It's easy to hate music festivals. Some have grown so enormous and commercialized that you're more likely to encounter the stench of crowds and branded merchandise than to actually bask in the glow of good music.

Confronted with the same lineup over and over again, the monotony of festival season can be too overwhelming for even the most dedicated of music lovers. Why brave the expanses of a celebrity-riddled carnival when you can sink into a good set of headphones and let the rhythm take you over? as Enrique Iglesias once advised us.

But, all cynicism aside, there are good festivals out there, that cater to niche audiences and transport the sweet sounds of folk or jazz or EDM to beautiful corners of the United States. As the summer months fall upon us, and your eagerness to partake in outdoor activities increases, your weariness of the summer festival may subside and you'll be in need of a guide to navigating the sea of musical possibilities.

Behold, 13 music festivals you should actually attend:

1. Telluride Bluegrass Festival

What: Bluegrass (with a dose of indie music sprinkled in)

When: June 19-22, 2014

Where: Telluride, Colorado

Why: The popularity of the 1973 edition has been credited as the beginning of a Bluegrass revival in America, so there's history here folks. And Bluegrass. Lots of Bluegrass.

Who: Nickel Creek, Steve Winwood, Jason Isbell, Andrew Bird, Bela Fleck and much, much more

2. Bumbershoot

What: International music and arts

When: August 30-September 1, 2014

Where: Seattle, Washington

Why: It's Seattle's longest-lived music and arts festival. What better way to spend Labor Day Weekend than hanging out in the Pacific Northwest listening to new artists?

Who: The Replacements, Real Estate, Mac Demarco, Wu-Tang Clan, Elvis Costello and much, much more

3. Hopscotch

What: National and international music in nearly every genre

When: September 4-6, 2014

Where: Raleigh, North Carolina

Why: From rock and punk to hip-hop and dance to alt-country and folk to heavy metal and noise, this North Carolina festival has it all. Skip Lollapalooza and head to Hopscotch.

Who: Spoon, St. Vincent, De La Soul, Mastodon, Death, Thurston Moore, Jamie XX and much, much more

4. Mysteryland

What: Electronic and dance

When: May 23-26, 2014

Where: Bethel Woods, New York

Why: It's billed as the longest running festival in the world, and it's the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

Who: Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, Moby, Flosstradamus, Kaskade and much, much more

5. Gathering of the Vibes

What: Everything Grateful Dead

When: July 31-August 3, 2014

Where: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Why: Obviously, to act like a deadhead for a weekend.

Who: John Fogerty, Edward Sharpe, Ziggy Marley, Widespread Panic, Rodrigo y Gabriela and much, much more

6. Forecastle

What: Everything, mostly indie and alternative

When: July 18-20, 2014

Where: Louisville, Kentucky

Why: Outkast and Jack White at the same venue? We're there.

Who: Outkast, Jack White, Ray Lamontagne, Band of Horses, Dwight Yoakam, Beck and much, much more

8. Newport Folk Festival

What: Folk!

When: July 25-27, 2014

Where: Newport, Rhode Island

Why: It's been around since 1959 as the sister festival to Newport Jazz, celebrating folk, blues, country, bluegrass and rock.

Who: Ryan Adams, Jimmy Cliff, Deer Tick, Kurt Vile, Conor Oberst, Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy and much, much more

9. Pickathon

What: Everything, mostly indie and alternative

When: August 1-3, 2014

Where: Happy Valley, Oregon

Why: Happy Valley? We want to go to there.

Who: Nickel Creek, Warpaint, Foxygen, Parquet Courts, Angel Olsen, Robbie Fulks and much, much more

10. Merge 25

What: Merge Records bands

When: July 23-26, 2014

Where: Carrboro, North Carolina

Why: It's an indie/alternative party! Wax nostalgic on 25 years of Merge-dom.

Who: Lambchop, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Mould, Superchunk (!!!), Eleanor Friedberger and much, much more

11. Osheaga Music and Arts Festival

What: Indie

When: August 1-3, 2014

Where: Montreal, Canada (Yes, we're taking you out of the U.S.)

Why: We wanted an excuse to go to Quebec.

Who: Skrillex, Foster the People, Nick Cave, Chromeo, Haim and much, much more

12. Hudson Music Project

What: Contemporary pop and indie

When: July 11-13, 2014

Where: Saugerties, New York

Why: There are art installations, a game center and carnival rides, just a few reasons you should skip the bigger New York City festivals and head to the Hudson.

Who: Kendrick Lamar, Matt & Kim, Modest Mouse, Bonobo, STS9, Flying Lotus and much, much more

13. Afropunk

What: Punk and alternative

When: August 23-24, 2014

Where: Brooklyn, New York

Why: Last year had Mykki Blanco and Saul Williams, so we're pretty excited to see what this summer brings.

Who: TBD