This morning, Virgin Mobile USA announced the lineup for this year’s FreeFest at Merriweather,
which we learned last week was scheduled for October 6—almost a month later than usual.
On the main stages at this year’s festival will be Jack White, Skrillex, M83, Nas,
ZZ Top, Santigold, Alabama Shakes, Ben Folds Five, the Dismemberment Plan, Allen Stone,
Trampled by Turtles, Portugal. the Man, Das Racist, Future Islands, and Justin Jones.
By our count, that’s 15 acts without even starting on the Dance Forest, which’ll welcome
Above & Beyond, Porter & Zedd (Back to Back), Thomas Gold, Nervo, Alvin Risk, and
Penguin Prison, and more acts to be announced. Last year, the main pavilion stage
featured just six acts: Bombay Bicycle Club, Okkervil River, Grace Potter and the
Nocturnals, Patti Smith, TV on the Radio, and the Black Keys, with an additional seven
acts (including Deadmaus, Cut Copy, and Cee Lo Green) playing the west stage.
In other words, you’ll be getting even more for your (lack of) money this year, including
acts spanning an impressive four decades. Tickets will become available August 24
via Ticketfly, and Virgin Mobile Live (@virginmlive) will tweet out a link to the
presale on August 23. “Freemium” tickets are also available via the 9:30 Club and
Merriweather box offices, and include a donation to charity, a FreeFest T-shirt, a
souvenir cup, and early admission to the grounds.
Visit FreeFest’s website for more information.
