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Virgin Mobile FreeFest concert to feature M.I.A., JOAN JETT, Ludacris
from: washingtonpost.com
by Chris Richards
Virgin Mobile FreeFest has announced a lineup that's sure to delight both pop-omnivores and text message enthusiasts. M.I.A.! LCD! T.I.! OMG!
The region's leading annual pop-music festival takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 25, offering the most refreshing line-up in its five-year history: Pop polyglot M.I.A., disco-rock troupe LCD Soundsystem, Georgia rap hero T.I., reunited indie gods Pavement, hype-surfers Sleigh Bells and a dozen other acts are scheduled to perform.
And like last year's concert, this one will cost fans a whole lotta zilch. Tickets are free and will be given away online at Ticketfly on Saturday at 10 a.m.
"We really took the approach of turning people on to who we thought were the coolest bands out there," says Seth Hurwitz, FreeFest producer and chairman of concert promotion powerhouse I.M.P. "We don't have the pressure of having to sell tickets, so who do you pick? You pick the bands you think are going to [offer] the best music."
While FreeFest is billed as a free concert, that designation comes with a $125 asterisk. For that price, fans can purchase a premium ticket that guarantees pavilion seating, with an unspecified portion of the proceeds going to homeless youth charities. The premium ticket is available for purchase online Friday at 10 a.m. Hurwitz declined to say how many of those will be sold, but said "well over 30,000" tickets will be given away.
Other FreeFest main stage acts include Ludacris, JOAN JETT, Thievery Corporation, Matt & Kim, Jimmy Eat World, the Temper Trap, Yeasayer and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. In addition to the two main stages, there will be a third stage on the Merriweather Post grounds -- they've dubbed it the "Dance Forest" -- to host sets from Chromeo, Die Antwoord, Modeselektor and Neon Indian. Ascendant jazzman Trombone Shorty will also be performing on the grounds.
And while this year's programming might not have the star power of previous years, it still feels the most current. Back when the festival charged actual money for all tickets, headliners included the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Who in 2006, the Police and the Beastie Boys in 2007, and Kanye West and the Foo Fighters in 2008.
Last year, the festival downsized from two days to one, and migrated from Pimlico Race Course to Merriweather Post. Aging alt-rockers Blink-182 and Weezer headlined. The party line was, "I can't complain when it's free." This year, the party line will probably be, "I can't believe this is free!"
Also like last year, Virgin Mobile is encouraging a $5 donation to the RE*Generation, its charitable initiative to end youth homelessness. In return, fans will get a download of FreeFest artists mixed by DJ and dubstep producer Rusko.
Start practicing your mouse clicks. Last year, all 35,000 tickets vanished in a mere 30 minutes.
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