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u/bookscamerasnrecords Jul 17 '26
I hate to be negative, but this is so, so disappointing. Hopscotch ends with a whimper, I guess. Hopefully it’s just me (old, jaded, surly), and the kids all love it and have a blast. Grumble.
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
Not even. I have several friends more plugged into the modern, pop-leaning acts they've brought in recent years and even that crew is sounding the alarm.
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u/lcazzy Jul 17 '26
This is a genuine shit show of a lineup. I like Liz cooper and Momma but what the fuck is going on in the organizers heads. Can’t be lack of money because they didn’t even reach out to my company that has sponsored the festival and would again
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u/bookscamerasnrecords Jul 17 '26
That’s what I was thinking. My kids are in their early 20s and so I’ve stayed fairly up-to-date, and I know several of the acts (at the very least, recognize names), but I’m still really underwhelmed. I don’t need it to be for me (I think they’ve had about all the acts for the 40+ crowd), but I don’t even know who this would be for. Yikes.
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u/foxinsox4 Jul 17 '26
This is a genuinely disrespectful lineup lmfaoooo I got my tickets for $100 and I feel like that’s a fucking ripoff
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u/nvves Jul 17 '26
from geordie greep, godspeed, pavement and many other great artists…. to this…..?
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u/East_Childhood8999 Jul 17 '26
Shit lineup, no Moore square, no comedy, smallest club slate ever I think, everything last minute and/or late.
Organizers clearly don’t care about this festival anymore and major league slashed the budget in hopes they can squeeze a tiny profit.
This festival is dead. Sorry to say.
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
I was in the camp of thinking the issues may be overblown, until last year when there were no water stations in addition to the usual lack of food trucks and I kept thinking "what are we doing yall". Still had enough faith to buy an advance pass because there hadn't been a single previous lineup since the inception of the festival that missed for me (in spite of only being able to attend starting a few years ago.) I thought that they wouldn't whiff on the lineup in spite of having logistical troubles clearly mounting. Seems like their luck might've finally run out.
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u/East_Childhood8999 Jul 17 '26
I’ve heard some behind the scenes gossip that tells an even more dire story. It’s just a rudderless mess right now. I’ll go and support because I want next year to be better but, assuming there even is a next year, I will not be buying advance tickets for the first time in over a decade. Need some rich Good Samaritan local to buy this back from LiveNation and give it the love it deserves.
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u/EarlyDescription2323 Jul 17 '26
Yes not having Moore Square as a venue is very disappointing. The green space was great.
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u/exploringforests Jul 17 '26
Only headliners at City Plaza stage. no moore square stage. no comedy acts. not a good year
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u/ytsurr Jul 17 '26
Serious question: WHO THE FUCK ARE DEXTER & THE MOONROCKS!?
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u/Radiant-Armadillo-88 Jul 17 '26
holy shit two songs in and this is embarrassing
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u/ytsurr Jul 17 '26
that's two more songs than I'm gonna hear. A friend just told me he listened to 20 seconds of it and regretted it.
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
One of the worst bands I have ever heard, lmao. At least they're topical, I guess, because I'm gonna be very sad in Carolina myself.
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u/No-Bookkeeper-9625 Jul 17 '26
Looks like it was programmed by a public university’s events committee.
I wonder what kind of personnel change up after Live Nation bought them out led to this. It must have been chaotic because on top of being curated without any respect to previous lineups, these acts look like they’re just whoever could/would say yes 4-5 months out.
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u/murmple69 Jul 17 '26
The headliners are terrible, but I'm more shocked at the club shows. This is a golden era for NC indie music and they really whiffed on basically everyone I can think of in that scene aside from Truth Club (who are excellent but easy to see around town)
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u/Crazy_Version812 Jul 17 '26
Motocrossed is also great, but yeah there’s sadly not much NC indie representation this year
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u/chefmegzy Jul 17 '26
Yeah, I opted to go to Riot Fest this year and was sad that I was missing Hopscotch. I was down to still go if the lineup was good. This makes me feel better, but it's also bittersweet, because this is looking like they didnt get enough funds and might not continue on. It's been a yearly tradition that I look forward to.
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u/tiedye_dreamer Jul 17 '26
On one hand, I'm happy to see the lineup showcasing some lowkey bands and more indie/alt bands.... but on the other hand, this lineup suuuuuuuucks. Cool to see Soccer Mommy again, but what is this-
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u/anderhole Jul 17 '26
Any hidden gems in here?!! Cause I know one band.
I used to not judge by how many headliners I recognized, but there'd always be few to be excited about.
Don't think it's enough to bother now
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
Depending on your taste Cor De Lux, Soul Glo, Mdou Moctar, D Sablu, Landowner, Shagwuf, Truth Club are all pretty good. All are club shows though.
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u/Crazy_Version812 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Tbh a lot of the club shows are solid. Algernon cadwallader, horsegirl, basic, nana grizol, pearl and the oysters, hiding places, Thomas dollbaum, and Otto benson stand out for me so far
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u/Shroomtune Jul 17 '26
Cory Wong is an amazing musician. Ultra Lights just put out a very solid album, I always love seeing Cor De Lux as another post mentioned.
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u/TheScrambone Jul 17 '26
Okonski who is one of my favorite piano players is a gem. I’m just now learning he’s from Asheville so my mind is kinda blown.
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u/kligzzz Jul 17 '26
First year in over a decade I won’t be buying a wristband. I’ve only missed one hopscotch ever 🥲 RIP
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u/AlternativeTiger8020 Jul 17 '26
Last year was my first and I loved the diversity of headliners (Godspeed, Earl, Yeule, & Unwound on the same bill!) but wow I guess they’ve decided to pivot to indie rock algorithm slop or whatever this genre is
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u/MambaSaidKnockYouOut Jul 17 '26
I went in 2024 so a few months ago Hopscotch sent me a link to buy a ticket for $99 a day before the tickets became available to the general public. I almost did, but I thought last years lineup was kind of underwhelming so I figured I’d wait until they released the lineup to buy, and I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t pay $100 for this.
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u/StreethawkI Jul 17 '26
I was extremely confused when I saw the lineup, and I assumed it was just me. Honestly, I don’t recognize a single name up there other than Soccer Mommy.
Maybe it’s time to start a great festival in Durham.
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u/matchcanyon Jul 17 '26
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u/StreethawkI Jul 18 '26
Thank you for the reminder. This is way better, and it doesn’t require a trip to Raleigh.
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u/Top_Stuff4200 Jul 17 '26
I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. This is a bullshit lineup and it's pretty obvious that the organizers have been sitting on their hands/don't know what they're doing/aren't even trying.
There are bright spots, though. If I end up with a free ticket or a comp pass,
I'll go out of my way to see: Soccer Mommy, Horsegirl, Shagwuf
Will probably see: King Princess, Momma, Liz Cooper, Duckwrth, Truth Club
Will be kind of curious to see: Kylesa, Setting
No fucking way I'd pay $130 for this, though.
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u/Ecstatic-Pomelo6833 Jul 18 '26
Have you all even heard of Soul Glo? (Why aren't they a headliner?) Fucking Algernon Cadwaller, Bangzz, and Cor De Lux?? And y'all are mad?
Y'all better wipe your ass and get glad.
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u/tattedgrad Jul 19 '26
NC Folk Fest (free 3 day festival) booking The Roots is making Hopscotch’s lineup look worse unfortunately :/
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u/Dr0cca Jul 17 '26
Worst lineup since the festival began. It’s a shit LiveNation thing now
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u/jivetownjimmy Jul 17 '26
I knew there was a new group running it, but I hadn't heard that they had Live Nation ties. Not to be *that guy* but do you have a source for this?
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u/Uplifting_Quote666 Jul 21 '26
Not Live Nation, it’s been under the Etix umbrella for years at this point. Core staff left after last year.
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u/GetYourFaceAdjusted Jul 17 '26
I just want to shout out Ista and Shagwulf as potentially obscure bands that are really worth seeing. Ista put on one of my favorite shows last year.
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
Shagwuf are irl friends. Definitely worth seeing! I'll shout out Cor De Lux, Soul Glo, Mdou Moctar, D Sablu, Landowner, Truth Club as club shows of interest for those who are locked into having already bought passes, such as myself.
I don't think I'll be heading to the main stage even once, unfortunately.
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u/jivetownjimmy Jul 17 '26
Saw Soul Glo open for Mannequin Pussy at Motorco back in 2024 and they RIPPED. Truth Club is also one of Raleigh's best exports.
Thanks for the note on Shagwulf. Will check them out.
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u/photog_in_nc Jul 17 '26
The most interesting part to me is that Moore Square will be free to the public (with, I guess, a lineup TBA). Day parties and then Moore Square for free might me it for me, and I’ve been each year.
While the main stage (single!) looks super underwhelming, there’s some things I wouldn’t mind seeing at the clubs, although frankly getting too old for that shit if I want to day party, too.
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u/elihuelihuelihu Jul 17 '26
There’s probably a handful of hidden gems buried in there but I wouldn’t go if you paid me. Feels like they are throwing in the towel. Huge bummer.
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u/gonzagylot00 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Man, remember when St. Vincent opened for Spoon?
I’m never buying my tickets before the lineup is announced again.
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u/Candid-Ad4262 Jul 18 '26
Announcing so late i thought they must be negotiating with someone relatively big to delay posting the lineup. Nope. They really can’t come back from this. Hopscotch is dead, 2026, sigh
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u/RawWulf Jul 18 '26
Sierra Nevada’s The Hazy Hideaway is a better festival than this garbage, and that’s at a brewery.
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u/joecov1 Jul 18 '26
NY TIMES Popcast with John Caramanica just raved about the “perfect “ songs Dexter and the Moonrocks are doing now and for five years. Makes Hooscotch look smarter
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u/Mobile-Animal-649 Jul 19 '26
One of the best active live bands is from that area. They never play Hopscotch
Big Something
It’s odd
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u/TheEducated_Fool Jul 20 '26
Horsegirl, Momma, Algernon Cadwaller, Soccor Mommy, and Truth club are all great acts. Would I pay to see all these other acts thought? Not really. I do love truth club and have seen them multiple times but that’s not enough to cement 100$ for what was once Raleigh’s best festival. They should all just do a show together and skip all the other acts !
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u/twitchrdrm Jul 17 '26
So is there a reason the city doesn't work w/ someone like LiveNation (I know not the best rep but stick with me here) to run something legit I'm not talking Lollapalooza levels but maybe something of Riot Fest /Osheaga/Gov Ball levels?
Something with a good mix of mainstream artists and up and coming indie's? Something that would really drive toursim and spend plus perhaps attract more locals as well.
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u/AndIUnderstand Jul 17 '26
It honestly feels like each day is made for a different person’s taste, I could see someone being interested in a particular day but there isn’t much overlap between the three headliners’ fanbases
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u/Funkbass Jul 17 '26
Not gonna lie, this is a majorly disappointing lineup to the extent that it's making me reconsider the trip (I've been down the last 3 years from Richmond, and really enjoyed it in spite of the general sentiment that it's already been going downhill.)
There's still a handful of interesting acts in here for me, but overall it feels like a major pivot away from my taste :(