http://www.startribune.com/entertainmen ... 76265.htmlJane's Addiction will return at upgraded SoundTown fest in Somerset
Article by: JON BREAM , Star Tribune Updated: April 11, 2012 - 10:01 AM
New co-promoter helps land Weezer, Florence + the Machine and Common for second annual outdoor event.
Jane's Addiction is coming back to the area. But not at the infamous Brick nightclub in downtown Minneapolis, where the 1990s art-rockers headlined a much-maligned opening night in March. Jane's will be one of the headliners at the second annual and considerably upgraded SoundTown Music and Camping Festival in Somerset, Wis. on July 27-28.
The other headliners will be Weezer and Florence + the Machine (which also plays April 27 at the State Theatre).
Somerset Amphitheater general manager Matt Mithun brought in Chicago-based Jam Productions, the nation's largest independent promoter, to co-promote this year's SoundTown, which will have a kickoff party on July 26.
Even though SoundTown lacks a bona fide arena headliner, its lineup is deeper, wider and more compatible than what Live Nation's River's Edge Music Festival, the metro area's other big outdoor music festival this summer, has announced for its inaugural run June 23-24 at St. Paul's Harriet Island with Tool, Dave Matthews Band and Flaming Lips.
SoundTown has booked dance-club star Girl Talk, esteemed rapper Common, rising soul man Mayer Hawthorne, jam-festival regulars Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, alt-country stand-out Hayes Carll, indie-rock favorites Best Coast, Andrew Bird, Gomez and Dr. Dog as well as local heroes Pert Near Sandstone and 4onthefloor. About 50 acts will be presented -- nearly twice as many as in 2011.
The remodeled amphitheater, which is on the site of the former Float-Rite Amphitheater, can accommodate about 40,000 people for concerts and 15,000 campers. Somerset is about 30 miles east of the Twin Cities.
Last year, SoundTown's roster of Flaming Lips, New Pornographers, Delta Spirit and a falling-apart Roma di Luna, among others, attracted a sparse crowd of maybe 2,500 on the first day and perhaps 5,000 the next.
"Having a co-promoter like Jam helped us create a true destination festival where we could showcase local talent alongside big names in music," Mithun said in a press release.
Added Jam executive VP Jerry Mickelson: "We tried to create a lineup for SoundTown that was a mix of hip alternative/indie rock music, and we couldn't be happier with how everything came together."
Even though Jam landed Jane's Addiction for SoundTown, the promoter had nothing to do with the band's show at the Brick, which was marred by overcrowding, bad sightlines and inefficient staff and facilities. That March 19 concert was promoted by AEG Live, the world's second biggest promoter (behind Live Nation). AEG ended up offering refunds to every ticket buyer at that Jane's Addiction show.
SoundTown tickets, starting at $80 for a three-day pass, will go on sale April 28 at http://www.soundtownfest.com and First Avenue ticket outlets.
Follow Bream on Twitter: @jonbream
Festival site:
http://www.soundtownfest.com/
