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February 21, 2006
Summer Festival Update – Sasquatch, Lollapalooza
American festivals are evolving. Gone are the days when a traveling musical circus came to every town. The current playbook takes inspiration from European festivals by keeping the locale the same, fostering an atmosphere of a “happening,” and planting local roots deeper with an eye towards future vitality.
The big boys holding the most clout are the California desert's Coachella, and Tennessee’s massive Bonnaroo. Lollapalooza, now stationary in Chicago, and Washington’s Sasquatch have also confirmed dates and filed permits for mass gatherings.
While Coachella has kept itself relatively modest and manageable, and the ‘Roo actually scaling back from last year’s heavily criticized enormity, these other festies are growing bigger and longer as they bloat into three day events. All will share the pleasures and odors of sweltering music fans making bad decisions with alcohol under a hot sun.
Sasquatch
Sasquatch will be held May 27-28 over Memorial Day weekend amongst majestic canyons and vistas at the beautiful Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA. Notable acts are NIN, Death Cab, Queens of the Stone Age, the Flaming “we just do one off festivals instead of touring” Lips, the Shins, Arctic Monkeys, Hasidic novelty and Jeff Klingman fave Matisyahu, Decemberists, …Trail of the Dead, Rogue Wave, CYHSY, Beck, Wolfmother, We Are Scientists and Sufjan Stevens in his only scheduled show of the summer.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is back at Chicago's Grant Park on August 4-6. The lack of a confirmed lineup invites rampant speculation on acts, among them: Smashing Pumpkins on and off again reunion, Thievery Corporation, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Disco Biscuits. Not running to book plans for Chicago in August? Well this may pique your interest:
The rock festival said it will schedule 130 artists to play eight stages over three days, Aug. 4-6. Promoters estimated that as many as 225,000 people would attend over three days (via Live Music Blog).
If accurate, it would be more than twice the size of last year when 60 bands entertained 65,000 people over a weekend.
In other festival news – Trey Anastasio, String Cheese Incident, MMW, and an army of wookies are confirmed for a weekend of camping and music at Minnesota's 10,000 Lakes Festival.
Summer of 2006 Music Marathons:
//Sasquatch
//Lollapalooza
//Coachella
//Bonnaroo
//10,000 Lakes
Previously - Coachella Lineup, Coachella additions, Radiohead Headlines Bonnaroo
Tags: Sasquatch, Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaroo, 10,000 Lakes
Posted by Merry Swankster at February 21, 2006 03:05 PM
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Comments
Slander!
Posted by: Jeff Klingman at February 21, 2006 03:20 PM
Don't hide your love for the Hasidic reggae.
Posted by: Merry Swankster at February 21, 2006 03:26 PM
