March 14 - 18 
Austin, Texas, USA

The South By Southwest (SXSW) 2012 Music Festival has already named its dates, and has opened ticket registration. The SXSW 2012 lineup will include bands we've never heard of, some of which will break out big later in the year.

This is the gathering that shapes the rest of the year ... check out anybody who'll be somebody at SXSW 2012. It's a week of shows, discussion panels, schmoozing, new bands, schmoozing, drunkeness while trying to schmooze, etc. They've announced the first three legs of the SXSW 2012 lineup.

There's a simultaneous SXSW Film Festival that coincides with the SXSW Music Festival. It's no Sundance yet, but it is an interesting indie venue, with over 170 films. There's also a SXSW Interactive component to cover the web.

December 27 - January 1
Woodfordia, Queensland, Australia

The wonderful Woodford Folk Festival is on again this upcoming New Years. Now an internationally acclaimed event, runs over 5 days from the 27th of December to January the 1st. This festival has character and festival organisers, create a festival where you can escape from ‘reality’ and immerse yourself in cultures from near and far.

The attention to detail, the good will and of course the most amazing entertainment makes this a festival experience not to miss.

After a boiling of local issues this week in the permit for the 2012 Coachella festival, it appears that the gig is back on. Earlier this week it came to light that the community of La Quinta near the Coachella 2012 site in Indio wanted to have a potentially Coachella-killing environmental study done. It appears the the La Quinta City Council has given the thumbs up for now to not stand in the way of Coachella.

November 9-14
Matong State Forest, NSW, Australia

Burning Seed 2011 is Australia's second Burning Man event. It will be held this year between the 9th and 14th of November, outside of Wagga Wagga.

Burning Seed is the infant of the long running Burning Man USA event, that has been running since 1986. The Australian burn is one of many smaller Burning Man events that are starting around the world. Burning Man events are radically different from other festivals. Instead of being a spectator, the punters are more a part of the festival and no money is spent during the event which allows the importantance gifting to flourish. Ten principles are followed, but from there anything is can and will happen. 

October 28 - 30
Asheville, NC, USA

Moogfest honors Bob Moog, the creator of the Moog synthesizer, so there’s lots of Moog use at the festival. The entire Moogfest thing centers around artists that create “unique and groundbreaking musical experiences that embody the essence of Bob Moog’s visionary and creative spirit.” Check out a full 2011 Moogfest lineup below. The Moogfest schedule has also been announced, with regards to who's playing on what day. Moogfest 2011 dates are Oct. 28 - 30 in Asheville, NC.

October 28 - 30
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Voodoo Experience in The Big Easy ... on Halloween. A great city for Halloween, but even better for a festival. Now in its 11th year, Voodoo Experience combines bohemian culture, arts and the types of cuisine that New Orleans is famous for.

October 15 - 16
San Francisco, California, USA

A music festival in the heart of the San Francisco Bay, the Treasure Island Music Festival is a small, two-day offering that brings in some of the best acts available in music today. Death Cab for Cutie, Empire of Sun, DFA 1979, Chromeo, Explosions in Sky, Dizzee Rascal, Beach House, Flying Lotus, Hold Steady and more are all part of the 2011 Treasure Island Music Festival lineup.

A music festival in the heart of the San Francisco Bay. The Treasure Island Music Festival is a small, two-day offering that brings in some of the best acts available in music today.

Now that the Pitchfork Music Festival has become the "other big festival" in Chicago besides Lollapalooza, they've decided to go global and announced the Pitchfork Music Festival Paris, set for this October and co-curated by Bon Iver.

There's such irony in the fact that they've announced an American act with a french name to help curate the show, but I'm sure Justin Vernon and Bon Iver is the right vibe to make the scene happen. This isn't the first time Pitchfork has influenced a European Summer music festival, they've been curating a stage at the Primavera Sound Festival for a few years.