Focus on summer concerts

During the summer of 2011 will have plenty of music to play over this great land is ours. While by no means an exhaustive list of summer tours, we illuminating our focus on some of the hottest tickets of the season's hottest. Whatever your musical taste or monetary budget, there is surely something for everyone.

POP

U2 -one of summer's most highly anticipated events is the U2 360? tour, especially given that many fans have been waiting with tickets in hand since last summer, when the North American leg of the tour was postponed due to Bono's back injury. The tour begins with a trio of shows in Mexico City (May 11, 14, 15) and breaks on 30 July in Moncton, New Brunswick. U.S. leg beginning on May 21 in Denver, Colorado and ends on 26 July in Pittsburgh, PA.  Depending on your location, you can see an opening as The Fray, Lenny Kravitz, Florence + the machine or Interpol. Check the U2 's official home page for more information.

Britney Spears -The North American leg of the pop starlet California Dreams Tour kicks off June 7 in Atlanta, Georgia and ends September 17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

britney Spears -with the help of special guest Nicki Minaj, Britney will try to keep Britney Spears from stealing her pop queen Crown. Brit's Femme Fatale Tour Growl and groans road by United States and Canada, from 16 June opener in Sacramento, California and included in Toronto on 13 August.

Rihanna -beauty from Barbados, "Loud" in the summer touring our continent from June 4-July 24. Tagging on the journey from Baltimore to Boston becomes the wonderful Cee Lo Green, which really should be headlining his own stadium tours.

NKOTBSB -The New Kids and Backstreet Boys take their boy band fusion on the road. Larger-than-life-tour kicks off in Rosemont, IL on May 25 and the gang will hang tough until the final date in London, Ontario on August 7.

Adele -brassy Brit visiting our side of the pond to support affected album 21, beginning with a May 12 gig at Washington D.C. 's 9: 30 Club and ending on 20 June at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

Other shows to watch for: Usher/Akon, Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow, Ke $ HA, American Idols Live Tour, Glee

ROCK

Soundgarden rock gods proud fans when they were reunited at last year's Lollapalooza, Chris Cornell and the boys have decided to extend the party with a month long tour of North America. The band kicks things on 2 July in Toronto and breaks on 30 July in George, WA.

More Seattle Favorites can come to your town. foo Fighters will be touring throughout the United States in May and then head office Europe before returning to the States for a Lollapalooza headlining slot. And Pearl Jam Eddie vedder will be touring North America from 15 June to 15 July in support of his upcoming solo album, Ukelele songs.

Other shows to watch for: Phish, Bob Seger, Danzig, Death Cab for Cutie, Elvis Costello, Kings of Leon

COUNTRY

Taylor Swift -country cutie is to delight the crowds with her North American Oden to Taylor Lautner and jabs on John Mayer during her speaking Tour. Tour with Christian rockers Needtobreathe tour, beginning on 27 may in Omaha, NE, and will continue through November.

Keith Urban -Mr. Nicole Kidman launches five-m?nadsl?nga trek through the United States and Canada, beginning on 9 June in Nashville, TN. Keith will be joined by a rotating roster of openers including Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley.

Other shows to watch for: Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, The Judds.

FESTIVALS

There is no shortage of outdoor festivals during the warmer months and, provided you have up to $ 300 to release a weekend, these events can really give you the most musical bang for your money. They are also a great way to try out new music and kill several genres in one stone. Some of the many festivals worth checking out are:

Rocklahoma -Headbangers can kick start the summer season with this year's concert Rocklahoma lineup, with a mixture of classical and current rockers such as Evanescence, Poison, Whitesnake, Sebastian Bach, Staind, Papa Roach, Black Label Society and Hurdles. (May 27-29: Pryor, OK)

Mountain Jam -for a more laid-back festival experience, spend four days in the Catskills with more than 50 bands on four stages. If you have four days? Pick up a three-day or a day pass. There are lots of great artists each day, if you only have one day to spend Sunday, we propose a lineup with My Morning Jacket, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Dawes and Nicole Atkins. (June 2-5: Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY)

Bonnaroo -celebrating the 10th anniversary of this popular camping festival with an impressive list of artists such as Eminem, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, Robert Plant, Mumford & sons, Primus, Florence + the machine, Loretta Lynn and Sleigh Bells. Bonnaroo also contains fun non-musical events, comedy shows, a hair salon, yoga classes and attractions that promote healthy living and environmental awareness. (9-12 June: Manchester, TN)

Dave Matthews Band Caravan -Dave Matthews came up with a new idea to replace his usual summer tour with a series of four festivals around the country. Each city will be hosting a three-day festival, with a full DMB as every night. Some of the many supporting documents, you can expect to see is Ray Lamontagne, The Flaming Lips, g. Love and Special Sauce, Amos Lee, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, David Gray, roots, Gogol Bordello, and The Head and The Heart. Tour-stop are:
* June 24-26: Bader field, Atlantic City, NJ
* July 8-10: Lakeside, Chicago, IL
* August 26-28: Governor's Iceland, New York, NY
* September 2-4: the Gorge, George, WA

Pitchfork Music Festival -a favorite among skinny hipster in the gigantic glass's this year's lineup features animal collective, Neko Case, guided by voices, Fleet Foxes and TV on the Radio. (July 15-17: Union Park, Chicago, IL)

Lollapalooza -secure, Pitchfork gives you more indie cred, but if you can only afford a trip to Chicago this year, we would suggest saving the Lolla's 20th anniversary. Over 100 artists will perform on multiple stages, including Deadmau5, Cee-Lo Green, The Cars, Arctic Monkeys, Cold War Kids and Delta spirit. This year's headliners is Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay and Muse. (August 5-7: Grant Park, Chicago, IL)