For students who are getting the shakes without more music stages to swarm, the season for mosh pits and overpriced merchandise has arrived.
Summer music festivals near and far offer students a wide range of options for entertainment over the break. Bonnaroo, Warped Tour and Lollapalooza, respectively, attract diverse people to their various cultures.
The eighth annual four-day Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will be held on its usual, beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn. From June 11 to 14, more than 120 bands and 20 comedians will perform on 13 stages.
Entertainment villages will buzz around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village.
"It's hard to actually want to sleep," said Cindy McMitchen, sophomore in psychology. "Something is always going on. I met so many cool people and saw great bands I liked already, and a bunch I had never heard of."
The band that inspired the festival, Phish, will play two shows at this year's festival -- a full two-set performance, as well as an additional late-evening set.
Tickets, starting at $224.50, are on sale exclusively through bonnaroo.com, where the lineup can be found.
The Warped Tour will arrive at the Atlanta Lakewood Amphitheater July 28.
The annual tour started out as a showcase for punk rock music, but its more recent line-ups have featured more electronica, alternative rock, emo, post-hardcore, metalcore and Christian rock bands. There are 45 dates this year, and it will kick off June 26 in Pomona, Calif.
"I did my first crowd surf to Andrew WK there," said Amy Lee Powell, junior in public administration. "I got a busted lip in the mosh pit, but it was so much freaking fun."
Festivities at the Lakewood Amphitheater start at noon and feature music as well as extreme sporting events. Tickets cost $32.96 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the gate.
Finally, Lollapalooza is set to go down in Chicago's Grant Park from August 7 to 9.
"They have bigger bands this year like Tool, Beastie Boys and Kings of Leon," said James Lee, senior in marketing. "I'd pay $60 to see each of those guys."
This year's oddly titled festival -- originally named by Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, meaning "remarkable or wonderful person or thing" - has an environmentally friendly appeal because of the introduction of the Rock & Recycle Green Card.
If patrons take part in designated eco-mindful activities throughout Grant Park and get their Green Card stamped at each activity, they will be officially registered to win a new 2010 Honda Insight.
And, every ticket purchased enhances Chicago's public space. The beneficiary of Lollapalooza is the Parkways Foundation. Parkways raises private funds for projects within the Chicago Park District for the enrichment of the physical and cultural landscape of Chicago's neighborhoods.
Regular 3-day pass prices will be announced when the Advanced 3-day passes, costing $190, run out.
All of these shows have a multitude of bands that may either be popular or unheard of.
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