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NAS, Chvrches, Temper Trap and seven other acts added to SVMF weekend lineup

Six other artists, including A Tribe Called Red and Kastle, to play Campers' Kickoff show on Thursday, Aug. 7
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Squamish Valley Music Fest Rapper Nas has been added to the lineup list for Friday. Photo Nasirjones.com

The Squamish Valley Music Festival has confirmed 16 new acts.

Ten are being added to the main Friday-to-Sunday event from Aug. 8 to 10, and six perform at the Campers' Kickoff concert on Thursday, Aug. 7.

American rapper Nas (performing Illmatic), joins a Friday lineup that already includes Bruno Mars, Foster the People and Serena Ryder.

Saturday's new acts are Chvrches, James Vincent McMorrow, and Wildlife. They join a lineup that includes Arcade Fire, The Roots and Broken Bells.

And Sunday's are tUnE-yArDs, Magic!, Reuben and the Dark, The Temper Trap, Phantogram, and Hannah Epperson. They join Eminem, Arctic Monkeys, Thievery Corporation and Atmosphere, among others.

Thursday's Campers' Kickoff show features A Tribe Called Red, Kastle, The Strumbrellas, Herobust, The Matinee and Sleepy Tom. The Campers' Kickoff night features exclusive performances for all weekend pass holders.

Eric Hoffman, senior vice president of talent at Live Nation Canada, is the man responsible for selecting Squamish's lineup. He said he hopes more acts will join the roster.

"You think we're done? The truth is we may add a couple more. We're looking at the timing for some. It won't be another chunk of performers like this, but there might be a few more surprises. Let's see if anything fits like another piece of the puzzle," Hoffman says.

"In terms of today, I feel really good about it. A lot of these acts came together at different times since the original announcement. Every time you bring someone new into the fold you want to throw it on Facebook and tell everybody... so it's nice to have it out.

"The biggest thing is when I was thinking about it this week, I was really happy because it's a similar snapshot to the big lineup, in general. A lot of different genres, people from all of the world and Canadian artists."

For Hoffman, it means a lot to be able to introduce festivalgoers to music they may not know already.

"It's my favourite thing. There are a few artists who I think will be on best-of lists after the festival," he says.

"If you think back over the last couple of years, Charles Bradley and The Heavies are bands that made a mark. I just know that on Aug. 11 people are going to go (about bluesman) 'Black Joe Lewis, holy shit!'"

He says other bands like The Roots "speak to the music landscape in B.C." for being smart, conscientious hip hop artists.

"It would be silly to say that the Eminem thing wasn't very satisfying. It totally was in a different way," Hoffman says. "All-in-all when I think back on my personal experiences with festivals, the discovery acts are kind of the funnest.

"If you were into the indie singer-songwriter thing you'd never buy a ticket to a hip-hop show or a DJ, and the festival could totally change your impression about what that music is all about."

The organizers also announced that two campgrounds, Diamond and Circle, are completely sold out and the festival has added two new campgrounds for festivalgoers, Triangle and Square.

Triangle Campground will be located at Squamish Elementary School and will have 1,000 sites. The Square Campground will be the quiet family campground and is located at Mamquam Elementary School.

All campgrounds have been developed in consultation with the District of Squamish, Vancouver Coastal Health, RCMP and Fire Department officials. Each campground will be fully secured with an eight-foot fence and will have 24-hour security, medical and operational staff.

For more information visit www.squamishfestival.com.