There are many enjoyable activities to take part in during another scorching, Sacramento summer, including rafting, barbequing and swimming. Summer is also the time when big name recording artists outline their plans for seemingly endless tours. This summer is no different with Sacramento playing host to the usual collection of punks, metal heads, hip-hop heroes and country music superstars. The following is your guide to the old, the new, and the fun concerts of summer 2006.

The Vans Warped Tour will make its annual stop in Sacramento on July 13 at the Sleep Train Amphitheater, boasting an all-star punk/emo lineup that includes AFI, Emery, Thursday and Saves the Day. What makes the Vans Warped Tour so popular is because of all the bands you get for your buck. Tickets are only $29.75, not including service charge, and the concert typically includes more than 50 bands, which works out to less than $1 per band. Also in the lineup are NOFX, Motion City Soundtrack and Senses Fail.

Another success story is the annual Ozzfest Tour, making its Sacramento stop on July 2 at the Sleep Train Amphitheater. This heavy metal powerhouse of a show includes System of a Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Distrubed and Atreyu. Tickets are $35 for general admission/lawn tickets.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will bring their brand of funk/pop fusion to Arco Arena on August 28. The Mars Volta will tour in support of the Chili Peppers. Tickets will go on sale June 17, with an expected price in the $50 range. The Chili Peppers are currently touring in support of their new album “Stadium Arcadium,” which was released on May 9.

For those with an itch for a hip-hop fix, the critically acclaimed group, the Roots, have the cure with their scheduled stop at the Empire club in Sacramento on June 11. The show is for all ages with $35 advance tickets or $40 on the day of the show. Having recently signed with Jay-Z and Def Jam, and currently working on a new studio album, The Roots may have some new tricks up their sleeves for fans when they make their appearance in Sac-town. Country fans, fret not, your summer relief comes in the form of Rascall Flatts and their July 20 show at the Shoreline Amphitheater. Tickets don’t go on sale until June 4, but tickets for their show in Fresno are going for $49.75.

Those that want both their country and “American Idol” at the same time, and don’t mind a little driving, should check out Carrie Underwood at the Reno Events Center on June 18. Tickets are $49.95.

Ticket scalpers putting a dent in your wallet for your hard-earned summer cash? Fear not, for those who wish to stay local (and cheap), the Boardwalk at 9426 Greenback Lane offers good bands at bargain prices. Gatsby’s American Dream has a show at the Boardwalk on June 30 for $10 advance/$12 day of show. Also playing the Boardwalk are Powerman 5000 on July 7 for $15.

If none of these options interest you, try checking out www.ticketmaster.com or www.pollstar.com for all the latest concert updates for Sacramento and the outlying regions.

Frank Miller can be reached at [email protected]