North Coast Music Festival Announces Fifth Anniversary Lineup

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on May 1, 2014 3:25PM

(Photo by Katie Karpowicz)

North Coast Music Festival is setting the stage for its fifth anniversary by bringing headliners Bassnectar, Kid Cudi, STS9 and Snoop Dogg to Union Park this Labor Day weekend.

The fifth year of the eclectic music festival brings a handful of NCMF "All Stars" back in 2014. Bassnectar, STS9, Wolfgang Gartner and Autobody have all put on memorable performances at North Coast in the past so we're excited to see them back. Note that this will be STS9's first Chicago performance since parting with bassist and founding member David Murphy. Hopefully they haven't lost any of their spark on stage.

As with the previous four years, there's really something for everybody on the bill. EDM standouts include Dada Life, Zeds Dead and Keys n Krates. Synth-filled pop rock's presence is ensured by names like Little Dragon and Future Islands and the jam band quota is more than filled with Slightly Stoopid, Dr. Dog, Boombox, Lettuce and more.

It's the hip hop offerings that are the most exciting thing about North Coast's 2014 lineup. We're pleased to see Snoop Dogg billed as he is instead of his "Snoop Lion" reggae alter-ego. Kid Cudi is always a solid pick for a festival performance and not as saturated of a choice as, say, Kendrick Lamar. Action Bronson, Riff Raff—who will undoubtedly be the fest's "spectacle" performance—and local favorite ProbCause round things out.

In addition, the organizers plan to expand the park this year and reconfigure the stage placements. In the past, the stages have had almost identical placement to that of Pitchfork Festival earlier in the summer and it's hard to imagine another setup. North Coast has been one of the most consistent festivals in town, both in talent bookings and organization, over the last half decade so color us intrigued rather than worried.

Tickets are on sale now with three-day passes starting at $149. Single day ticket prices have not been announced yet.