On Monday, January 30th Radio 104.5 released their lineup for the two night 10th Birthday show. Ten minutes into every hour the radio DJ mentioned The Killers and Kings of Leon. As more bands were released, social media started buzzing with tweets and statuses about the upcoming shows. Who is going to be at the concert and on which days? What can be expected from this 10-year anniversary party? Most importantly, how can you get your tickets?
The first concert is on Saturday, May 13th and Kings of Leon will closing out the night. Before Kings of Leon will be Bastille, Empire of the Sun, The 1975, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Rag’N’Bone Man. These alternative bands cover a wide variety of music. From electronic vibes to British pop sounds, electric guitars to bluesy lyrics. This first show cannot be missed.
The second concert is in the heat of summer. On Sunday, June 11th one of the most beloved alternative bands will be ending the night, The Killers. Opening throughout the day will be Foster the People, Bleachers, Kaleo, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Like the first night, there will be a broad range of sounds coming from the BB&T Pavilion. Not only will the sounds be diverse, but the performers. Kaleo is a recent up and coming band from Iceland. Their music alone covers rock, country, folk, and the blues.
Knowing the lineups, what else can be expected at this event? Outrageous alcohol prices, but that is not a surprise. Old Bay fries worth every penny, and cigars that can be coupled with your cocktail. On the waterfront is a secondary stage with bands that 104.5 plays on their new music discovery show every Sunday night. These bands have yet to be announced. Do not let their lack of fame fool you, they are just as talented as the main stage acts. Before the final main stage acts go up, the people who purchased general admission lawn tickets are allowed to go up to the 100 and 200 level seats, getting a closer look at bands like Kaleo or Fits and the Tantrums.
Purchasing tickets is going to be a heart wrenching, page loading, and sweaty-palmed ordeal. Tickets go on presale Thursday, February 2nd at noon to 104.5 members (it is free to become one). On Friday at noon the following day, tickets are open to the general public. In the past the servers have collapsed, tickets have sold out in seconds, and happy concert-goers have successfully purchased their golden tickets. Just how much do these tickets cost? For both nights it is only $40. To put this in perspective, to see one band like Linsey Sterling or Flogging Molly) at the electric factory with two small openers costs $40. If you are stingy and only want to attend one show, it is almost $30.