Like pretty much every major concert in 2020, Denmark’s Roskilde Festival had to take a break this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But on Wednesday (Dec. 30), the promoters excitedly announced that on the eve of a new year they “think there is a need and reason to be hopeful.”
One major cause for excitement is their announcement that Kendrick Lamar has agreed to headline the festival in 2021; Lamar had previously been slated to headline the 2020 event.
The festival, which is expected to run from June 26-July 3 next year, already has a number of other major names on the roster, including The Strokes, Tyler, The Creator, Faith No More, Haim, Thom Yorke’s Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, FKA Twigs, Girl in Red, Anderson.Paak, Big Thief, DaBaby, Deftones, Doja Cat, Fontaines D.C. and Megan Thee Stallion.
Missing from the original roster of acts who were announced for the 2020 fest are Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, The Roots, Brittany Howard and Waxachatchee, among others.
The announcement is good news for live music fans who’ve gone almost a year without being able to attend live shows. But with the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine just now rolling out to first responders, medical professionals and nursing home residents in the U.S. and Europe, it remains to be seen if it will be safe to gather in large groups again by the summer.
Check out the announcement below.
We are on the threshold of a new year, and we think there is a need and reason to be hopeful. So, here’s a big one!
We’re thrilled to announce that @kendricklamar will return to Roskilde Festival in 2021 (#rf50).https://t.co/NAMhkzOWgR pic.twitter.com/YbyBR6E37u
— Roskilde Festival (@orangefeeling) December 30, 2020
