Being from Maryland I was a bit surprised when i heard the location of the new US Virgin Fest. I have always known and been envious of the other Virgin sponsered festivals in Australia, Canada, and England but was not sure how the DC/Maryland/Virginia area would take to this new addition to their summer festivities. But if there is anything we like more, it is a party- particularly one at a horse track. Bring it! Last years attendance was a bit slow and this year they will have some stiff competition from Lollapooloza, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Sasquatch all with stellar line-ups.
Billboard reports that "Modest Mouse, Velvet Revolver, Wu-Tang Clan, Cheap Trick, The Fratellis, Amy Winehouse, Paolo Nutini, Crystal Method, 311, Incubus, Chris Cornell, Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio, Bad Brains and Fountains Of Wayne to a bill that already includes the Police, Beastie Boys and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Completing the bill for the second-year festival, set for Aug. 4-5 at Pimlico Race Course, are Peter Bjorn and John, Sasha & John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, LCD Soundsystem, Booka Shade, Shout Out Out Out Out, Matisyahu, Fiction Plane, Felix Da Housecat, Miguel Migs (Petal Pusher), Spoon, Deep Dish (Dubfire + Sharam), James Zabeila, M.I.A., CSS, Regina Spektor, Interpol, Infected Mushroom, Dieselboy & Andy C and Girl Talk.
"I feel like we came up with A-list talent from top to bottom, which was our goal," says Seth Hurwitz, producer of the festival through his I.M.P. "We've evolved to where the level of talent makes for two 'A-stages' instead of 'A' and 'B-stages.'
The lineup is assembled "from the top down," Hurwitz says. "We didn't approach the middle and bottom parts of the bill until we saw what was above it, then we proceeded with natural segues," he says. "Our desire was to have diversity without being directionless. It kind of reflects my personal taste: I like Patsy Cline and I like Metallica. Booking this, I try to pick the bands that are for real."
The Police are only playing one other festival in North America, Bonnaroo. But Hurwitz says that stellar booking did not stop him from booking the best bands available. "After we booked the Police, a lot of industry insiders were whispering in my ear, 'You've got the Police -- you've got a free pass this year, you should save your money," he says. "That would have made us more money this year but I look at it as an opportunity to spend money without feeling like we're taking as much risk because of this so-called 'free pass.' We're building a brand here."
Tickets, priced the same per-day as last year, go on sale May 5 as two-day passes at $175. Single-day tickets at $97.50 will only be available if the two-day tickets don't sell out."
Hopefully people will brave the ridiculous heat and humidity that is so so lovely in August in Maryland. Hey, i used to do it every year for Warped Tour, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
Girl Talk-Bounce That.mp3Modest Mouse-Dashboard.mp3The Fratellis-Vince The Loveable Stoner.mp3Shout Out Out Out-Dude You Feel Electrical.mp3CSS-The Gun.mp3Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Gold Lion (Diplo Remix).mp3
