, David Guetta, and many more. The festival will take place at Randall’s Island Park, a 24-acre grass event space that is wedged between Manhattan and Queens. We hope you can handle the high voltage that the Electric Zoo will bring. Check out Electric Zoo Festival's website for more information and buy tickets.

LovEvolution (formerly LoveFest, formerly Love Parade San Francisco) - October 3rd
The largest dance music festival and parade in the country changed it's name again this year but we don't think that will stop of any of the 100,000+ people who took over the streets of San Francisco last year from coming back with more friends this year. Keep it tuned to MW for full LovEvolution coverage.

Austin City Limits – October 2nd - 4th
With the Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Beck topping the bill last year, it’s time to get excited for 2009. ACL promises to have another epic lineup this year, and it should be announced shortly. The best part: we get to go to Texas without really going to Texas. MetroWize is giving away tickets to ACL - click here to sign up for your chance to win and check out the full lineup.

CMJ – October 20th - 24th
Take the most cutting-edge, best indie bands in the world and place them in downtown NYC at the best clubs. What do you get? CMJ. This innovative idea to use an entire city’s assets to platform the best bands has to be one of the best ideas in festival history. And it’s in the cultural and music Mecca, New York City.