With the economy shaky at best, regular concert-goers will be thinking with their wallet more than ever this summer concert season.

This season, which arguably kicked off in Chicagoland with Windy City hard rockers Disturbed's performance at Northerly Island, will surely not see many, if any, box office records broken. In fact, don't be surprised if a big-name act or two move to smaller venues or cancel shows altogether in light of poor ticket sales.

Yet budget-minded live music fans can still find fun out without breaking the bank. Listed below are some upcoming outdoor shows and festivals on sale at press time which may be worth planning for.

All ticket prices are advance sales and do not include taxes and fees.

Safety in Numbers

Unless you're in the U2/Jimmy Buffett/Dave Matthews/Taylor Swift league, there's no sure thing at the sheds this summer. Fortunately, many a rock and country favorite has banded together for joint tours together this year.

At Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, Styx, REO Speedwagon and .38 Special have joined forces for a classic rock trifecta July 10 (7 p.m., $66.50), with metal faves Judas Priest and Whitesnake banging heads July 19 (7 p.m., $25-$99) and jam band greats Allman Brothers Band and Widespread Panic performing there Sept. 1 and 2 (both 6 p.m., $26.50-$66.50). Charter One Pavilion is located at 1300 S. Linn White Dr., Chicago. FYI: (312) 540-2668 or CHARTERONEPAVILION.COM

Closer to home, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre kicks off their summer season Saturday with country all-stars George Strait, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough (7:30 p.m., $35-$75), and blasts to the past July 17 with Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick (7 p.m., $29.50-$125). Motley Crue returns to First Midwest July 22 with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman and Drowning Pool for "Crue Fest 2 ($29.50-$95) and present-day hard rock faves Nickleback, Hinder and Papa Roach hold court there Aug. 21 (6 p.m., $28.50-$82.50). First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre is located at 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. FYI: (708) 614-1616 or LIVENATION.COM

Ravinia Road Trip

If gas prices stay reasonable, especially compared to last year, a trek to Ravinia Festival in north suburban Highland Park may not be out of the question. Concert-goers from all corners of Chicagoland and beyond make their way onto Ravinia grounds for a wide variety of shows with reasonable ticket prices.

Ravinia's coup this summer is in bringing country sensation Carrie Underwood to the grounds for performances Aug. 30-31. It's no surprise that only single seats remain available at presstime for the multi-platinum songstress' Aug. 31 performance ($95).

Other shows of note at Ravinia this summer include a June 27 performance by Diana Krall (7:30 p.m., $90 pavilion, $27 lawn), John Legend and India.Arie July 21 ($67 pavilion, $27 lawn), Ravinia regular Lyle Lovett July 22 (8 p.m., $60 pavilion, $22 lawn), bluesbreakers Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal Aug. 21-22 ($80 pavilion, $27 lawn) Elvis Costello Aug. 26 ($55 pavilion, $22 lawn) and Tony Bennett Aug. 29 (7:30 p.m., $91 pavilion, $23 lawn).

Ravinia Festival is located at 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. FYI: (847) 266-5100 or RAVINIA.ORG

Sweet Home Free Music

Chicago's large-scale free music festivals kick off at Millennium Park with the Chicago Gospel Music Festival running June 6 and 7. Grammy award winner Donnie McClurklin headlines the 25th fest at the Pritzker Pavilion at 8:30 p.m. June 6 with "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino and present-day great Kirk Franklin performing at 7:20 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. respectively June 7.

Five days later sees the kickoff of the 26th annual Chicago Blues Festival at Chicago's Grant Park.

Running through June 14, local favorite Eddie C. Campbell headlines at the Petrillo Band Shell at 8:20 p.m. June 12 with songstress Bettye LaVette taking center stage at 8:20 p.m. June 13. The festival closes on a high note at 8:30 p.m. June 14 with revivalist sensation Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

Taste of Chicago, kicks off June 26 and runs through July 5 at Grant Park.

Kicking things off June 26 with a 5:30 p.m. performance is former Gap Band leader-turned-hitmaker Charlie Wilson at Petrillo.

Other shows of note include rock radio staples Counting Crows and Wallflowers at 5 p.m. June 26 and 27, respectively, and popsters Barenaked Ladies at 5:30 p.m. June 30.

Blues Legend Buddy Guy will play to his hometown crowd for the Taste's July 4, show, with soul great Booker T. Jones backed by Drive By Truckers and college rock faves Guster warming up the audience starting at 3 p.m. Teen fave Jordan Pruitt closes the festivities July 5 with a 2:30 p.m. set.

FYI: City of Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events, (312) 744-3315 or CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG/SPECIALEVENTS

Rock and Roll All Day

Since 2005, Lollapalooza has been the biggest contribution to the local summer festival circuit, with greats from Pearl Jam to Radiohead to Rage Against the Machine among past headliners.

This year's Lollapalooza, which runs Aug. 7-9 at Chicago's Grant Park, is highlighted by a reunited Jane's Addiction. Other big names slated to perform include Tool, Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Kings of Leon, Killers, Lou Reed, the Decemberists and Snoop Dogg.

At presstime, the three-day passes for $190 and three-day VIP passes for $850 were the only tickets available for sale. FYI: (888) 512-SHOW or LOLLAPALOOZA.COM

Although smaller in scale, online music magazine Pitchfork's annual music festival is preferred by many over Lollapallooza. Running July 17-19 at Chicago's Union Park, the lineup for this year's festival has yet to be finalized, but alt-rock greats past and present from the Jesus Lizard to the Flaming Lips to Yo La Tengo have already been confirmed.

Tickets are $60 for entrance July 18-19 and $35 for single day passes. Three-day passes are sold out. FYI: PITCHFORKMUSICFESTIVAL.COM

For those who prefer a single day outdoors, Tinley Park's First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre will host hip-hopsters Nas, Damian Marley and the Roots June 27 for "Rock the Bells 2009 (1 p.m., $51-$101), Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage and others July 26 for the Mayhem Festival (2:15 p.m., $24.25-$52.25), and the long running Vans Warped Tour Aug. 1, with punk and hard rock faves such as Bad Religion, Less Than Jake and Senses Fail among acts slated to perform (noon, $28). FYI: (708) 614-1616 or LIVENATION.COM.