Over the last eight years, DFest has taken over downtown Tulsa with an electric lineup of mainstream and local acts. Last year’s edition, for example, featured The Black Crowes, Gogol Bordello, Cake, Bassnectar, and Delta Spirit. However, organizers of the festival say the “tough economy, rising production costs, and a decline in lower level corporate sponsorships and support,” prevented them from going forward with this year’s edition, reports Tulsa World.

“At the point we knew that we had exhausted any and all options and head into July 2010 with full steam, we decided to postpone the event on our own terms. The integrity and quality of Dfest is of the utmost importance to us as the creators of the event,” explaiend DFest co-founders Tom and Angie Green in an issued press release.

Street Scene, on the other hand, blames major financial losses during its 25th anniversary edition last year. Despite a bill featuring M.I.A., Modest Mouse, Black Eyed Peas, The Dead Weather, and Cake, the festival drew an an attendance of nearly half of what was initially hoped. As a result, organizers founded themselves in debt for $2.8 million and were forced to liquidate assets, according to SignOnSanDiego.com.

Organizers of both festivals expressed hope for a return in 2011.

But more than just the music, the two-day festival, this year held August 28th and 29th, is staged and planned to be as conducive to a good time as possible. Like last year, the whole thing went down back at the East Village near the Petco Park. Spread out over several city blocks, the event featured two main stages and three smaller stages, one of which was purported to be completely solar powered. Despite being a bit culinary challenged (the two main food options were bratwurst and Chinese or Thai food; oh joy), the drinks were flowing and the throngs of people from chiseled surfers to elderly hippies were ready for a good time. This silver anniversary showed that Street Scene is the little festival that could.

Day One

Dirty Sweet
Fulana: 4:20-5:20 p.m.

Kicking the day off were local boys Dirty Sweet. Despite its hometown advantage, the band drew a small crowd at first. From the first note, the first comparisons that came to mind were the Allman Brothers and Kings of Leon — something about their dirty blues and pseudo metal sound. The band’s technically proficient and that shined through as they moved to more down home jams that came off like free-form musical creations straight from some kind of hive mind. And before that got too developed, the band switched off to some acoustic lullaby that would make any rock-country heavyweight envious. Then, they finished it all off with a cover of Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. It was a nice build toward new but related songs. That kind of diversity is perfect at a show like Street Scene.

Dungen
Green Stage: 5:30-6:15 p.m.

If festivals are for anything, it’s discovering new, fresh talent. My only previous experience with Dungen was knowing that this band was Swedish and weren’t a black metal band; truly a first from our friends to the very north. What the audience received at the beginning of the show was a rocking musical piece, full of chirpy distortion that gave a positive spin to the art of feedback and experimentation with noises. What we got for the remainder of the set was boring pop music that sounded like it’d been taken from the mixtape of your vegan Phish loving friend. This was grade-A bad bar band music or tunes from some low-grade wedding band. And if that weren’t the death nail for me and nay hopes of loving Dungen, the melodramatic flute playing (complete with a two-minute flute outro) surely did the trick. What had been a strong crowd left slowly in hopes of more deserving musical landscapes.

Wavves
Casbah: 6:10-6:50 p.m.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fear another Nathan Williams meltdown. But thankfully the mid-evening sun and massive crowd agreed with the lo-fi skate punk and he kicked off his set with a rather interesting version of “Bored”. A few fans had never experience any sort of Wavves before and his sound was re-welcomed by those of us who were aware as the cascade of distortion reverted off the face of the uninitiated. In what I thought was a nice touch, Williams refused to turn off his echo effect during crowd interactions, perpetuating the idea that there is no difference between the man and his sound. Williams was overly gracious and seemed to enjoy his set, even going so far as playing a few new songs. The first was a poppy sound that utilized the Pixies’ trademark stop and starts. The second unnamed new song was a bit less surf punk and more in the vein of the energy of the Sex Pistols, only without the yelping. Lastly, in a further nod to the Pixies, Williams squealed so good he’d make Frank Black proud. He kept his cool, shattered some bones with feedback, and left the crowd with an early favorite. Right on, Mr. Williams.

Band of Horses
Fulano: 6:40-7:40 p.m.

My first show at the main stage of Fulano… and there may have been no better way to kick it off then with Band of Horses. It was on the way to the BoH set that it dawned on me that this first day of Street Scene is going to be heavy with those bearded bands who play a style reminiscent of southern rock, country and blues. Whether it is BoH or Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band or Devendra Banhart or Deerhunter, Friday was your chance to get down with the good old boys. And no one may have been more good and genuine than BoH. While a lot of the bands worry themselves with the dark and mysterious sound of some of the ’70s rock, BoH is a group that focuses on the pop and melody of some of those Southern stadium acts. It’s rock and its got that blues jam band element to it, but it’s got fantastic hooks and super deluxe playing that fills the night sky. That focus makes them perfect for an outdoor show like this. With an early slot on the bill, the band created a precedent that was hard to beat, despite the world-class competition.

Matt & Kim
Casbah: 7:15-7:55 p.m.

There may have been no better way in my entire life to spend a sunset than with the set by Brooklyn’s finest, Matt & Kim. Whether it’s coming on to a “Lean Back” remix or playing some samba/reggaeton beat that whipped the crowd into this nerdy furry of skinny awkward kids dancing around like hipster rave kids, the show was impeccable to say the least. When you go from a band like BoH and you have massive acts like Modest Mouse and Cake to come, two weirdos on stage with a drum and keyboards should not be as appealing; but their colossal effort is. Whether it’s Kim freak dancing on stage (who needs a sunset now) or the two of them asking for and receiving a circle pit as they play some hyperkinetic blast complete with a Slayer-quality light show, the two of them can get a crowd moving like no other band, even some of the headliners. In a perfect moment, they ended the day with “Daylight” and were the epitome of gracious musicians the whole time. An easy candidate for best show of night one.

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band
Fulana: 7:45-8:30 p.m.

In one of the first instances of the festival, Oberst and his merry band of musical compadres had the luck of being a band that was not a massive headline (like a Black Eyed Peas) but was in no way a Matt & Kim or a BoH. They’re not massive but they’re not unknown to the masses. This doesn’t mean they dealt with some crowds or competition from bigger bands, but rather an opportunity not often afforded to the audience: a chance to see them go for the gusto. Their set could have offered them the chance to grow more in the minds of fans, especially ones who have fallen in love with the depressive stylings of Bright Eyes and not quite the Eric Clapton version of Mr. Oberst. It’s safe to say they went for the big time and succeeded in their own laid back style. If BoH were the pop gods of the country stylings of the day, the Oberst and company were the Eagles of the show, bringing that slick, worldly-tinged jam band work to the entire affair. And as an added bonus, Jenny Lewis joined the band for a spirited musical get together. Everyone loves Conor Oberst and he gave them a better, more varied set of reasons to do so.

Cake
Fulano: 8:35-9:35 p.m.

You go to festivals because sometimes you want a big name to blow you out of your socks. Growing up, listening to Cake, this would have been my chance to see the band I loved and paid good money for. To say I was disappointed would hardly encompass my feelings. While the band played each and every song perfectly, and with passion and technical prowess, each member’s constant complaints regarding technical difficulties — especially those that the musically inclined (i.e. the vast majority of the crowd) couldn’t hear — ruined a nearly indescribable show. Even their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Black Masses” was plagued with comments like “Can I get more of this guitar, but in a good way and not a shitty way.” Play as great as you want, but if you’re going to be buzzkills and ruin the communal feeling festivals are meant to instill, then your sound means nothing and you harm the remainder of the fest.

Modest Mouse
Fulana: 9:40-10:40 p.m.

After the bad taste that was left in my mouth from Cake, Modest Mouse (even if it meant missing the sonic orgy of Girl Talk) was well worth it. What can one say about a Modest Mouse show that so many fans and critics have already said; the band’s skill and sound are beyond comparison and their passion to putting on an enthusiastic set is unmatched. They played a wide selection of songs and were efficient and eager to play as much as possible with as few breaks or unwanted silence, as well. But what spoke to me the most is the fact that there was a story told between their set and Cake’s that ended less than five minutes earlier. If Cake are the villains, who show that being a prima donna is alive and well at fests, then the dedication of Modest Mouse would surely make them the heroes. They put their hearts and minds into each and every song. Was it their best set or the most perfect? Not even close, but at least the audience will remember it and talk about it when they get home after the show.

Cage The Elephant
Green Stage: 10:30-11:15 p.m.

Sorry kids, but I missed out on the Black Eyed Peas. It has nothing to do with elitism or a hatred for Fergie and the boys. In fact, I listened to The E.N.D. on the way up and enjoyed it for being effective in terms of a smash club hit meant to be enjoyed with your friends on a drunken Friday night. I checked out Cage The Elephant for the same reason that I had to check out Cake. But rather quickly the young punks from Kentucky distanced themselves by playing through two, count them two total mic failures. Following this, they played through their self-titled album and even threw in a few new songs. The first was a bit of a change from their southern punk style and more in the vain of a less hectic Blur. The second, entitled “Indie Kids”, was less crazed and more in the vein of some old MC5, complete with a bit of condescending lyricism, all aimed at the “so cool” hipster kids. Of course, things got really going when they played “No Rest For The Wicked”, their big hit that nearly doubled the crowd. Sadly, many of the fans left after “No Rest For The Wicked”. The band showed that it has yet to reach a new plateau and that maybe a bigger stage instead of being a big fish in a small pond could have elevated them. Even still, a great way to close night one of there ever was one.

Day Two

Crocodiles
Casbah: 4:30-5:15 p.m.

For those unaware of the Crocodiles, the twosome has boiled down the rock dynamic, featuring a singer, a guitarist, and a drum machine. This is a band whose sound is danceable and light, without being dumb downed, and is still grimy and filthy with these vastly catchy hooks. But lead singer Brandon Welchez has a stage presence that is one part punk rock epileptic and one part dance hall Mick Jagger. However, at its core, their overall appeal is the minimalism of the show and the struggle to fill the void. In what was a lightning fast set, the band kept talking to a minimal, focusing more on the songs that partly heavy with effects and noise and partly elegant tunes that are truly pop songs in their most basic sense. With a show that ended the night before with Billboard lords of Black Eyed Peas, the Crocodiles were a lesson in making the most of nearly nothing.

Ra Ra Riot
Fulano: 5:10-5:45 p.m.

Here’s a band where the live setting truly makes their songs what they’re meant to be: Gorgeous examples of pop mastery. A great deal of bands try for that classic, ambient sound, complete with strings and light, effervescent keyboards, but the guys behind Ra Ra Riot are the true masters. The band lets the driving beats and hugely overarching base rock (y’know, the stuff that holds the songs together) compliment each other. It should also be noted that the live setting lets you understand how rich and complex their sound is; little touches and tweaks or tiny additions or extra notes create a landscape that comes alive in the middle of the San Diego summer. They’re also one of the more poppy bands of the fest to allow themselves unrehearsed yet unforced musical breakdowns and extended play that many are afraid would come off as too ferocious or, heaven forbid, rock-heavy.

Busta Rhymes
Zarabanda: 6:15-7:00 p.m.

In what could have been the first disaster of the festival, two things simultaneously occurred: One, Busta Rhymes, who has been around for longer than 90% of the other bands and acts that weekend, had to go on before 7 p.m. Secondly, due to technical errors, Busta didn’t get on stage until 6:45. But what occurred next is arguably one of the most profound musical experiences at a live show I have ever seen. He wasn’t mad or enraged, but antsy and ready to fight for his music, all with a smile and in an overall good mood. After all, while Busta’s ferocious, he’s also one funny, smart rapper. He took Yin Yang Twin’s “Wait” and made it his own with a creative and infective verse. He barked orders at the crowd and they ate it up, myself included. But the real treat that got the audience rocking back and forth was his medley of hits — some full verses, others just the hook and chorus — everything from “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” to “Arab Money” to “Pass The Courvoisier” and more. It was a rapid fire succession of about seven songs where he worked the crowd over with his swagger and rhymes and a genuine personality… and all in 25 minutes. That’s typically the same amount of time it took a lot of bands to get into their own swing. If any quote stuck in my head from any act this weekend, it’d be Busta when, after thanking the crowd and placing his very career on the fans, he said, “The beautiful part of growing older is you become a master at what you do.” True words, Busta, true words.

Silversun Pickups
Fulana: 7:30-8:30/8:00-9:00 p.m.

Because of some issues with technical mumbo jumbo, bands started going on late right around this point. Originally scheduled for 7:30, the SIlversun Pickups didn’t take the stage until 8 p.m. For the sake of saving time, I’ll be as curt I can with the LA band. Hearing its album, it occurred to me I may not be a steadfast fan of the group. I didn’t dislike their album, but I didn’t feel it move me or get my heart moving like other beloved acts and albums had. This is apathy if there ever was any. But after this show, I realized it’s time to reevaluate my feelings about their body of work. The band has built a career around Brian Aubert’s voice. At any second, the vulnerable, injured deer that is his means of musical expression could break down and die an agonizing death. I only realized how powerful this is when I see it live. When I hear him struggle to get to notes and the anguish and disgust and uncertainty in his voice when they’re blaring it across a parking lot and I’m 100 yards from the speaker, then I see it for what it is truly worth. It wasn’t my favorite show as I still have issues with their thematic choices and their often uninspired playing, but their live show, the real bread and butter of genuine bands, made me want to reintroduce myself to their discography, sans any preconceived thoughts or friend’s suggestions. This is the power of a festival: Music cannot be denied.

The Dead Weather
Fulano: 8:35-9:35/9:00-10:00 p.m.

To make up time, Jack White and crew started almost immediately as the Silversun Pickups ended. I can easily and readily confess that thanks to The Raconteurs, Jack White has an eternal place in my heart. But my fear going into the show was that he would still be the center of attention in this, his third band. That fear was quickly thrown back in my face as laughable and uninformed. That stage belonged to Alison Mosshart from the first note. There was a moment during the second song, “Hang You Up From The Heavens”, where I was 100 yards away and she sang the line about dragging someone to the devil and you believed she’d make good on her promise. She had this rock star presence that she owned the whole city during that hour, while at the same time being this menacing succubus who was possessed. And not the clichéd rocker who throws water to piss people off but like she was genuinely touched and in need of an exorcism. But she was still sensual and raw and you hoped she’d make good and “take you by the hand and walk you to my house.” And even when White got up to sing “You Just Can’t Win”, the audience longed for Mosshart to the point she nearly hid behind the drum kit. Of course, she gave White some of her dark energy as the two made sweet gritty harmonizing on the bluesy “Will There Be Enough Water?”. The world of rock is Jack White’s domain, but Mosshart usurped that power for one night and I’m hoping she does so again and again.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Zarabanda: 10:30-12:00 p.m.

I made the choice to avoid the headliner Thievery Corporation and try to discover new music in Bassnectar and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. As deliciously bass-heavy as he was, Bassnectar’s crowd was full of overly enthusiastic and touchy rave kids. The Sharon Jones show started late and I had to leave after an old soul intro. And when I got back to wait for M.I.A. to start, I was able to catch the last bit of Thievery Corporation. In the 10 minutes I saw, I witnessed an orgy of world music where I could’ve gotten both my soul and bass fix and much, much more if I stayed put and took in the sweat and bravado that is the Corporation. Lesson learned: Sometimes headliners are in their spot for a reason.

M.I.A.
Fulano: 10:45-12:00/11:00-11:50 p.m.

What can be said about M.I.A. that isn’t redundant or common knowledge? This is an artist who can draw the masses, sober the stoned, and break up couples (Long story; sorry, guy in plain white t-shirt). Regardless of what she does to relationships, M.I.A. takes the essentials of techno-ish dance music and gives it new life on stage. Whether it’s the horn-infused “Bucky Done Gun” or the straight out of Bollywood rendition of “Boyz”, M.I.A. slings a verse and rhyme beyond what she often demonstrates. Not to mention, she can move and grind it like a true class act. My whole pretense about her was that she’d be a bit of a pixie on stage, but she cracked the whip and worked out songs like “Galang” like a Valkyrie. And in honor or despite her no longer playing with Beastie Boys, she busted out a couple of verses over “Intergalactic” and “Sabotage”. Take that, Tenacious D! And in a moment that was sheer excitement for a music nerd like myself, she debuted a new song entitled “Born Free”. With a minimalized backing track reminiscent of some late ’70s New York punk band, she let off one of her most organized and biting songs ever, with the line “I throw this shit in your face when I see you, cause I’ve got something to say”. I’m not sure who she’s replying to/verbally assaulting, but it’s a step in a fresh direction. Sadly, it didn’t go over as huge as one might think with the remainder of the crowd. She then ended the whole shebang with a weak version of “Paper Planes” and said adieu at 11:50 to a set that lacked a bit in some parts, but brought the flash in other places, leaving the door open for something new real soon.

———–

Dungen

Holy Fuck

Wavves

Matt & Kim

Deerhunter

Calexico

Modest Mouse

Ra Ra Riot

Faint

Of Montreal

The Dead Weather

Thievery Corporation

M.I.A.

So, let’s play catch up, shall we? Here’s what you may have missed…

• R.I.P. DJ AM

• Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will reportedly release a “secret,” limited release 12″ on September 22nd. Included will be two new songs, titled “Apart By Horses” and “The Hollow Earth”.

• Oasis’ Noel Gallagher got in a fight with bandmate and brother Liam, causing the former to realize he can no longer work with the latter.

• Naked Raygun played a secret show in Chicago on Saturday night.

• The Misfits are going on tour.

• Outside Lands Music Festival 2009 went down this weekend (click here for complete coverage), as did Street Scene 2009 and Virgin Mobile FreeFest (complete coverage forthcoming).

Street Scene goes down August 28th and 29th in downtown San Diego, CA. Full lineup here; tickets there.

Virgin Festival BC:
In just two days, Virgin Festival will hit Vancouver for the aptly titled Virgin Festival BC. However, that doesn’t mean organizers still aren’t tinkering with this year’s lineup. Now set to join the previously announced likes of Sonic Youth, The Roots, Future of the Left, Broken Social Scene and Ben Harper & Relentless7 are The Thermals, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Elizabeth, and Matt Nathanson. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.com.

Fabulous Festival:
With Vegoose no more, the Fabulous Festival is now Las Vegas’ major music event. Set to take place from September 3-6, this year’s edition will once again cater to the electro junkie with a lineup featuring the likes of Paul Oakenfold, DJ AM, Felix da Housecat, DJ Reza, and Steve Aoki. Tickets of all shapes and sizes are available via Want Tickets.

Electric Zoo:
3,000 miles east that same weekend, Electric Zoo will look to bring a similar electric extravaganza to the Big Apple, one with a bill that never seems to stop growing. ATB, Axwell & Steve Angello, Guy Gerber, Victor Calderone and Heidi are the latest acts scheduled to join Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Richie Hawtin, Super Disco Version and more at Randal’s Island from September 5-6. Best to get your tickets now before they go up on July 30th.

Sunset Strip Music Festival:
Also announcing its ’09 bill this week was the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The festivities will begin on September 10th when the Los Angeles based event will honor Ozzy Osbourne with a tribute concert at the House of Blues. Friday will feature numerous shows throughout the cities venues, as will Saturday, which also boasts the main portion of the festival — a street fest on the legendary Sunset Strip. Scheduled to take part are Chris Cornell, Kottonmouth Kings, Pepper, The Donnas, Shiny Toy Guns, and more. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, July 24th via Ticketmaster.com.

Farm Aid:
As we reported last week, Farm Aid will travel to St. Louis, Missouri on October 4th for its 2009 edition. We already knew Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews would be taking part in the musical aspect of the event. We now know that so too will Wilco, Jason Mraz, Phosphorescent, and Jamey Johnson. Not a bad start, eh? Tickets will go on sale beginning Saturday, July 25th via Livenation.com.

HARD Haunted Mansion:
HARD’s annual Halloween bash, HARD Haunted Mansion, has only officially announced two names so far: Deadmau5 and Destructo. But thanks to the leaky faucet that is the internet, we also know that Justice, Crookers, Buraka Som Sistema, and Steve Aoki will appear at The Forum in Los Angeles on October 31st. Get your tickets via Fla.vor.us.

So, who’s replacing the Beastie Boys?

Now to the question on everyone’s minds: Who will be replacing the Beastie Boys at the trillion festivals they were scheduled to play in the coming months? Ok, so the Brooklyn trio was set to headline just six – All Points West, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, Outside Lands, Street Scene, and Austin City Limits — but that’s still six festivals needing to find a headliner on rather short notice.

Well, as we know now, Jay-Z will be replacing the Beasties at All Points West, while the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will fill in at Lollapalooza and Osheaga. The other three have yet to unveil their plans, but message board rumors currently have Neil Young “slumming” it in San Francisco for Outside Lands and Karen O. and Co. potentially also filling the void for ACL and Street Scene.

Of course, when you consider what’s going down 3,000 miles east a few weeks later, and yes, everything else pales in comparison. And that was before today’s additions. Just because they can, the folks at ATP New York added another slew of high-profile, unbelievably awesome acts to its ’09 bill today, including Sufjan Stevens, in what will be his first U.S. performance in two years, Shellac, Crystal Castles, Super Furry Animals, Boris, Grouper, Circulatory System, The Low Lows, and something called “Oneida presents the Ocropolis” –- where Brooklyn’s Oneida will transport the impetus, spirit and community of their multidisciplinary studio/performance space, The Ocropolis, to ATP for a full day of improvisation, collaboration, and recording, combined with the astounding Mighty Robot Visuals light crew. See the full totally not fair lineup here; buy tickets via See Tickets.

FloydFest 8: Revival:

Despite being less than a month away, Floyd Virginia’s FloydFest 8: Revival continues to expand its lineup. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Railroad Earth, Grupo Fantasma, Emmitt-Nershi Band, and Rose’s Pawn Shop are among the newest additions now scheduled to join the likes of Blues Traveler, Toubab Krewe, The Felice Brothers, EOTO, The Lee Boys, and Donna the Buffalo from July 23-26. Weekend passes are still available via Extremetix.com.

Virgin Festival Alberta:
Virgin Festival Alberta, the fourth of what will be five Canadian Virgin Festivals revealed its ’09 bill this week, and like the others, it’s features quite the hodgepodge of acts. Pearl Jam and Billy Talent will headline the event, scheduled to take place between August 8th and 9th at Canada Olympic Park, which also features Metric, Tokyo Police Club, White Lies, and Shot Out Out Out Out. Weekend and VIP passes can be had beginning Saturday, July 4th via virginfestival.ca.

Street Scene:
The folks at the San Diego based Street Scene don’t appear all too set on their ’09 lineup. After all, since announced the bill a few weeks back, they’ve already added Busta Rhymes, Cage The Elephant, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, The Faint, Delta Spirit,  Dungen, and Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible. Of course, it’s not like we’re complaining or anything! Street Scene goes down between August 28th and 29th. Get tickets at Front Gate Tickets.

Forward Music Festival:
Madison, Wisconsin’s Forward Music Festival is another one of those indie-friendly events to get excited about. What with Andrew Bird headlining and acts like Ra Ra Riot, Margot & Nuclear So & So’s, Rock Plaza Central, Wavves, Yacht, and Princeton also scheduled to perform, the $35 early bird passes for September 17-19 festival sound like a steal. Get them beginning July 10th via fmf09.com.

Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, and Modest Mouse head the some 40+ acts scheduled to descend on downtown San Diego between August 28th and 29th, while The Dead Weather, Silversun Pickups, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Girl Talk, Band of Horses, and Mastodon make up some of the other highlights.

Also included will be a slew of indie favorites such as Ra Ra Riot, No Age, Deer Hunter, Los Campesinos!, and Matt & Kim. Even Wavves, hot off their big European meltdown, are scheduled to take part.

As it stands now, the bill for Street Scene ’09 looks something like this:

Band of Horses, Bassnectar, Black Eyed Peas, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Blue Scholars, Cake, Calexico, Carney, Chromeo, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Crocodiles, The Dead Weather, Deerhunter, Devendra Banhart, Donald Glaude, Extra Golden, Grand Ole Party, Holy Fuck, LA Riots, Los Campesinos!, M.I.A., Mastodon, Matt & Kim, Modest Mouse, MSTRKRFT, No Age, Ozomatli, Ra Ra Riot, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Shooter Jennings, Silversun Pickups, Thievery Corporation, Wavves, West Indian Girls, Zee Avi

Two-day passes are currently available via Front Gate Tickets. All other necessary info can be aquired via street-scene.com.

North by Northeast:
Last month, we noted that South by Southwest’s sister festival extravaganza, North By Northeast, will return to Toronto, Ontario for five days of music, delivered by over 500 local, national, and international acts. Organizers have looked to further validate this statement with a ton of lineup additions, including The Cool Kids, GZA, Dillinger Four, Apostle of Hustle, Crystal Antlers, and CoS’ favorites Kittens Ablaze. Now would probably be a good time to head over to nxne.com to pick up your passes/wristbands.

Summerfest:
Like a bang, Summerfest‘s extensive, and always eclectic lineup has taken shape. After taking their time to reveal the Marcus Amphitheater headliners for this year’s edition, organizers have made one round after another of announcements in the last week, literally revealing a new batch of 2009 acts every afternoon. Included are both mainstream staples (Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Guster, Salvia)  and indie favorites (Cage The Elephant, Lupe Fiasco, Back Door Slam, STS9). Get the up-to-date lineup here. Pick up your Marcus Amphitheater – yes, you have to pay separately to see the headliners, and and general admission passes via Ticketmaster.com.

Montreal Jazz Festival:
The complete lineup for the Montreal Jazz Festival, or should I say, Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, has also been revealed in the last week. Stevie Wonder, Ben Harper & Relentless7, DeVotchKa, Estelle, Joe Cocker, Mos Def, and The Orb among the acts now scheduled to join the previously announced likes of Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy & Susan Tedeschi, Jackson Browne, and Femi Kuti in downtown Montreal between July 1st and 12th. Head to montrealjazzfest.com for a full schedule and ticket information.

Virgin Festival Nova Scotia:
Well, if the initial lineup for Virgin Festival Nova Scotia is any indication, then Virgin Festival Montreal might just be one strange outlier. The Tragically Hip, The Offspring, Dinosaur Jr., Metric, Plants and Animals, Hey Rosetta!, and Arkells are among the names set to perform at Citadel Hill on July 4th. Tickets will go on sale beginning Saturday, May 16th via virginfestival.ca.

Forecastle Festival:
Organizers behind the Louisville, Kentucky based Forecastle Festival, which is scheduled to take place from July 10-12 at the Riverfront Belvedere, have also dropped a few more details relating to its 2009 lineup. Cage The Elephant, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Man Man, Designer Drugs, The Detroit Cobras, and Maps and Atlases and some fifty other bands and DJs are now scheduled to to join Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, The Black Keys, and The Avett Brothers for Forecastle ’09. The day-by-day schedule can be seen and tickets can be had by logging onto forecastlefest.com.

No Depression Festival:
Back in March, Seattle based No Depression Magazine announced that it would be ceasing monthly publication in June and would instead become a twice-annual “bookazine.” Apparently all that’s you need to launch a music festival these days; on July 11th, No Depression in conjunction with Seattle Theatre Group (STG Presents), Live Nation, and The Lakeside Group will bring a lineup headed by Gillian Welch and Iron & Wine to Redmond, Washington’s Marymoor Park for the first annual No Depression Festival. Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Zee Avi, and a collection of Seattle based roots musicians under the banner Seattle Roots-Music All-Star Revue are also confirmed to take part. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

HARD Summer Festival:
Here’s a shock: HARD’s summer festival, aka HARD Summer Festival, continues to be a raver’s delight. Today, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Crookers, The Bloody Beetroots, Busy P, Steve Akoi, Amanda Blank, Jack Beats, Dan Oh, and Skeet Skeet joined the ’09 bill, which already included Underworld, A-Trak, Sebastian, and Tiga. Pre-sale tickets can still be had via GrooveTickets.com.

What Else?

• This year’s Sonic Bloom, which features Bassnectar, EOTO, and ZILLA, will now be held at Bellvue, Coloardo’s Mishawaka Amphitheatre. Tickets will apparently go on sale soon.

• This year’s Hillside Festival recently offered a sneak peak at its 2009 lineup: Tokyo Police Club, Final Fantasy, Xavier Rudd, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Loreena McKennitt, and David Francey will be among the names dishing out the tunes in Guelph, Ontario between July 24th and 26th. ,

• Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, John Doe and the Sadies, and Horse Feathers have been added to Portland, Oregon’s favorite indie roots music festival, the Pickathon Indie Roots Music Festival.

• The Dead Weather and Cake appear to be the first two acts confirmed for this year’s edition of Street Scene, scheduled to take place from August 28-29 in San Diego, California.

• Europe still has a lot of festivals.

Coachella Music Festival:
Could Coachella be up to something? We won’t speculate other than say rumors of a big last second addition have been a float over the last week. Then, there’s this thing and that thing.

Northside Festival:
Brooklynites will get a small taste of what it’s like to attend South by Southwest later this summer when the first annual Northside Festival brings hundreds of independent artists to over fifty of the boroughs venues between June 11 and 14. Sunset Rubdown, Bishop Allen, The Dodos, Bill Callahan, Vivian Girls, The Van Pelt, Brightblack Morning Light, O’Death, Asobi Seksu, and John Vanderslice highlight the recently unveiled initial lineup with even more names yet to be announced. Badges – just $45.00 – are currently available via northsidefestival.com.

Summerfest:
And the adds keep on coming for Summerfest’s 2009 lineup. Included in the latest batch of artists scheduled to perform at Milwaukee, Wisconsin festival from June 25-July 5 are STS9, Talib Kweli, Guster, Femi Kuti, Gavin DeGraw, Asher Roth, and Shiny Toy Guns. Both general admission passes and Marcus Amphitheater tickets are currently available via Ticketmaster.com.

80/35:
After bringing the likes of The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Jakob Dylan, Andrew Bird, and Drive-By Truckers to downtown Des Moines, Iowa for its inaugural edition, 80/35 will look to follow things up with another Fourth of July extravaganza – this time around, however, in a brand new location. Ben Haper & Relentless7, Public Enemy, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Matisyahu, and G. Love & Special Sauce head the list of acts set to perform in the eastern section of Western Gateway Park from July 3-4. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Two-day passes can be had via 80/35.com.

All Good Music Festival:
The All Good Music Festival finalized its 2009 lineup today with the additions of Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Galactic, Assembly of Dust, and BK3, and Bill Kreutzmann’s BK3. All in all, some 30 artists will take the stage at Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, West Virginia from July 9-12. Tickets are still available via allgoodfestival.com.

10,000 Lakes Music Festival
As if Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, two nights of Widespread Panic, and Umphrey’s McGee wasn’t enough to get you to this year’s 10,000 Lakes Music Festival, the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota based festival has added a few more names to its 2009 bill. Atmosphere, Ozomatli, and The Parlor Mob highlight the newest names set to perform at 10KLF from July 22-25.

Street Scene:
San Diego’s Street Scene will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer, from August 28-29 to be exact. No additional details just yet, but based on last year’s lineup and the fact the festival does take place in San Diego, it probably once again will be a must attend event.

As always, be sure to check out CoS’ FestivalOutlook.com for all your latest festival news and rumors. And if you’ve got a friend overseas, be sure to let them know that the Outlook just ain’t for Americans – we are constantly updating the European section. Oh, and got a tip? Drop us a line…