As always, there was plenty other news to satisfy us this week. South by Southwest may be rapidly approaching, but that didn’t stop organizers from dropping another bombshell announcement with another slew of acts. There were also rumors of significant additions brewing in the Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo stews.

For all festival disclosures check out this week’s edition of Festivals in Brief, and remember the best (and only) way to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and rumors is by bookmarking Festival Outlook and following us on Twitter. After all, Wednesday only comes once a week.

News:

– Sasquatch! announced its official lineup early in the week. Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Wilco, and The Flaming Lips will head an extensive list, which also includes Robyn, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, and Iron & Wine, among many others. The daily schedule has also been posted.

– South by Southwest made yet another round of additions to its lineup this week, announcing Widespread Panic, Emmylou Harris, Black Lips and Okkervil River to head the lot, which also includes Diplo, Kylesa, Wavves. For the full roster of newcomers, check out the lineup additions below. And while you’re doing your homework, be sure to check out the schedule for the official showcases. You’ll find a detailed account of all nocturnal and convention-set events.

– Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune substantiated rumors that Eminem, Foo Fighters and Muse will comprise the first half of the six headliners of Lollapalooza this August. An official lineup announcement is expected in April.

– Bonnaroo’s 2011 lineup will be unveiled Tuesday, February 15th. Tickets will then go on sale Saturday, February 19th at 12:00pm EST.

Lineup Additions:

– Sasquatch!: Official lineup announced, includes Foo Fighters, Deathcab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Wilco, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Death From Above 1979, The Flaming Lips, Robyn, Jenny & Johnny, Beach House, and more

– Bonnaroo: My Morning Jacket (Expected), Robyn (Expected), Arcade Fire (Rumored), The Black Keys (Rumored), Robert Plant & Band of Joy (Expected), Widespread Panic (Rumored)

– Lollapalooza: Foo Fighters (Expected), Eminem (Expected), Muse (Expected), Best Coast (Expected), Crystal Castles (Expected), Girl Talk (Expected), Lykke Li (Expected)

– South By Southwest: Third lineup phase announced, includes Cold War Kids, Deer Tick, Emmylou Harris, Diplo, Friendly Fires, Okkervil River, Tennis, Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band, Vetiver, Widespread Panic, The Raveonettes, Wavves, Kylesa, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Big K.R.I.T, Cults, Denison Witmer, Boys Noize, Black Lips, Boys Noize, Dirty Ghosts, Ear Pwr, Edwyn Collins, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Fake Problems, Fang Island, Richie Hawtin, Shad, Skrillex, Ebsen and the Witch, Tape Deck Mountain, Raphael Saadiq, Shrillex, Tech N9ne, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Memoryhouse, Off!, The Chapin Sisters, The Greenhornes, The Hood Internet, The Moondoggies, Twin Shadow, and The Chain Gang of 1974. The Strokes are rumored.

– Austin City Limits: Iron & Wine (Expected)

– Wakarusa Music Festival: Added Buckethead

– Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Added Mumford & Sons, Steve Earle, and Sarah McLachlan

– Wanderlust California: Initial lineup announced, includes Girl Talk, The Wailers

– Wanderlust Vermont: Initial lineup announced, includes Andrew Bird, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Sonya Kitchell

– Glastonbury Festival (UK): Beyonce (Rumored), Newton Faulkner (Expected)

– Exit Festival (Serbia): Added Joris Voorn, Grinderman, Joachim Garraud, and Fedde Le Grand

– Summerfest: Rise Against (Expected)

– Austin Psych Fest: Added Roky Erickson, Beaches, Young Prisms, and Quest for Fire

– Krazy Fest: Official lineup announced, includes Anti-Flag, Against Me!, Bouncing Souls, and Strike Anywhere

– End of the Road (UK): Added Daniel Martin Moore, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Laura Marling, Megafaun, and The Black Angels

– Wireless Festival (UK): Black Eyed Peas and The Chemical Brothers confirmed as headliners

– Rock Werchter (Belgium): Added All Time Low, Kaiser Chiefs, Social Distortion, The National, and White Lies

– Azkena Rock Festival (Spain): Official lineup announced, includes Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Seltzer, Gregg Allman, Rob Zombie, The Cult, Bright Eyes,  Primus, Band of Horses, and The Avett Brothers

– Open’er Festival (Poland): Added Primus and Foals

– Donaufestival (Austria): Official lineup announced, includes The Books and Diplo

– Hove Festival (Norway): Added 30 Seconds to Mars

– Optimus Alive! (Portugal): Added Coldplay, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Iggy & The Stooges

– Oya Festival (Norway): Pulp confirmed as first headliner

This week’s most noteworthy items come in the form of rumors for the country’s biggest and baddest weekend extravaganzas. With Coachella rumored to be unveiling its 2011 lineup sometime this month, expected acts continue to trickle out early, while word in Chi-town is that Pitchfork may again score an anticipated reunion. As for a few more concrete pieces of info, Ultra, South by Southwest, Summer Camp, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival have all made additions to their 2011 lineups in recent weeks.

Enjoy the lengthy recap below. Also, don’t forget to bookmark Festival Outlook and/or follow us on Twitter. That way you won’t have to wait until Wednesday before getting your festival fix.

News:

– Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Strokes will headline the 2011 edition of Japan’s Summer Sonic Music Festival.

– South by Southwest confirmed even more 2011 acts, including The Boxer Rebellion, Menomena, Das Racist, Shawn Chrystopher, Sondre Lerche, James Blake, Zoroaster, and The Baseball Project, which features Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows), Peter Buck (R.E.M.), and Linda Pitmon (Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3). Plus, you can also expect to see performances by Bright Eyes and Liz Phair.

– Robert Plant & Band of Joy, The Decemberists, The Sam Bush Band, and Béla Fleck & the Original Flecktones head Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s 2011 lineup.

– Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival will return in 2011.

– We’re giving away tickets to the first-ever Last.fm Festival. Set for January 21, 2011 in New York City, the lineup features Tokyo Police Club, Two Door Cinema Club, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Lineup Additions:

– Coachella Music Festival: Glassjaw, Sasha, GAYNGS, Fat Freddy’s Drop (Expected); The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Twin Shadow, Cults, Fujiya & Miyagi, Clare Maguire, DJ Honda (Rumored)

– South by Southwest: Added The Boxer Rebellion, Menomena, Das Racist, Shawn Chrystopher, Sondre Lerche, James Blake, Zoroaster, and The Baseball Project; Bright Eyes, Liz Phair (Expected)

– Pitchfork Music Festival: Pulp, Deerhunter (Rumored)

– Bonnaroo Music Festival: Plump DJs (Rumored)

– Ultra Music Festival: Added Armin van Buuren; Richie Hawtin presents Plastikman (Expected)

– Summer Camp: Added Bassnectar, Papadosio, Pimps of Joytime, and Yonder Mountain String Band

– Wakarusa Music Festival: Spoonfed Tribe, Zoogma (Expected)

– Solid Sound Festival: 2011 dates announced

– Summer Sonic: The Strokes, Red Hot Chili Peppers confirmed as headliners

– ATP’s I’ll Be Your Mirror (UK): Added PJ Harvey, DD/MM/YYYY, S.C.U.M.

– Groezrock: Added Dropkick Murphys, Descendents, and The Used

– Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Initial lineup announced, including Robert Plant & Band of Joy, The Decemberists, The Sam Bush Band, and Béla Fleck & the Original Flecktones

– 35 Conferette: Added Big Boi, Miami Horror, Beans, Pujol, Turbo Fruits, and more

– Snowball Festival: Official lineup announced, including Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Local Natives, Diplo, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Baths, and more.

– Nateva Festival: 2011 dates announced; tickets now onsale

– Wanee Music Festival: Electric Hot Tuna, Taj Mahal Trio (Expected)

– Beale Street Music Festival: Devon Allman’s Honeytribe (Expected)

– HARD Weekend NYC: Official lineup, including Simian Mobile Disco, Crystal Castles, Benga & Skream, and more

– HARD Weekend LA: Official lineup, including Simian Mobile Disco, Fake Blood, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and more

– HARD Weekend Oakland: Official lineup, including Simian Mobile Disco, Fake Blood, Mumbai Science, and more

The 2011 festival season lineup news continues to roll in, as Colorado’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival has announced the beginning (emphasis on beginning) of the lineup for its 38th incarnation. Leading the list of familiar names are Robert Plant & Band of Joy, The Decemberists, The Sam Bush Band, and Béla Fleck & the Original Flecktones (‘original’ refers to the groups 1991 lineup, which recently regrouped). Further highlights include Emmylou Harris and Yonder Mountain String Band. Bush and Fleck will also be part of the Telluride House Band, set to feature Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton, and Stuart Duncan, all bluegrass icons in their own rights.

Other acts of note on the bill include Railroad Earth, a solo-set for Meyer, the Punch Brothers, Peter Rowan, Cornmeal, and The Infamous Stringdusters. For a complete rundown of the lineup announced so far, check out Telluride’s festival outlook page. Stay tuned as more artists are announced.

Planet Bluegrass, the company behind Telluride, also recently revealed the lineup for their 39th annual RockyGrass Festival. Steven Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers top the preliminary announcement, along with the Del McCoury Band and the Sam Bush Bluegrass Band. Complete details and artists list for the July 29th-31st event can be found here.

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival goes down June 16th-19th in Telluride, CO. Tickets for both festivals are currently on-sale here, or by calling 800-624-2422. The fest’s website makes note of “a limited number of discounted holiday-priced tickets,” so if you want to give someone bluegrass for the holidays, get your tickets now.

Tickets for Voodoo ’11 are not yet on sale, but a Telluride holiday pre-sale will start December 8th. Stay tuned to our Festival Outlook for more updates.

Let’s take that in for a moment, shall we?

2008 is now all but a distant memory. Sure it was great, but it’s all about what you’ve done for me lately, and with some of the early confirmation and rumors we’ve received for the 2009 editions of our favorite music festivals, anticipation seems to be the only things filling our minds at the moment.

As an attempt to both ring in the new year with a bang and catch you up on all the latest rumblings that have gone down on FestivalOutlook.com in recent weeks, we figured now would be a good time to offer a quick Cliff Notes edition of the current goings on in the music festival world. So without further ado…

Believe or not, but you won’t have to wait until the spring to get an early taste of the months and music to come. In just two weeks, the fifth annual Tomorrow Never Knows Festival will take to Schubas Tavern in downtown Chicago for five straight days of nonstop rock and DJ sets. Department of Eagles, Cursive, Bishop Allen, and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson will lead the charge, while DJ Autobot of Flosstradamus and Mannequin Men’s Kevin Kujawaw will offer some spins in between. Oh, and did we mention yours truly is one of the sponsors? Talk about one hell of a way to kick off the 2009 season!

Between February 6 and 8, Tennessee will provide another reason as to why it’s the the unofficial home of the U.S. music festival when the Big Ears Music Festival will make its debut in Knoxville. Antony and the Johnsons, Negativland, and Matmos are among the major highlights, while Dan Deacon, Burning Star Core, and Shaking Ray Levis are a few of the acts added within just the last week. Good start, eh? And we still a long ways away from a complete lineup.

Langerado. Oh, Langerado. You twisted our hearts and toyed with our emotions for what seemed like months – plus, a couple delays mixed in – and then, when you finally unveiled your 2009 lineup, you left us with well, a void? Sure, between Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Death Cab for Cutie, The Disco Biscuits, and The Faint, the Miami based festival has some heavy hitters on its lineup, but it also appears to be lacking a major headliner or two. Fortunately, word on the street is that another lineup announcement is still forthcoming and it should include a big name or two. Looking for a hint? The Dave Matthews Band seems to be a good guess.

There’s nothing like South by Southwest. Five days of eclectic styles and sounds from 1800+ artists and bands in one beautiful location. Could life get any better? As Brian Regan would say, “I deduce it cannot.” Of course, with the inane amount of awesomeness comes a whole lot of work, and with SXSW currently only offering 24 acts, we’ve had to scavenge far and wide to find who else is playing. So far, we’ve found 230 names with Andrew Bird, Noah and the Whale, Alejandro Escovedo, Black Lips, Heartless Bastards, The Thermals, The Wombats, and Little Boots making up some of our early favorites. But last we checked, 230/1800 = 12.7%, meaning we still have quite a ways to go.

Now on to perhaps the most fascinating, yet antagonizing music festival in the country, let alone the entire world – the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. We say fascinating because one look at the acts currently confirmed to be playing (and by confirmed, we mean they have independently confirmed their appearance via MySpace or in comments to fans) and well, wow. No Age, Girl Talk, Fleet Foxes, Sebastian Tellier, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Presets, and that’s just scratching the surface. We say antagonizing however, because not only is Coachella one of the hardest festivals to find info about, specifically when it comes to headliners, but anything you do find is often met with a mixed bag of rather passionate emotion from the festival’s loving attendees. For example, just mention the fact that The Killers will be one of the headliners of the Indio, California based event, which they will be bearing some remarkable reversal of events like Brandon Flowers deciding to quit the band and become a fashion designer, and you probably won’t find many friends. Thankfully, by the time Coachella is officially announced sometime this month, everyone should be happy, especially if a few of the other rumors currently floating out there prove true.

For emos and punks, the weekend of May 2nd should be welcomed with open arms. After all, that’s when the 2009 edition of The Bamboozle will take to East Rutherford, New Jersey. Since announcing No Doubt and Fall Out Boy as its headliners, the two-day festival has slowly but surely been unveiling its lineup. So far, we know The Used, Rise Against, Taking Back Sunday, Third Eye Blind, and The Get Up Kids make up the acts currently set to perform.

We’re still a ways off from the ninth annual Summer Camp Music Festival, but we already know that a few old favorites (Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Girl Talk, Family Groove Company to name a few) will be stopping by Chillicothe, Illinois between May 22 and 24.

The month of June will see a number of high-profile festivals go down across the U.S., though because we’re still six months away, details remain minimal at best. Still, we do know a few things. For example, there are already a few artists confirmed for Bonnaroo, including the Zac Brown Band and Portugal. The Man, and Robert Earl Keen, while Bruce Springsteen and Phish remain solid bets to headline. After moving to Ozark, Arkansas, the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival will look to celebrate with a lineup that already includes Big Smith and Zappa Plays Zappa. Summerfest has already dropped its first headliner, George Strait, while Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are also an early confirmee. And finally, we’ve already unearthed quite a few artists scheduled to play at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Among them are Emmylou Harris, the Zac Brown Band, Railroad Earth, and The Steeldrivers.

Of course, you can get all the latest news, confirmations, and rumors for all of the 2009 music festivals, including ones in Canada and the U.K., on our FestivalOutlook.com. We’ll also do another one of these recaps soon because after all, things are only going to get crazier in the weeks and months ahead.

Telluride, Colorado is one of those small towns that has gained the reputation as a go-to place for legendary bands touring during the summer and fall months. While the town itself is no secret, the thriving music scene that grows during the warmer months has become Colorado’s best kept secret. The musical history is long, however, it’s not the bars and the one theater that are the pride of this town, it’s the Fred Shullman Memorial Stage that holds the biggest memories. While most outdoor venues are either amphitheaters or temporary structures in a field, Telluride Town Park combines the two, placing a large permanent stage on an open field, perfect for a day of relaxing, or waiting for a nighttime show.

As you cross a bridge into the park, small aspens and other alpine trees that have been craft fully lit up for the night surround you. Once in the park, the land opens up to reveal again the view of the tall sharp mountains that top the canyon in which Telluride rests. You become enclosed in the setting, seemingly cut off from everything as nothing else matters except for the stage at the other end of the field. In the summer, the days are hot with no humidity to block the sun at 9,000 feet. In the fall, the days and nights cool off dramatically, although it is not unusual to see snow, even year round as campers woke up to the fluffy white stuff this June as well.

Built in 1991, the Fred Shullman Memorial Stage has been home to countless concerts, but where it really shines is during the three annual festivals held in June and September. Now, in what will soon be the 36th installment, the mid-June Telluride Bluegrass Festival has become the home for live roots based music ranging from classical bluegrass such as David Grisman, to indie folk favorites Wilco and The Decemberists. Earlier in June, the Telluride Jazz Celebration has been taking place every year since 1977. This year’s bill welcomed Dr. John and the Neville Brothers to headline the event. It is September’s Blues and Brews Festival that is the cherry to the summer sundae, capping the season off will cool nights and endless blues, rock, and soul. This last year marked the festival’s own anniversary as it celebrated its 15th year with some help from Gov’t Mule, Etta James, and John Haitt. But did it top 2001’s headlining performance by James Brown or how about 2003 with Allman Brothers, Joe Cocker, and Buddy Guy? The debate is always open.

While a Denver stop on a tour is almost mandatory, a stop in Telluride is one out of love and appreciation for the fans. The artists who make the effort know how special the event is. With a history of performers and collaborations that would all be the wet dream of any organizer, a few notables must be mentioned. It was just last summer on July 21st that Bob Dylan decided to stop by with My Morning Jacket for a night that would go down in history. Phish and String Cheese Incident have a long line of live recordings from the old stage, and this year alone saw Ryan Adams and the Cardinals and Arlo Guthrie. Every note played in those mountains and on that stage will always be a once in a lifetime event. The fans know this, but so do the bands that play the weathered wooden stage time after time. There is nothing else like it anywhere, making it one of the most unique and beautiful places to see live music in the country. Oh, if the walls could talk.

Check Out:

Counting Crows – “American Girl” (Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2007)

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – “Treat Me Right” (Blues and Brews Festival 2007)