Scott and Seth Avett at Crossroads KC in July. The Avett Brothers will perform at the Kanrocksas Music Festival in June. File photo.
Organizers of the Kanrocksas Music Festival have announced three of the many acts who will perform at the June 28-29 event at the Kansas Speedway:
- Kendrick Lamar (above): In 2012, Lamar, 25, released "Good Kid M.A.A.D. City," which has gone gold. In December, the rapper headlined a show at the Midland, drawing a crowd of more than 1,500.
- The Avett Brothers: In September, the five-piece ensemble from North Carolina released "The Carpenter," its seventh studio album. In July, the country/bluegrass/indie-rock/folk band drew a sell-out crowd of nearly 3,000 to Crossroads KC in downtown Kansas City.
- Tiësto: In 2012, he was ranked No. 2 in the world by DJ Mag, which described his style as "progressive/electro house" and said he is best-known for "being a legend."
Bill Brandmeyer, the festival's chief organizer, said, "This is a good taste of our direction and where we're headed and what we're shooting for. We've targeted three genres: electronic/DJ; hip-hop; and about 55 to 60 percent of the lineup will focus on alternative rock.
"We're very excited. We got one of the top DJs in the world, Tiësto; one of the darlings of all festivals and a very family-friendly act, the Avett Brothers; and Kendrick Lamar, one of the hottest college/crossover hip-hop artists. That album has received so much acclaim. We're happy to have that level of talent."
Brandmeyer said the rest of the schedule will be announced in several weeks. "We will announce it all at once, in one shot, probably in late February or early March, but things could change," he said.
The festival also announced the start of its Winter Early Bird ticket special. Starting at 8 a.m. today (Jan. 18) through midnight Jan. 31, the price of a two-day ticket will be discounted $25, from $175 to $150. For details about the lineup announcement and ticket special, go here.
| Timothy Finn, The Star
I am a mostly country music fan so this festival is obviously not for me...but I don't know if this would get me excited if I was fan of these genres. Hopefully, I am wrong!
Posted by: Clint | January 18, 2013 at 09:43 AM
Like it. So far so good.
Posted by: Dave | January 18, 2013 at 09:57 AM
My kids will be happy, they LOVE Kendrick Lamar. With the Avetts, as Dave said, not a bad start, but $25 isn't going to break me, I've got to hold out for more acts that I might want to see.
Posted by: pellboy | January 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM
that's exactly what I said to a friend of mine this morning pellboy. I'll pony up the extra 25 to make sure the full lineup is worth it first.
Posted by: Endtro | January 18, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Kanrocksas should get Stevie Wonder as a headliner. He's in big trouble with the tax man so he'll need to start working again soon. And I don't care for bands like the Avetts or Mumford and Sons, but it looks like that's the way music is trending these days. That and people paying money to see a dj play music on his laptop. Thank goodness for bittorrent sites.
Posted by: LiveMusicFan | January 18, 2013 at 11:12 AM
"Kanrocksas will focus mainly on rap, electronica and mellow fest crap music because we hate that one guy so much, and really really want him to stay as far away from out shitfest as possible".
Message heard loud and clear, I have just one request, PLEASE TAKE THE FKG WORD ROCK OUT THE NAME!!!! Kanshitsas would be more accurate.
Posted by: DT | January 18, 2013 at 11:31 AM
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH "ROCK"
Kanpukesas, Kanshitsas, Kanlameass, kandouchefest.... all more accurate names
Posted by: DT | January 18, 2013 at 11:33 AM
I love the Avetts but a lot of people chatted through their show at Crossroads so at Kanrocksas it will be way worse, but I will still be excited to see them. I like the Kendrick Lamar album but the review of the show mentioned that he didn't translate well onstage at the Midland so hopefully he brings a band or something because a giant racetrack infield will make it even harder to connect with fans. The rumors of Dave Matthews Band don't really excite me, because it's not the 1990s, but I will keep on open mind about it and look forward to see who else is coming. I am actually still excited to see who is playing Middle of the Map Fest so hopefully they share that lineup soon.
Posted by: Dave | January 18, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Middle of the map is definitely the superior festival. I'm bummed that it's the first year I can't go.
I like the diversity of the three acts for Kanrocksas but it will take some great bands filling out the rest of the lineup to cement me going.
Posted by: Endtro | January 18, 2013 at 11:51 AM
You know what would be cool?
Bring back all the acts that played the 1974 Sedalia music festival aka The Ozark Music Festival.
Posted by: Joe Walsh | January 18, 2013 at 12:43 PM
I do not like festivals, I must be old, so I hope artist I like don't play this. More looking forward to the Coachella line-up, to see who might make a few bucks coming to KC on the way to or from it.
Posted by: Steve J | January 18, 2013 at 01:59 PM
I'm pretty much the same way, Steve, but I fear I might have to go just to "babysit" my boys so I hope to hell there are some acts that will make it more worthwhile for me.
Posted by: pellboy | January 18, 2013 at 02:52 PM
anyone crapping on the lineup, that's fine it's your opinion. But most festivals try to reach a diverse range of music. look at the lineups for the big ones, coachella, bonnaroo, & lollapalooza. The great thing about these fests is the diversity. If you don't like the lineup, don't purchase a ticket and don't shit on it either, be glad some people here in the metro are trying to bring a diverse fest here to the KC.
Posted by: Jack | January 19, 2013 at 09:25 AM
Oh, yeah, we are going to comment, and shit, on anything we see fit of commenting/shitting on, OK? Yeah, that's it. Great.
Posted by: Bill Lumbergh | January 19, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Hmm, from what I've heard so far, I'll PASS!
Posted by: Bubba Brown | January 19, 2013 at 02:14 PM
Hell, just put some Port-o-Potties on stage and mic em up!
Posted by: 913KCKKID | January 19, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Google tells me that "shit" is trending pretty heavily thanks to this thread. Sure you all have been getting enough fiber in your diet? Seems to be some latent hostility of a fecal nature here. Bran muffins, apple juice, PBR.....all excellent tickets to bowel nirvana. I hear that Kansas Speedway has contracted w/ Home Depot to cover the infield of the track with woodchips this year too.....Bring a poncho, Kansas in June is known for its shitstorms.
Posted by: Professor | January 21, 2013 at 09:29 AM
You know what I like?
Chick-fil-A's plain sandwich, NO pickle.
AND....
I LOVE MINSKY'S DELUXE/EVERYTHING PIZZA, and although it is great to eat cold the day after, it is well worth heating up because hot, re-cooked, re-melted pizza cheese (slighty crunchy) may be the most tasty thing in the entire Universe.
Posted by: Pops | January 21, 2013 at 10:23 AM
For those that haven't done so already, go to the Kanrocksas website and check out video. Very entertaining.
Posted by: wadkc | January 21, 2013 at 04:02 PM
I second that Joe Walsh.July 19th- 21st, 1974, Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia, Mo. The Ozark Music Festival. Now these guys new how to put on a rock show!By the seat of their pants.350,000 and some of the best MUSIC ever made.Tell them its a bluegrass and poprock show.From Earl Scruggs Revue, Leo Kotte,Spirit,David Bromberg,Eagles,Skynyrd, Seger, Aerosmith, etc. etc. etc.
Posted by: lilskins | January 27, 2013 at 08:53 PM
Right on lilskins, right on.
They dont make em like they used to.
Posted by: Joe Walsh | January 28, 2013 at 01:23 PM