Places to put on your playlist

Casiokids will play at Nattjazz in their native Norway. The three-year-old group aims to "make electronic music more visual." (PHOTO/VINCIANE VERGUETHEN)

Hawaii Romance Festival

HONOLULU May 2-11 The sonic equivalent of a long bubble bath or a Meg Ryan movie, this festival in the middle of the Pacific brings together an impressive collection of big-name crooners to sing the most romantic songs ever written. At least that's the claim. Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, Smokey Robinson, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Boz Scaggs (is he really romantic?) sing standards such as "I Say a Little Prayer," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," and, of course, "Wind Beneath My Wings." Pass the tissues and plastic roses, please. It's worth the $95 ticket prices alone for the opportunity to swoon to Sergio Mendes.

hawaiiromancefestival.com.

Sasquatch Music Festival

QUINCY, Wash. May 24-26 This giant concert consumes Memorial Day weekend with top-shelf artists such as R.E.M., the New Pornographers, the Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips, Tegan and Sara, and the Flight of the Conchords. For adventurous types who require minimal sleep at their festival concerts, on-site camping is available for an additional $40 a day. Tickets are $66.50 per day.

sasquatchfestival.com/2008M.

Art Rock

BRITTANY, France May 8-11 A big Gallic mash-up of film, theater, dance, and pop music, Art Rock boasts a surprisingly star-studded line-up for a festival that takes place in a small city by the sea. This year's performers include electro-rock cutie Yelle, Camille, Thomas Dutronc, Yael Naim, and Dionysos. It's an ideal setup for hearing some of France's finest pop stars, and for exploring the country's charming western coastline. Tickets to events are sold individually and range from $7.50 for films to $38 for concerts.

artrock.org.

Nattjazz

BERGEN, Norway May 21-31 The lineup sounds a bit more rock than jazz: Bryan Ferry has been confirmed to headline opening night, while progressive jazz trio Medeski, Martin, & Wood play the festival on May 23. But it's fitting that the charming seaport city that has spawned some of the finest pop acts of the past five years would meld rock into its jazz. Bergen's own Casiokids play May 21; here's hoping that more local heroes, such as Sondre Lerche or Kings of Convenience, can find their way onto the bill.

nattjazz.no.

Pinkpop Festival

LANDGRAAF, Netherlands May 30-June 1 Europe's oldest summer rock festival - it turns 39 this year - is also one of the continent's most diverse. Do Metallica fans hang around to hear Kate Nash's set? Will Alanis Morissette jump in on a Groove Armada song (our vote is "I See You"). These scenarios range from unlikely to nonexistent, but it is amusing to think of these disparate musicians mingling in the same backstage area. Tickets are $105 per day. A three-day ticket, including a camping pass, is $176.

pinkpop.nl.

Events sometimes are canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com.