Eminem, Arcade Fire and Bruno Mars will headline the Squamish Valley Music Festival this summer, event organizers announced Wednesday morning.
Music fans will also rock out to Broken Bells, Arctic Monkeys, Foster the People, the Roots, Sam Roberts Band, Serena Ryder and many other big names.
This year, the festival’s site capacity has been expanded to accommodate up to 35,000 concert-goers, up from 17,000 last year.
Performers will be spread across four stages throughout the three-day festival, which runs Aug. 8 to 10.
Live Nation Canada president Paul Haagenson said their goal is to make the event the best music festival in Canada and one that is in the same class as larger North American events, such as Coachella and Lollapalooza.
“We think that with our lineup and our statements today that we’re going to deliver an event that’s going to be in the best-in-class category across North America,” he said.
The three-day event, in its fifth year, generates economic benefits to the District of Squamish, as well as the province.
“We’re going to invest $12 million in this event and with any luck generate $55 million economic spin-off for the province of B.C.” Haagenson said.
The festival is also featuring local B.C. musicians, including Topless, the Zolas and Louise Burns.
Event organizers have increased camping sites, shuttle services, bike valets and designed a brand-new main stage and electronic dance music arena to accommodate the growing crowd.
At the festival, concert-goers will use a wristband to pay for food, drinks and other items from vendors. The cash-less system will speed up lines and delays at vendors, according to event organizers.
There will also be a free phone-charging station.
For information on presale tickets, visit the Squamish Valley Music Festival website. General public tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 7.
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