Now that the ever-popular Memorial Day weekend celebration is in rear view, there is another huge event on the east coast that I have been counting down the days for since the winter season concluded. Friday, June 21, marks the start of Firefly Music Festival, a three-day outdoor music event right next to Dover Downs in Dover, Del. The east coast’s version of hugely popular music festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, Firefly began last year and was a great success, but this year looks to be an even bigger and better festival. Many of the performances are by indie rock and jam bands, but there are a few electronic and hip hop groups joining in what I like to call Disney World for hippies. While three-day passes are sold out, single-day tickets are still available and affordable for fans of music festivals. Many more prominent names are featured this year than last, and it looks to be a hell of a time all three days. Here are nine acts you cannot miss during this year’s Firefly Music Festival:

 

Day: Friday

Stage:  The Backyard

Time:  5:45 p.m.

Just a warning; a few of these bands I’ll be talking about have been featured in this column before, but the bands who have been mentioned in previous articles are worth talking about again. This high-energy indie rock band is from the UK and known for making dynamic music that has a fast tempo. The moving guitar riffs and intense drums are joined by the beautiful and powerful voice of frontwoman singer/guitarist Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan. Their setlist of late has included a mixture of songs from their two albums, The Big Roar and Wolf’s Law, the latter of which was released last year. 

 

Day: Friday

Stage: The Backyard

Time: 7:15 p.m.

Yeaaaaah Booooooyyy! Alright, I have to admit, as if it’s not obvious enough by this column, that although I’m not much of a hip-hop fan, I’m still pretty pumped for this show. The legendary ‘80s hip-hop group featuring Flavor Flav himself is still as talented as ever and will surely put on a crazy show at Firefly. Old school fans will be pleased to hear much of their setlist recently consists of classic songs from the glory days of the ‘80s and ‘90s, with only a couple of new songs in the mix.

 

Day: Friday

Stage: Main Stage

Time: 10:30 p.m.

Is there really anything I have to say to get you to see them? These guys have essentially had the same lineup since the late ‘80s, minus guitarist Josh Klinghoffer replacing his friend, legendary musician John Frusciante, who had two long stints with the band and is responsible for many of the band’s iconic riffs. Expect the setlist to include popular songs from their releases throughout history, along with a couple of songs intertwined from their 2011 record, I’m With You.

 

Day: Friday (Technically Saturday morning)

Stage: The Backyard

Time: 12:15 a.m. (directly after the RHCP performance)

I have to put a disclaimer here: Dan Deacon isn't for everyone. An electronic musician from Baltimore, Dan Deacon’s music is eccentric, boisterous and weird. But for open-minded people, it’s definitely a show worth experiencing. The audience participates several times throughout his shows, whether it’s being part of a dance-off, joining in an interpretive dance or even acting as part of the light show while using your smartphone.

 

Day: Saturday

Stage: Main Stage

Time: 3:00 p.m.

No, I can’t stop talking about this guy. The front-man of indie folk/rock band My Morning Jacket, James is on tour supporting his first full-length solo studio album that was released this year, Regions of Light and Sound of God. People should attend this show simply to hear his powerful soulful voice in person. While his set-list will mostly include songs from his recent solo album, he has been known to throw in some MMJ songs, along with songs of the super-group he is a part of with Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes and M Ward of She & Him, called Monsters of Folk.  

 

Day: Saturday

Stage: Main Stage

Time: 10:10 p.m.

I don’t think there is any explanation needed here. It’s Tom frickin’ Petty! You’ll have your lighter raised in the air as you sing all the words to “American Girl.” Most songs will be from his historic catalog of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with a few covers thrown in from classic bands such as the Grateful Dead and the Traveling Wilburys, a super-group Petty was a part of that also featured rock legends Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. 

 

Day: Sunday

Stage: The Lawn

Time: 5:15 p.m.

To many 20-somethings, the reunion of folk/reggae/jam band Dispatch is a pretty big deal. After breaking up in 2004, the original trio has returned and put out their first album in 12 years with the release of Circles Around the Sun last year. The band has been touring worldwide since 2011 and the setlist will consist of songs recorded throughout their history, with a handful from their most recent album.

 

Day: Sunday

Stage: Main Stage

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Named after a slang term the magazine Variety has used for drive-in movie theaters (noting the venue’s notoriety for romance among teenagers), Passion Pit is a combined electronic and rock dance band from Massachusetts. Their music is energetic, fun and very, very catchy. While on tour, the band’s setlist is pretty much split in half between their two albums, both of which have been released within the past four years.

 

Day: Sunday

Stage: The Lawn

Time: 7:45 p.m.

Although Foster the People will be closing the festival at 9:30 p.m., Vampire Weekend will be my personal farewell to Firefly 2013. The indie rock band from New York City is known for having a pop, but complex and unique sound that is supplemented by the soulful vocals of frontman Ezra Koenig. Their setlist will be a mix of their three albums, the latter of which was just released this year.