With summer just a few weeks away, music fans are gearing up for the season's onslaught of concerts. But with Ticketmaster's escalating prices and convenience fees, it's become harder than ever to find affordable tickets. Fortunately, some big names in the music industry are lowering ticket prices in an effort to lure music fans back out. Below is a list of bands and venues that are scaling back prices in light of the economy. (Over-priced bottled water may still apply.) Bands offering discounted tickets/merchandise Taylor Swift has cut general admission ticket prices to $20. Beginning May 15, Coldplay is giving all of its fans a free, downloadable 9-track CD to mark off their tour. No Doubt is offering a free digital copy of the band's entire music catalog with the purchase of a $42.50 or more concert ticket for their reunion tour. For every show during their 360 tour, U2 (pictured) will offer 10,000 $30 tickets. In addition, they will also offer $55 floor tickets. Lucinda Williams is offering her concertgoers a $12 store credit. $7 can be used on her clothing items and $5 can be used for purchasing her CDs. Bruce Springsteen has set aside $14 tickets for his latest tour. Venues offering ticket deals/discounts New Jersey's PNC Arts Center is offering buy "three, get one free" ticket specials for the following shows: The Fray, Def Leppard, and the Allman Brothers. The JazzFest West in San Dimas, CA is offering a layaway option for ticket sales. New York's Jones Beach Theater is offering buy "three, get one free" ticket specials for its Def Leppard show in July. Country Thunder USA is offering a layaway option for its summer show in Florence, AZ. New Jersey's IZOD Center is offering $27 "Worst seats in the house" tickets for Z100's Zootopia '09 concert. Featuring TV on the Radio, M.I.A., and Deerhunter (among others), the 2009 Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in San Francisco, CA is offering a layaway option for ticket sales. New Jersey's PNC Arts Center is offering $19 lawn seats for its Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour. Featuring Coldplay, The National, and Q-Tip (among others), the All Points West Music & Arts Festival in Jersey City, NJ (pictured) is offering a layaway option for ticket sales. The Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City, CO is offering a layaway option for ticket sales.
