After weeks of speculation and much too much time spent obsessively reloading the 9:30 Club Forum, Post Rock and even the Baltimore Buisiness Journal, we finally have confirmation. There will be a Virgin Mobile Festival this year. Now we just need to know the where, the when, the who and the how much. With that in mind let’s take a look at the latest internet chatter:
The Where: With Pimlico ownership Magna Entertainment Corp. filing for bankruptcy earlier this year, odds are good the festival will take place at a different venue for its fourth year, which is a real shame. Pimlico has been a great home for the festival the last three years. Since IMP books the festival, it would make sense (operationally and fiscally) if the show moved to the “comfy” confines of Merriweather Post Pavilion. Granted if this is the actual venue, it figures to be a smaller affair, perhaps only lasting one day.
The When: Obviously, this depends on the where, but by looking at the schedule, the last weekend in August is looking likely.
The Who: So if that is the date and the venue, who will play the big rock show? Well, we can immediately rule out anyone already playing a major venue in the area this summer. And if the show is the last weekend in August, you can rule out anyone playing Reading/Leeds in the UK (Kings of Leon, Radiohead, Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Vampire Weekend), Outside Lands in San Francisco (Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, M.I.A., Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups) and San Diego Street Scene (Black Eye Peas, Mastodon, Band of Horses).
Both Blink 182 and Weezer, two bands that are touring together this summer, have listed a Merriweather date for late August, though at one point Weezer’s web site said “THIS GIG MAY NOT HAPPEN,” while it now says “Confirmed, but venue TBA.” Weird. Also strange, The Killers, a natural festival headliner, have announced a gig at Merriweather for Monday, August 31st. Obviously there will be many other bands on the bill, but I think I speak for everyone when I say I certainly hope the top of the bill shakes out with bands that are bigger and better than those three. That said, Seth Hurwitz and IMP have done a great job booking the festival for the last three years, so we are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
The How Much: Your guess is as good as ours. But if the festival does end up on a smaller scale, ticket prices figure to come down. Could the festival even be free? If DC101’s Elliot in the Morning is to be believed, it’s a possibility.
Are you excited about the festival returning? Who do you want to see on the bill?
