Although The Bamboozle is still four months away, press and sponsors were given a preview of the New Jersey music festival at the Bamboozle 2012 Kick-Off Party, which was held at New York’s Irving Plaza on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The evening was highlighted by Bamboozle founder John D’Esposito offering helpful tips to attendees of the May 18-20 festival — from transit options to planned after-parties — during a 20-minute Powerpoint presentation.
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Bamboozle founder John D’Esposito (center) poses with Billboard chart manager (classical, kid audio, video) Alex Vitoulis and Billboard.com assistant editor Jason Lipshutz at the Bamboozle 2012 Kick-Off Party. (Photo: Maria Malta)
Now in its 10th year, The Bamboozle will relocate from its six-year home, the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J., to Asbury Park, where the festival was founded in 2003. Bon Jovi, Skrillex and the Foo Fighters have been announced as this year’s headliners, as D’Esposito says that 105,000 concertgoers are expected at the beach and boardwalk at North Beach Asbury Park.
Two notable announcements were made at the Kick-Off Party: along with the three-day Asbury Park fest, the Bamboozle will be extended to a smaller festival in Wildwood, N.J. on Aug. 24-25. A lineup has not yet been finalized, although Wildwood mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. was on hand on Wednesday night to celebrate the announcement. Also, D’Esposito revealed that The Bamboozle was engaged in active discussions with Nicki Minaj to join the lineup of the Asbury Park festival, although her appearance at the festival could not yet be confirmed.
From left: David Toomey (SVP, Operations at Artist Arena), YuuZoo.com Founder David Kleinhandler and Philip de la Gueronniere (Chief Operating Officer, YuuZoo.com) pose at the Bamboozle 2012 Kick-Off Party (Photo: Abbe Cohen)
Among the other general information shared during the presentation: The Bamboozle will be open from 5 pm – 11 pm EST on Friday, May 18, and from 2 pm – 11 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There will be one main stage instead of two this year, although smaller stages like the B-Boy arena and hip-hop will return. The festival will be a 10-minute walk away from the Asbury Park Train and Bus Station, and free shuttle service will also be available. And multiple after-parties will be held on each day of the festival, from bonfire sing-alongs on Asbury’s South Beach to a performance by pop-rockers Dramarama at the Stone Pony.
D’Esposito also thanked sponsors like Citi, YuuZoo.com and Live Nation, which were well-represented at the kick-off event. Performance artist David Garibaldi capped off the night by rapidly creating paintings of Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Minaj.
From left: Serge Grimaux of Intellitix and Scott O’Donnell, Live Nation, Exec Director of Programming & Festivals, attend the Bamboozle 2012 Kick-Off Party. (Photo: Abbe Cohen)