Linkin Park, Incubus to headline X-fest
‘It’s about creating an experience’
From alt rock to alt metal — the focus of this year’s XFest has taken a noticeable shift.
On Monday, organizers announced the lineup for the sophomore edition of the outdoor event, which will take place Sept. 1 at Fort Calgary, and the headliners are a pair of the bigger nu metal acts of the past two decades: Linkin Park and Incubus.
It’s a decidedly different look from the inaugural fest last year, put on by local radio station X92.9 and concert promoters The Union, which featured headliners Weezer and Jane’s Addiction.
“I think it was about finding an act that was really exciting that was going to make an impact on the market,” says Christine Rogerson, director of administration from The Union, referring specifically to Linkin Park. “And the lineup developed really organically from that point. It’s about that great bucketlist band that people really want to see, and when you find the impact there, the music comes with it. It’s not about hitting one market or the other, it’s about creating an experience.”
Other bands filling out the remainder of the 2012 bill include: California rock acts Silversun Pickups and Young the Giant; NYC pop rock act fun.; The Joy Formidable from the U.K.; Mutemath, L.P., The Pack a.d., and local contest winners.
There will also be pro wrestling as part of the entertainment again this year, as well as the ubiquitous beer garden, with organizers this year promising “improved amenities” (i.e., waaaay more Porta Potties).
“Every challenge you have with a large-scale outdoor event comes with its own learning experiences,” Rogerson says of last year’s X-fest, which drew approximately 13,000 to the Fort Calgary site. “That was our big learning experience, and we started the planning (for this one) basically last year. So we’re hitting the ground running.”
Public tickets for the Labour Day weekend, allages show go on sale April 28 from xfestcalgary.com, with a limited amount of early-bird tickets being sold for $50 (plus service charges), with regular tickets afterwards going for $90 (plus service charges) and 18-and-older V.I.P. passes for $150 (plus service charges).
For more information, check xfestcalgary.com.