Rockin’ college town(s) Champaign-Urbana, Illinois has/have a lot to be proud of. They’re home to a major university, were named one of the Top 25 Green Cities in the US, and spawned (or served as home base for) such notables as Roger Ebert, Ang Lee, David Foster Wallace and… Ludacris. (I love Ludacris.) So it’s easy to see how the cities’ Pygmalion Music Festival got its name — I mean, who’s to blame a place for falling in love with the supercool music festival it built with its own hardworking hands? Because for eight years, Pygmalion has been lighting up the music venues of both towns with some of the foremost names in indie music.
This year Pygmalion takes place September 27-29 and features double headliners Grizzly Bear and Dinosaur Jr. What’s more, 2012 brings a lil’ somethin’ somethin’ special to the good people of Champaign and Urbana: an increased focus on outdoor events. After last year’s first-ever outdoor concert celebrating 15 years of Polyvinyl Records, fest organizers decided to book an as-yet-unnamed major performer on the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts’ outdoor stage, plus the aforementioned Grizzly Bear/Dinosaur Jr. doubleheader in beautiful downtown Champaign. Twelve other acts will take that latter outdoor stage, too, with Tennis, Cloud Nothings, Hospitality, Willis Earl Beal, Frankie Rose, Big Freedia and The Divas, Lord Huron, Julia Holter, Lotus Plaza, Craft Spells, Owen, Oh No Oh My, Zeus, and more to be announced. Early Bird Festival passes went on sale Wednesday and are already gone! Remaining prices are $75 and then on to $85 the more you slack. You know the drill.
• Pygmalion Music Festival: http://pygmalionmusicfestival.com
• Kam’s: http://www.kamsillini.com
More about: Grizzly Bear
