Sunset Music Festival 2018: Chainsmokers out, Rezz, Illenium in as festival apologizes to fans – Creative Loafing Tampa

By Ray Roa and LJ Hilberath on Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 2:24 pm

After some confusion about the lineup, Sunset Music Festival (SMF) has addressed fan questions and replaced on-and-then-off again headlining act The Chainsmokers.
UPDATE: The schedule is out now. See it at the bottom of this post.
Today, Sunset posted a message to fans, explaining that last week's announcement got jumbled up due to unforeseen circumstances (read the full statement on Facebook).
"And for that, we apologize," organizers wrote. "Our goal is to deliver the experiences you deserve and have come to expect from us. "
Replacing the 'smokies on the lineup? Denver-based act Illenium and Canadian producer Rezz, aka Space Mom, who CL contributor LJ Hilberath has been following around for the last two weeks.
CANADIAN MAMA
Review: Space Mom touches down in Wynwood as Rezz brings down the (ware)house again
Questions about the lineup are still there, but the addition of two fan-favorites goes a really long way. Rezz just opened for Bassnectar in Chicago, and she recently killed a late-night set in Miami. Rezz has also been announced as a night time headliner at other festivals like Shambala, Lollapalooza and Lost Lands.
Illenium is another interesting pick, and while this here website trashed SMF for picking acts that have already played in the area, Nick Miller (Illenium's given name) feels like an exception to our griping as he played one of the most talked about sets of SMF 17, and was immediately booked to play the next month at the Ritz, where he staged another memorable show. What's more is that Illenium boasts a huge, rabid following similar to the ones acts like Seven Lions have. Miller makes truly euphoric, happy music.
Both Illenium and Rezz  actually just announced solo shows at Red Rocks, which is huge since they were both merely undercard acts a year ago.
So tell us, SMF fans, what do you think now?

The Chainsmokers are out at @SMFTampa, and @ILLENIUMMUSIC @OfficialRezz are in. What do you think about that EDM fans? https://t.co/ZmRpa0BcSK #CLmusic #tampamusic #tampabaylive

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