In a video previewing the twelfth annual Sasquatch! Festival, comedian Nick Offerman (better known as Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation) claims that the fest's 2013 lineup will feature Merle Haggard, the original lineup of Menudo and "the great Gloria Robertson-Smith". As we know now, none of those three acts will be performing at the Gorge this year from May 24th-27th, but unless you were really pining for Ricky Martin to reunite Menudo, this year's lineup is not only among the best in the festival's history, but a sure highlight of the 2013 festival season.
Tonight, the Twittersphere was buzzing as fans anxiously awaited announcements during the annual lineup announcement party at the Neptune Theatre. To no one's surprise, opening act Cody ChesnuTT was the first confirmed. Next, were "special guests" Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who celebrated their return to the Gorge this year with a fantastic set, including a bit of Macklemore crowd-surfing. Then, just before Built to Spill's headlining set, the full lineup was announced featuring more than a handful of KEXP favorites, including Vampire Weekend, The Postal Service, The xx, Sigur Ros, Alt-J, Father John Misty, Arctic Monkeys, Grimes, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Tame Impala, The Lumineers, Tallest Man on Earth, Dirty Projectors, Andrew Bird, Matthew Dear, Youth Lagoon, Reignwolf, plus others like Primus 3D, Mumford and Sons, Imagine Dragons, Empire of the Sun, Steve Aoki, Cake, and much more. (Sorry, but no mention of The Knife.) Check out the rest of the lineup here.
Four-day passes (which include camping and parking) are priced at $337.50 and are purchasable by the general public here starting on Saturday, February 9th at 10 a.m. Sasquatch sells out every year, so if you're thinking about going, now might be a good time to get tickets and cancel any of your Memorial Day weekend plans. (If you already have tickets, now would be a good time to start crossing your fingers that 2006's weather doesn't make a surprise appearance.) Get more information about this year's festival at its website and keep checking back on the KEXP Blog for Sasquatch! updates before, during, and after the festival.
When a 4-year-old, Erik Blood began sneaking 45-rpm records from his sister’s room and listening to them while she slept, a future was being formed. Music shapes us like few elements can. The sounds, words, and images associated with certain songs can leave lasting impressions that often influence …
