EMP Live

Experience Music Project announces lineup for opening weekend.

Metallica may be at war with Napster, but the hard-rock legends are at one with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allens Experience Music Project, which opens June 23. The band is one of 30 acts scheduled to play the Frank Gehry-designed museums opening weekend festivities at Seattle Center.

The celebration, which runs Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25, features a mix of free shows and ticketed concerts, and emphasizes a mix between top-name national acts and local talent. Sharing headliner status with Metallica are the likes of Eurythmics, Patti Smith, Kid Rock, Dr. Dre, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and James Brown. Seattles Screaming Trees will reunite for the occasion, joining a Sunday afternoon bill that also features Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Built To Spill, the Fastbacks, and a tribute to the Sonics (who are rumored to have declined an invitation to appear).

The 140,000-square-foot EMP wont host any of the performances, which will take place at Memorial Stadium, the Flag Plaza, and elsewhere on Seattle Center grounds. Tickets for the events are currently available to EMPs charter members (at 292-ARTS), and will go on sale to the general public May 13. Following are the lineups:

Friday, June 23

  • Metallica, Dr. Dre with Emimem and Snoop Doggy Dogg, Kid Rock, Filter, Red Hot Chili Peppers$59.50. Memorial Stadium at 6pm.
  • Rickie Lee Jones$25. Bagley Wright Theater at 8pm.
  • Patti Smith, Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men, Christy McWilsonfree. Mural Amphitheater at 4pm.
  • Junior Brown, Bob Mould, Pedro the Lionfree. Flag Plaza

Saturday, June 24

  • Eurythmics, Matchbox Twenty, Alanis Morissette, Beck, No Doubt$40-$150. Memorial Stadium at 6pm.
  • DJ/Electronica Show TBA$10. Flag Pavilion at 9pm.
  • Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band; Bo Diddley, Johnnie Johnson, Big Jay McNeely with the Palace of Culture, Thumbs Up featuring Carol Kayefree. Mural Amphitheater at 1pm.
  • Bing Bang Boom with Michael Shrieve, Airto, and Zakir Hussein; Imperial Teen; Maktub, Neko Case; IQUfree. Flag Plaza at 1pm.

Sunday, June 25

  • Screaming Trees, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Built To Spill, Fastbacks, Metal Madness, NW ALL Stars, Subset, Sonics Tribute, Young Fresh Fellows$15. Memorial Stadium at 2pm.
  • James Brown, The JBs, Maceo Parker$25-$40. Key Arena at 7pm.
  • Bill Frisells New Quartet with Brandon Ross and Kevin Breit; Larry Coryell$15. Bagley Wright Theater at 8pm.
  • The Kingsmen, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Fabulous Wailers, The Dynamics with Jimmie Hanna, Ventures, Merrilee Rush, Jr. Cadillacfree. Mural Amphitheater at 1pm.
  • Cold Crush Bros., Hovercraft, Murder City Devils, Bratmobile, Source of Laborfree. Flag Plaza at 3pm.