6. Women will do well. Like Summer Fest, ACL is a little testosterone-heavy at the top, which makes the pockets of estrogen that much more alluring. Compared to the raging frat-boy fests the Chili Peppers, Black Keys, Neil Young, Jack White and Stooges sets are going to be, Florence + the Machine, Metric (Emily Haines), Esperanza Spalding, Alabama Shakes (Brittany Howard), Tegan and Sara, Crystal Castles (Alice Glass), Zola Jesus and Ruthie Foster all offer up little islands of art and soul.

5. Get there early for any artist in all caps. EDM monsters AVICII and BASSNECTAR will be two of the biggest draws of the festival, as will Christian rockers NEEDTOBREATHE. Plan accordingly; this probably goes for Big K.R.I.T., too.

4. Precious indie-folk has officially reached its saturation point. With the Avett Brothers, the Civil Wars, Punch Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, Lumineers, Dry the River, the Devil Makes Three and He's My Brother, She's My Sister all on hand, mostly acoustic groups that come off a wee bit smug are one of the main ACL '12 themes. You can probably toss Andrew Bird, M. Ward and Gotye in there, too, but after this weekend...it's over.

3. Michael Kiwanuka is better than all of them. I saw this twentysomething Nigerian-born singer-songwriter at SXSW and was riveted. He could be a baby Bob Marley -- promise.

2. The Afghan Whigs better be scheduled opposite Gotye. Because I want a spot right up front and don't want to have to fight any crowds.

1. Free Press Summer Fest will be more fun. So I'm a Houston homer. Sue me.