Festival Noize: Endymion, Pilgrimage, Tortuga, Eaux Claires

KISS, Flo Rida, and KC and the Sunshine Band announced for Endymion 2017 … Pilgrimage releases schedule and set times for sophomore edition … Tortuga preps presale and VIP packages for next year … Bon Iver’s Eaux Claires readies its presale.

Photo: Christopher Millette, Erie Times-News via AP
Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pa.

New Orleans, are you ready for the hottest band in the world? KISS will rock the  after the krewe puts on the largest Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Flo Rida and KC and the Sunshine Band will also be taking the stage.

The event will be held Feb. 25 at the  after the parade. Krewe of Endymion founder Ed Muniz told The Times-Picayune that artists performing at the extravaganza are always invited to participate in the parade, and Gene Simmons of KISS was the parade Grand Marshall in 2005.

Last year featured Pitbull and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as headliners for the extravaganza. Here is a panoramic video of what the parade looks like:

The Endymion krewe has been at this for more than 50 years, and this will mark the fourth time KC and the Sunshine Band has appeared. The parade will run 81 floats with 3,200 riders and touts a budget of more than $7 million according to the The Times-Picayune.

You can learn more from the event’s Facebook page.

 is set to blow fans away with its second edition, now having released its complete schedule with set times.

The event is held Sept. 24-25 at  in Franklin, Tenn. Saturday night will see performances from BeckGrace PotterViolent FemmesKaleoCake, and The Struts. Sunday night sets will include Daryl Hall & John OatesJason IsbellKacey MusgravesThe ArcsBetter Than EzraMargo PriceThe SuffersSon Little, and City and Colour.

Photo: John Davisson
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, Sunshine Grove, Okeechobee, Fla.

There will be a total of five stages throughout the festival grounds, with tons of specially selected food and drink options scattered throughout, as well as artisan booths and family-friendly entertainment.

Tennessee native Justin Timberlake has recently signed on as a partner and producer of the festival. He says, “I have been watching the development of the festival over the past two years. For me, this is an amazing opportunity to help build an exceptional event and contribute to my community.”

Single day passes are still available for the festival, as are VIP passes. Kids under 10 get in free when they are accompanied by an adult. Check out PilgrimageFestival.com for more on the event.

Florida’s country music mega-festival  will be selling Early Bird presale tickets to its fifth edition on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. EDT.

Tortuga–which has raised over $300,000 for marine research and conservation–will be held April 7-9 at  along the Florida Coast. Three-day general passes will go for $189 to the early bird buyers, VIP passes are priced at $849 and the Super VIP package will run $1,299 for all three days.

Last year’s festival saw Blake SheltonTim McGrawSheryl CrowLynyrd SkynyrdElle KingZiggy MarleyDierks BentleyZac Brown BandEric ChurchJake OwenHank Williams Jr.The Doobie BrothersKelsea Ballerini and many more. This year’s performers are still being kept quiet for now, though organizers have assured that next year’s lineup will be “our strongest one yet!”

TortugaMusicFestival.com is your place to go for all things Tortuga.

Word has gotten out that the third edition of Bon Iver’s  festival will be held June 16-17 in Eau Claire, Wis. A presale will open up Sept. 9 at 10:00 a.m. CDT, so fans that want to lock in their spot will get their first chance then.

Two-day general admission passes are selling for $125 during the presale, and enhanced passes will go for $250. You can also get camping ($165) and camp access ($35) passes during that presale. Trailers and RVs require $300 permits.

No word on the lineup at this time, but last year saw Bruce HornsbyErykah BaduDeafheaven and Bon Iver himself performing.

Learn more at EauxClaires.com.