Canada’s largest music and comedy camp-out is ready for 2016, bringing some of the biggest names back to the photo-ready foot of Mount Currie.
While the lineup hasn’t been released yet, Pemberton Music Festival announced Tuesday morning it will be rocking the picturesque Pemberton Valley north of Whistler from Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 17. Early bird discount tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 15, at 10am PST, with ticket prices starting at $270 for a four-day, general admission pass, and camping passes available for an additional $199. Four-day VIP passes start at $699, with a choice of camping or shuttle, and if Super VIP is more your style, those start at $1,499.
Last year, the festival drew more than 115,000 fans and featured 113 artists – including performances by Kendrick Lamar, the Black Keys, J. Cole, Hozier, Missy Elliot, and Kid Cudi.
AJ Niland of Huka Entertainment anticipates that this year will be even bigger.
“Last year we had massive growth,” the festival chairman told Westender. “I mean, we were up 80 per cent over the previous year. I couldn’t have predicted it if I wanted it. If we see that kind of growth again […] it would put us up there in the highest ranks of the festival world.
“We know we’re going to grow,” he continues. “We just don’t know by how much, so we’re preparing to handle as much as potentially comes.”
As such, one of the biggest changes to the festival experience will come in the form of camping.
Most notably, festivalgoers will now have a choice between the energetic north campground, and the quieter south campground.
“On the north side what we know is it’s definitely more of the party vibe,” says Niland, with a laugh. “And on the south side it’s a little bit more spread out. There’s a lot more trees, it’s a little bit more wooded and further away from the main gates, so naturally it’s developed a little more of a quiet vibe.”
Working off feedback from last year’s festival, Huka has also revamped the camping pass system. Instead of purchasing an individual camping pass and maneuvering to be close to your friends, passes will now be sold per campsite and accommodate up to four people.
“We’re encouraging people to camp together and ride together cause, you know, that helps with traffic and everything else we battle,” says Niland. “It’s definitely an ecosystem there and one little thing affects another.”
Camping passes will be available for purchase with a festival ticket, while campers coming up with a car will need a $29 parking pass per vehicle. Shuttle passes will also be available for fans staying in Whistler, and are $99 per person.
For those watching the Coachella and Sasquatch lineups rolling out, Niland was mum on Pemberton specifics, but did reveal that the festival would carry a bit more rock on the top line, while still filling out with its hip hop and EDM draws.
For tickets and additional info, head to PembertonMusicFestival.com.
