After two years of providing a high-quality line-up over the Fourth of July weekend the Rothbury Music Festival has decided to “postpone its efforts” until 2011. This means there will be no Rothbury this year. The reasons the festival’s organizers give is that they would be unable to stage an event that lives up to the “high standards and integrity” they demand of themselves. According to the website the decision was made “due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules… [they] will not allow for us to assemble the cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from Rothbury.” 

But have no fear, there are more than plenty of opportunities to see quality live acts in a festival atmosphere this summer, however some may require more travel away from the Western Michigan region, but you may be able to save a buck or two from the expensive Rothbury ticket cost:

• 10th annual Summercamp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois: My favorite suggestion falls on Memorial Day weekend and may be more expensive than Movement (DEMF), but is still cheaper than Rothbury with a wider selection of genres. “SCAMP” includes a unique camping ground where cars are not allowed without an RV pass. This makes the camping less cluttered as well as preserving the camp ground. The artists  lineup includes: moe., Umphrey’s Mcgee, STS9, Gov’t Mule, Yonder Mountain String Band, Victor Wooten, EOTO, and more. For more info follow on Facebook.
  
• Movement Electronic Music Festival (DEMF), Memorial Day Weekend: This “underground” electronic festival taking place in Detroit is much closer and has a less expensive ticket cost. However there is no Camping so lodging may become expensive if you do not live in the area. Artists are to be announced. Follow Movement on Facebook, Myspace. 
  
• Sleeping Bear Dunegrass Music Festival, Aug. 6-8: Located near Empire, Mich. and Sleeping Bear Dunes, another camping-oriented festival that takes place in Michigan. Artists are less known, but who doesn’t love some folk and bluegrass? As with the others, Facebook and Myspace will lead to more info as the date gets closer
  
• Taste of Chicago: If your heart is set on going to a festival over the Fourth of July weekend, “The Taste” is free of charge!!!! The artists are not announced until later on, but past acts have included: Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Winwood, The Counting Crows, and other great ones.