The Police, the Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins will headline the second U.S. Virgin Fest, set for Aug. 4-5 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.
According to producer Seth Hurwitz, the lineup follows a Virgin Fest strategy of "blockbuster" bands. "We only have 12 slots a day on two big stages, and our concept is to fill our slots with the absolute best talent available," Hurwitz tells Billboard.com. "We don't book any 'favor' spots."
Virgin Fest will be running the same weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Last year, V-Fest was in September, but Hurwitz says the date change was made to accommodate the Police tour. "It's not ideal [to be the same weekend as Lollapalooza], but given the choice of booking the Police or not we had to go for it," Hurwitz says. "If anything it's probably helped us because we were able to book some bands that were out already for Lolla. Hopefully both festivals will be strong enough that it doesn't matter."
Hurwitz says the rest of the Virgin Fest lineup will be announced "when it's finished." Lollapalooza tickets go on sale April 3, with the full lineup to be released April 12. Published reports put Pearl Jam on the bill as one of the headliners.
Last year, the U.S. Virgin Fest grossed $3.5 million and drew 34,714 for a one-day event. Lollapalooza grossed nearly $8 million and drew about 201,000 over three days. Bonnaroo is the top-grossing North American festival, taking in $14.7 million and selling more than 80,000 tickets for all three days. The only other festival the Police are playing this summer is Bonnaroo, set for June 14-17 in Manchester, Tenn.
As previously reported, the Pumpkins will also play the Toronto edition of V-Fest, alongside Bjork, the Killers, Interpol and Amy Winehouse. That event will be held Sept. 8-9 on Toronto Island. A May 20 Vancouver version will boast the Killers and My Chemical Romance at Thunderbird Stadium.
According to producer Seth Hurwitz, the lineup follows a Virgin Fest strategy of "blockbuster" bands. "We only have 12 slots a day on two big stages, and our concept is to fill our slots with the absolute best talent available," Hurwitz tells Billboard.com. "We don't book any 'favor' spots."
Virgin Fest will be running the same weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Last year, V-Fest was in September, but Hurwitz says the date change was made to accommodate the Police tour. "It's not ideal [to be the same weekend as Lollapalooza], but given the choice of booking the Police or not we had to go for it," Hurwitz says. "If anything it's probably helped us because we were able to book some bands that were out already for Lolla. Hopefully both festivals will be strong enough that it doesn't matter."
Hurwitz says the rest of the Virgin Fest lineup will be announced "when it's finished." Lollapalooza tickets go on sale April 3, with the full lineup to be released April 12. Published reports put Pearl Jam on the bill as one of the headliners.
Last year, the U.S. Virgin Fest grossed $3.5 million and drew 34,714 for a one-day event. Lollapalooza grossed nearly $8 million and drew about 201,000 over three days. Bonnaroo is the top-grossing North American festival, taking in $14.7 million and selling more than 80,000 tickets for all three days. The only other festival the Police are playing this summer is Bonnaroo, set for June 14-17 in Manchester, Tenn.
As previously reported, the Pumpkins will also play the Toronto edition of V-Fest, alongside Bjork, the Killers, Interpol and Amy Winehouse. That event will be held Sept. 8-9 on Toronto Island. A May 20 Vancouver version will boast the Killers and My Chemical Romance at Thunderbird Stadium.
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