Pharrell Announces Inaugural Something In The Water Festival Featuring Travis Scott, Migos, More

AP Photo / Chris Pizzello – Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams takes charge during the halftime performance for the NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center in Los Angeles Feb. 18.

Acclaimed producer and musician Pharrell Williams revealed the lineup for the first Something In The Water festival on Monday.

Scheduled to take place from April 26 to April 28 in Pharrell’s hometown of Virigina Beach, Va., the event’s lineup includes Travis Scott, Migos, Missy Elliott, Pusha-T, SZA, Dave Matthews Band, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, J Balvin, Diplo, Janelle Monáe, Mac DeMarco, Maggie Rogers, Jhené Aiko, Lil Uzi Vert and more.

Pharrell himself will also perform with to-be-announced collaborators as “Pharrell & Friends.”

“Allen Iverson. Missy Elliott. Dave Matthews Band. Ella Fitzgerald. Virginia has been home to some of the most gifted artists, athletes, and scientists to ever live,” Pharrell said in a statement. “And it makes sense – the people of Virginia are one-of-a-kind: uniquely gritty, bold, and brilliant. For the first time, we are harnessing that energy, bringing the great minds of our time and the biggest brands in the world to this great place, and letting the inspiration flow and well deserved opportunities unfold. Virginia needs this right now and the world will see what we Virginians have known all along: there really is Something in the Water.”

Virginia Beach Mayor Robert “Bobby” Dyer echoed Pharrell’s enthusiasm. “This is going to be a transformative event for our city,” he said in a statement. “We are absolutely thrilled with the plans Pharrell and his team have for this year. There will be no doubt that what is ‘in the water’ around Virginia Beach is ‘something’ very special.”

According to the festival’s FAQ page, the event will only feature one stage – and as it’ll be “on the beach,” the site advises attendees to “wear appropriate footwear.” The festival will also feature a pop-up church, trap music karaoke, a screening of  “The Burial of Kojo” by Ava DuVernay’s film distribution collective and appearances by Deepak Chopra and Geoffrey Canada, president of the Harlem Children’s Zone.

“We are excited to be a part of launching Something In The Water with Pharrell Williams,” said Lesley Olenik, Vice President of Live Nation Touring, which is producing the event. “Pharrell has an incredible vision for his hometown this weekend and we can’t wait to bring it to life with the community of Virginia Beach.”

Beyond hits under his own name, such as 2013 chart-topper “Happy,” Pharrell has recording relationships with several of the artists booked for Something In The Water. In 2018 alone, he worked on albums by Travis Scott, Migos and Janelle Monáe. He has also collaborated with Missy Elliott, SZA, Lil Uzi Vert and Pusha-T.

And, notably, Pharrell’s amazed reaction to a Maggie Rogers song went viral and helped catapult her to stardom.

Tickets for the festival go onsale March 8 at noon ET, with early bird passes selling for $150 and second-tier passes going for $175. VIP options will also be available.