clockwise from left: Billie Eilish | photo by Emily DeHart // Tame Impala | photo by Avi Warren // Lizzo | photo by Ed Newton // Orion Sun | photo by Rachel Del Sordo // Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks | still from video // Sylvan Esso | photo by Natalie Piserchio
Firefly 2021 stars Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Lizzo, Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, Arlo Parks, Orion Sun and much more
Is your fall calendar packed out yet? If not, the 2021 edition of Firefly Music Festival lands neatly in between WXPN’s own XPoNential Music Festival and the terrific Philly Music Fest, making for three back-to-back weekends of live music binging.
Like XPoNential, the ninth year of Delaware’s regional mega-festival pushed back from its usual summer date to make a return in the autumn, from September 23rd through the 26th. Singer-songwriter pop star sensation Billie Eilish, who was slated to play last year’s cancelled Firefly, returns as a 2021 headliner, sharing top billing with Firefly vets Tame Impala, The Killers, and Lizzo.
It’s an exciting roster of headliners, but the Firefly undercard is often the place where the festival truly shines; this year, it’s packed with performances by XPN faves Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, Khruangbin, Band of Horses, and recent Artist To Watch Arlo Parks. Also in the mix are big names like Megan Thee Stallion, Cage The Elephant, Portugal. The Man, Diplo, and Taking Back Sunday. Look deeper and you find more to love: emerging artists like Flo Milli and recent NON-COMM performers Deep Sea Diver, along with regional standouts Orion Sun and the Positive Movement Drumline.
Due to the unpredictability of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, concert announcements at this point are still subject to change. Firefly has a Health and Safety section of its website, where it says “We are optimistic and planning for the festival based on nationwide trends of declining COVID-19 cases and increased vaccinations as well as input from local health officials. However, we continue to monitor the situation and will only proceed with the festival if it is safe to do so. Please continue to visit this website for updates relating to the festival.”
Tickets go on general sale on Monday, May 17th at 10 a.m. ET; a fan presale begins on Friday, May 14th at 10 a.m. More information can be found on both at the Firefly website. Check out the full lineup in the poster below, and listen to some music from the artists we’re excited to see at Firefly.