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Virgin Festival Headliners Announced
The confirmed headliners were announced today for Toronto’s second Virgin Festival, happening September 9 and 10, on Olympic Island. The top spots this year go to the (sort of) newly reformed Smashing Pumpkins, who will headline the festival on Day 2, and Iceland’s most eccentric citizen, Bjork, who will close Day 1. Other bands announced include The Killers, Interpol, Jamie T., Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, and we’re happy to say, Toronto’s own Tokyo Police Club! Over the next few months the remaining 30+ acts will be announced once confirmed.
So far this year’s lineup is looking promising, but hopefully there will be more of a big name draw to lure people out earlier in the afternoon, unlike last year where the crowd was pretty sparse up until early evening. The Smashing Pumpkins may also be hit or miss as headliners, depending on how well the new band members gel. The biggest surprise is Tokyo Police Club, who’ve come quite far in the past year…it’s nice to see an up-and-coming Canadian band receiving the nod for a festival of this size.
Also included in the announcement, this year’s festival is being touted as carbon neutral, and will provide recycling receptacles, use biodegradable food containers and purchase carbon offsets for energy used. Virgin is also aiming to use any available green resources to power the music and has committed to planting trees, although it is unclear whether or not they will be planted on the island.
Tickets are on sale Saturday, March 24 at 10 a.m., $125 for a 2-day pass, plus $1 for Virgin Unite and $12 for the ferry. They can be purchased at Rotate This, Soundscapes and Ticketmaster. Information is currently unavailable for one-day tickets.