Summer Music Festivals 2007+

  Since artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin descended on the fairgrounds of Monterey, California for the world's first major rock festival in June 1967, there hasn't been a summer in the United States that didn't have its fair share of music festivals showcasing popular artists, and 2007 is no exception. From the Wu-Tang Clan to Bad Religion, hundreds of bands have taken to the road to bring their live shows to their fans. Whether you're into hip-hop, rock, or a little of both, here are the most hype-worthy tours:


Rock the Bells
  When west coast rap promoter Chang Weisberg sought to organize a day-long hip-hop festival in 2004 and have the Wu-Tang Clan's entire nine-man line-up (who at that time had not all performed together in a decade) headline it, he looked nothing short of crazy. But crazy may just have been what the situation called for; the Wu-Tang Clan did indeed headline the show (backed up by other legendary acts like the Jurassic 5), and Rock the Bells - the world's largest annual hip-hop festival - was born. This year, the festival will be touring beyond its cradle in California for the very first time.







  gain featuring the Wu-Tang Clan, this year's Rock the Bells is being headlined by Rage Against the Machine and features a star-studded roster including legends like Public Enemy, Nas, Cypress Hill, Mos Def, the Roots and Rakim. Also performing will be up-and-coming stars like David Banner, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, and Talib Kweli, as well as a plethora of other underground rappers. As always, the festival will also be showcasing the other aspects of hip-hop culture, including DJing (Mike Relm, C-Minus), breakdancing, street fashion, and graffiti art. The tour hits New York City on July 28th and 29th, San Bernardino on August 11th, and San Francisco on August 18th. Check out the official Rock the Bells website for ticket information and each festival date's precise line-up.


Projekt Revolution
  Started in 2002 as a way to bring rock and rap artists together into the same tour, Projekt Revolution creators Linkin Park sought to export their hybrid rap/rock sound to a festival format. The festival's early years were a success, seeing LP touring alongside artists as diverse as Cypress Hill, the Deftones, Xzibit, and Snoop Dogg before being shelved in 2005 so that the band could focus on producing what would eventually become the Minutes to Midnight album.

  Now, after a two-year hiatus and with Minutes to Midnight fresh off the presses, Projekt Revolution is back with an artist line-up as diverse as ever. Once again headlined by Linkin Park, the festival will feature emo-rockers My Chemical Romance, LA-based rappers Styles of Beyond, pop-punks Taking Back Sunday, the bizarre electro-trip-hop of Mindless Self-Indulgence, and many more. Having kicked off in Washington State on July 25th, the tour will circle the continental United States (and a stop in Toronto, Canada on August 21st) before finishing off in Colorado on September 3rd. For information on dates or to purchase tickets, visit the official Projekt Revolution Website.


Warped Tour
  After the first Warped Tour in 1994 (headlined by Sublime and No Doubt) proved to be a financial loss, tour creator Kevin Lyman was considering abandoning the entire idea until shoe company Vans, approached him about helping them organize a skateboarding event. What was said behind closed doors isn't known, but Lyman managed to convince Vans to pick up a major portion of the tab for Warped, and the gravy train hasn't stopped since, turning Lyman's upstart idea into America's longest-running annual music tour.

  For its 2007 incarnation, Warped Tour is being headlined by old-school punk legends Bad Religion, with Pennywise co-headlining at certain dates. While there are literally over a hundred bands playing its various dates, the most noteworthy artists on the tour this year include Bayside, k-os, Tiger Army, and Paramore. Having started in Ponoma, California on June 29th, Warped is currently making its way around North America; it will end with four consecutive California dates: Fresno (August 22nd), Sacramento (August 23rd), San Diego (August 24th) and Los Angeles (August 25th). To buy tickets or see which bands are scheduled for specific dates, see the official Warped Tour Website.