Festivals in Brief: Wakarusa, Gathering of the Vibes, ACL, Virgin Festival, and more!
A new day, a new slew of festival news. Let’s round up all the important info in today’s edition of CoS’ Festivals in Brief:
Wakarusa Music Festival:
And the additions keep on coming for Wakarusa. Fresh off the unveiling of the Interstellar Meltdown late night electro action of epic proportions, the Ozark, Arkansas based festival has added a few more names to this year’s bill, including Gomez, Telepath, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, and The Hood Internet.
Gathering of the Vibes:
In its latest late night announcement, Gathering of the Vibes revealed this year’s final main stage lineup, which now includes Crosby Stills & Nash, The Machine, and Guster joining the previously announced George Clinton, Grace Potter, Bob Weir & Ratdog, and 20+ other acts currently confirmed. Advanced ticket sales for weekend and VIP passes are still available via gatheringofthevibes.com.
Austin City Limits:
Austin City Limits is about as good as keeping its lineup secret as Lollaplooza, which makes sense considering they are both organized by the same folks. Thanks to our friends over at Austin Soundcheck, we now know that Pearl Jam, Mos Def, The B-52s, Sonic Youth, John Legend, and Thievery Corporation all look to be included on this year’s lineup, while Papa Mali, Passion Pit, The Knux, Kings of Leon, Perservation Hall, and Reckless Kelly all look to be safe bets as well.
Capitol Hill Block Party:
While nothing has been officially confirmed, according to Seattle’s Ear Candy, some comments made by KEXP DJ Marco Collins basically confirmed that Sonic Youth and The Jesus Lizard will headline this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party. Official details should be coming soon, the Seattle based event generally takes place in late July.
Virgin Mobile Festival:
We finally have a Virgin Mobile Festival update, courtesy of the Baltimore Sun. The only problem? It’s not much of an update at all - an email sent to publicist Audrey Fix Schaefer was met with a response saying “no news to report.” The Sun goes on to note that the uncertain future of Pimlico, the festival’s venue, could be the culprit behind the problem, asking “Who books a festival at a venue that could be torn down in six months?” Then again, how would you explain the lack of details for its sister festivals up north, Virgin Calgary and Virgin Toronto, as well?
AC Entertainment:
This doesn’t really fit into the category of festival news, but it could in the future, so just go with it for now. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, AC Entertainment, the co-creator of Bonnaroo, recently acquired Nashville-based concert promotion company Great Big Shows. The acquisition will expand AC Entertainment’s “resources for event creation, management and production nationwide.” In other words, Stagecoach could soon be getting some compeition.
please don;t move the festival to Merriweather!
the only thing i live for is that festival and i’m not going to Merri. to see it
it is a terrible place for a show, especially for a festival!
It will be no fun there! TRUST!
The lack of information and uncertainty about the Virgin Mobile Festival will likely drive people to established festivals that actually have dates and performers, either APW or Lollapalooza. Sad, because the fest has been good, but people have to make plans.
makes sense for the Virgin mobile in the States. But Metallica has played both Calgary and Toronto in the last 7 months. So that doesn’t seem like a plausable act to sell tickets up north.
Can you say economic crisis for Mr. Branson. Seems like a logical division to totally cut back upon. I will be completely surprised if this thing went back to Calgary this year? Last year was weak sauce. Unless the only kind of music you listen to is Top 40 rock. then im sure you enjoyed this fest.
The 9:30 Club discussion board has been digging for Virgin Mobile Festival news for a few weeks as well. Despite the lack of updates, there is a rumor - supposedly from a record executive - that the delay is because organizers want Metallica to headline and must wait for their tour schedule to fall into place.
Let’s hope this falls through.
May 4th, 2009 at 8:25 am
[...] in a new wave of country music festivals. Last month, AC Entertainment, the co-creator of Bonnaroo, acquired Nashville-based concert promotion company Great Big Shows, with the intention of expanding the [...]
Apr 3rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
[...] today, we noted of what looked to be the impending cancellation of this year’s Virgin Mobile Festival. [...]