1. Drake
Undeniably one of the most popular contemporary artists on the planet, Drake headlined on the first day of the festival. Known for his many hits, such as “Know Yourself” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” the Canadian-born rapper rocked the stage with a high-octane, crowd-pleasing performance. Occupying the 8:30-10:00 p.m. slot, Drake ensured that the first day of the festival ended with a bang.
2. The Cause
The Landmark initiative isn’t simply a money-grabbing scheme created by a savvy private company, it exists for a great cause—the welfare of the National Mall. Although it is one of the most recognizable parks in the world, the National Mall has gone almost 40 years without undergoing any much-needed renovations. Additionally, there is over $750 million dollars in backlogged maintenance for monument repairs and landscape upkeep. Landmark Music Festival is the first event in the Landmark Campaign, which seeks to raise funds and awareness for the benefit of the National Mall. The majority of the profits from the festival go directly to towards the repair of the Mall.
3. Proximity to Campus
The festival took place adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial at West Potomac Park, one of the many green spaces included in the National Mall park system. That’s only about a half hour walk from the Georgetown campus, which, considering the fact that it’s a major music festival, is amazing. West Potomac park is only about a 15 minute drive via Über or a taxi cab, which was a viable option if you didn’t feel up to the walk.
4. The Great Lineup
For an inaugural music festival, Landmark boasted an incredibly popular and diverse lineup. This included critically-acclaimed rock band The Strokes (“Reptilia,” “Last Nite”), British indie rock band alt-J (“Breezeblocks,” “Left Hand Free), Washington DC-native rapper Wale (“Ride Out,” “Ambition”), and other well-known artists such as CHVRCHES, Miguel, and Chromeo. In my humble opinion, the most notable performances of the weekend (other than Drake) were Chromeo and alt-J, both of whom conjured an absolutely electric atmosphere in the crowd. Whatever the music taste, the Landmark festival satisfied everyone in attendance.
5. Relatively Low Cost
Compared to other music festivals, such as Coachella and Governor’s Ball, the tickets for Landmark were cheap. Single day passes could be picked up for $105, while the regular two day pass were $175. The pre-sale tickets for the 2016 Governor’s Ball this summer cost $235, far more than Landmark’s reasonable asking price. Moreover, many people in the Georgetown GAAP Facebook groups sold off their tickets for far less than their retail price. In my case, I managed to pick up a two day pass from a fellow Georgetown student for only $90. Needless to say, it was totally worth it.
