TRAVIS SWANN, Post Contributer
Posted: Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:10 am

Murfreesboro's own The Features rocked Bonnaroo in 2009. TMP File Photo.

Temperatures rose into the 50s last weekend and gave us all a glimpse of what’s in store for the spring and summer months.

If you’re a Tennessee music fan, then you know that festival season is near. With several announcements taking place in the past few weeks, here is a sampling of a few of the great festivals that are on the plate for a road trip or to simply get out of town.

Big Ears Festival
Knoxville, TN: March 26-28
www.bigearsfestival.com

The Big Ears Festival offers an early start to spring with alternative and indie groups like Afro-pop rockers Vampire Weekend and other artists that include Adrian Belew, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens and The xx.

Rites of Spring
Nashville, TN: April 23-24
www.ritesofspring.com

The Rites of Spring festival takes place each year on Alumni Lawn at the Vanderbilt campus. This two-day fest is always a high-octane, packed weekend with cool nights and summer dresses that signal the start of spring.

This year, Ben Harper and Relentless 7 will be a top spot on the bill. Along with Harper, French Grammy winners Phoenix will be in attendance along with the electronic outfit Passion Pit who are in the mix to keep attendees stirring.

Beale Street Music Festival
Memphis, TN: April 30-May 2
www.thebealestreetmusicfestival.com

There aren’t many other cities as important to the soundscape and birth of rock ‘n’ roll as Memphis.

The Memphis sound and mystique of the Mississippi River mark this early May music festival.

The official lineup will be announced on March 4, but it looks like Jerry Lee Lewis, Blues Traveler and Booker T. & the MG’s will be on the card, according to Pollstar.com.

Bonnaroo
Music & Arts Festival
Manchester, TN: June 10-13
www.bonnaroo.com

There is no festival in the nation greater than Bonnaroo.

The combination of artists, atmosphere and crowd create an energy that is unparalleled.

This year’s initial lineup includes Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Wonder.

With the possibility of 30-40 more acts to be added and a stacked undercard, the diversity will continue and set the stage for a great weekend of music.

If you claim to be music fan and have never attended, then shame on you. But don’t snooze on your tickets as the third-tier tickets sold out this week.

Riverbend Festival
Chattanooga, TN: June 11-19
www.riverbendfestival.com

Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival boasts a more family friendly atmosphere on the Tennessee River with carnival rides and attractions.

Some of this year’s performers include The Charlie Daniels Band, George Clinton & P-Funk, Third Day, Sheryl Crow and Darius Rucker.

Bristol
Rhythm & Roots Reunion
Bristol, TN: Sept. 17-19
www.bristolrhythm.com

This could possibly be one of the most laid-back festivals in the state.

If you’re a fan of string music then you can hop from spot to spot down State Street to catch acts in an early fall setting.

This one is easy on the wallet as well. The lineup has yet to be determined but word on the street, according to Pollstar.com, has Del McCoury Band and Carolina Chocolate Drops in attendance.

Past performers have included John Cowan, Patty Loveless, The Avett Brothers, Dan Tyminski and Those Darlins.

Next Big Nashville
Nashville, TN: Dates TBD
www.nextbignashville.net

If you’ve took notice the past few years, you can tell that country music is not the only genre exploding out of Tennessee.

To steal a quote from Neil Young-“Hey, hey, my, my/Rock ‘n’ roll can never die” rings true as bands like Kings of Leon have surfaced to be one of the nation’s top rock acts out of Nashville while Jack White’s inventiveness help contribute to the Nashville brand.

But with groups like Heypenny, How I Became The Bomb, JEFF the Brotherhood and The Features, the Nashville spectrum is increasing exponentially.

This showcase of the city’s elite will be a nice addition to the resume and will be a street-cred builder at the same time.

Travis Swann can be contacted at tswann@murfreesboropost.com