Ohmpark: Festival Madness

Summer is upon us and that means festival season is in full swing. 2008 is a banner year in the history of US Festivals, both in terms of quality and and quantity. It wasn't so long ago that Coachella and Bonnaroo stood alone as revolutionary festivals steering the US scene in new directions. As the touring fests dominant in the '90s began to lose their luster and become just another tour, a new model, or rather the reintroduction of the original model, began its ascension. 10 years ago neither Bonnaroo nor Coachella existed, and now there is like a billion fests all over this country that would never have been born without the two OGs. It is hard for me not to believe that over-saturation of festivals is on the horizon, but so far, 2008 is another high water mark. Some fest news:

Monolith fest, going down September 13 & 14 at beautiful Red Rocks, CO has an indie dominated line-up that hadn't existed outside of Pitchfork fest until now. I really think I may get tickets to this one:

Saturday, September 13
Devotchka
Silversun Pickups
Neko Case
Vampire Weekend
Mickey Avalon
Del tha Funky Homosapien
Cut Copy
The Fratellis
Superdrag
The Kills
Holy Fuck
White Denim
The Night Marchers
A Place to Bury Strangers
The Photo Atlas
The Hood Internet
John Vanderslice
Darker My Love
Cameron McGill & What Army
Blitzen Trapper
The Presets
Pop Levi
Pwrfl Power The Morning Benders
Boyhollow

Sunday, September 14
Justice
TV on the Radio
Band of Horses
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
CSS
The Avett Brothers
Tokyo Police Club
Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
Akron/Family
The Bronx
Tilly and the Wall
The Heavy
The Cribs
The Ting Tings
Airborne Toxic Event
Bright Channel
Chester French
Grampall Jookabox
The Rosewood Thieves
Hearts of Palm
The Giraffes
The Elms

Tickets go on sale tomorrow. More info at the Monolith fest website.

Virgin Mobile Fest, going down in Baltimore, MD August 9 & 10 announced its full line-up this week:

Saturday, August 9

Main Stage

Bloc Party
Cat Power
Chuck Berry and The Silver Beats
Citizen Cope
Duffy
Foo Fighters
Gogol Bordello
Jack Johnson
KT Tunstall
Lupe Fiasco
The Offspring
Paramore
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
The Swell Season
Wilco

Dance Tent

DJ Dan & Donald Glaude
Erol Alkan
Ferry Corsten
Soul Wax
Steve Lawler
Underworld

Sunday, August 10

Main Stage

Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
The Black Keys
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Bob Dylan
The Go! Team
Iggy & The Stooges
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
Nine Inch Nails
She & Him
Shudder to Think
Stone Temple Pilots
Taking Back Sunday

Dance Tent

Armin van Buuren
Chromeo
Deadmau5
Moby (DJ Set)
Pendulum
Richie Hawtin