In its ninth year, the traveling music and arts circus known as Lollapalooza recently changed its format and announced the lineup for this summer’s tour.
This year’s event will be the debut of a two-day series of performances with a more diverse musical lineup, according to Jessica Rotter, touring publicist for Lollapalooza.
The San Fransisco stop from July 17 – 18 is the only date scheduled with tickets available, leaving the opportunity for a visit to the Southeast within driving distance.
String Cheese Incident, Morrissey, P.J. Harvey, the Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, the Von Bondies, Modest Mouse, Hatebreed, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the Polyphonic Spree are scheduled to play the main stage, along with smaller acts such as Sparta, Le Tigre, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Danger Mouse, Broken Social Scene and DJ Peretz, a.k.a. Perry Ferrell, co-founder of Lollapalooza and lead singer of Jane’s Addiction.
The confirmed groups offer a variety of acoustic rock, jam bands, rock & roll, techno, hardcore and punk, and purposely mimic the lineup of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in southern California.
“We wanted more creativity in the festival,” Rotter said. “A lot of festivals aren’t as indie-based, and Coachella’s lineup was so diverse. At Lollapalooza, we’re doing the same thing, except on a national level.”
Marc Geiger, an agent for the William Morris Agency, one of the founders of the event, said that the change to a two-day show results in more artists that will perform.
“There are just too many great bands,” he said. “What we’re doing is more akin to the great European festivals that originally inspired Lollapalooza, as well as [events like] Coachella and Bonnaroo.”
The extended concert will not result in an increase of ticket prices, according to Rotter. General admission for one day will be close to $30 and entry for the entire two-day package is $50.
Lollapalooza festivals of past years have had loose themes, but this year’s theme is questionable.
“‘This summer, Lollapalooza will embody the spirit of the Gypsy,'” said Rotter, quoting Farrell. “Our buses of artisans sleeping over in each city will spread the sense of exhilaration.”
Geiger downplayed the existence of a theme.
“The only theme to the whole thing is eclectic music not driven by the commercial marketplace,” he said.
Farrell launched the tour in 1991 for the final appearances of Jane’s Addiction until they reunited in 1997. The tour itself lasted until 1997, and then reappeared last summer with Jane’s Addiction, Queens of the Stone Age, Incubus, Audioslave and A Perfect Circle.