Pretty bummed about Matt & Kim, Pavement and LCD being in the Pavilion. Since you can't see the stage from the lawn, and you had to pay $125 to get in....double whammy.

Does anybody know if tailgating will be allowed like at other MPP shows?

what do you mean about the pavilion? Is it separate from the free concert or something?

This whole thing is really sounding like much more trouble than it's worth, even for "free".

I'll be interested to read the post-concert de-briefing/catfight/grumblefest. erm... I mean concert review.

pavilion tix cost money. i've never had a problem a) sneaking into the pavilion at MPP or b) seeing the stage from the lawn, so...

baltimore chop sounds like he didn't get a ticket

Darn. Matt & Kim running into Chromeo. That's going to cramp my steez.

Where did you read that only the $125 tickets got you in to the pavilion? I had free tickets last year and me and all my friends got in to the pavilion just fine.

And even if that is the case, you know the pavilion won't "sell out" and those of us with free/GA tickets will be able to go in just fine. I think that those $125 tickets are there just to guarantee you a seat and you won't have to worry about not getting a seat like the free/GA people.

Rusty's right. Anyone can see the Pavilion stage, you're paying $125 for the privilege to sit, which you won't be doing anyway.

I'm kind of convinced most of the attendees have never been to a music festival before.

See also: Jumbotrons.

#midnightfreefest I want to be there

@Rusty
Its a new "feature" this year. Last year, anyone could get into the pavilion. This year, they sold VIP tickets.

Maybe they'll open it to GA, maybe they won't. VIP tix are on LivingSocial today for half price, so they'll sell a few more tickets that way.

FYI, last year's management of the pavilion was a cluster. And it's going to be so jammed I'll be glad I have my own personal space, inside.

@Tromboner they're gonna have to open it up to GA - if I were Pavement/LCD I wouldn't be thrilled to play to a half-pavilion full of people and everyone else miles away in the lawn, they'll have no choice.

more importantly, they won't sell all those VIP/GA $125 tickets, discount or no. I wonder what the number of free tickets distributed were since they probably gave away more than the capacity of the lawn area.

They have already sold out of the first run of pavilion seats and opened up a secondary sale for additional seating this weekend. It will NOT be open like last year.

Has anyone that did the volunteer opportunities around the area gotten their tickets yet or at least notification on how to get them? It's Wednesday and still no word...

@Rob: anyone who volunteered for tickets and hasn't received them, get in touch. My email is listed below my picture.

@Tony that's the dumbest thing I've heard of. It's as if us getting free tickets aren't good enough; why call it FreeFest? Haha.

They really messed up putting a lot of similar artists at the same time in different places. The top 3 bands I wanted to see were Yeasayer, Edward Sharpe, and Neon Indian and of course they're all on at the same time. You'd think they'd take into account that fans of one band might like to see the others since they're compatible, stylistically.

Is it easy to smuggle in extra drinks? or do they pad you down when you walk in?

LCD and M&K belong on the outer stage and Thievery, Ludacris, MIA belong in the pavilion.

It might be a surprise when the West Stage afternoon performer with the Trombone steals the festival. Dude killed at Monterey!

While I'm not going to the festival, I would suggest that people not miss Trombone Shorty. He's tremendous and often has Mystical on tour with him!

Looking forward to working this show. I'm personally hoping I get to work the Thievery Corp/Ludacris Stage. Would be pretty epic if "T.I." did show up & play one last gig before he hits the clink… I don't have any emotional investment in any of these artist's (save for some good night's listening to Luda 10 yrs ago), so I'm hoping some of the act's catch my ear and turn me onto something new. Curious about M.I.A. - Everyone enjoy!

I doubt they will let Gen Admittance into the pavilion if they are charging $125/ticket (especially since ALL lawn tix have been given out) They didn't do it for HFStival last weekend and the pavillion wasn't even close to full.

You can see the stage clearly on the jumbotrons from all areas of the lawn. The side stages are open so you can get to the front of those stages fairly easily if you want.

I haven't been patted down at MPP but they do look through your stuff...I THINK you can bring in "unopened bottles of water" and you can definitely bring a blanket. Drinks and food are concert worthy prices but not completely unreasonable - they do have mixed drink and margaritas as well as beer.

I doubt they will let Gen Admittance into the pavilion if they are charging $125/ticket (especially since ALL lawn tix have been given out) They didn't do it for HFStival last weekend and the pavillion wasn't even close to full.

You can see the stage clearly on the jumbotrons from all areas of the lawn. The side stages are open so you can get to the front of those stages fairly easily if you want.

I haven't been patted down at MPP but they do look through your stuff...I THINK you can bring in "unopened bottles of water" and you can definitely bring a blanket. Drinks and food are concert worthy prices but not completely unreasonable - they do have mixed drink and margaritas as well as beer.

neon indian, edwarde sharpe, and yeasayer at the same time. REally??/

I seriously wonder why anyone paid for "center" seats in the pavilion, when you could sit on the sides of the pavilion, or simply walk down to the floor in front of the stage for free (well, $ 5). Did that for Joan Jett, Matt & Kim, and LCD, with no wait whatsoever...

hmm mm !! Virgin mobile schedule..thnx 4 posting,damn helpful :-)