OUTSIDE LANDS

August 22-24, 2008, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Headcount: 60,000

Fave Five: Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jack Johnson, Regina Spektor, Devendra Banhart

The Vibe: In its debut year, Outside Lands will be infused with Bay Area goodness, with performance artists, interactive attractions and art installations inspired by the greater golden gate community.

Unique to Outside Lands: The SF Bicycle Coalition will provide bikers with a complimentary bike valet service and a “Recycling Store” will be stocked with items you can “buy” with your old cell phones, empty bottles, cans and biodegradable cups — including concert tickets, festival merchandise, band merchandise and food and drinks. When purchasing your ticket, donate three bucks to help reforest California or to purchase and then retire pollution credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange. Be sure to find your way to the fully solar-powered stage in the eco-village for music, comedy, poetry and yoga classes.




POWER TO THE PEACEFUL

September 6, 2008, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Headcount: 60,000

Line-up is TBA, but Michael Franti and Spearhead, the festival’s founder, will rock the stage!

The Vibe: If there is one place you’re likely to see the spirits of Gandhi, John Lennon, Henry David Thoreau and Jack Kerouac playing a friendly game of hacky sac under a tree, its at Power to the Peaceful. “The PTTP Festival is a community event dedicated to social justice, non violence, coexistence and environmental sustainability and aimed to educate, enrage, enlighten and inspire,” says co-producer Gina Gallo. PTTP is so intertwined with the spirit of Bay Area, Mayor Newsom named it “Power to the Peaceful Day” citywide.

Unique to PTTP: If you’re looking to catch a ride to the show or fill an empty backseat in the car, the festival’s partnered with SpaceShare’s travel & neighbor match program to help you out. Free valet bike parking will also be on site. The main stage and DJ area will be powered with bio-diesel generators, and be sure to stop by the eco-village for sustainability demonstrations including free cookies baked with a solar-powered oven.




AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

September 26-28, 2008, various venues, Austin, TX,
Headcount: 225,000

Fave Five: Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Manu Chao, Gnarls Barkley, Band of Horses

The Vibe: Fans flock to ACL as much to enjoy laid back, independent Austin as to check out the tunes. Close proximity of venues promotes stage-hopping, making this fest an ideal place to taste a little bit of everything. With a very chill door policy, you can feel free to wander in and out of whatever hotspots strike your fancy.

Unique to Austin City Limits: Because ACL is run by the same people who throw Lollapalooza, expect the same eco-highlights. New to the fest this year is a recyclable, commemorative beer cup with a message encouraging fans to use it throughout the year. Patrons can also collect cups from around the grounds and exchange them for special rewards. Offset your travel to the Lone Star State by purchasing a $4 Austin City Limits BeGreen Fan Tag.

 

 

— Writing this article has inspired Jolia Sidona Allen to start a collection of reusable festival beer cups to pass down to her great-great-grandchildren.