Festival merges the worlds of music, art and technology
The worlds of music, art, and technology will unite at Format (For Music + Art + Technology), a new festival experience taking place September 23-25, on the private Sugar Creek Airstrip in Bentonville, in the heart of the vibrant cultural region of Northwest Arkansas known as Oz. The three day and night event will feature extraordinary music performances from more than 50 artists including Rüfüs Du Sol, Phoenix, Khruangbin, Beach House, The War On Drugs, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Flaming Lips, Jungle, and Herbie Hancock, along with uniquely integrated performances, installations, and art experiences from world-renowned artists including Doug Aitken, Nick Cave, Jacolby Satterwhite, Pia Camil, Marinella Senatore, assume vivid astro focus, Maurizio Cattelan’s Toiletpaper Magazine, John Gerrard in collaboration with Richie Hawtin, Justin Lowe & Jonah Freeman, Sissel Tolaas, Charlap Hyman & Herrero, and many more.
Format is presented in official partnership with Oz, which offers a remarkable collision of outdoor adventure and unexpected art encounters, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville’s unparalleled museum of American art, and its satellite contemporary art space the Momentary.
Located on 250 acres of forest-enclosed green land, just six minutes outside of downtown Bentonville, Format will be a multidisciplinary experience, combining a mind-expanding music lineup featuring some of the greatest acts on the festival scene with immersive installations by dynamic visual and performing artists, site-specific commissions, and architectural interventions. The festival will have traditional main and side stages for headline acts, as well as several alternative settings where musicians will perform — hidden forest enclaves, an open-air pavilion, a converted disco barn, and a multi-room speakeasy, all designed in collaboration with some of the most exciting artists and architects working today.
For three days and nights, Format will be a micro-universe of interactive exploration, from curated food vendors, impromptu dance processions, and experimental soundscapes, to light shows, therapeutic workshops, and uniquely integrated technology activations.
Three-Day General Admission, 3-Day VIP, and 3-Day Platinum Tickets as well as Hotel Packages and a limited number of unique on-site camping experiences ranging from standard to luxury will go on sale Friday beginning with an SMS Presale at 10 am CT, and general on sale at noon CT via Ticketmaster.
Throughout the weekend, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary will host performances, programming, and events for festival attendees. On September 22nd, the Momentary will host a kick-off event for Format featuring a performance by The War on Drugs and the launch of artist Doug Aitken’s mirrored hot-air balloon, which will travel from the center of Bentonville to the Format festival site in Sugar Creek. Tickets for The War on Drugs are on sale to Momentary members now with general on sale on Friday, April 22nd via theMomentary.org.
