The season of music festivals is upon us, with Coachella starting this weekend. The Supermelon has brought you a detailed guide on all of the big festivals, including who will be there, how to prepare, and most importantly, what to wear.

1. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
When: April 17-19, 2009
Where: Indio, CA – near Palm Springs
Cost: $269 for a 3-day pass (but with all of the fees, you end up paying about $300)
What: One of, if not the biggest, music festivals of the season, Coachella tends to have the most sponsors, celebs, press, and big name acts. It’s also probably the hottest, weather-wise.
Who: Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, M.I.A., The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beirut, Girl Talk, Crystal Castles, Fleet Foxes, Jenny Lewis, Peter Bjorn and John, and much more.

For ticket info or to download the free Coachella iPhone app, or to learn how you can win VIP tickets to Coachella for Life, go to Coachella.com

2. Sasquatch Music Festival
When: May 23-25, 2009
Where: George, WA at The Gorge
Cost: $56.50-$76.50 per day, depending on when you purchase.
What: Sasquatch is one of the youngest music festivals but is quickly becoming one of the best, and will surely continue to grow. Though they don’t always have as many big names, they always manage to get the best of the indie genre. The Gorge also has one of the most naturally beautiful settings, but a reputation for unpredictable weather.
Who: Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective, M.Ward, Crystal Castles, Mos Def, Jane’s Addiction, M83, The Walkmen, and Grizzly Bear.

Check out SasquatchFestival.com for more.

3. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
When: June 11-14, 2009
Where: Manchester, TN
Cost: $224.50-$249.50, depending on when you purchase, plus $23.20 in fees
What: Bonnaroo has been around for quite some time and is known for having more of a laid-back, hippie vibe. While not known for being as celeb-filled as some other festivals (Coachella and Glastonbury), Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen successfully avoided photographers here as they celebrated their 22nd birthdays.
Who: Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Beastie Boys, NIN, Wilco, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, YYYs, MGMT, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, of Montreal, Bon iVer, Santigold, Neko Case, TV on the Radio, Public Enemy, and Passion Pit, among others.

Check out www.bonnaroo.com for more.

4. Glastonbury
When: June 24-28, 2009
Where: South West England at Worthy Farm, six miles east of the town Glastonbury
Cost: Already sold out! Try eBay?
What: The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is the largest green field music and performing arts festival in the world. The five-day festival is best known for its music acts and for being the backdrop for some of Kate Moss’ most iconic looks.
Who: The full lineup has yet to be announced, but some names that have been released so far include Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Lily Allen, Fleet Foxes, and The Ting Tings.

Check out www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk for more.

5. Pitchfork Music Festival
When: July 17-19, 2009
Where: Chicago, IL at Union Park
Cost: $75 for a 3-day pass
What: Another newer festival that is quickly gaining popularity and clout is the Pitchfork Music Festival. Organized by Pitchfork Media, a highly regarded music website, the festival makes comfort and affordability their primary goals. This year, they are launching “Write the Night: Set Lists by Request,” whereby you can vote on which songs will be played by select bands.
Who: Built to Spill, The National, Matt & Kim, The Flaming Lips, The Walkmen, and M83, among others.

Check out www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more.

6. Lollapalooza
When: July 17-19, 2009
Where: Chicago, IL in Grant Park
Cost: $190 advance price for a 3-day pass (The lowest price level has already sold out); Regular price for a 3-day pass TBD
What: Lollapalooza was a touring alt-rock festival for many years until 2005, when it took on its current format as a destination festival. It has since become very popular and gotten a lot of great acts.
Who: None of the 2009 lineup has been released yet, but 2008 saw the likes of Kanye West, Duffy, The National, Bloc Party, and Chromeo. We are pretty sure this year’s lineup won’t disappoint.

Check out www.lollapalooza.com for more.

Everything else you need to know:
Dressing for these summer music festivals is all about staying comfortable, cool, and (depending on where you’re going) dry while looking like the hip, stylish music fan you are. Shown here are some of our style picks, some of which are inspired by our favorite celeb concert-goers. Enjoy! Also, see below for a list of general tips to make sure you have the best festival experience possible.

Where to Shop:
Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain Flat Gladiator Sandals $995, Shopbop.com
Samantha Pleet Romper $264, StandardDeviation.com
Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet Romper (with removable straps) $58, UrbanOutfitters.com
Urban Renewal Studded Short, UrbanOutfitters.com
BDG Chambray Shirt $52, UrbanOutfitters.com
Pins and Needles Pintuck Tunic $78, UrbanOutfitters.com
Dirty Violet Exaggerated Side Tee $38, UrbanOutfitters.com
Ecote Straw Fedora $34, UrbanOutfitters.com
Thierry Lasry Sunglasses $405, ShopatMilk.com

General Tips:
• Book concert tickets, plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rentals waaaay in advance. You will save yourself a lot of money and stress.
• Unless you really want to rough it (i.e., no showers or clean bathrooms for 2-5 days), book a hotel or premier camping
• VIP: Some festivals feature a VIP option that you can purchase for what is at least the same price as your entry ticket. It’s debatable whether or not it’s worth the money; usually, you simply get access to slightly better bathrooms with shorter lines, better food/drink options, and maybe some shade and seating in-between acts.
• What to Bring:
o If you are camping and plan to sleep at all, bring earplugs
o Prepare for anything in terms of weather—have everything from sunscreen to ponchos
o Bring a hat, there won’t be much shade
o Lots of water
o Sunglasses
o Blanket to sit on
o Trash bags
o Pen and paper to plan out a schedule (unless you have the Coachella iPhone app)
o Check beforehand to see if the festival allows outside food/drink. Festivals often have weird rules about this, but you should try to get away with bringing as much as you can, since there are always insanely long lines for food vendors and everything is always extremely overpriced.