I don’t know about anybody else, but I never really thought “beach and music destination” when I thought of Gulf Shores, Alabama. As the name of the city implies, it’s on the gulf, where it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever get a decent wave, but if there is anything this tiny stretch of 'Bama sandwiched between Florida and Mississippi might be good for, hanging out would definitely be it. Hangout Festival 2012 will run from May 18-20^th, and while the surf may let surfers down, a glance at the lineup for this third installment of the fest suggests that the music end of the tagline should hold up better. Something noticeable about the lineup in general is that the festival environment may have that Big Kahuna beach feel, but make no mistake about it - this is the south. As most of the bands on the bill are based in the southern region, that culture will be strong and proud.

A few notables to catch:

Alabama Shakes – this band has blown up exponentially the past year or so, but it makes perfect sense they should play this festival. Whether you think they deserve all the hype or think it’s just that, there’s no denying their live show will make you move and feel.

Gary Clark Jr. -  Another artist that is putting that classic soul back into rock and roll.

Heartless Bastards – “…may be the meanest-sounding, female-fronted dirty blues band in America.” Singer Erika Wennerstrom definitely sounds like someone you’d rather have on your side.

Givers – this Lafayette, Louisiana-based quintet is just bursting with good vibes, and are one of those bands that will have everyone dancing and hugging at their shows.

Dr. Dog – Northerners who know how to bring the good vibes, this Philly band really embraces the energy of making live music as much as possible, which is one of the best qualities any band can have.

Oh, and there’s something about THE FLAMING LIPS PERFORMING DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Epic.

All kinds of ticket packages are currently on sale, including the kickoff party on May 17^th, which will feature 10 good ol’ southern style bands. Friday tickets will also go on sale for morning yoga! This always sounds like a great idea in theory, but it also makes one wonder who that super festival goer is who can stay out all night and then hold their proud warrior pose with even breath at the break of dawn. A big Namaste to those who can pull that off.

So you're going to Coachella! If you're anything like me, you're probably stoked as a surfer staring at the perfect swell about seeing Radiohead live, but you're praying they don't imitate their latest release, The King of Limbs and leave the entire audience aurally blue-balled.

You're searching through your Gmail contacts for that one chick who worked at the Fader or Puma or Skullcandy to try to get a +1 for that party at La Quinta where you get free flip flops, tequila shots and there's a bounce-house-dolphin-water-slide. Seriously, those things rule.

You're also probably scouring the fine print of the sunset-colored digital flyer looking for diamonds in the undercard rough. Well, allow me to help you there my friend.

This year's lineup packs some serious firepower.  I'm not talking about the second or even third biggest typeface bands that everybody knows. I'm not telling you to see the incomparable Jimmy Cliff. I mean you absolutely should, seriously he's a living legend! I'm talking about the names so small even habitual carrot eaters struggle to make them out. I'm talking about the bands; even some of your hippest hipster pals aren't hip to.

I won't tell you to check out Band of Skulls or Fitz & the Tantrums because you should already know that they are absolutely must-sees. Band of Skulls was there in 2010 and absolutely KILLED it. And Fitz will always make an audience thank their lucky stars they're not deaf. Sorry Marlee Matlin and Cole from Mr. Holland’s Opus.

These five bands that are lower on the lineup card will have you thoroughly entertained by their shows and you'll look like an absolute festival guru when you navigate your tribe to their smaller and far less hectic stages.

GIVERS

See this band even if it means you have to break off from your posse because they want to sleep in, or listen to drum & bass while looking at passed out Wookies. GIVERS will absolutely delight you. They rocked The Troubadour last year and their shiny, polished, zydeco electronic-y vibes will cure your hangover, heatstroke, headache, or whatever may be ailing you when you stumble to their stage. This quintet has so much fun in every song and their energy is contagious. Some bands are record bands and some bands are live bands, Givers are certainly the latter. You will probably sweat though, so maybe just for this weekend forego the Tom's of Maine and use some actual aluminum-y deodorant, because unless you're lame you'll be dancing your freckles off. Stream Up Up Up. I double dare you to not smile. Oooooh, you're totally smirking! I win…Again.

Destroyer

This band is great and will soothe even the most downtrodden and exhausted Coachella-ite. If you're with a high maintenance gal (or guy) bring them to Destroyer and get them some wine. Their kvetching should subside faster than they can say, "I need central air." I saw these guys at last summer's Pitchfork Music Festival and their show had me mesmerized. Dan Bejar's strong stage presence in the absence of charisma is simultaneously befuddling and entertaining. His vocals understandably draw Bowie comparisons and, like so many bands these days, he has no qualms with overtly flaunting his synthy, 80s influences. Their dreamy, ultra-mellow sounds will have a savvy mini throng of hipsters unknowingly undulating to the saxophone solos until they forget they can't afford their ticket and can't remember where they parked.

The Growlers

Take off your shoes and look for the smelliest guy around, because he probably has drugs. You may want some. Because there's nothing quite like losing your mind while clapping your hands and muddying your bare feet to the psychedelic sounds of this SoCal band that sounds like they drunk drove their XKE straight out of the 60s. With so many bands borrowing sounds from the 80s it's nice to change up the decade and the pace a bit. Ever wonder what would happen if Brian Wilson and Jim Morrison had a baby? Well, then you're dumb. They're both boys and you need a lady for a baby. Anyway, check this band out. Their songs don't do much in the way of progressing, but they're all about 2 minutes long, so cut them some slack. They growl. That's why they're called The Growlers, or maybe they like the fat craft beer jugs, either way, Growl with 'em. You'll be glad you did and you may just confuse the Polo Fields of Indio for Max Yasgur's 600 acre Catskill Dairy Farm. (That's where Woodstock took place) If only for a song or two, definitely stream "Something Someone Jr," and feel free to air surf and then do that one dance move where you plug your nose and wave your other hand. That dance move is seriously terrible. It's like "The Stanky Leg" of yesteryear.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Despite their name you really ought to give these guys a chance. Maybe just call them WWJP, but then someone may think they're like a "What Would Jesus Do" band. Hmmph. This is quite the Vlasic dill. Oh, I got it, just call them Jetpacks. Jetpacks are fly and so are these guys. Boom, there you go. Jetpacks are label mates of fellow Scotts Frightened Rabbit, and the second you hear the vocals you'll understand why they're mates. Their music however is more modern sounding and certainly riskier. Where Frightened Rabbit consistently relies on classic sounding guitar chords and noisy rock riffs, Jetpacks often use a more varied, and sometimes muted, cinematic sound. This juxtaposition of the traditional with the new creates incredibly unique songs. They sometimes fall back on the very sounds you'd expect from a Scottish rock band, but they mix it up enough to keep the listener engaged and excited for what's next. Download or stream the epic Keeping Warm and while "The chances of being born are so slim" you'll be glad you were.

And the final band you should check out at Coachella…

Grouplove

To no surprise, it’s our best new band of 2011 that rounds out the coverage. As you know these guys formed a few years ago the way most bands form, "while on an artists residency on the Island of Crete." Seriously Wikipedia? Weird. Anyway, you've heard their pandemically contagious Tongue Tied in the new iPod Touch commercial with the floppy-headed skinny kids dancing and disappearing behind white blocks. Unlike some bands that have been featured in iAds, these guys are not one trick pony. Their sound varies wildly on their ironically titled first LP, Never Trust a Happy Song. They bounce, they wail, they croon and they keep the listener on their tapping toes. Also bands like this are notorious for attracting beautiful women. So if you're a single guy looking for the type of beautiful festival girl with face lots of paint and very few inhibitions, this may be your spot. Stream Slow.

Crowd Photo by Monica Christoffels

Picked By: Dan Cordie

Who: Givers and Kopecky Family Band

Where: Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA

When: Wednesday, September 7 at 7:30pm

Cost: $10 Adv. / $12 Door

Picked By: All Ages

***

Picked By: Kelly Knapp

Who: Amy Klein and the Blue Star Band

Where: Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY

When: Wednesday, September 7th at 8:30pm

Cost: $10

Age Restrictions: 21+

***

Picked By: Jesse Diener-Bennett

Who: Computer Magic

Where: The Bell House, Brooklyn, NYC

When: Friday, September 9th at 8pm

Cost: $12.50

Age Restrictions: 18+

***

From November 24 - November 27 2011 the fifth edition of music festival Le Guess Who? takes place in Utrecht, Holland.

Le Guess Who? is located in the Utrecht city centre. Bands and artists perform throughout the city in different indoor locations like Tivoli Oudegracht, Tivoli de Helling, EKKO, dBs, Acu and RASA.

Le Guess Who? is an ever changing format to place creative, daring and refreshing scenes and artists in the spotlights. The festival came into existence in 2007 to provide a platform for the creative Canadian scene. Although Canadian artists will always be a part of the program, the festival broadened its focus to others scenes and artists in the world. Le Guess Who? is a Tivoli and Distorted Channel production.

The current line up is as follows:

Panda Bear / Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Bill Callahan / Gang Gang Dance / Suuns / John Maus / Low / Fool's Gold / Zomby / Givers / Akron/Family / Shabazz Palaces / Nisennenmondai / Braids / Pinback / Pink Mountaintops / Okkervil River / Com Truise / The Besnard Lakes / Tarwater / Puro Instinct / Om Unit /Slugabed / Cheveu / Bass Drum Of Death / Doshy / Bo Ningen / Richard Buckner / Dan Haywood's New Hawks / Holloy's / Still Corners / Oy Division / Pursuit Grooves / Babe Rainbow / Group Inerane / Socalled / Orchestra Of Spheres

Pepper Rabbit’s off to quite a busy 2011 so far: after releasing their debut album, Beauregard, late last year, the duo of Xander Singh and Luc Laurent has played a non-stop string of shows with the likes of Passion Pit, Freelance Whales and Miniature Tigers.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Xander Singh - here’s what he had to say on Pepper Rabbit’s recent and future endeavors:

MC: Hi Xander! So the last time you spoke with Bestnewbands.com, you were working on material for a new album in between shows with Freelance Whales and Miniature Tigers. Have you been able to take a decent amount of time off since then?

XS: I'm very happy to report that we have finished the record! 10 brand new final mixes just waiting to be mastered and released. We've had the past few days since getting home from the studio to relax and see friends. Luc has been making sure to get in lots of girlfriend time before we head out and I've been hastily getting through my recently acquired and very large Blu-Ray collection.