When you think of spring, what image comes to mind? Is it one of love, maybe even pollen, in the air? Spring is a time not only for love and pollen but also for music.

Being in the South provides many opportunities to see quality music during this season, no matter what your musical preference may be. The easiest way to see the most music in the least amount of time as the school year winds down is to check out the weekend-long festivals in Memphis and Nashville.

The ever-popular Beale Street Music Fest rolls its way onto the banks of the Mighty Mississippi the weekend of May 2-4 at Tom Lee Park.

BSMF has over sixty artists performing on four different stages. Headliners for the event include John Mayer, 3 Doors Down, Ben Harper, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Evanescence, Default, and Nickel Creek.

For fans of rap and R&B, Beale Street provides exclusive performances by Nappy Roots, India.Aire, and LL Cool J, to round out a very diverse group of acts.

Best Buy Nashville River Stages, occurring the same weekend as BSMF, plays host to most of the same lineup that will be in Memphis with the likes of Mayer, the B-52's, and the North Mississippi All-Stars.

Nashville, however, is the only place you can catch Live, Everclear, Def Leppard, or Government Mule.

The rules for each event read about the same:

1. No outside food.
2. No cameras, bags, or oversized umbrellas.
3. Everything is subject to inspection.

Tips when you go:

1. Come early - lines form outside the gates an hour or two before they open
2. Sleep well before going - gates open one hour before the music starts and it doesn't end until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday in Memphis and midnight in Nashville, and 8 p.m. on Sunday at both festivals.
3. Bring cash - vendors at each festival only accept cash (a few take debit cards, but I don't recommend using them since PIN numbers are easily stolen).

For more information, check out www.memphisinmay.org and www.nashvilleriverstages.com.