The kids may be headed back to school, but SPIN.com has been on a permanent rock vacation this past week; we've brought you musical dispatches from Seattle's Bumbershoot festival, given you the scoop about reunions and upcoming albums, and let you inside the pages of this month's SPIN cover story about alt-rock journeyman Beck. Check out this week's highlights below:

Between his shining moments of absolute genius -- Odelay, Sea Change, Mellow Gold -- Beck has had his creative and commercially unsuccessful moments.

The opening day of the 38th annual Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival was a pleasant reminder of just why this event is in a league all its own. The leisurely, family-friendly atmosphere, unrivaled food selection (yum!), and vast diversity of installation and performance art all stood out -- but nothing punctuated this Seattle extravaganza like the wildly eclectic musical lineup.

After spending the summer traveling from music festival to music festival, SPIN.com has finally reached the final -- and arguably the best -- event in the summer circuit: Seattle's Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival.

ARTIST GALLERIES

Father's Day might normally happen in June, but Beck doesn't care: He's turning a Sept. 20 gig at the Hollywood Bowl into a paternal celebration by collaborating on stage with his father, David Campbell, for the first time ever.