Lava music festival on track
Published 10:40 pm Friday, April 10, 2015
A Suffolk music festival set for next month is still on track and has some exciting new developments, says organizer Josh Coplon.
He wouldn’t reveal how many tickets had been sold for the one-day Lava Music Festival, set for May 16 at the Suffolk Executive Airport, but he said the festival is on track to meet its goal of “several thousand.”
“Ticket sales are going good,” he said.
The indie-rock show will feature Fitz and the Tantrums as the headliner. Other performances will come from Of Montreal, Mutemath, Tokyo Police Club, Robert DeLong, Kishi Bashi, Cloud Nothings and A Great Big Pile of Leaves.
Two Norfolk-based bands, Major and the Monbacks and Wyteshayds, will also make appearances.
Coplon said a $45 Suffolk resident ticket is available as “just kind of a thank you for us coming into town.”
A Lava Lounge and an arcade will be featured at the event. Beer, wine and cider will be available for purchase in the Lava Lounge. At the Barcade, a free retro arcade featuring pinball machines and more will be featured.
Human foosball, oversized and normal-sized cornhole and more also will be available. Children’s activities also are planned.
Clean Canteen will provide a free water station, “so nobody will have to pay $4 for a water bottle,” Coplon said. “It means a lot to me to give people free water. I think having free water is a really big thing.”
Clean Canteen will use its reusable and recyclable steel pint cups to give out water.
Food trucks on location from Eat the Streets 757 will include tacos, barbecue, Caribbean fusion, cupcakes and others carrying a variety of items.
A VIP area will feature up-close viewing, a tent and flushable, air-conditioned toilets.
Concerts will take place on two stages throughout the all-day event.
“The price that we’re offering is pretty good for what it includes,” Coplon said. “We’re definitely starting to put a big push on our VIP area.”
Coplon said folks looking to score a free ticket can enter the referral program through which every person who gets six people to buy a $55 ticket gets a free one.
For those who can’t wait until May, there’s a free promotional concert taking place April 24 at The Parlor on Granby in Norfolk.
Part of the proceeds from the main event will benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Coplon said.
“They’re great for our area,” he said.
For those who don’t qualify for the Suffolk resident ticket for the festival, tickets are on sale now for $61.50. The price rises by $10 on April 15. Tickets will be $85 at the gate.
For VIP tickets, they are $140 now or $160 at the gate.
There’s also a military discount ticket that costs $55.
The event website is www.lavafestival.com. Some in-person purchase locations are listed on the website.