National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Summer has finally arrived here in chilly New York, and Nat Geo Music's vast, shadowy network of informants (a.k.a. Facebook) tells us that across the land folks are dusting off their barbeques, breaking out their beach clothes and celebrating their recent graduations by moving back in with their parents. For Nat Geo Music, it's almost summer concert season, and that means festivals, festivals and more damn festivals.

Despite the troubled economy and dire predictions of a "festival glut" after last summer's jam-packed season, only Miami's Langerado festival has folded for 2009, while relative newcomers like Michigan's Rothbury and New York's All Points West festivals continue to stand strong alongside stalwarts like Lollapalooza and Bonaroo. For fans of international music, there are some particularly strong destination festivals, including California's Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and Vermont's quirky Festivus For the Restivus.

SUMMER FESTIVAL ROUNDUP '09:

Music Without Borders

When: June 3 - July 23rd
Where: Chicago, IL
What: The sleek, Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park once again hosts some of the best international music programming anywhere in the U.S. This year's series of eight free concerts focuses on the music of South Korea, Morocco, Peru, Pakistan, Cape Verde and more.
Who: Dulsori, Faiz Ali Faiz, Oumou Sangare, Lura, Chiwoniso, Justin Adams & Judleh Camara, Novalima, Issa Bagayogo & more
Website: www.millenniumpark.org

Central Park Summerstage

When: June 5- August 15
Where: New York, NY
What: New York City's long-running (mostly) free concert series in Central Park. Now in its 23rd year, this season is as diverse as the city itself and features some of the biggest names in contemporary world music.
Who: Ziggy Marley, TV On The Radio, Q-Tip, Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabaté, Les Nubians, Oumou Sangare, Yannick Noah, Juana Molina, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Alpha Blondy & The Solar System, Lee "Scratch" Perry & Dubblestandart, Mayra Andrade, Curumin, NY Gypsy Allstars & more
Website: http://www.summerstage.org/

Celebrate Brooklyn

When: June 8 - August 15
Where: Brooklyn, NY
What: If Brooklyn's Prospect Park is that borough's answer to Manhattan's Central Park, then the Celebrate Brooklyn concert series is Brooklyn's answer to Summerstage - and just like Brooklyn itself, it's bigger, hipper and less full of tourists than its wan counterpart across the East River.
Who: David Byrne, They Might Be Giants, Big Daddy Kane, Goran Bregovic & His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, David Rudder, MGMT, TV On The Radio, Los Amigos Invisibles, Aterciopelados, Obie Bermudez, Cucu Diamantes, Burning Spear, Buckwheat Zydeco & more
Website: http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival:

When: June 11 - 14
Where: Manchester, TN
What: Now in it's eighth year, Tennessee's Bonnaroo festival has grown into the summer's biggest (and possibly best) annual behemoth. Having long outgrown its jamband roots, the festival offers up some of the most eclectic programming this side of Coachella - not to mention camping, comedy, cinema tents, & etc.
Who: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, David Byrne, Al Green, Elvis Costello, Ben Harper and Relentless7, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, The Decemberists, Ani DiFranco, Girl Talk, Bon Iver, Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Galactic, Neko Case, Amadou & Mariam, Santigold, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, King Sunny Adé & the African Beats, Okkervil River, Toubab Krewe, Wailing Souls, Alejandro Escovedo, The Itals, Vieux Farka Touré & more
Website: http://www.bonnaroo.com/

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

When: June 19 - 21
Where: Booneville, CA
What: Hardcore world music fans stop cataloguing their Ethiopiques collections every summer to make a pilgrimage to Northern California's small but influential Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. This year's lineup includes all the biggest touring acts, plus a bevy of Reggae greats and an appearance from Australia's up-and-coming Blue King Brown.
Who: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Zap Mama, King Sunny Adé & the African Beats, Blue King Brown, Easy Star All-Stars. Gregory Issacs, Sly & Robbie, The Heptones, The Abyssinians, Taurus Riley & more
Website: http://www.snwmf.com

Rothbury Festival

When: July 2 - 5
Where: Rothbury, MI
What: With a lineup that includes the only summer appearances of The Dead & Bob Dylan, Michigan's Rothbury festival is your father's music festival. Take Dad, buy him a cigar and laugh at the sweaty plebes who couldn't afford the "Good Life" premium festival package.
Who: The Dead, Bob Dylan & His Band, Willie Nelson & Family, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Nas, Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Girl Talk, King Sunny Adé & the African Beats, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Floggy Molly, Toots & The Maytals, The Hold Steady, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Toubab Krewe & more
Website: http://www.rothburyfestival.com/

Lincoln Center Festival/ Lincoln Center Out of Doors

When: July 7 - 26/ August 5 - 23
Where: New York, NY
What: In the last two years the staid programming of Manhattan's Lincoln Center has been shaken up with some very eclectic shows. This year's summer season includes two intriguing series that juxtapose top international talent with American roots icons.
Who: Slavic Soul Party!, Rokia Traoré, Raul Midon, Susheela Raman and Brooklyn Qawwali Party, DJ Dolores, Calypso Rose, Concha Buika & more

Website: http://www.lincolncenter.org/

Pitchfork Music Festival

When: July 17 - 19/
Where: Chicago, IL
What: Say want you want about the indier-than-thou mandarins at Pitchfork.com, but you gotta admit that they throw a helluva music festival. Now in its fourth year, the Pitchfork Music Festival offers up over 40 bands on three stages, and eschews this summer's usual big touring acts to curate a more varied and eclectic bill - which should surprise exactly no one.
Who: Built To Spill, Yo La Tengo, Tortoise, The National, Beirut, Yeasayer, The Flaming Lips, The Black Lips, The Very Best, Grizzly Bear, Blitzen Trapper, Japandroids & more
Website: http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

The Festivus For The Restivus
When: July 17 - 18
Where: Cabot, VT
What: While Frank Costanza won't be there to oversee the Airing of Grievances or The Feats of Strength, this homegrown Vermont festival still manages to punch above its weight by attracting top international talent like Malian diva Oumou Sangare and reggae crooner Barrington Levy.
Who: Toubab Krewe, Oumou Sangare, Barrington Levy, Black Sheep and more.
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thefestivusfortherestivus

All Points West Music & Arts Festival
When: July 31 - August 2
Where: Jersey City, New Jersey
What: Watch Brooklyn hipsters make the long trip out to New Jersey's Liberty State Park only to wind up in the infamous "beer jail". If that's not entertaining enough, there's a bunch of bands playing, too.
Who: My Bloody Valentine, Gogol Bordello, Beastie Boys, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, The Black Keys, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, Echo & The Bunnymen, Coldplay and more.
Website: http://www.apwfestival.com/

Lollapalooza:

When: August 7 - 9
Where: Chicago, Illinois
What: Over 130 bands descend on Chicago's Grant Park for the latest installment of the granddaddy of alternative summer festivals. Indulge your '90s nostalgia, get an emo fix, or just enjoy Lou Reed's grumpy old man act.
Who: Depeche Mode, The Killers, Jane's Addiction, Beastie Boys, Lou Reed, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, The Decemberists, Neko Case, Animal Collective, Of Montreal, Arctic Monkeys, Ben Folds, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Santigold, Cold War Kids, Lykke Li, Glasvegas, Federico Aubele, Zap Mama, Ra Ra Riot, Asher Roth, Los Campesinos!, & more
Website: http://www.lollapalooza.com/

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival

When: August 28 - 30
Where: San Francisco, CA
What: Wind down the summer with San Francisco's annual bash in Golden Gate Park. This year's outside lands boasts one-off festival appearances from headliners Pearl Jam and Dave Mathews band, as well as Brazilian legends Os Mutantes.
Who: Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, TV On The Radio, Calexico, Lila Downs. Os Mutantes, Dengue Fever, Beastie Boys, The Mars Volta, The Dirtbombs, Extra Golden, Modest Mouse, Kinky, Deerhunter, Q-Tip, Raphael Saadiq & more
Website: http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/