The Grateful Dead News

The Dead, Bob Dylan, the String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson & Family, and the Black Crowes are among the top acts set for the second annual Rothbury, a weekend-long music festival in Michigan.

The event, produced by Madison House Presents and AEG Live, is scheduled for July 2-5 at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan, about three hours northwest of Detroit.

The jam-friendly festival is expanding its VIP options while offering a variety of camping arrangements, including Safari tents and teepees. Tickets go on sale Friday (March 20) at rothburyfestival.com (http://rothburyfestival.com). "Early bird" tickets sold out less than 24 hours after going on sale Saturday (March 14).

Other artists confirmed to appear include Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Nas, STS9, G. Love & Special Sauce, Gov't Mule, Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Guster, Les Claypool, Chromeo, Girl Talk, the Hold Steady. Ani DiFranco, MSTRKRFT, Femi Kuti and King Sunny Ade.

In addition to the music, Rothbury organizers are emphasizing the sustainability initiatives that aim to produce a near zero-waste event. They are also once again organizing the Rothbury Think Tank, with educational sessions and community discussion groups focused on the topic of the "New Green Economy," despite a low turnout for the seminars last summer.

Last year's four-day Rothbury Festival featured sets from Phil Lesh, Snoop Dogg, Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band and dozens more. The event ranked No. 8 on Billboard's 2008 top-grossing festivals tally, pulling in $7.4 million and drawing 120,820 music fans, according to Billboard Boxscore.

Despite the seizure of some of the festival's proceeds by a federal judge, a foreclosure on the Double JJ Ranch, and a distressed global economy that has already claimed two major music festivals this season, Madison House and AEG Live remain committed to the event.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)