It’s that special time of year, when the sun is shining (for five minute increments between torrential downpours) and our friends at Willamette Week announce the lineup for Portland’s very own music festival, MusicfestNW. The typical structure for the now ten-year-old fest is 17 clubs, four nights, and 160 bands, but this year MFNW is changin’ it up a bit and adding an outdoor venue in the historic Pioneer Courthouse Square.
If this news alone isn’t tantalizing enough for you, just wait until you hear what bands will be headlining the outdoor Pioneer Square Levi’s Stage: The Decemberists on Saturday, September 11, and The National on Sunday, September 12. I know it’s tough, but if you’re around other people right now, please refrain from squeals of ecstasy.
The festival runs from September 9-12 and features bands including Ausin’s Okkervil River, New York’s The Walkmen, and Portland’s own Menomena, The Helio Sequence and The Thermals.
Festival wristbands go on sale June 5, 2010, at two price points:
-$90 for an all-inclusive wristband that gets you into both outdoor shows and the rest of the four-day festival.
-$65 for one of the two outdoors shows (The Decemberists or The National) and the rest of the fest.
Individual tickets for shows at Pioneer Square, Crystal Ballroom, and The Roseland Theater will also be on sale June 5. All ticket information can be found at musicfestnw.com/tickets
Full preliminary lineup:
The Decemberists
The National
Okkervil River
Major Lazer
Sleep performing Holy Mountain
Menomena
The Thermals
Wiz Khalifa
Ra Ra Riot
The Walkmen
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
The Helio Sequence
Justin Townes Earle
Baroness
David Bazan
The Tallest Man on Earth
The Gories
No Means No
Man Man
Laura Veirs
Bobby Bare Jr.
Titus Andronicus
Surfer Blood
Akron/Family
Crooked Fingers
Shonen Knife
Japandroids
People Under the Stairs
Cold Cave
Frank Turner
The Builders and the Butchers
Phantogram
Washed Out
Black Prairie
Thee Oh Sees
Abe Vigoda
Big Freedia
MEN
Laser Sword
From Ashes Rise
Devin Phillips
The Suckers
Trash Talk
Scott Kelly
Rocky Votolato
Blue Giant
The Minus 5
Dan Mangan
Jeff the Brotherhood
Marc Olson
Red Fang
The Zeros
Let’s Wrestle
Pierced Arrows
The Bellrays
Weinland
Portland Cello Project
The Magic Kids
DJ Beyonda
Richmond Fontaine
Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
Tu Fawning
Death by Stereo
Princeton
Kisses
White Hinterland
BOAT
Damion Suomi
Typhoon
Y La Bamba
-Katrina Nattress