High Sierra Music Festival (July 5-8): Galactic ("I Got It"), Nibblers, Matt the Electrician, Matisyahu, Garage a Trois, Toots and the Maytals, ALO, Deer Tick, Soullive, The Devil Makes Three, Ben Harper, Nicki Bluhm, Built to Spill, March Fourth Marching Band,) http://www.highsierramusic.com/
Worldfest (July 12-15): Cake ("Long Time") on Saturday night, Mumbo Gumbo, Fishtank Ensemble, Dehli 2 Dublin, Ani Defranco, MaMuse, Tommy Emmanuel - eight stages, xxxx people expected, 16th year, family friendly, village atmosphere. http://worldfest.net/index.asp
Launch Festival, July 23-28 in venues around Sactown. Chromeo, !!! ("Steady as the Sidewalk Cracks"), DJ Shadow and the Joy Formidable and locals Sea of Bees, Doombird and Exquisite Corps will perform. http://launchsacramento.com/
Gaia (August 3-5), Laytonville: Franti, MaMuse, Kinky, Yonder Mountain String Band ("Casualty"), Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars, Hot Buttered Rum, Pimps of Joytime, David Lindley http://thegaiafestival.com/
Outside Lands (August 10-12), a very different feel, but with BIG BIG names: Metallica, Foo Fighters, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Beck, Jack White ("I'm Shakin'"), Skrillex…but it's $225 for all three days. http://sfoutsidelands.com/home/
Also Coming Up:
Wanderlust (July 26-29): Kinda scaled back this year, though there's headliner Ziggy Marley, Beats Antique, a bunch of unfamiliar performers and LOTS of yoga teachers) Can't beat the venue.http://squaw.wanderlustfestival.com/
Strawberry Music Festival (Aug. 30-Sept. 3) k.d.lang and Jimmy LaFave repeat, John Hiatt and the Combo, Hot Rize…http://www.strawberrymusic.com/home.aspx
Reggae on the River in Humboldt July 21-22, with Toots and the Maytals, Pato Banton and a ton of other reggae acts. http://www.reggaeontheriver.com