The former traveling juggernaut has found a home in downtown Chicago's massive Grant Park. After last year was plagued by 100 degree weather and torrential dust storms, Lollapalooza is becoming a three day event, versus last year’s two day event. Over 130 bands are scheduled to hit downtown Chicago for the weekend.

• The Red Hot Chili Peppers will hit U.S. crowds for the first time in three years with their headlining performance.
• Chicago’s own Kanye West will also headline one of the nights of the festival; which will bring more hip-hip flavor to the event this year than in the past.
• “The greatest band in the world” according to the movie “Garden State” (The Shins), Jack White’s new side project, The Racounters and Ryan Adams will be aboard for the Perry Farrell helmed bill.
• Dance tents and a kid’s stage will be around for anyone that brings their pacifiers or strollers along for the ride.

What to watch out for: Duststorms, 100 degree heat, but hopefully the breeze from Lake Michigan will bring down the temperatures. Tickets: 130 dollars through Lollapalooza.com. Single day ticket information will be available before the event.

Bonnaroo Festival- Manchester, TN (June 16-18th)

The sixth annual jam band festival has a lot to live up to this year, after a big lineup last year, which included Jack Johnson and the Black Crowes. The peaceful location (about an hour south of Nashville) will host up to 80,000 people this year for a show that will size up nicely to last year’s bill.

• Radiohead will be playing one of their few North American dates at Bonnaroo. Radiohead would, at first, seem like a weird fit with their blend of avant-garde alt-rock, but when you think about it; Radiohead's improvisational skills actually are a perfect fit.
• Tom Petty will kick off his summer tour at Bonnaroo.
• Hip-hop will be represented at Bonnaroo this year with Common and DeLaSoul.
• Also, the brainchild of Les Claypool and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Oysterhead, will be headlining.
• Also features Damian Marley and Ben Folds.

What to watch out for: Hippies meet hillbillies. Always a chaotic combo. Let’s wish the hippies the best of luck in Deliverance country.

Tickets: Ranging from $169.50 to $184.50, and available at Bonnaroo.com

Wakarusa Festival- Lawrence, KS (June 8-11)

Consider this the warmup to Bonnaroo, with jam bands hitting the college town of Lawrence for the four day festival.

• Headlined by Government Mule, the always interesting Buckethead, and the newly reformed Camper Van Beethoven.
• Up and comers on the festival include The Mutaytor(WELL worth seeing on their own), Gomez and ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra).

The third year of the festival will feature five stages, and they are anticipating over 15,000 people this year.

What to watch out for: If you're planning to attend, prepare yourself before Bonnaroo for plenty of hackeysack and “substances”.

Tickets: Four day passes for the festival cost $119, and are available through Wakarusa.com

10,000 Lakes Festival- Detroit Lakes, MN (July 19-22)

Yet another jam band festival hitting the Midwest this summer, the fourth annual installment features a lot of old jam band names, and more of the up and comers.

• Hippie icons Phil Lesh, Ratdog and Trey Anastasio will headline this year’s event.
• Upstarts and fan favorites O.A.R. and the String Cheese Incident will hit the northern Minnesota landscape.

What to watch out for: Bears, and vendors trying to sell old counterfeit Grateful Dead t-shirts and bootlegs.

Tickets: Available for $120 through 10klf.com

Well, that sums MY travel guide for upcoming spring and summer festivals hitting this great land of ours. So, get your tent, poncho and body spray, and bring your patience. Who knows, you might just run into me at one or two of these festivals. If you know of festivals that I missed, post them at our Messageboard