One half of Outkast and a whole lot of local talent set for Second Bell Music Festival
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Hip-hop heads and local music buffs will have plenty of reasons to "git up" and "git out" to Suttree Landing Park this fall when Second Bell Music Festival returns to South Knoxville.
Second Bell revealed Monday that Big Boi, one half of legendary Atlanta hip-hop duo Outkast, will headline the 2022 festival taking place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The event is produced by Blank Newspaper in partnership with Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria.
"Outkast is my favorite band and has been since the first time I heard them basically," said Rusty Odom, BLANK publisher and festival creator. "I've always kind of played with the idea of booking Big Boi. ... And I never really thought I would be able to put it together, to be honest."
The remainder of the lineup has a heavy focus on local acts, including the live reunion of Knoxville's own Superdrag, best known for its 1996 single "Sucked Out."
Odom told Knox News it will be the band's first performance in 12 years.
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"To have them bring it back and to have it be in Knoxville — it's probably the only place to do it," Odom said. "But I feel so blessed and fortunate to be the place that they chose to bring it back. I'm honestly floored."
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In lieu of payment, Odom said, the band has asked organizers to donate the money to WUTK's "40 for 40" campaign, which aims to raise $40,000 for a new transmitter and tower site.
Check out the full Second Bell lineup
While more musicians and comedians will be added, check out the initial lineup:
Big Boi
Superdrag
Palm Palm
Benji
Temp Job
30 Amp Fuse
Connor Kelly & The Time Warp
Free Women Waltzing Club featuring Kelsi Walker, Haley Labelle, Evie Andrus, Lauryl Brisson, Melissa Hale, Sara Mae, Jaq and more
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Making the fest 'cooler for everybody'
Last year's event, headlined by Houndmouth, included two stages on the main lawn and a third stage for comedy. The layout will be similar this year, Odom said, and each artist is playing "unopposed."
Second Bell began as BLANKFest on Market Square, which lasted three years. The festival is now in its fifth iteration in South Knoxville, Odom said, if counting the Second Bell Monster Mash drive-in festival at Baker Creek Bottoms in October 2020.
The festival used to take place in late August, Odom said, but it was always far too hot. It was moved to the fall and will take place this year during a bye week for University of Tennessee football.
"When I announced the date change back in November, I was really careful to make sure there wasn't any other events and hadn't been any other events on the bye week in a couple of years," Odom said. "I figured if its open, why not take it? Make it cooler for everybody."
On Monday afternoon, Odom told Knox News the first tier of tickets were nearly sold out. A portion of proceeds will go to XHunger, which will partner with Beaty Chevrolet to give away a vehicle during this year's festival.
Post-festival concerts will take place at Barley's after each night's performances and will be ticketed separately from the festival.
"It was really important for us to focus on the entire Knoxville entertainment scene, and that's why we include comedy," Odom said. "And we also wanted to show off its diversity. ... It's the most diverse lineup we've ever put together.
"We just wanted to celebrate everybody in the entire scene."
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Want to go?
Suttree Landing Park is located along the Tennessee River, just a short walk north of Sevier Avenue's bustling business district.
The festival's $25 early bird passes are sold out, but tier-one general admission passes are $50 for the entire weekend. A VIP pass is $110, and all tickets can be purchased through Freshtix at secondbellfest.com.
Prices will increase to $60 for general admission and $125 for VIP, before jumping to $70 and $140, respectfully. Food trucks and beer vendors will be on hand during the festival.
"The event pairs Knoxville's vibrant scene with its newest riverfront park in one of the area's fastest growing sectors," reads the festival's description. "Don't be late!"
Ryan Wilusz: Knoxville's downtown explorer and urban reporter
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Big Boi of Outkast headlines Second Bell Music Festival in Knoxville
