As winter continues to melt away day by day the anticipation for 2011 music festivals continue to build. In order to feed your anticipation and help you determine which music festivals you want to attend this year I’m previewing, in a two part guide, 2011 California music festivals. Part I looked into music festivals coming this spring and here is part II, focusing on music festivals coming or likely to come to California this summer and fall.  

Vans Warped Tour: Friday, July 1st- Sunday, July 3rd & Tuesday, Aug. 9th- Thursday, Aug. 11th

The Vans Warped Tour, a long standing annual concert tradition, offers an amazing experience to punk and rock music enthusiasts. You will go to see certain bands but in the process likely get exposed to some artists you really haven’t heard of before. Names already announced for the 2011 Warped Tour includes Simple Plan, Hellogoodbye, and Unwritten Law. For Californians there will be ample opportunities to see the Warped Tour this year as the tour will make six stops in the state between July and August. The Pomona Fairplex in Pomona will host the Warped Tour on July 1st while the Warped Tour stops at Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheatre on July 2nd and Ventura’s Country Fairground at Seaside Park on July 3rd. In August the Vans Warped Tour will encompass another three day California swing, stopping at San Diego’s Cricket Amphitheatre on August 9th, a location still yet to be determined August 10th in Los Angeles and Marysville’s Sleep Train Amphitheater on August 11th.  

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival: Saturday, July 9th at San Manuel Amphitheatre and Sunday, July 10th at Shoreline Amphitheatre

Mayhem will be the scene when the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival brings its’ loaded lineup to San Bernardino on Saturday, July 9th and San Francisco on Sunday, July 10th to kick off the festival’s tour. Top names performing at this year’s Mayhem Festival includes Godsmack, Disturbed, and Megadeth. All three groups can rightfully headline their own major tours so the anticipation to see this rock band trio live at one concert will be a salivating experience. Other notable bands playing the 2011 Mayhem Festival includes Machine Head, In Flames, and Trivium.

Sunset Strip Music Festival: Thursday, Aug. 18th- Saturday, Aug. 20th All Around West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip

Perhaps the only thing better than living by West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip is partying on the Sunset Strip and there may be no party bigger than the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The annual event celebrates the rich musical history of the Sunset Strip. The 2011 Sunset Strip Music Festival will begin Thursday, Aug. 18th with a tribute to an iconic musical name. In past years tributes have been done for rock legends like Ozzy Osbourne and Slash. The following two days will play witness to a host of concerts down the Sunset Strip at venues such as The Roxy Theatre and House of Blues. Saturday, Aug. 20th the party will climax with an all day street festival featuring live music, a beer garden, and a VIP rooftop lounge.    

Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival

The potential for the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival is mouth watering to alternative rock fans. The festival debuted last year with a loaded lineup, including Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, and Stone Sour. A lot of music festivals seem to improve, expanding to more stages and acquiring more prolific talent, as they grow into annual traditions. Rockstar Energy set a high precedent with the first Uproar Festival, leaving fans to speculate about future possibilities. The Uproar Festival toured last year between the months of August and October. If you enjoy alternative rock, you will want to stay alert for 2011 Uproar Festival news. 

FYF Fest

FYF Fest has been an annual Los Angeles event since 2004. No official word has been released about a 2011 FYF Fest but common sense can infer FYF Fest 2011 will happen. FYF Fest stands out for low costs and high entertainment. Over 35 bands performed last year. The event features standup comedy and art too. In fact over a dozen standup comedians entertained at 2010’s festival. Last year’s admissions price was $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Kids under the age of 10 accompanied by an adult received free admissions. This made the FYF Fest a prime opportunity for a fun-filled family day out. If the FYF Fest interests you, keep an eye on www.fyffest.com for details. 

Epicenter 2011

If recent history can act as any indicator, Epicenter 2011 will happen and will be epic. Epic is the best way to describe Epicenter 2010. An all-star lineup, including Kiss, Eminem, Bush, Blink 182, Papa Roach, and Rise Against all played the event. Epicenter 2010 marked Bush’s first reunion since 2001 and Eminem’s first California concert since 2005. The Epicenter Festival has quickly established itself as a “can’t miss” attraction for music fans of varying genres. To stay in the know about the likely 2011 Epicenter Festival, join the Epicenter Festival’s e-newsletter at http://www.epicenterfestival.com.    

Smokeout Festival

No official announcement has been made regarding a 2011 Smokeout Festival but I’d be surprised if the event didn’t happen. The Smokeout Festival returned in 2009 after a six year absence and grew bigger in 2010. The 2010 Smokeout Festival expanded the festival’s music offerings and hosted Incubus’s return to California. The rejuvenated Smokeout Festival has also found purpose in raising awareness about medical marijuana. Considering the momentum the festival gained in 2010, a press release on a 2011 Smokeout Festival will likely come with time.