Imagine Music Festival is racing to be one of the top electronic music festivals in the south, and Tuesday’s phase one lineup announcement only accelerated that ascent.
Last year the festival returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second time — its fourth year overall — with a top-to-bottom, jaw-dropping lineup featuring flashy headliners (Deadmau5, Tiesto, Pretty Lights) paired with a staggeringly rich undercard that featured some of the top names across all sub-genres of electronic music.
It looks like 2018 is picking up where last year left off. Headliners at Imagine Music Festival’s 5th anniversary weekend will once again be a who’s who of electronic stardom, with Zeds Dead, Griz, RL Grime and Galantis all topping the ‘18 bill.
YOU'RE NOT DREAMING
Review: Imagine Music Festival brings EDM stars, comes of age at Atlanta Motor Speedway (w/photos)
Re-implementing it’s tradition of bringing in artists from a wide range of EDM-based genres, the lineup has once again bloomed with talent as you continue down the list. Joining Zeds Dead and RL Grime on the Oceania Stage are EDM veterans Adventure Club, Alesso, 12th Planet and Armin Van Buuren. The Amazonia Stage features the more progressive electronic music of the two main stages, and fans will get a chance to see cult favorites ZHU and Shpongle in addition to polarizing newcomers like Ekali and Eoto.
Perhaps most intriguing among the list of the names are the ones that are blurred out (space usually reserved for acts TBA). Well, it used to be intriguing. Information is only so safe in today’s social media climate. In recent weeks there’s been a rumor that electronic icon Bassnectar would be topping Imagine’s 2018 bill and on Tuesday that seemed all but confirmed, even if his name wasn’t officially on the lineup.
Tuesday's announcement — which has since been updated with no hints — featured three blurred artist additions with curiously obvious hints given the widespread rumors: "Got Bass?, "You Will Move Us," and "Sharpen Up."
Numerous sources such as the Festive Owl, a respected online festival rumor mill, confirm reports based on inside information that Bassnectar, in addition to Glitch Mob and Kaskade, will be joining the already stacked lineup — citing Bonnaroo's radius clause as the reason for the delayed announcement. (As if the "Got Bass" hint wasn't already enough of a hint.)
The addition of Bassnectar would easily put this festival’s starpower over the top, elevating it once again in the hierarchy of electronic music festivals. While it doesn’t have the name brand or staying power (yet) of the neighboring Ultra Music Festival, this Georgia based fest is flashing glimpses of comparable potential.
If they can learn from some of the growing pains we saw last year — cough, cough… fix the lines — then IMF 2018 is a can’t miss event.
Imagine Music Festival
May 21-23,
$299 & up
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta, Georgia
More info: imaginefestival.com
This article appears in May 10-17, 2018.