Our earlier post regarding Bang Music Festival rumors has garnered a lot of attention and anger from readers all over the web. So I figured I'd bring it up again with some updates and some of the furor readers have been displaying in comments. I must admit I had high hopes for this years festival. Last year's, while not financially successful, was very promising. Fusing electronic with traditional bands is something that brings a diverse and lively crowd out for an all day festival. However it seems this year the Bang Festival organizers have ditched that formula and turned the festival into a two day, mainstream-only event. Officially this is what has been released on the Bang website for confirmed acts:
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Kanye West
- Riverboat Gamblers
- Spoon
- Explosions in the Sky
- The Bravery
Weaksauce! WTF? Who is going to pay $145 for a two day pass to see that? What's worse is I don't even see an option to simply buy a one day pass. Ok ok, I know there are still alot of unconfirmed and yet to be announced acts that may turn this whole thing around but if that is the case the Bang people better start leaking some juice now cause people are pissed and starting to shop around. Here are a few select comments from peeved readers on the internets:
by -
no thank you! I don't have any desire to see anyone on the line-up thus far, and if its going to go according to what the miami-herald article says [pop,rock,rap ONLY] I will not be there for sure.
by shocked
i cant even believe that all the rumors are true. what a let down. after last years amazing turn out of bang i expected more. how can they just go from electro to straight hip hop and rap? worst lineup. i will be definitely not be attending ...
by JAY
I really like Kanye, but he's not enough to make me wanna go, even if I am only 3 hours away from Miami.
If the lineup sucks, I'll probly use what money I'd use there to possibly go to Vegoose to see Daft again.
I don't know who is in charge of the talent acquisition for Bang but they better start trolling the internet to see how disappointed people are with their current acquisitions. Listen to the people! It's not too late to schedule in some sick underground talent.
People, post your wish lists here and let's pray that the powers that be (powers that bang?) listen!
Bjork
The Knife
GIRL TALK
Calvin Harris
Bonde Do Role
Amy Winehouse
Chromeo
Peaches ( I can never get enough! )
M.I.A.
Black Devil Disco Club
Boys Noize
SMD
Chemie Bros.
The Smashing Pumpkins
GO! Team
Spank Rock
Erykah Badu
Klaxons
John Starlight or Zombie Nation (same guy!)
Paris Hilton (mmmmhmmm das rye! LOL)
The Faint
Playgroup
Soulwax
Phoenix
Zoot Woman
Anthony Rother
and what I would totally GAG over....
A Miss Kittin and the Hacker reunion show!!!
You fucked up. I don't even care about your festival anymore. Constraining your festival to just one stage is the worst idea since invading Iraq.
I know you did this because of budgetary restraints, but you're already past the hard part, you booked the big names to sit up top. Don't fuck this up now.
Your first year just lacked big-name talent. Your second year may have been too ambitious to actually make money, but at least was an awesome festival where many of us saw the best show we've ever seen.
You don't need to scale your concert back this much to make money. If you've run out of money, take out a loan to cover something similar to this slight expansion I'm proposing. This isn't a wish list (a wish list would have more bands that are actually on my iPod) - this is a practical list.
Book the rest of Bayfront Park, build 2 more stages (this costs absolutely pennies compared to booking Kanyeezie).
Fill one with cheap and local florida talent - Space DJs, Breaks people from Tampa, maybe drum and bass from Orlando w/e, anything with a beat that people can dance to.
Get one more stage and get one medium big dance headliner (not someone shitty like Roger Sanchez or someone expensive like the Chemical Brothers) - Get a Deep Dish or a Carl Cox or someone that isn't Tiesto or Van Dyke (too expensive and overplayed for a Miami crowd) to headline that area each night.
Then book a critical darling each day to be memorable, someone like Booka Shade, Michael Mayer, Richie Hawtin, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, w/e it doesn't matter, you just need one super memorable act a day.
The rest of the day, play whoever "te sale de la pinga" that will play your festival for cheap. If you don't setup 2 more stages and play dance music, you will lose out on at least 10,000 people that went last year.
Who exactly is the current festival intended for - super diehards of Kanye and SP? I love Spoon and Explosions - but I'm not gonna pay 75 bucks to see them.
Don't be stupid, Bang - there is a GIANT market of people in Miami that love taking drugs and dancing like assholes every few months. If you don't give us an opportunity to do that, your going to end up losing the money we would've gladly handed you for barely any effort on your behalf.
Signed,
A Concerned Fan.
How about some Tiesto, Benny Benassi, M.I.A., Lords of Acid, David Guetta, Chromeo, or some other DJS? It's pretty much up to the organizers now to bring whoever they want. Lets just hope they dont take it the other way and bring in Soulja Boy, Hurricane Chris, and Fergie. Please just do us all a favor and turn it from the joke you have just made Bang! with that lineup and bring in quality.
RIP Bang Music Festival...
This is the ultimate let down. I have waited a whole year to finally be able to attend BANG. I remember last year I was in downtown riding the metro mover and looked down to see BANG. Right there at moment, I regretted not buying a ticket.
The reason mainly, why the turn out wasn't that good last year is because everyone was apprehensive of whether or not the festival would be worth the money and time. I for one was the only person in my group of friends willing to pay last year. They were all uneasy because they would have much rather spent there money to ULTRA.
The day after BANG, the few people that went, that we know of, let us know how amazing bang was. At ULTRA even, people would share there stories of BANG. The point it, I have five people willing to go to BANG, and every person i know has another five willing to go too. BANG, you are missing out on a great audience, losing money.
The only people that will attend BANG, with that line up, are teens and preteens. Thats if their parents are willing to pay for two days.
Ultra has built you up. EDM is in again. The WMC brought EDM back to miami this year and you are missing out on a crowd that is eager to get back to dancing and having a good time.
Like others have said, no one expects huge names, just average names, you can even have local artists. People are just looking for an excuse to have a good time.
DO IT, yes you can do it in a short time. Think again, people will go. IF you have the following year to bring more people, give miami what they want.
If you really want an alternative music festival, miami inst going to work.
is that a hint that there will be EDM?
"hard to beat last years Bang, thought we would put it all on one main stage and make it a 2 day festival this year so you don't miss a thing!
We here at Bang spent all year working on how to evolve on what we created last year and deliver our loyal fan base something new to keep things fresh. Give the people what they want and keep it diverse is what we all agreed.
We are very excited to announce that The Smashing Pumpkins are touring again after a ten year hiatus with their new album "Zeitgeist". Bang Music Festival will be their only Florida appearance!
Also, headling will be KanYe West. Needless to say this guy has blown up quickly and can always get the party started! (cover of Rolling Stone this month)
There are a few more surprises to come so stay tuned......
but for now, here's a few other bands that will be there:
The Roots
The Bravery
Spoon
Explosions in the Sky
Kevens (live)
Automatic Loveletter
Riverboat Gamblers
* all of these bands have a myspace page so check them out, they are amazing!
Our talent is excellent, and our new venue is sweet. This event will sell out, so don't hesitate, purchase your tickets now while you can!"
I'm out of here...!
From a mix of popular culture music, hip hop, electro/house/trance, reggae etc etc to rock and hip hop. Great job.
These fuckfaces better work my hole VERY SOON with the "few more surpirses" to come.
SHE'S PERFORMING AT STUIDO A!!! WOOT! WOOT!
Two new artists' - Galaxy Girl, and Win Win Winter, lame?
NOTE TO ULTRA PEOPLE....PICK UP WHERE BANG LEFT OFF! NO MORE PVD AND FUCKIN' OAKENFOLD!!
NOTE TO ULTRA PEOPLE....PICK UP WHERE BANG LEFT OFF! NO MORE PVD AND FUCKIN' OAKENFOLD!!