Sasquatch to Launch from the Crocodile

the evolution of a festival. sasquatch 2010.

As the multiday music festival era hit its inevitable saturation point, some have fallen (R.I.P., Rothbury) and others are doing whatever they can to help their announcements stand out in a crowded field. In the last week, Pitchfork opened the gates to ticket sales by releasing a slate of headliners for their affordable summer party in Chicago's Union Park and Bonnaroo promised to reveal its lineup live on the internet to fans little-by-little later this month.

Today, as part of the arms race on your summer weekends, Sasquatch announced a launch party to send their still-secret lineup out into the wide world.

Next Monday, they'll team up with curious co-sponsors esurance and Jack Daniels for a free show at the Crocodile. Bradford Cox will be there in electronic Atlas Sound guise, along with Surfer Blood and Seattle's ascending hip-hop 3.0 stars Fresh Espresso. The event requires free tickets (tune in to 107.7 or stop in at a friendly neighborhood Easy Street Records starting Friday morning) and will be hosted by Too Beautiful to Live's Luke Burbank. All sorts of product tie-ins and contests abound: VIP ticket opportunities for carpoolers, signed limited edition posters, gaming console giveaways, and more. 

At the moment, the Sasquatch website is still confusingly populated by last year's schedule and highlights; so you'll have to hold out until next week to find out who will be joining Pavement on the Central Washington cliffside this summer. If you have faith in the festival organizers, though, three day passes remain on sale for $170 until 16 February (ticketmaster).

• Sasquatch 2010 Launch Party with Atlas Sound, Surfer Blood, and Fresh Espresso. The Crocodile. Monday 15 February, 7 pm, 21+ (free)
• Sasquatch 2010 Music Festival with Pavement & TBA*. The Gorge, George, WA. 29-31 May. ($170+)