The Atrium

I think the sunny weather might finally be here to stay, so with that in mind I trolled the Internet in search of outdoor festivals of the musical variety. (You gotta plan ahead if you want to get those front row lawn seats.) I found a lot of really great venues, relativity close or within a reasonable driving distance, so I thought I'd share what I found.

Rothbury, held at the Double JJ Ranch resort in Rothbury, Michigan, is a venue with a "sustainability mission." It runs July 3 - 7 and will feature artists like Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Black Keys, Snoop Dogg, and more than 20 other musical groups.

Pitchfork Music Festival, a Chicago venue, takes place July 18 - 20 at Union Park. The headline includes Animal Collective, The Hold Steady, The Apples in Stereo, and Vampire Weekend.

Lollapalooza , another Chicago happening takes place August 1 - 3 at Grant Park. Headline artists include Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, and Nine Inch Nails.

Chicago is also the place to go if you enjoy other kinds of live music like jazz, gospel, or blues. Check here for the lineup.

The Wheatland Music Festival features traditional roots music (Bluegrass, Cajun, Blues, Celtic, etc.) and a juried arts and craft show. It takes place September 5 - 7 in Remus, Michigan. Click here for a complete artist line-up.

Although it's more than a few hours away, the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas features an awesome lineup of 130 bands on eight stages. Artists include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin, Erykah Badu, Duffy, and MGMT. ROAD TRIP!