​New things are happening at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Fest this year: One, Cypress Hill and Rusko are performing together.

Two, there's going to be a Low End Theory stage--yes, LA's most famous experimental hip-hop and electronic music night that Thom Yorke frequents when he's in town.

Three, Wolfgang Gartner, MSTRKRFT, Mobb Deep, Nipsey Hussle, Danny Brown, ScHoolBoy Q, Ritmo Machine and Fashawn were just added to the bill.

And now the world is completely turned on its head, and the Smokeout Festival, happening March 3 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, is officially cool.

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Christopher Victorio/OC Weekly

​Lightning in a Bottle, the 10-year-old music and wellness festival that takes place annually on May 24th-28th at the Oak Canyon Ranch in Silverado, is probably one of Orange County's best-kept secrets. Drawing from an eclectic selection of artists from the electronic and indie scenes as well as celebrating the natural landscape, this festival has evolved from an intimate gathering into a much bigger--but still family-run--annual event.

We spoke with the double Jesses, Jesse Flemming and Jesse Shannon of the DoLab, the multi-tentacled production team behind Lightning in a Bottle, to get some insight into 2012's version of the festival, as well as the future.

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Christopher Victorio

​The headliners for the 2012 Paid Dues Hip Hop Festival were just announced via Ustream. The festival will be held April 7, 2012 at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino.

Festival creator and indie hip-hop legend Murs released the names of the headliners as well as pre-sale ticket information. We think they've got a live one here. See full details below.

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The Stagecoach Country Music Festival today announced its full lineup, with Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton headlining. The sixth installment of Coachella's country counterpart will also have old-school crossover favorites such as Kenny Rogers, Chris Isaak, Alabama and Martina McBride on the lineup. There's the requisite festival reunion via the Mavericks, as well. Rounding out the list are Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band and more.

The three-day festival will be held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio from April 27 to 29, and tickets go on sale Friday, October 28, 2011 at Stagecoachfestival.com. Three-day weekend passes start at $149 for a limited time and layaway options are available.

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Flikr user Ceasar Sebastian.

Monster Massive 2008

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UPDATE: Armin van Buuren and Erick Morillo just announced the cancellation of their Oct. 29 appearances at Monster Massive 2011 on their websites. Read about it here.

Oct 12, 2011, 4:12 a.m.: Go Ventures posted an update on Monster Massive's Facebook page around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. This is not the official statement Gerami promised would be released Tuesday on the rave's official website. They repeat their assurance that Monster Massive will happen at Oak Canyon Park yet offer and apologize to customers for censoring their comments on Monster Massive's Facebook page. 

Go Ventures apologizes to all of our Monster Massive supporters and patrons for not meeting the timeframe for providing an update on Oak Canyon Park. We realize that this creates more uncertainty for everyone but we are working night and day to clear up the situation. Monster Massive will be at Oak Canyon Park and we will release more information shortly. We apologize for deleting some comments but we have read them all and will address the issues with facts, not rumors or hear-say. We have worked for nearly 14 years building the Monster Massive brand and over a year planning this show. We do not plan on letting down any of our customers, production staff, artists, employees or supporters.

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gypsyboombox.blogspot.com

​The bags are packed, the joints are rolled and many Southern California kids are making that 8 hour (give or take) drive up the 5 Nsasorth to the city by the bay. The second most convenient mega-music-festival after Coachella, Outside Lands in San Francisco, begins Friday and runs through Sunday. The local love is a little light in the Golden Gate Park this year, but that doesn't mean that Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego haven't been well-represented in past years. Check out videos of awesome local bands of Outside Lands past after the jump. More >>

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September 4th will see dance/electronic/DJ traveling show Identity Festival making a stop at San Manuel Amphitheater, instead of Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine. According to the festival's website, the event will be a "world unto itself with plenty to look at do see and hear."
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​Last year, a 26-year-old man died at the Warped Tour stop in Kansas. At the time, the death was rumored to have been caused by dehydration, partly due to the fact that water is $4 per bottle at the Warped Tour.

In response, for the 2011 festival, which kicked off in Texas this weekend, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman partnered with Klean Kanteen to provide unlimited FREE filtered-water refilling stations all summer long. The tour also worked with venues and promoters on every stop to lower the price of bottled water to $3 at all Vans Warped Tour shows this summer.

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Doug Neill/OC Weekly

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• Check out last year's slideshows here and here

After the death of a 15-year-old girl at the Electric Daisy Carnival in LA and the news that a 19-year-old man died after attending the sold-out rave party in Dallas (with another concert-goer in critical condition) we have to wonder: is the Electric Daisy Carnival cursed or are ravers getting stupider?

The 15-year-old in LA died from an Ecstasy overdose, and in Dallas, about 25 to 30 other people were treated for heat, drug and alcohol-related problems.

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Courtesy of OC Market Place

The SideWynders

​The SideWynders battled their way through some of the finest stand-up bass, washboard, and pompadors that Southern California has to offer, and came out victorious on Saturday. The LA-based five piece were finalists in the second annual West Coast Rockabilly Showdown at the Orange County Market Place. There, 12 rockabilly bands battled for a slot on the 2011 Hootenanny rockabilly festival lineup a slice of the $2500 pie offered in prize money.
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