Despite the highly unfortunate reality that finals are just weeks away, we can still look ahead to the future with a sunny disposition.

Accompanying the culmination of the academic year is the rebirth of another season, the time of summer music festivals.

For those who are not planning on venturing overseas or even to another side of the continental United States this summer vacation, please refrain from feelings of homegrown boredom for now. There is still fun to be had in the Northeast at All Points West music festival.

The 2009 All Points West Music and Art Festival is the second installment of the three-day, multi-stage extravaganza, held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., after last summer’s extremely well-received debut.

With Radiohead as the headliner, such high demand for an All Points part deux comes with no surprises.

The last year’s lineup spotlighted bands that would go on to have explosive releases later in the fall and early 2009, including Kings of Leon, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird and Metric, along with a few other indie mainstays such as Cat Power, the New Pornographers and Mates of State. Music junkie Web site Pitchfork hailed it as “a success by almost every account.”

Mere weeks ago, head production honcho Goldenvoice/AEG Live announced the tentative 2009 schedule, which has already been dubbed by music news sites as “actually righteous.” Packed with over 65 artists, All Points West is much more than a one hit wonder showcase.

The first day of this year’s festival, Friday, July 31, is slated to bring heavies such as the Beastie Boys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fleet Foxes, Ra Ra Riot, cult comedy icon Bo Burnham and many more.

Day two, Saturday, Aug. 1, will feature Neko Case (fresh off of her “Middle Cyclone” release), Tool, My Bloody Valentine and Arctic Monkey, just to name a few.

The musical melting pot will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 2, with a third day of heavenly sounds including, but not limited to: Coldplay, Echo & the Bunnymen, We Are Scientists and Akron/Family.

If any of the acts fail to impress, then be sure that the landscape will. It is one thing to be witnessing a live performance by the much too little known, but always entertaining, Akron/Family; it is an entirely different case to be watching them with the Manhattan skyline and Lady Liberty herself in the background.

To throw in the true east-meets-west coast vibe, this year’s event planners are taking some hints from California’s 10-year-old music festival, Coachella, and incorporating performance tents.

The Queen of the Valley stage will be converted into a tent to spotlight various DJs, comedy acts (Judah Friedlander, Tim & Eric, Jim Jeffries, Janeane Garofalo) and electronic performances.

So, in between the monotony of the afternoon shifts at your minimum wage summer job or your unpaid internship, make some time for some quality R and R.

Rest and relaxation, or rock and roll.

Tickets for All Points West are on sale now only at Ticketmaster.

One-day passes are $89, and for a limited time only, three-day passes are $199. The All Points West Web site has more information, including a full lineup.