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Nine Inch Nails, Outkast, Deadmau5, Soundgarden headline Pemberton Festival

Frank Ocean Kendrick Lamar, Metric, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, Blondie also perform July 18 to 20
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Kendrick Lamar Performing at the Pemberton Music Festival. Photo submitted

The Pemberton Music Festival has announced its long-awaited lineup of bands and performers.

"We're delivering this baby after a very long labour," said HUKA Entertainment CEO A.J. Niland in an interview. "There was a great deal of diligence put in on the artist side."

The festival, which takes place from July 18 to 20, has confirmed the following acts:

Nine Inch Nails, Outkast, Deadmau5, Soundgarden, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Metric, Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg, Above & Beyond, Empire of the Sun, Ms. Lauryn Hill, TV On The Radio, Blondie, Cage The Elephant, Girl Talk, Grimes, The Flaming Lips, Young The Giant, Baauer, Matthew Good, Schoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Tyler The Creator, Violent Femmes, Earl Sweatshirt, Gord Downie, The Sadies, The New Pornographers, Sloan, Stars, Best Coast, Big Gigantic, Clockwork, Flying Lotus, Hayden, RL Grime, Shlohmo, Dinosaur Jr., Hey, Rosetta!, Kaytranada, Xxyyxx, Zz Ward, Hallelujah Train featuring Daniel Lanois, Trailer Park Boys, Bob Saget, Norm Macdonald, Doug Benson, Hannibal Buress, Tom Green, Matt Mays, Delta Rae, Fucked Up, Griz, Purity Ring DJ Set, Dan Deacon, Lettuce, Metz, Rich Aucoin, Wild Belle, Aer, Gold &Youth, Flash Lightnin', The Tontons, Tory Lanez, Yukon Blonde, Will Sexton, Brian Blade, Brady Blade Sr., Anders Osborne, Chris Thomas and Malcolm Burn with Gospel Choir, Lisa Lampanelli, Nick Swardson, Brian Posehn, Jim Breuer, Natasha Leggero, Brian Scolaro, and Kyle Dunnigan.

Organizers had been criticized by fans for delays in releasing the lineup, the final one being the announcement a day later than originally promised. This last hitch was due to one performer, said Niland; he declined to name the act, but said it was one of the headliners and worth the wait.

"A lot (of the delay) was due to availability and competition with other promoters that really dragged it out... all it took was a little extra time. I know that frustrated people, and that kills me... I understand the frustration," he said, adding that he read the feedback and criticisms levied by fans each day.

"We could have announced sooner with a lesser quality of lineup and we didn't want to do that... there are a lot of good people working very hard and creating an amazing experience."

Niland said they hoped the different styles and types of music on offer would impress fans.

"We really try to book diverse lineups and we try to have a nice mix of everything. There's dance music in there, a good bit of rock, hip hop and a bit of pop and indie rock," said Niland.

"This is the iPod generation and there are a lot of people listening to a lot of different types of music. It's all at your fingertips and why should a festival experience be any different?"

He added that one of the things he likes about festivals is getting the chance to see acts he wouldn't normally see.

"I like being pleasantly surprised or being turned on to something new, that's the spirit we're going for."

There will be nearly 100 performances and six separate performance areas, with two main stages, two secondary stages, a dance stage and a comedy area.

Having comedy is nothing new for their festivals, but Niland said the Pemberton Festival's comedy offering is on the largest scale HUKA has offered to date.

"We're trying to create an amazing experience, it goes well beyond the lineup for music and comedy," said Niland. "Onsite there will be additional things that we're going to roll out over the next few months. Different activities that I think will be really fun, so that those investing the money and time to come out don't get disappointed on the lack of things to do... really give a lot of value."

More performers will be added to the lineup in the coming months, Niland said.

Pemberton is HUKA's first major camping festival, he added.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. Advance weekend general admission tickets start at $279, plus a choice of camping or shuttle privileges for $89.

Niland said weekend passes are available for now, with day ticket sales dependent on how well the weekend passes sell.