For those who love nothing better than taking in a virtuoso musical performance or rocking out at a concert, what could be better than an impressive line-up of some of the best musicians in the world? Summer brings a wide variety of world-class music festivals from which to choose. You’ve no doubt heard about much-hyped multi-day events such as Chicago’s Lollapalooza, the electronic wonderland that is Barcelona’s Sonar and arguably the world’s preeminent festival, Britain’s Glastonbury, but there is a nearly endless list of others that are equally noteworthy. We’ve selected three festivals of differing genres worthy of traveling to this season.

Bonnaroo – Manchester, Tennessee

Do you want to experience for yourself a music event that has changed the history of rock and roll? According to Rolling Stone magazine, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival did just that. This four-day, multi-stage camping festival is held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June. Bonnaroo brings together some of the best performers in rock, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica and just about any contemporary music style you can think of. In addition to dozens of epic performances, the festival’s 100-acre entertainment village buzzes around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival and a music technology village.

The 2010 lineup, happening June 10-13, includes the Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, Jay-Z, Norah Jones, Tori Amos and many other big names. General admission tickets are about $250 for the entire four days. Camping at Bonnaroo is the most popular and traditional way to experience the fest, as your ticket price includes access to the campgrounds and facilities. For additional fun, you can enter the Bonnaroo Beard & Mustache competition, take yoga classes or play games in the Adult Swim Ragbag.

Montreal Jazz Fest – Quebec, Canada

This exciting summer celebration features 11 days of nonstop musical entertainment in the heart of downtown Montreal. Approximately 2.5 million people each year venture to this cosmopolitan Canadian destination to enjoy the festival’s 700-plus concerts, including 450 free outdoor performances. Three thousand artists from 30 countries perform, with sounds ranging from jazz and blues to Brazilian, African, reggae, contemporary and electronica.

The 2010 Montreal Jazz Fest runs from June 25 to July 6, featuring Smokey Robinson, The Moody Blues, George Clinton & Parliament, Lionel Ritchie and Herbie Hancock. Individual performance tickets range from $8-140. The 25 stages and venues are all within a five-minute walk of each other, and the downtown location makes it easily accessible to visitors. A quadrant of blocks is closed to traffic during the festival, creating a cultural oasis of cafés and bistros, street performers, an art gallery and a separate play area for children.

“It’s not only the best way to catch some of the world’s most renowned artists,” says publicist Hugo Leclerc, “but it is the best place to discover new musicians from the world over. We bring to Montreal a variety of music that people can’t find anywhere else; it’s the ideal destination for music lovers.” Leclerc’s best advice is to order your festival tickets early. “Leonard Cohen’s three performances were sold out within a week, and Van Morrison’s 2007 concert sold out in 10 minutes,” he says.

Tanglewood Music Festival – Berkshires, Massachusetts

The oldest music festival in the United States, Tanglewood is a 210-acre estate in the Berkshire Mountains that serves as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The surroundings offer a perfect setting for spreading out a gourmet picnic, which can be ordered in advance, and enjoying world-renowned music. In addition to the orchestra, Tanglewood offers jazz and pop performances, chamber music, contemporary music and musical theater, attended by more than 300,000 people each summer.

This year’s festival begins June 26 and goes through Labor Day Weekend, featuring performances by James Taylor and Carole King, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Books of 11 lawn tickets are $170; free for youth under 18 when accompanied by a parent. “The Tanglewood Festival is one of the ‘must-see, must-hear’ experiences during a visit to New England in the summer,” says Larry Meehan, vice president of tourism with the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The grounds are incredible. They are located on an estate that faces west for spectacular sunsets. There is nothing for miles around to interfere with the music. It’s one of the richest cultural destinations in the world.”

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Montreal Jazz Fest
Photo Credit: Festival International de Jazz De Montréal, Jean-François Leblanc (2009)

Kings of Leon perform at Bonaroo 2007
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bonaroo Festival

Diana Krall performs at Tanglewood
Photo Credit: Hilary Scott, provided by Boston Symphony Orchestra