Summer festival season continues through September

This summer has been packed to the brim with music festivals, many of which have exceeded the lineup quality and ticket sales of their predecessors.  There was Bonnaroo in Tennessee, Lollapalooza in Chicago, plus a group of brand new festivals that were launched, including SF's Outside Lands and Michigan's Rothbury.  It's been a festival season of epic proportions and needless to say, next summer will have a hard act to follow.  Festival-goers have been spoiled by the wealth of bands that have appeared at these events, making it likely that they'll turn their noses up at anything less than Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Rage Against the Machine all on the same bill, as they should.  Fans pay good money and deserve to have their cake and eat it too.  Especially since the summer season is pushing all the way through September, these big-name festivals had better start accumulating their lineups ASAP.  It's sort of like London's fear of falling short in the 2012 Olympics after China's spectacular opening ceremony.  Eventually, a wall will be hit and it simply can't get any better.  But until then, music festivals continue to induce the dropping of thousands of jaws, and will continue to for at least another month.

Virgin Festival Toronto September 6-7, Toronto Island Park

Following its other event in Baltimore, Virgin Mobile presents another urban festival with a top-notch selection of modern and alternative acts on four stages.  The city's skyline and waterfront will provide a beautiful setting for two days of (for many rock fans) musical ecstasy.  Reminiscent of Lollapalooza, Toronto V-fest takes place in a little oasis of nature surrounded by a metropolitan environment.  The infusion of skyscrapers, trees, and a large body of water makes this festival stand out as one of Canada's (if not North America's) most unique musical experiences.

Headliners: Foo Fighters, Oasis, Paul Weller, Silversun Pickups, The Kooks, Bloc Party

Tickets: 1 day $87, 2 day $159 (both include taxes and ferry fee)

Power to the Peaceful September 6, San Francisco CA, Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park

Few other venues would be more suitable for a music festival than Golden Gate Park, and having recently hosted the Outside Lands festival, the park will have received its fair share of tread marks.  The goal of this free, non-profit concert is to raise consciousness and celebrate non-violence, diversity, and, like many other festivals this year, environmental protection.  San Francisco seems like a more than appropriate setting for this installment of Power to the Peaceful's many events.  Including a film festival, yoga jam, and food drive, the festival's progressive promotion of making the world a better place through music is sure to yield an unforgettable day of coexistence, understanding, and great tunes.

Headliners: Michael Franti and Spearhead, Ziggy Marley (acoustic), Warren Haynes, Rebelution

Tickets: FREE, VIP individual $250, VIP group $1,500

San Diego Street Scene September 19-20, San Diego CA, 14th Street and Imperial Ave

Street Scene can also be added to the list of urban festivals where the grounds are city streets.  San Diego's downtown and East Village will be graced with over 40 artists from different regions and genres for one of the year's biggest block parties.  Since its debut in 1984, the world-renowned event has set records in ticket sales.  There's no extranious bells and whistles.  You get what you pay for, and with the city's Gaslight district and beaches within such close proximity, Street Scene is a festival not to be missed.

Headliners: Beck, The Black Crowes, The National, Spoon, Justice, TV on the Radio

Tickets: $65-$85 passes SOLD OUT, $95 2-day passes still available

Austin City Limits September 26-28, Austin TX, Zilker Park

Unlike Austin's South by Southwest, ACL filters out all the mediocre bands and offers the cream of the crop.  3-days, 8-stages and 130 bands ought to satisfy festival-goers for a little while, and with a lineup like this, the festival promoters don't mess around.  Austin is said to be one of America's top cultural centers and an area of refuge from the rest of Texas, so it seems appropriate for it to be the location of the summer's last major rock festival.  ACL is one of the most anticipated musical events of the year and will undoubtedly show up many previous festivals of its kind.

Headliners: Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Beck, Mars Volta, David Byrne, The Raconteurs

Tickets: 3-day SOLD OUT, single-day $80, VIP $850