Arboretum Festival is going big on it’s fifth anniversary (has it already been five years?!) as the first wave of artist announcements has been revealed on Tuesday. Year by year the organizers have been expanding the size and quality of their lineup, and this year is no exception.

Taking place August 17–20 here in Ottawa, Arboretum Festival will mix outdoor stages and a central “village” downtown at City Hall, with venue showcases and events happening around town. This year’s programming demonstrates how ambitious the organizers are incorporating many aspects beyond music into the festival, including topical discussions and panels to raise cultural awareness, the transformation of historical and urban space, local gastronomy, vendors, and breweries, as well as community partnerships with Ottawa-based organizations (such as yours truly).

The lineup includes performances by noise rockers and Ottawa natives METZ, Sloan (who will be performing their hit record One Chord to Another), rising star from Brooklyn Junglepussy, California’s Mykki Blanco, as well as Dilly Dally, Nap Eyes, Doomsquad, Partner, Hooded Fang, the new solo project from Arcade Fire’s Jeremy Gara, Kina Miniwag, Above Top Secret, Shotgun Jimmie, Lido Pimienta, Beliefs, Twist, Scott Hardware, Fake Palms, Vallens, and Tenderness.

More artists will be announced in May, so be sure to keep an eye out for more lineup information. Have a look at some of the artists’ work below.

Tickets can be purchased online here.

Early bird all-access passes on sale until May 2nd, 2016

$50 all-access passes on sale online until May 2nd, 2016 (limited to 200)

Day passes & weekend passes available in May 2016