The Festival
2020 was a hard year for concerts and festivals, but with the new year comes new possibilities. Denmark’s Roskilde Festival announced on New Year’s Eve that the festival is on track to happen this summer with some huge names including Kendrick Lamar.
Kendrick Lamar Coming Back
Roskilde is one of the first organizations to announce large gatherings for 2021, starting off the year with a bang. Kendrick Lamar is headlining the multi-day festival that was originally scheduled before the pandemic. Promoters hint that Kendrick, who hasn’t released any projects since his 2017 album DAMN, will be performing new music.
The organization put out a statement saying, “Lamar first visited Roskilde Festival in 2013 when he played an unforgettable concert on the Arena stage. When he returned two years later, he had just released the masterpiece To Pimp a Butterfly. The concert on the Orange Stage was a true show of force. Two albums later – and with new material along the way – he is once again ready to take Roskilde Festival’s main stage with a concert that is likely to be one of the absolute highlights of the summer.”
The Pulitzer Prize winning artist may also have a new album in the works for this year as well. The artist known for conscious rap and opinions on culture is expected to have something to say about last year.
Other Acts to Perform
Kendrick isn’t the only huge name than is retuning to the stage. The artists that have managed to stay on the list to perform include Tyler, The Creator, Anderson. Paak, DaBaby, Doja Cat, and Megan Thee Stallion. Missing from the original lineup of acts for the 2020 festival are Taylor Swift and The Roots along with some others.
Roskilde has scheduled the festival for June 26-July 3 and the non-profit organization plans to sell tickets without virtual streaming options. As of now most in-person tickets are sold out with only the option to be waitlisted.
Still Some Uncertainty
The first dose of the coronavirus vaccine is becoming available to first responders, medical professionals, and nursing home residents. With this, Roskilde is hopeful normal life will resume and it will be safe to gather in large groups again by the summer.
Even though this is great news, there is still some uncertainty of the event happening. Music fans are being left to cross their fingers in hopes that things go according to plan.
The pandemic has postponed countless events and with that, organizations have been cautious with COVID-19 regulations. The largest festival in Northern Europe is boldly taking the first steps into 2021. 100% of the profits are going to support initiatives benefitting children and young people and humanitarian and COVID-19 efforts.
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
With so much hype surrounding Kendrick Lamar, the festival begs the question: Will there finally be live shows again? That all Depends on how many people decide to get the vaccine and how many cases arise leading up to the festival. The impact of the event may very well decide if we are nearing normal life again. The best thing the show has going for it is that it will be hosted in Europe, a place that has reacted to Covid-19 better than most countries including the U.S.
To see how the last virtual festival went in 2020, check out the Georgia Comes Alive Series.
