Whether you bought your ticket on the day they were available or are waiting to snag one on Craigslist last minute, if you're a 20-something in the Pacific Northwest, you were probably interested to see what Sasquatch! 2016 has in store as far as lineup.
Well, here it is:
The headliners include: Disclosure, The Cure, Florence + the Machine, Alabama Shakes, A$AP Rocky, Major Lazer, Chet Faker, Purity Ring, Allen Stone, and Mac DeMarco. It's safe to say that there's a little bit of everything included in the mix this year, from rap, to indie, to things we listened to with our parents growing up.
There are mixed reviews on the quality of the 2016 lineup, considering that Sasquatch! 2015 was a huge hit. That was because of a group of headliners who had all been popular due to radio exposure.
Looking at last year's lineup, it's EDM and rap heavy. Of course, there's some indie in there again — there's something for everyone.
I can't help but agree with those who say that this year doesn't have as much popular music as last year's lineup. But I think what people forget is that Sasquatch! was originally a one-day hippie festival that eventually transformed into something way bigger over the last 14 years (it started in 2002).
The original headliner? Jam band The String Cheese Incident. Not exactly cohesive with today's bigger names, just showing how much Sasquatch! has evolved.
That's why I think that this year's lineup makes sense. It's not rap heavy at all (biggest rap name is A$AP Rocky, one most people are excited for), and there are more indie names than in most recent years, taking Sasquatch! back to its roots. Many are saying that this year just doesn't "offer their type of music" but I think regardless of loving every headliner, the experience will be worth it.
There's a long list of smaller groups this year, as there is every year, that will likely play daytime shows with attendance incomparable to that of Florence + the Machine or Disclosure, but what people forget is that just a few years ago, Odezsa was one of those daytime shows and moved to a headliner last year.
It will be my first Sasquatch! and I'm not hesitant to say I paid a pretty penny to go. From what I've heard, camping is half the fun, and I'll be there with 30+ friends from college.
I think my biggest point is that if you don't like the music that much, then don't go. But I have a hard time with people who are complaining about being able to afford a festival that so many would kill to go to, and can't hand-pick the lineup. It's a gorgeous venue, and you're listening to famous people play music all weekend, likely with several of your friends. Soak it up.
