The Amnesia Rockfest lineup is out and it’s a doozy (Weezer, Blink-182, Megadeth)

After dropping hints over the last few weeks, Amnesia Rockfest unveiled its full lineup today. Take a look at the flyer below.

Taking place June 20-21 in Montebello, Quebec (about an hour from Montreal), the line-up this year is once stacked with what was essentially my high-school playlist (read: every band is old). So old, in fact, that 6 of this year’s headliners were on Warped Tour ’96. That might say something about the timeless nature of bands like Reel Big Fish and MXPX, or it just might be that Quebec resides in a perpetual time-warp where ska never stopped being cool, and where a No Use for a Name tribute band is billed higher than Rocket From the Crypt on a festival bill.

However, it’s hard to argue with the caliber of bands that this festival has been able to lure to the boonies of Quebec. The fact that I finally get to Cock Sparrer is worth the trip alone, and there is something to say for a festival that has the cojones to book  Henry Rollins, Black Flag, Danzig, The Misfits, not to mention fellow lawsuit-happy punk rockers Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys on the same bill. I predict lots of awkward exchanges backstage at this one.

Apart from the massive line-up, the producers have handed over logistical duties for the festival to the team behind the Festival d’été de Québec, which has run a sprawling summer festival in Quebec City for decades without incident. They are also promising a revamped camping system, and a completely re-thought festival grounds. This is all in an effort to address the organizational issues of last year’s edition, with attendees complaining of everything from overflowing port-a-potties, to 6-hour wait times to enter the grounds, transport busses that never showed up, etc. I was only there for half a day last year, but there was definitely a pervasive sense that things were quickly spiralling out of hand, with the on-site staff completely unprepared / overwhelmed. Here’s hoping that the new logistical team is ready.

Amnesia Rockfest runs June20-21 in Montebello, Quebec. Weekend passes, which run the gamut from $99 – $499 for something called the “Ultimate VIP Weekend Pass,” are available now at http://www.pnrockfest.com/en/tickets/