The headliners for this year?s Virgin Mobile Festival have been announced, and the group is as diverse, if not more, than last summer?s lineup.
Hip-hop star Kanye West, alternative rock groups the Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots, industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails and singer/songwriter Jack Johnson will headline the third annual festival, held at Pimlico Race Course on Aug. 9 and 10. About 25 musical acts will play on two stages during the event.
“I think it?s a good mix,” said Frank Remesch, general manager in charge of booking acts for Baltimore?s 1st Mariner Arena. “There?s a lack of a big No. 1 act, but it?s hard to get people.”
Remesch said he thought this year?s headliners were better than last year?s, when 74,000 fans packed Pimlico to see The Police, the Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins and Velvet Revolver.
“I?m sure it will do well,” Remesch said.
Tickets for last year?s event cost $175 for a two-day pass and $97.50 for a single-day pass. The festival brought in an estimated $4.5 million to $5.5 million for the local economy last year, according to Richard Clinch, an economist at the University of Baltimore.
“Tourism has historically been the driver of the city?s economy for 25 years,” Clinch said. “For a city like Baltimore, these [events] are very important to have ? the goal is that people visit and come back.”
The rest of the two-day lineup and ticket information about the festival will be announced in the coming weeks.
“When the rest of the artists are announced, everyone will see that we have remained true to form in our quest to provide nothing but the very best bands in the world from the start of the day through the final notes,” Seth Hurwitz, chairman of festival producer I.M.P., said in a statement.
Staff Writer Jessica Novak contributed to this report.
