Capitol Hill Block Party 3-Day Passes On Sale This Friday
May 19th, 2010
You might’ve noticed in recent days that the organizers of the Capitol Hill Block Party have added a third day. The urban event takes place in the Pike/Pine corridor July 23rd – 25th, 2010. Apparently (rumor), an additional day was petitioned for so as to accommodate the touring schedule of the Jack White/Alison Mosshart clusterfuck the Dead Weather. Enough signatures and emails were garnered in support of the festival’s expansion and the city approved. Can’t say I was totally on board with the additional day, but now that it’s a reality, I’ll go with it. Haven’t missed one CHBP yet, and I don’t think I’ll start now.
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Plenty of folks seem to have slapped on their bitchin’ shoes, but I say if the price and un-block-partiness bother you, then skip it. There’s no dearth of music festivals these days. I will say that opening up ticket sales before any sort of lineup has been announced is quite lame. This Friday, May 21st, you can purchase a limited quantity $60 3-day pass at this URL. But the lineup won’t be announced until June 1st. Single-day $23 tickets will be available June 4th. You’ll have to pay $30 at the gate day-of-show.
May 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Kevin leDoux said:
I’ll be both impressed and depressed if CHBP pulls in the Dead Weather. Clusterfuck indeed.
May 19th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
RJD said:
The Dead Weather will most likely have a new album out by then, too.
May 20th, 2010 at 7:19 am
coren said:
Tickets before lineup is pretty much the festival standard these days. Bumbershoot is doing it, Sasquatch did it, Lolapalooza did it, Bonaroo did it, Outside Lands has sold out theirs and lineup still isn’t out – and most of those festivals have been doing it that way for quite a while.
May 20th, 2010 at 8:39 am
LB said:
Actually, Sasquatch DIDN’T do it. I know, cuz I bought ‘em. The Crocodile held a lineup announcement party 4 days before tickets went on sale Feb. 20. In fact, Pavement was announced way back in November. Bumbershoot’s only really offering the $250/$450 bullshit right now. I don’t pay attention to Lolapalooza or Bonnaroo. Either way, just because it exists doesn’t excuse its lameness.
May 21st, 2010 at 10:14 am
coren said:
Sasquatch tickets were onsale in November. http://www.sasquatchfestival.com/#/home/post/220. I bought them in February too, after they EXTENDED their early buy deadline. Pavement was officially announced a month later, and the rest of the lineup (other than bands confirming themselves) was out in February, like you said.
Bumbershoot also has their 110 discounted mainstage guaranteed access passes which are the only passes that get discounted. The last three years before this they had 60 dollar 3 day passes available in January and the lineup wasn’t even partially out til at least March or April.
Regardless, it’s not lame – you take a risk that you’ll get your money’s worth, and for that you get a discount. For some of the larger festivals it gets pretty substantial as time goes on – for bumbershoot it was 60, then I think maybe 80 or 85 up til 40 or 50 a day for day of show – that’s at least double early fees. I know for the block party it won’t be quite that, but everyone knows the sort of stuff to expect, and i fyou can’t find 20 bucks worth of enjoyment a day you aren’t trying
May 21st, 2010 at 10:48 am
LB said:
Fair enough. I agree that the risk is not that high if you’re familiar with the music a particular festival is known for (i.e. CHBP, Bumbershoot). But despite your insistence, I still think it sucks. It feels like subliminal arrogance on their part that I could do without: “oh buy tickets to our big fat expensive festival BEFORE you even know who’s playing. who’s the jerk now??”