Bruno Mars, Train to headline Preakness InFieldFEST; Mug Club returns
Singer Bruno Mars and adult contemporary stalwarts Train will headline this year's Preakness InFieldFEST, the Maryland Jockey Club announced today.
The bill represents an extra shot of star power for the event, now in its third year.
Headliners in the past included O.A.R., Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top and "Crazy Bitch" band Buckcherry.
Mars, on the other hand, won a Grammy earlier this year for best male pop vocal performance.
He is currently on a Spring tour with singer Janelle Monae that was scheduled to skip Maryland.
Train, known for song "Drops of Jupiter," also won a Grammy earlier this year for best pop performance by a duo or group.
The performers will take the main stage at the public Infield of Pimlico Race Course Saturday May 21.
In addition, there will be a second stage that will feature band Puddle of Mudd, Phil Vassar and Mr. Greengenes, who are scheduled to make several St. Patrick's Day appearances locally. That stage will also host a bikini contest, the Jockey Club noted in its press release.
The festival is the Jockey Club's attempt to organize the infield experience, which before 2009 had a reputation for its rowdiness. In 2007, some attendees dashed across the tops of portable toilets while others pelted them with beer cans.
"The Running of the Urinals" has been saved for posterity on YouTube.
Instead of allowing attendees to bring their own beer, the Jockey Club in 2009 instituted the Mug Club, which allows fans to buy a bottomless beer mug for $20 in addition to the admission price.
Tickets for the event, which start at $40, went on sale in February, and are being sold at ticketmaster.com or at the Preakness Ticket Sales Office.
This will be the 136th year for the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.Photo: Bruno Mars at the 2011 Grammy Awards (AFP/Getty Images)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Who books these bands? The average age of people in the in-field in 18-26. They don't listen to these artists, Train has been playing for 20 years. Also Mr. Greengenes IS NOT from Baltimore or MD for that matter. The concert promoter here needs their head examined.
Posted by: Scott | March 14, 2011 10:36 AM
I'll pass. Cheaper to stay home and get drunk to my own much better musical selection.
Posted by: Calvin | March 14, 2011 11:28 AM
Maybe the organizers of the Preakness are trying to keep the drunks home on their couch and make the Preakness more enjoyable for normal people.
Posted by: leon | March 14, 2011 11:56 AM
Hmmm, Bruno Mars and Train on stage 1 versus Puddle of Mud and the bikini contest on stage 2. Gee, which am I going to watch?!?!?
Posted by: JD | March 14, 2011 12:41 PM
I was just telling someone Train has so many hits ppl LUV. I think Marry Me is a great wedding song. Bruno Mars has a great voice and Idol really gave him a boost.
Posted by: DD | March 14, 2011 1:37 PM
Well...since this is the last Preakness in Maryland they should have pulled out all the stops....they should have brought in hulk hogan, charlie sheen, a couple of porn stars, and a whole shit ton of rock cocaine...that way, next year when the event is in Delaware, we can say "yea, but we had the most awesome Preakness ever."
Posted by: cat | March 14, 2011 2:12 PM
What boring bands. It's like the most generic representatives of boring corporate rock on two stages....I get that it's not a music festival primarily but if you are going to spend the money on national acts, maybe at least get bands that are exciting or timely. Train is boring Clear Channel pop and Puddle of Mudd is like the poster child of generic post grunge angry teenager music.
There's got to be something that would actually draw a crowd rather than pander to what some demographic study or board meeting concluded,
Posted by: derp | March 14, 2011 2:17 PM
What line up would people go to see? Just curious. I see alot of people trashing the picks but is there actually a mid-level national act(s) that would make you want to go to the Preakness. Would a bunch of local bands work better, more like a local music festival?
Posted by: James | March 14, 2011 2:29 PM
"Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio?"
If that's your kind of music, you'd probably more comfortable spending your Saturday afternoon at Bed Bath and Beyond.
Posted by: Richard | March 14, 2011 3:11 PM
I thought last year's lineup was a bit better. I think a Country band at Preakness is a winning hand and can't figure this year out. Maybe they should have snagged someone like George Clinton & P-Funk.
Posted by: Rich B | March 14, 2011 4:32 PM
i wish bruno mars would get run over by a horsej
Posted by: swine | March 14, 2011 9:07 PM
I'm from England and have never heard of Bruno Mars - however the likelyhood of me ever paying to see someone with such a smug, self important look on his face are, frankly, zero!
Posted by: portable toilet guy | March 15, 2011 12:05 PM
Go see Train LIVE - they are phenomenal! Trust me - you won't be disappointed. Pat Monahan is the king of audience participation and their live performances are wicked!
Posted by: Vicki | March 15, 2011 12:21 PM
"What line up would people go to see? Just curious. I see alot of people trashing the picks but is there actually a mid-level national act(s) that would make you want to go to the Preakness. Would a bunch of local bands work better, more like a local music festival? "
You know what lineup used to draw a lot of people, made a lot of money, and everyone embraced for decades? BYOB
RIP Preakness
Posted by: Dave | March 15, 2011 3:15 PM
$20 for all you can drink is not bad at all. So to the people that are saying RIP, stop whining.
Posted by: John | March 15, 2011 6:26 PM
Its $60 all you can drink. And its not all you can drink. Its all you can drink while having to wait in a long a$$ line.
So yes, RIP.
Posted by: Dave | March 15, 2011 10:07 PM
I'm sorry Dave, but $60 is not much money now a days. The Shamrock fest this past weekend was $85 all you can drink, that's still not a bad deal. Plus they have to book all the bands, pay employees, vendors, etc.
Posted by: John | March 16, 2011 1:20 PM
Went last year and really enjoyed the bands and mug club. If Preakness was only about getting drunk for you then this is not your event. If you want to have fun, listen to live music, watch some horses and have some beer all for $60 it's a good deal.
Posted by: Sarah | March 16, 2011 1:54 PM
The price isn't really the issue here. It was roughly the same price during the BYOB days.
And I understand that the BYOB experience wasn't for everyone. But it was unique. You couldn't go to an event like that anywhere else. Now its not really different than any other one day music festival. And, in my opinion, its largely subpar in that respect.
Posted by: Dave | March 16, 2011 3:58 PM
$60 for crappy bands, a Joel Goodsen / Kid n Play hybrid and one beer an hour is a ripoff, no matter how much of an internet high-roller you are.
Feel free to send your "not much money" my way. $60 minimum donation -- though that's hardly even worth my time "these days"...
Posted by: Anonymous | March 16, 2011 4:19 PM
$60 can't justify that with this line up. In 20 yrs ago, I think I paid $50 for Metallica and G&R. I still talk about that concert today..Man, I am old...
Posted by: oc pepper spray | March 16, 2011 6:56 PM