Last night on Twitter, the rumors were flying around as slavering music fans awaited news of what the 2012 edition of the Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge (happening on Memorial Day weekend) had in store. 

One tweeter claimed Pearl Jam was going to be headlining one night performing on their album Backspacer. Another talked up an appearance by Lou Reed w/ Metallica. And, me, I tried to convince more than one person that bookers had set up an entire jam band day with appearances by The Dead, Dave Matthews Band, String Cheese Incident, and STS9.  

The truth, thankfully, is much much better than that. As Sasquatch organizers have to compete with a lot of other festivals in the NW and around the country, the pressure is on to deliver something substantial. And, for the most part, they've delivered. There are tons of substantial names on the bill—biggest among them: Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, and Tenacious D—and a parade of other indie and borderline indie acts that will guarantee brisk tickets sales: Girl Talk, Feist, The Joy Formidable, Explosions In The Sky, St. Vincent, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Beirut, etc. 

Portland, is, of course well represented in 2012 with The Shins, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, The Helio Sequence, Sallie Ford, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Starfucker, Blitzen Trapper, and an appearance by the Portlandia crew (ostensibly in the comedy tent, but they might pull a mainstage audience). 

But, as with any festival of this size, it's the curveballs that are worth getting excited about. There's apparently going to be an entire fourth stage devoted to nothing but NW hip-hop acts. Country growler Jamey Johnson will be playing somewhere on the festival grounds. And the electronic and comedy tents will likely not disappoint with folks like Com Truise, Tycho, Rob Delaney, and Todd Barry on the agenda. 

But, hey, enough of my yapping. Whaddaya say? Let's boogie! 

Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, Sbtrkt, Strfkr, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa
Thee Satisfaction, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, The Physics, Sol, Metal Chocolates, Grynch, Spac3man, Don’t Talk To The Cops, Scribes, Fatal Lucciauno, Fly Moon Royalty, Katie Kate

Comedy: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Todd Barry, Beardyman, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer, and more

Sasquatch! Music Festival 2012 Lineup Announcement from Sasquatch Festival on Vimeo.