The names that stand out are frankly shocking gets for a free and ticketless festival: Joan Baez, Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, and the Godmother of Punk herself, Patti Smith. Other old guys include Richard Thompson, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle and the Dukes, and some Grammy-winning singer-songwriters in The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue (Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs). Oh, and right off the heels of Toy Story 3, Randy frigging Newman. Yeah.

There’s stuff for the cool kids too: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Umphrey’s McGee, Jenny & Johnny (Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice), Lucero, The Felice Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Gillian Welch, and…drumroll…SF hero Mike Patton as Mondo Cane.

Other notable acts include Emmylou Harris, Hot Tuna Electric, The Del McCoury Band, T-Bone Burnett and Friends, Indigo Girls, Moonalice, Fountains of Wayne, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Doc Watson and David Holt, The David Grisman Quintet, Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang, The Flatlanders, and Railroad Earth.

There are plenty more acts, and you can see the full list here. The website promises additions, so begin rumor-mongering. This thing goes down the weekend of October 1-3; check back here for updates.

As for the end result of said attention? An initial lineup announcement headed by Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, and Kings of Leon. Other noteworthy acts include Jack White’s The Dead Weather, Jack Black’s Tenacious D, Weezer, Norah Jones, Damian Marley and Nas, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, John Fogerty, and Jeff Beck.

Also set to appear at this year’s edition, which runs from June 10-13, are the Dropkick Murphys, John Prine, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Franti and Spearhead, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys, Deadmau5, Against Me!, Les Claypool, the Zac Brown Band, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Rise Against, as well as a few familiar faces, including the Disco Biscuits, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Calexico.

A number of high-profile indie acts will also perform, including She & Him, Blitzen Trapper, The Dodos, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Chromeo (who will be joined by the legendary Daryl Hall), Tokyo Police Club, and Neon Indian.

We should once again note that today’s announcement was billed as the initial lineup, and additional artists are expected to be named in the weeks ahead. We’ll of course update you when the information becomes available.

Tickets, available in the general admission and VIP varieties, are currently on sale and priced at $234.50 and $1,349.50 respectively. Payment plans are available, as are various rental packages. Hit up bonnarootickets.com for all the specifics.

Additional details regarding the festival itself can be read on bonnaroo.com. We also suggest bookmaring our Bonnaroo Outlook pages, as we’ll update it once additional lineup news is announced. Now would also be a good time to check out our recent interview with Bonnaroo co-founder Ashley Capps.

As previously mentioned, the lineup announcement will work something like this. Unlike previous announcements, the 2010 bill will not be unveiled all at once, but rather throughout the day, with the goal being to “generate conversations about the lineup a few acts at a time.” Starting at 10 AM EST (barring any early leaks), bands will begin announcing their participation via various social media outlets and bonnaroo.com. It’s basically like one giant, procrastinating-inducing puzzle. Fortunately, just in case we don’t figure it out by then, Bonnaroo will end our agony by announcing the full lineup later tomorrow night.

Given all this, it only makes sense that we start an open thread, where you guys can chat, complain, and post any discoveries you find. We’ll of course keep track as well!

7:30 pm Update: 90 minutes left! LCD Soundsystem, Les Claypool, Lucero, Kris Kristofferson, Martin Sexton, and Deadmau5 among the newest additions.

5:30 pm Update: Add The Dodos, Tori Amos, Tenacious D, Damian Marley & Nas, Lotus, Blitzen Trapper, Calexico, Mumford & Sons, Aterciopelados, and John Butler Trio to the mix. Still waiting for Neil, Pavement, and Roger Waters…

3:30 pm Update: A few more worthwhile confirmations: The Dead Weather, They Might Be Giants, The Melvins, Dave Rawlings Machine, John Prine, Mew, Dr. Dog, Clutch, and The Bakerton Group. Also, a few more expected: Alicia Keys, Pavement, and Spoon.

2:00 pm Update: So far, we’ve been going at this for a good five hours and we still only know about a 1/4 of the acts. Of those however, there are certainly a fair share of early highlights, including Jay-Z, The Flaming Lips, Regina Spektor, The National, Disco Biscuits, Jeff Beck, Norah Jones, Weezer, She & Him, and Phoenix.

We can also confirm the participation of Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Dropkick Murphys, and Zac Brown band. As for what we can expect to see in the hours ahead? Neil Young, Spoon, Broken Social Scene, and Deadmau5. Also don’t be shocked if Roger Waters (performing The Wall), Pavement, and My Morning Jacket make an appearance.

Update: Here is the initial lineup…

Against Me!, Aeroplane, The Avett Brothers, B.o.B., Baaba Maal, The Black Keys Bassnectar, Baroness, Blitzen Trapper, Blues Traveler, Brandi Carlile, Calexico, Chromeo w/ Darryl Hall, Clutch, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Damian Marley & Nas, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Dave Matthews Band, Dave Rawlings Machine, The Dead Weather, Deadmau5, Diane Birch, Disco Biscuits, The Dodos, Dr. Dog, Dropkick Murphys, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Entrance Band, The Flaming Lips (w/ Stardeath and White Dwarfs) performing Dark Side of the Moon, The Gaslight Anthem, GWAR, Here We Go Magic, Hot Rize, Jamey Johnson, Japandroids, Jay-Z, Jeff Beck, John Prine, Kid Cudi, Kings of Leon, Kris Kristofferson, Ingrid Michaelson, Isis, John Fogerty, Julia Nunes, LCD Soundsystem, Les Claypool, Local Natives, Lotus, Lucero, Manchester Orchestra, Martin Sexton, Mayer Hawthrone & the County, Medeski Martin & Wood, Melvins, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Miike Snow, Miranda Lambert, Monte Montgomery, Mumford & Sons, The National, Needtobreathre, Neon Indian, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Norah Jones, OK Go, Phoenix, The Postelles, Punch Brothers, Rebelution, Regina Spektor, Rise Against, She & Him, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Stevie Wonder, The Temper Trap, Tenacious D, They Might Be Giants, Thievery Corporation, Tinariwen, Tori Amos, Tokyo Police Club, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Wale, Weezer, The xx, Zac Brown Band

Here are other expected and rumored acts.

Now, buckle up kids! It’s going to be a long and wild ride!

Feature image courtesy of Ryan Mastro…

The band’s travels, which come in support of the recently released Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, will begin on May 28th in Hartford, CT. Highlights that follow include a two-night stint at New York’s Citi Field and three nights at Gorge Amptheatre, a venue which the band has grown quite fond of over the years.

But perhaps the biggest highlight will come in the form of a headlining appearance at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. The band is expected to close out the festival on Sunday, according to multiple sources.

Among the DMB’s set to tour throughout the extensive endeavor include Ben Harper and Relentless7, Gov’t Mule, Raphael Saadiq, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Brett Dennen, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, and Zac Brown Band. Find the band’s entire schedule (w/ openers) below.

An online ticket request period begins this Thursday, January 28th, and continues through Monday, February 8th, at the Warehouse. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 26th via Ticketmaster.com.

Dave Matthews 2010 Tour Dates:
05/28 – Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theatre *
05/29 – Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theatre *
06/01 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre #
06/02 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center #
06/04 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
06/05 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
06/07 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center %
06/08 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center %
06/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center ^
06/16 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ^
06/18 – Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center ^
06/19 – Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center ^
06/22 – Columbus, OH @ Huntington Park ^
06/23 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Center @
06/25 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center @
06/30 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center @
07/01 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center @
07/03 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre $
07/04 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre $
07/09 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium $
07/10 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park $
07/13 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts &
07/14 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain &
07/16 – New York, NY @ Citi Field $
07/17 – New York, NY @ Citi Field $
07/20 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre &
07/21 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre &
07/23 – Washington, DC @ Nationals Park $
07/25 – Louisville, KY @ HullabaLOU Festival
07/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood ~
07/28 – Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre ~
07/30 – West Palm, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre ~
07/31 – West Palm, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre ~
08/14 – Wichita, KS @ InTrust Bank Arena +
08/17 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre =
08/20 – Chula Vista, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre =
08/21 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater  =
08/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Ball !
08/25 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord !
08/27 – Marysville, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre !
08/28 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre !
08/31 – Boside, ID @ Taco Bell Arena
09/03 – George, WA @ Gorge Amptheatre x
09/04 – George, WA @ Gorge Amptheatre x
09/05 – George, WA @ Gorge Amptheatre x
09/10 – Woodlands, CA @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion +
09/11 – Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center +
09/14 – Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center +
09/15 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center +

* = w/ Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
# = w/ The Felice Brothers
% = w/ Yonder Mountain String Band
^ = w/ Robert Earl Keen
@ = w/ Martin Sexton
$ = w/ Zac Brown Band
& = w/ Amos Lee
~ = w/ Gov’t Mule
+ = w/ Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
= = w/ Brett Dennen
! = w/ Raphael Saadiq
x = w/ Ben Harper & Relentless7

All Tomorrow’s Parties:

Looking to keep up with his co-curators, The Simpsons’ Matt Groening has added another round of names to All Tomorrow’s Parties Weekend One. Panda Bear, The Residents, Deerhunter, Broadcast, Daniel Johnston, Shonen Knife, and Amadou & Mariam are among those now scheduled to appear perform at Butlins Holiday Centre from May 7-9. Press your luck with tickets here.

Primavera Sound:

Europe’s version of Pitchfork, the Primavera Sound Festival, has added the likes of Mission of Burma, Orbital, Wire, Low, Superchunk Dr. Dog, Japandroids, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Circulatory System, and Sic Alps to its already ridiculously indie friendly lineup. This inane list will join previous confirmed acts such as Pavement, Pixies, Wilco, The Fall, Panda Bear, and The New Pornographers in Barcelona, Spain from May 27-29. Tickets (you know you want ‘em) are here.

Hillside Inside:

Getting back to North America, Hillside Festival’s winter extravaganza, Hillside Inside, will return to the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontaio this February 6th. Confirmed to participate in this year’s festivities are Ani DiFranco, Martin Sexton, Hawksley Workman, Final Fantasy, The Rural Alberta Advantage, and Woodhands among others. Ticket information here.