The Chainsmokers are headlining Sunset Music Festival 2018.
UPDATE 2: As of April 4, the Chainsmokers are officially out. See the updated lineup here.
UPDATE: Maybe the Chainsmokers aren't playing. The EDM duo was scrubbed off the website and all social just hours after the initial announce, and the act's spot on the poster was replaced with a blur (see below). Organizers aren't talking about it, but, uh, we'll keep you posted.
The Tampa-based party — which has grown into one of the country's largest EDM music festivals — is set for Memorial Day weekend on the north lot of Raymond James Stadium and released its initial lineup today. While festival organizers, naturally, promised one the biggest lineups yet, a quick glance at the poster leaves us scratching our heads a bit.
LIL' SMOKIES
Photos: The Chainsmokers + Kiiara at Amalie Arena — 04.14.17
Sunday and Saturday headliners — the 'smokies and Marshmello — are acts that played in 2016. Both 'mello and Sunday co-headliner Excision are playing Atlanta's Shaky Beats in the same month, and Alabama's Hangout Festival is hosting the Chainsmokers a week before SMF.
The undercard — featuring names like A-Trak, Borgore, Zomboy, Bear Grillz and Herobust — is comprised of acts that have played Ybor, Orlando and Tallahassee in the last eight months.
Yo Gotti even lands a spot on the lineup as the token rap act.
And with "B2B" performances being the more intriguing parts of modern EDM festivals, it's really odd to see A-Trak's B2B with YehMe2 since the same exact show happened in Ybor City earlier this year.
There are some slivers of hope for those hoping to see some up-and-coming, non-bro, EDM acts on the bill though, thanks to Ekali, Hippie Sabotage and Space Jesus.
Those three acts bring the spirit of camping festivals like Hulaween to the SMF lineup and will play a nice foil to the dustbowl vibes of a stadium parking lot full of red-faced, rolling college kids only wanting to hear the 'smokies do "Closer."
Anyway, we digress. Gotta give it up to promoters who are doing their best and — most importantly — keep the kids safe out there.
Two-day Sunset Music Festival tickets are on sale now for $164.95 and up. More info is available via smftampa.com.
Have a look at the lineup — and tell us what you think — below.
The initial lineup for @SMFTampa is here, and we've got some questions. First — tell us what you think. #SMF2018 #CLmusic #tampamusic #tampabaylive #EDMlife https://t.co/RtCkPXDcyC
— Creative Loafing (@cl_music) March 27, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/SMFTAMPA/posts/1631384323604863
This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2018.