Lawrence.com

The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival kicked off ticket sales last week with the announcement that Wilco would join a bill that already includes more than 45 national acts.

Festival director Brett Mosiman said Wilco had been a major target "for months and months" and would be billed as the headliner of a to-be-announced night (the festival runs June 17-19).

"They're possibly the most decorated American rock band right now - they're just everybody's darling," Mosiman said. "I think if you can sell out Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks (Amphitheater) you're a pretty fine headliner."

The announcement that Wilco will be playing at the same festival as Son Volt could prove to be a major draw. Frontmen Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Jay Farrar (Son Volt) have downplayed their purported "feud" since the breakup of their seminal alt-country band Uncle Tupelo, but the prospect of a reconciliation is still a hot topic amongst fans and critics.

While any sort of Tweedy/Farrar reunion at Wakarusa should at this point be considered just a distant fantasy, Mosiman said he's not unaware of the significance of having both performers at the same festival.

"I'm not even sure they've been in the same town together for the last 10 years," he said. "It is funny the clamor out there, but I wouldn't read too much into it. We're not going to fan that fire."

The festival's second-year lineup is already promising to outdo last year's maiden voyage in terms of diversity. Confirmed new faces include Son Volt, Neko Case, Calexico, Ozomatli, Junior Brown, Railroad Earth, Chubby Carrier, Gov't Mule, The Gourds, Umphrey's McGee, Big Head Todd and Little Feat.

Other bands rumored to be interested include The String Cheese Incident and Polyphonic Spree.

Mosiman said single-day passes would become available in May as long as the festival had not sold out. While that scenario seems unlikely given last year's turnout of about 7,500 (the cap is about 30,000), Mosiman said the Wakarusa staff would not hesitate to cut off ticket sales if the festival neared its capacity.

"We can't go from 6,000 to 60,000 people and have it be well-run and safe and well-received," he said. "We are not desirous of Bonnaroo-type numbers; we're desirous of Telluride-type numbers and a long and happy existence."

In an effort to keep the festival fresh, Wakarusa 2005 will return only about one-fourth of the 80 acts that played last year. The festival will also feature a children's stage (with workshops hosted by festival bands), and possibly stages for hip-hop, electronica and local/regional bands.