North America's only major touring hip-hop festival, Rock the Bells, announced today that tickets will go on sale in Los Angeles and Denver this Saturday, May 16th. Tickets for the Vancouver and San Francisco stops are set to go on sale Sunday, June 7th. The lineup was revealed earlier this month and features Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, The Roots, Big Boi, Common, Busta Rhymes plus many more.

Back in April, one of our writers - Paul Glanting, offered up a taste of what's to come with Rock the Bells - here's a bit from Paul's article outlining the tour's lineup and showmanship:

"Freestyle legend Supernatural listed off the tour's lineup through an amazingly smooth, spontaneous rhyme. Supernat's thorough announcement was delivered so speedily that one almost had to figure out RTB's lineup by identifying the many artists who were present: KRS-One, Murs, Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan), Crooked-I, Evidence, Psycho Realm, Chali2Na (Jurassic 5), Damien Marley, Alchemist, as well as a rapper whose tireless trek across the country is the third most lucrative hip hop tour behind Jay-Z and Kanye West. Even with ten guesses, you won't get it right...St. Louis' Tech N9ne. "It's all crazy man" N9ne says calmly . "I remember doing shows for seven people, then 100, then 700 and now...it's just a great feeling. It's validation." Others on Rock The Bells' bill who were not present include: RZA, Big Boi (from Outkast), Talib Kweli, and a reunion of Irish-and-proud rappers known as House Of Pain." - Paul Glanting

Rock the Bells also announced an addition to the lineup specific to the Los Angeles show - set for Saturday, August 8th at the San Manual Amphitheatre. Ice Cube - a major force in establishing the west coast hip-hop movement as a part of N.W.A. and as a solo artist will make an appearance at Rock the Bells.

Please check here for the exact line-up and ticketing information for each city. Additional festival dates will be announced soon.

ROCK THE BELLS 2009 FESTIVAL SERIES dates:

6/27 Chicago, IL
6/28 Detroit, MI
7/5 Toronto, ON
7/12 Washington, DC
7/18 Boston, MA
7/19 New York, NY
8/1 Vancouver, BC
8/6 Denver, CO
8/8 Los Angeles, CA
8/9 San Francisco, CA