97X Next Big Thing 2016 set to rock the Bay

Charlotte Rose, A&E Editor

This year, one of Tampa’s biggest alternative festivals is back. The 97X Next Big Thing 2016 is scheduled for Dec. 3 at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. The festival begins at 10 a.m. and will be an all-day event.

The lineup is headlined by The 1975 and includes The Head & The Heart, Phantogram, Kongos, Capital Cities, Bishop Briggs, The Naked & Famous, Judah & The Lion and Lewis Del Mar.

Tickets start at $37.45 for general admission. VIP tickets are selling for $150 and include access to private bathrooms, a private bar and close views of the bands being interviewed. There are also Super VIP tickets that are selling for $300 and offer the best seats, directly behind the soundboard.

If you are hesitant to pay the general admission price, there are ticket drops where you could win a pair of tickets for free. Multiple companies are participating, including MetroPCS and McDonalds. The details of these ticket drops are on the 97X website.

Many students from Robinson are planning to attend this year’s event.

“I’m most excited to see The 1975,” Keana Esmkhani (’17) said. “I have listened to them for a while and I’ve been wanting to see them in concert. I’m also excited to discover new music from bands that are similar.”

Band Time Stage
Miroux 10:00 – 10:20 Pin Chaser’s Second Stage
The Infinite Eights 10:40 – 11:00 Pin Chaser’s Second Stage
888 11:30 – 12:00 Pin Chaser’s Second Stage
Weathers 12:20 – 12:50 Pin Chaser’s Second Stage
Lewis Del Mar 1:10 – 1:40 Pin Chaser’s Second Stage
COIN 1:40 – 2:20 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
Judah & The Lion 2:20 – 3:00 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
The Naked & Famous 3:00 – 3:40 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
Bishop Briggs 4:00 – 4:40 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
Capital Cities 5:00 – 5:40 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
Kongos 6:00 – 6:40 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
Phantogram 7:00 – 7:40 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
The Head & The Heart 8:10 – 9:15 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage
The 1975 9:45 – 10:50 Clean Earth Systems Main Stage

On Dec. 2, 97X is hosting a pre-party at Ferg’s Live from 7 to 11 p.m. The party is free and open to all ages. Saint Motel will be performing and Famous Tate is giving away Meet and Greet passes to meet the band at the pre-party. You will also win free tickets to NBT.

To buy tickets for the 97X NBT, click here.