Billie Eilish, The Killers, Machine Gun Kelly and Lizzo join Firefly 2021 lineup in Delaware
Billie Eilish, The Killers, Tame Impala and Lizzo will headline Firefly’s 2021 lineup, it was announced Monday night.
This year’s Dover, Delaware, festival, located in The Woodlands, will be held in the fall instead of summer for the first time, with event dates Sept. 23-26.
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for fans who register for the presale at fireflyfestival.com.
Major performers also include Megan Thee Stallion, Cage the Elephant, Roddy Ricch, Wiz Khalifa, Diplo, Glass Animals, Machine Gun Kelly and Portugal. The Man.
State officials did not immediately respond to messages about whether the Division of Public Health has officially approved a plan for the four-day music festival. No details were released about possible COVID-19 restrictions.
The festival offers three types of passes: General admission $299, VIP $699 and Super VIP $2,499. For camping, prices starts at $209 per campsite.
This includes: Meadows Tent Camping starting at $499, Meadows Glamping ($1,499), Infield Glamping ($1,199), Infield RV Camping ($1,099), Front Row Chill Camping ($249), Front Row RV Camping ($499), Group Camping ($1,099) and Front Row Carefree Camping Souvenir Tents ($599).
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This year’s headliners include some mighty women. Over the last few years, critics have knocked Firefly for not having enough representation of women as headliners.
The pandemic forced Firefly to go dark in 2020. Last year's festival was set to feature a historic lineup for Firefly with a trio of female headliners – Eilish, Halsey and Maggie Rogers – after offering only one female headliner out of 29 in previous years.
The lineup also features The Killers, a band that seems like they've played Firefly almost every year. But technically they've only been tapped to play Firefly four times (2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021).
Also slated to play in 2020 was reunited rockers Rage Against the Machine, R&B singer Khalid and pop-punkers Blink 182. They are not on the 2021 lineup.
Firefly joins major festivals Bonnaroo and Governors Ball, which announced plans to return this fall. Governors Ball will be especially interesting because it will be held in New York City on the same dates as Firefly. Eilish has also been tapped to headline that fest. Bonnaroo will be in Tennessee from Sept. 2-5.
How will COVID impact Firefly?
Firefly organizers acknowledge we're still in a pandemic and they're reminding patrons that COVID-19 is a deadly virus.
"There is an inherent and elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place or place where people are present and there is no guarantee, express or implied, that those attending the festival will not be exposed to COVID-19," the Firefly website reads.
All attendees must agree to follow festival policies (including health and safety policies) and posted instructions, the website states.
If the festival doesn't happen this year, patrons will have the option to roll over their pass to the following festival or request a refund, per the Firefly website.
It’s too early to tell exactly what safety and health precautions will be in place. Firefly representatives are working with state health officials to develop COVID-19 protocols.
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Dr. Jennifer Horney, an epidemiology expert at the University of Delaware, weighed in on what COVID requirements might look like in The Woodlands.
"They could require people to be vaccinated. They could require people to answer a screening questionnaire. They could implement protocols on gathering size and the way that restrooms or showers operate,” she told Delaware Online/The News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“I think we’ve learned so much about the various aspects of protection that we can do it. I think there is no one-size-fits-all solution for these kinds of things. But if each intervention is implemented, then you get to a low-risk event,” she said.
Bonnaroo will be enforcing enhanced health and safety measures for guests, artists and employees. By attending that festival, attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, according to the festival's website.
"An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death," the Bonnaroo website reads.
There will be on-site security, emergency medical staff and crisis counselors available at the festival for 24 hours a day at Bonnaroo. "If you need any assistance, go to the nearest Medical Tent or ask any Bonnaroo staff member for assistance," according to the website.
Governors Ball also addressed COVID concerns.
"This is a bit of a moving target right now, and we will be posting more information in the coming months," according to the festival's website. "We will be following the guidance of all city and state authorities to ensure as safe of an experience for all. Many more details to come!"
'It's great for the economy'
Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, said in March that he’s had many people reach out to him about the news of Firefly returning, including friends, family and constituents. Some were “thrilled,” he said, while others “have expressed to me they’re really concerned about where we will be in terms of the virus.”
Paradee was optimistic the festival will be safe because of progress with vaccinations, adding that he wants Firefly to return because the city could use the money.
“It’s great for the economy,” he said. “Certainly, it’s a huge draw, particularly for younger people in their early 20s to come to Dover. I hope it happens.”
Firefly first came to Dover in July 2012, headlined by Jack White, the Killers and the Black Keys, drawing about 35,000 fans.
In the years since, the festival has grown, reaching a record of 90,000 fans in 2015 when Paul McCartney made his Delaware debut, playing a marathon set filled with the Beatles' greatest hits.
Other headliners over the years included Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon and OutKast.
Fans roast and celebrate lineup
Folks on the Firefly Music Festival Fan Page on Facebook, which boasts 18,000 members, expressed a mix of jokes, excitement and disappointment about the lineup:
"So judging by the math, The Killers will have now played 14 out of the 8 Firefly's," one person wrote.
"Billie and Tame is good enough for me," another said.
"I saw Lizzo at FF in 2018 and it was such a high energy fun show shes awesome I wont accept any Lizzo slander," one person wrote.
"DANCE PARTY SEPTEMBER 23-26" one fan posted.
"Do the killers have a part ownership in this or what ??" another person said.
News Journal reporter Brandon Holveck contributed to this report.
2021 Firefly Music Festival Lineup
Almost Monday
Aluna
Anna of the North
Arlo Parks
Atlas Genius
Badflower
Band of Horses
Big Wild
Billie Eilish
Binki
Blackbear
Blossom
Cage The Elephant
Cannons
Caribou
Carolesdaughter
Cassy
Chris Lake
Claud
Clever
Clozee
Deep Sea Diver
Denzel Curry
Des Rocs
Diplo
Dominic Fike
Duckwrth
Duke Dumont
Elohim
Flo Milli
GG Magree and Mija
girl in red
Glass Animals
Gracie Abrams
Grandson
iann dior
Jordy
Judah and the Lion
JXDN
Kenny Mason
Kennyhoopla
Khruangbin
The Killers
Kim Petras
Laundry Day
Lizzo
Lost Frequencies
Lovelytheband
LP Giobbi
Machine Gun Kelly
Madds
Madeon
Marc Rebillet
Maria Isabel
Megan Thee Stallion
Michigander
Middle Kids
Missio
Mt. joy
Nelly
Noga Erez
Oliver Tree
ONR
Orion Sun
Peach Pit
Phoebe Bridgers
Portugal. the Man
Positive Movement Drumline
redveil
Remi Wolf
REZZ
Ritt Momney
Roddy Ricch
Role Model
Royal & The Serpent
Rossy
Rozet
Serena Isioma
Slander
$NOT
Sofi Tukker
St. Panther
Still Woozy
Sub Urban
Surf Mesa
Sylvan Esso
Taking Back Sunday
Tame Impala
Tate McRae
Trevor Daniel
Turnstile
White Reaper
Wiz Khalifa
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion Machine Gun Kelly join Firefly 2021
