Lizzo performs during at the 2020 BRIT Awards

Lizzo performs at the 2020 BRIT Awards

 

Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage

News

Virgin Fest 2020 Lineup: Lizzo, A$AP Rocky, Anderson .Paak, Ellie Goulding & More Announced

Facebook Twitter Email
The inaugural festival boasts an all-inclusive lineup, composed of 60 percent female artists, and an eco-conscious approach
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 20, 2020 - 9:10 am

Virgin Fest, a brand-new multi-genre festival debuting later this year, has announced its inaugural lineup. The two-day event, taking place June 6-7 across multiple stages throughout Banc Of California Stadium and Exposition Park in South Los Angeles, has confirmed recent GRAMMY newcomer Lizzo and rap giant A$AP Rocky as the headliners. The lineup also includes Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Diplo's Major Lazer outfit, recent Best New Artist nominees Tank And The Bangas and many more. 

Virgin Fest, which is promoting an all-inclusive environment—its tagline boasts "All Are Welcome"—features a diverse artist roster. As Rolling Stone points out, the 2020 lineup is composed of 60 percent female artists, which include acts like Ellie Goulding, Kali Uchis, Jorja Smith, Banks, Japanese Breakfast, Empress Of and others. 

Read: The 1975's Matt Healy Pledges Only To Play Gender-Balanced Festivals

The festival is also celebrating the LGBTQ+ fan and artist community. In addition to booking LGBTQ+ artists and allies, including Clairo, Trixie Mattel, singer-songwriter and former Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui and others, Virgin Fest is offering gender-neutral restrooms and is screening all vendors to ensure they align with the festival's values of inclusivity and positivity, with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community and an "emphasis on correct pronoun usage," according to PRIDE.

Read: 2020 Pitchfork Festival: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Run The Jewels, The National To Headline

In an interview with PRIDE, Virgin Fest CEO and founder Jason Felts discussed the festival's LGBTQ+-focused lineup and its approach to creating an inclusive environment.

"Being a gay man who loves music and loves people and loves diversity and loves humanity on the whole, I thought, 'Why don't we have a festival that celebrates all of that?'" he said.  

Read: Firefly Fest 2020 Lineup: Billie Eilish, Halsey, Rage Against The Machine, Maggie Rogers & More 

Virgin Fest is also taking an eco-conscious approach focusing on sustainability. The festival is "handpicking vendors who share its values and have policies that comply with their commitment to sustainability"; it will also be the "first festival in California to employ a reusable cup deposit system instead of single-use plastic cups," according to a post shared on the Virgin Group's, the festival's parent company, website. According to the event's website, the festival is also banning all single-use plastics onsite and will feature a "robust renewable energy and solar program," among other green initiatives.

To purchase tickets and to view the full lineup for the inaugural Virgin Fest, visit the festival's official website.

Breaking Down The Coachella 2020 Lineup: Rage Against The Machine, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris & More Announced

Black Pumas

Black Pumas

Photo: Lyza Renee

News

Iceland Airwaves 2020 Lineup: Black Pumas, Courtney Barnett, Metronomy & More Announced

Facebook Twitter Email
The multi-genre festival, returning to the European island country's capital in November, will also feature a two-day music industry conference
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 13, 2020 - 8:26 am

Iceland Airwaves, the longest-running festival in the European island country and the self-identified "world’s Northernmost music showcase," has today (Feb. 13) announced the initial lineup for its 2020 edition. The four-day event, taking place Wednesday, Nov. 4, through Saturday, Nov. 7, in the country's capital of Reykjavík, has locked in Courtney Barnett, who will perform an intimate solo set, U.K. electronic band Metronomy, and recent Best New Artist GRAMMY nominees Black Pumas, who are making their festival debut. 

The Iceland Airwaves 2020 lineup also includes experimental punks Squid, U.K. group Dry Cleaning and Dorian Electra, among others. The lineup also features plenty of local Icelandic artists, including the all-female rap collective Daughters of Reykjavik, Júníus Meyvant, Sin Fang and others. 

Read: Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie, Devo & More To Play Cruel World Fest

Festival organizers have compiled a Spotify playlist featuring music from the first wave of artists. 

In conjunction with the festival, Iceland Airwaves is hosting Airwaves Pro, a two-day music industry conference comprising panels, seminars, keynotes and networking sessions. 

Read: Firefly Fest 2020 Lineup: Billie Eilish, Halsey, Rage Against The Machine, Maggie Rogers & More 

Originally launched in 1999 as a one-off event held in an airplane hangar at Reykjavík Airport, Iceland Airwaves has since grown to become one of the premier festivals in the Nordic country. It was nominated for Best Small Festival at the 2020 NME Awards.

Early-bird tickets and travel packages for Iceland Airwaves 2020 are available now via the festival's official website, where you can also find the full lineup. 

Breaking Down The Coachella 2020 Lineup: Rage Against The Machine, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris & More Announced

Crowd shot at Governors Ball 2019

Crowd shot at Governors Ball 2019

Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

News

Governors Ball 2020 Canceled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
The marquee NYC festival, which was to celebrate its 10th annual edition this year, is scheduled to return in June 2021, according to a statement from the festival organizers
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 27, 2020 - 12:56 pm

Governors Ball, New York City's marquee multi-day, all-genre music festival, has canceled its 2020 edition due to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Festival organizers announced the event's cancellation in a statement shared on the festival's official website and social media accounts Thursday (March 26). The statement also indicates that Governors Ball will return in June 2021 and that festival organizers are already working on next year's edition.

"Simply put – due to current government mandates and the evolving situation in NYC, it is neither safe nor prudent to move forward with our June dates," the statement read. "The well-being of our fans, artists, staff, vendors, partners, and the surrounding NYC community is always our #1 priority.  

"Over the past few weeks, we have gone to great lengths to find a postponement date that works for all parties involved. Due to a myriad of planning and logistical issues, we have come to the conclusion that there are no sufficient options available to us. We are pushing ahead, and are already jumping into plans for 2021.

"These are crazy and unprecedented times, but New Yorkers are no strangers to challenges. As a city and a community, we will all get through this. New York always does. Now is the time to be smart, look out for one another, and do our part to help the city and the world. We encourage everyone to listen to health officials, be safe, and be excited for the future when we are all on the other side of this."

Governors Ball 2019: Recording Academy On The Road

The festival is offering refunds for festival tickets and transportation passes to customers who purchased them through the Governors Ball ticketing page. They are also offering purchasers the option to transfer their ticket(s) to next year's festival. More information about ticket transfers and refunds is available on the festival website.

Originally scheduled to take place June 5-7 at Randall's Island Park in New York City, the festival, which was to celebrate its 10th annual installment this year, had recently announced its 2020 lineup, which featured headliners Tame Impala, Missy Elliott, Flume and Vampire Weekend, among many other acts.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

Governors Ball is the latest festival to be canceled or postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, BottleRock Napa Valley, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Music Is Uniting People During The Coronavirus Quarantine 

Crowd shot at BottleRock Napa Valley 2019

Crowd shot at BottleRock Napa Valley 2019

Photo: Jim Bennett/Getty Images

News

BottleRock Napa Valley 2020 Postponed To Fall Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
The rescheduled event, which will now take place in early October, will feature all the originally confirmed headliners and several other acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews Band, Miley Cyrus and more
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2020 - 10:35 am

BottleRock Napa Valley, the North Californian music, wine, food and beer festival, has postponed its 2020 edition to the fall due to the growing coronavirus global pandemic. Originally scheduled for this spring (May 22-24), the event has been rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 2-4.

In a statement shared on the festival's official social media accounts Wednesday (March 18), festival organizers announced the event postponement came "after careful consideration an in coordination with our local and state authorities."

"We made this decision with the safety and best interests of our fans, musicians, partners, employees, and community being paramount," the statement read. "We are committed to putting on the festival to not only share great music and the incredible Napa Valley hospitality, but because it's vitally important to the livelihood of all those who make BottleRock Napa Valley the festival it is."

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

The festival, which unveiled its 2020 lineup this past January, announced that all the original headliners and several other acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews Band, Miley Cyrus, Khalid, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Zedd and more, are confirmed to remain for the rescheduled festival dates. Additional lineup updates and potential changes will be announced soon.

All tickets purchased for the original spring dates will be honored for the rescheduled fall dates. Festival organizers will be emailing further details regarding exchanges and returns "within the next few weeks," the statement reads. 

Read: How The Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is Directly Impacting Songwriters, Musicians And Artists

BottleRock Napa Valley is the latest festival to be cancelled or postponed this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the coronavirus.

How Music Is Uniting People During The Coronavirus Quarantine

Crowd shot at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2017

Crowd shot at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2017

Photo: Douglas Mason/WireImage

News

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2020 Postponed To Fall Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
This marks the first time the festival has ever rescheduled the event outside of its annual springtime slot in its five-decade history
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 18, 2020 - 12:41 pm

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the annual event celebrating the city's and home state's music and culture, has postponed its 2020 edition due to the growing coronavirus global pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday (March 17). Originally scheduled for this spring across two four-day weekends (April 23-26 and April 30-May 3), the event has been postponed until fall. New festival dates and additional details will be announced soon, according to festival organizers. 

In a message posted on the festival's official website and social media accounts, festival organizers announced the postponement of this year's event, noting the decision came "At the direction of City of New Orleans authorities, in response to ongoing COVID-19 health concerns."

"The health and safety of the community, our musicians, Festival fans, participants, sponsors and staff are paramount, and we urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials," the statement read.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

This past January, the festival announced its 2020 lineup, which originally included Foo Fighters, Lizzo, The Who, Erykah Badu, Stevie Nicks, H.E.R., the Beach Boys, Maggie Rogers, Tank and the Bangas and several others. The festival has not yet announced any potential lineup changes or artist cancellations due to the rescheduled event dates.

All tickets purchased for the original spring dates will be honored for the rescheduled fall dates. No information regarding refunds has been announced yet.

The 2020 postponement marks the first time the festival has ever rescheduled the event outside of its annual springtime slot, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

Originally launched in 1970, New Orleans Jazz Fest celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The fest brings an estimated economic impact of $300 million to the city’s cultural economy, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

The cancellation news follows other festivals and major events in the New Orleans area that have been postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus, including Buku Music + Arts Project and French Quarter Festival. The 2020 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture, set to take place in July in New Orleans, is confirmed to move forward as planned. 

New Orleans Jazz Fest is the latest major festival to be cancelled or postponed this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the coronavirus. 

How The Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is Directly Impacting Songwriters, Musicians And Artists