Drake, the Strokes, and the War on Drugs are among the artists headlining a new music festival being held in West Potomac Park this fall that is being billed as a massive fundraiser for overdue repairs on the National Mall. The aptly titled Landmark Music Festival, scheduled for September 26 and 27, is the creation of the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit that advocates for increased funding for upkeep on the 309-acre park, and C3 Presents, which stages large-scale music festivals including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
The top of the 41-act bill also includes English art-rockers alt-J, zeitgeist-y singer-songwriters Ben Howard and George Ezra, and electronic bands Chromeo and CHVRCHES. A few locals made the lineup, too, including Wale, Ex Hex, and the perpetually unsigned indie rockers U.S. Royalty.
Two-day passes are on sale for $100 until Wednesday at 10 AM, when prices increase to $150 for the weekend. The event will also be streamed on Yahoo.
A report earlier this month from the National Parks Conservation Association found that the National Mall and Memorial Parks of the National Park Service has a maintenance backlog totaling $852.7 million. The Landmark Festival, in the words of its planners, “aims to raise awareness and funds,” though they do not say what the revenue split between the Trust and C3 will be.
Here’s the full lineup:
Drake
The Strokes
alt-J
CHVRCHES
Ben Howard
Chromeo
Band of Horses
The War on Drugs
George Ezra
Nate Ruess
Lord Huron
Wale
The Kills
Twin Shadow
The Lone Bellow
Dr. John & The Nite Trippers
Dan Deacon
Houndmouth
The Joy Formidable
Daughter
Albert Hammond Jr.
Rhiannon Giddens
Ex Hex
The Mowgli’s
boots
In the Valley Below
Rebirth Brass Band
U.S. Royalty
Hiss Golden Messenger
Vandaveer
Erik Hassle
Vintage Trouble
Lion Babe
The London Souls
Red Baraat
The Hunts
Avers
The Suffers
The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers
Empresarios
Ace Cosgrove
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
