As the summer festival circuit creeps closer, hopeful MXDWN-ers and festival followers alike are being musically satiated as an outpouring of artists and lineups for upcoming festivals hit the public.
Earlier this week, The Chicago Sun Times website leaked the 2012 lineup for Lollapalooza, confirming the rumored headlines: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath and Jack White. Other highly anticipated artists confirmed are the freshly reunited At the Drive-In, Florence + The Machine, M83, Justice, The Afghan Whigs and Franz Ferdinand.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Perry’s stage, oriented with electro music, will be moved to a bigger location. Additionally, the Tribune reported that all 4 original members of Black Sabbath will be performing together at the festival, despite Bill Ward’s last official statement that specifically informed fans of his withdrawal from the band.
As mentioned as a noteworthy act at the upcoming Lollapalooza Festival, At the Drive-In is currently gearing up to headline Coachella, which will be their first festival performance in over a decade. The group formed in El Paso, Texas in 1993, comprised of front man Cedric Bixler-Zavala, guitarists Jim Ward and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, bassist Paul Hinojos and drummer Tony Hajjar.
Earlier this week, the native Texans performed their first show together at Red 7 in Austin, one of 3 Texas shows the band planned to put on before hitting the festival circuit. At the groups’ inaugural reunion show, they played 15 songs total, including “Quarantined,” “Enfilade” and “One Armed Scissor.” Although At The Drive-In is slated to hit up major festivals this summer, they have no new material and do not plan on writing anything new – the reunion seems to be for nostalgic purpose only!
Just when you think Coachella can’t get any bigger, it does. Rolling Stone reported that Warren G announced that he and Eminem will join Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at this year’s Coachella Festival. The stellar rap-star assembly is slated to perform on the third night of Coachella. Other artists rumored to make an appearance are Kendrick Lamar, Daz Dillinger and Wiz Khalifa.
However, Warren G’s spokesman later rejected Rolling Stone’s statement, claiming that they have no information on who is confirmed for the festival. Rolling Stone continues to stand firm on their claim despite the contradictions, stating they have other sources that have confirmed Warren G’s appearance at the festival. Currently, it is definite that Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will perform Coachell on April 15th and 22nd.
Even though the Pitchfork Festival has released 2 previous rounds of lineup announcements, the third and final round is just as exciting and anticipated. Taking place July 13-15 at Chicago’s Union Park, Pitchfork Festival 2012 will feature a slew of buzzed-about artists like Wild Flag, Big K.R.I.T., Beach House, Chavez, Atlas Sound, Real Estate, Ty Segall, Cults, Nicola Jaar, Thee Oh Sees, Youth Lagoon and Lower Dens. Three-day passes are sold out, but single-day passes are still up for grabs, and are a reasonable $45. Make sure to check out the full lineup, which features other great acts like Dirty Beaches, Lotus Plaza, The Psychic Paramount and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
One group you can expect to not see at a festival anytime soon is, sadly, The Wu-Tang Clan. A recent Rolling Stone interview with GZA has made known that Wu-Tang is long past their prime and “haven’t been on the same page in years.” The Wu-Tang may be no more, but GZA has embraced his intellectual side, lecturing at placing like Harvard, and delving into thick scientific topics. His new album Dark Matter, inspired by quantum physics, will be released later this year.
Unplugging in Brief:
Lollapalooza 2012 Lineup Announced Featuring Black Sabbath, The Black Keys, Jack White and More – The leaking of the Lollapalooza lineup confirmed rumors and excited fans.
Watch: Video of At the Drive-In’s First Show Back Together At Austin’s Red 7 – At the Drive-In’s first live performance in 11 years is one of 3 small shows that will precede their journey into the summer festival circuit, with Coachella and Lollapalooza on the way.
According to Warren G, Eminem Will Join Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at Coachella 2012 – Although Warren G claims he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Rolling Stone seems certain he’ll be joining Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at this year’s Coachella.
Pitchfork Festival 2012 Announces 3rd and Final Round of Performing Bands – The first two rounds of lineup announcements sure didn’t disappoint, and neither does the last and final round of performing bands.
GZA Says “Wu-Tang Hasn’t Been On The Same Page In Years” – The Wu-Tang Clan is one group you can’t count on seeing anytime soon at a festival, as according to GZA, the golden days are over.
* Lily Angelle, MXDWN
