Second annual Lost Lake Festival delivers surprises, disappointments
Heading into its second year, Phoenix’s Lost Lake Festival has announced its lineup to last year’s massive inaugural event — and for many, it’s a massive disappointment.
Imagine Dragons, Future, The Chainsmokers, and SZA will be the biggest headliners, and the lower billed acts are an eclectic mix of hip hop, EDM, alt rock, and local. Diversity was a top priority when booking acts, and there is certainly something for everyone. As a whole, though? That’s for you to decide.
Here’s a line-by-line breakdown of Lost Lake Festival 2018. At least for the first half of the bill.
Line One: Imagine Dragons — Future — The Chainsmokers — SZA
SZA is the shining star of the headliners, with one of the best albums of last year in Ctrl and the hugely successful “All the Stars” with Kendrick Lamar from Black Panther. She’s a huge get for Superfly here, especially for their second newest festival. As for the others, the timing is off. Last year would have been the prime time for Future after back-to-back album releases and sold out shows across the country, and last year was the final year The Chainsmokers were pumping out catchy singles the way their fans pump their fists in the crowd. Finally, we can all agree that Imagine Dragons have been in slow decline since 2012’s Night Visions. This was a perfect year to book Gorillaz or Florence + the Machine (who, incidentally, will be at Las Vegas’s Life is Beautiful a month earlier.)
Line Two: Janelle Monae — Nas — Jimmy Eat World — Cafe Tacvba
It’s hard to say why Nas has been relegated to a non-headlining spot, but grabbing a hip hop legend was still impressive nonetheless. Janelle Monae was another solid booking, fresh out with new music and just having cancelled the Phoenix date on her tour. We were all expecting either a homecoming show for Jimmy Eat World or The Maine at Lost Lake’s second year, so this announcement was a confirmation and/or relief, depending on who you talk to. With so many artists being from the Valley, it would have been a shame to not include any of them on the bill. We then move to Cafe Tacvba, taking the place of either Juanes or Calexico on last year’s lineup. Overall, a satisfactory line.
Line Three: Young Thug — Grizzly Bear — A$AP Ferg — Third Eye Blind
Is Third Eye Blind supposed to be the throwback band for this year? After Huey Lewis & the News rocking a sunset set in 2017, this felt like a letdown despite the collection of Third Eye Blind tracks that sprinkle Greatest Hits of the 90s playlists. It wouldn’t be a proper festival without one of the A$APs, but how great would it have been to have him come last year and perform his feature on “My Song 5” with Haim? Yes, Young Thug just dropped an EP a couple weeks ago, but the standout here is Grizzly Bear. Their first album in half a decade was released at the end of last year, and it captivated reviewers and will provide for a unique soundscape with a desert backdrop.
Line Four: Louis the Child — Little Dicky — T-Pain — Kamasi Washington
Fan’s of last year’s Odesza set will be delighted to see the spectacle of a performance from Louis the Child, and the mood fits what was set at the inaugural Lost Lake Festival. This is an artist who has not often stopped in Arizona, so depending on scheduling, they might be a must see. This line is also interesting because of the return of T-Pain to live music. Our favorite autotune-friendly rapper was also booked at Life Is Beautiful slated for September, so this may signal a full festival circuit tour for the fall 2018 to summer 2019 season. Kamasi Washington’s highly anticipated sophomore album is due this June as critics wait with bated breath, and this set is one that will likely be sadly under-attended. No comment on Lil Dicky.
Line Five: Quinn XCII — Maggie Rogers — SOB X RBE — Hippie Sabotage — St. Lucia
The varied mix of artists on this line is a quick representation of the lineup as a whole. You have a small-name rap group in SOB X RBE, a strong pop vocal artist in Maggie Rogers, a dance act in Hippie Sabotage, and an indie band in St. Lucia. Quinn XCII is a surprise addition, considering he was just here last month. But the trend so far is to take artists who have been to the state in the last two years and bring them all to one place.
Line Six: Chicano Batman — Cashmere Cat — Whitney — Mija — Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot might be the best and most interesting snag for Superfly, as the band does not perform live regularly. As of writing this, their only other tour date is the Hop Jam Beer & Music Festival next month in Tulsa. Cashmere Cat is another one who hasn’t been here in awhile, and we’ll have another homecoming performance in Mija.
Here’s the scoop
The good gets were really, really good. Superfly, a major player in the festival game presenting both Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, curated a lineup that satisfies fans in their target market without a doubt. The reverberations of disappointment come from a mix of a stellar breakout year for Lost Lake and the more well-curated lineups from festivals in nearby areas. However you look at it, you won’t be bored perusing the comments sections on any of Lost Lake’s social media after today’s big announcement.
Lost Lake Festival 2018 will be taking place October 12–21 at Steele Indian School Park. Three-day general admission tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 A.M. at LostLakeFestival.com.
