After last year's success of the inaugural U.S. iteration of Download, it's back... and they're taking the show on the road. The festival will hop across the country from coast to coast, stopping in San Francisco, Los Angeles and finally Philadelphia. Each festival location is taking a cue from its fostering city. San Francisco's day will be at the Shoreline Amphitheatre with open-air grounds and an au-naturale, NorCal feel. L.A. is a little more glitzy, taking place at the venerable Gibson Amphiteather, which just so happens to be at the intersection of the Universal studio backlots and the neon-clad Universal Studios theme park. Finally, Philadelphia holds down the last fest at a more traditional (and mammoth) venue, the Susquehanna Bank Center.

The cities also feature different lineups. The California shows have headliners, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Gang of Four, along with burgeoning bands from the U.S. and the UK, like The Duke Spirit, Yaesayer and The Airborne Toxic Event. Philly boasts more mainstream acts, The Killers and Iggy Pop and the Stooges, but is holding down the indie front with The Whigs and The Stills. Downloads also offers up rest from horn-throwing and spastic dance moves with a comedy stage. Comedian of Comedy, Brian Posehn, as its ringleader—more details on that stage to make. Though it's not yet the festival that is on everyone's wish-list, Download is proving to be the dark horse that could win the festival derby.