I get alot of emails about press conferences and usually take these things for granted, since publicists tend to think everything they're working on is a BIG DEAL (they wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't). But somehow, this one smelled different, and I actually made a point of showing up to the press conference along with various other local media folks when Neil Jacobsen, President of Live Nation Florida, made the big concert announcement about an event taking place at the Florida State Fairgrounds and by proxy, the Florida Central Credit Union Amphitheatre: Big Guava Music Festival.
[jump]He explained that Live Nation and the Florida State Fair Authority took the most successful components of last year's Funshine and Coastline festivals, and conceived a whole new event. Then, he revealed that my my one big wish for 2014 had been granted: The recently reunited Outkast would be stopping in Tampa Bay and headlining Big Guava.
They'll be joined by nearly 40 other performers, the majority of these buzzed-about, relevant, and generally high quality acts of the like seen at Coachella and found on numerous Best of 2013 lists: Vampire Weekend, Foster the People, Slightly Stoopid, Cake, Tegan and Sara, Violent Femmes, Girl Talk, Earl Sweatshirt, Grouplove, HAIM, Twenty One Pilots, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, Chance the Rapper, Walk The Moon, Blue October, Band Of Skulls, ZZ Ward, MS MR, Timeflies, Hoodie Allen, American Authors, Deap Vally, St. Lucia, Smallpools, Bear Hands, Morning Parade, Kitten, Magic Man, Jacuzzi Boys, Gringo Star, Unlikely Candidates, Vic Mensa, Terraplane Sun, Jessica Hernandez And The Deltas and Fly Union. More will be announced in the coming weeks. a
In addition to four stages worth of live music, Big Guava will also feature a fatty midway of thrill rides, food trucks and craft beer gardens.
The dates are Fri.-Sun., May 2-4; $99 3-Day Early Bird General Admission Passes (which include unlimited rides and admission to all stages) are on sale now (click here to purchase), with the price increasing to $165 this Sat., Jan. 18, at 10 a.m. There's also $499 3-Day Super Guava Passes, which include unlimited rides, premium reserved seating in the amphitheatre and preferred viewing for all other, stages, access to two Super Guava Lounges featuring food and beverages, and more). You can also purchase tickets at any TicketMaster outlets or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.