For the 10th installment of the Wakarusa festival, its organizers are bringing in a mix of familiar faces - and some surprises, too.

Among the festival headliners are Georgia jam band Widespread Panic, who performed at the festival in 2010; The Black Crowes, who performed at Wakarusa in 2009, the festival’s first year in Arkansas; Umphrey’s McGee, a Chicago jam band that has played the festival every year it’s been in Arkansas;

and Sound Tribe Sector 9, an electronica/jam act that’s also played Waka on numerous occasions.

But also on the festival roster are several less likely additions, including the festival’s first rap headliner in recent memory (or maybe ever) - Snoop Lion, who until early last year was known as Snoop Dogg. It will be interesting to see what Snoop plays, considering his new interest in Rastafarianism led to the new name and the new reggae sound. Whatever he sounds like at the festival, it’s safe to say he’s the only performer there who’s ever had his own brand of malt liquor.

Another big pickup for Wakarusa is the indie darling Dispatch, which enjoyed a short but much-loved run from 1996-2002. After a hiatus of about a decade - minus three reunion concerts - the members of Dispatch got back together again in 2011, playing limited dates then and again in 2012. So far, they have only one gig booked in the United States in 2013, and that’s at Wakarusa.

Electronica again makes its presence known on the Wakarusa lineup. Chief among those is an artist I must admit I’m not familiarwith. Brazilian-born artist Amon Tobin has released several albums, but he’s also known for his soundtrack contributions to movies such as “The Italian Job” and video games. Other electronica acts to note include Zeds Dead, EOTO, GRiZ and The Floozies, who also are performing a set Jan. 26 at George’s Majestic Lounge.

As many of you know, my heart is in indie rock and alternative country, and there are a few acts I’m exited to explore in that vein. Chief among them is Of Monsters and Men. I intended to see this Icelandic band with a group of friends in Kansas City, Mo., a few months back, but tickets sold out far too quickly. It’s nice to have them heading this way. Other personal favorites include the Jay Farrar project Son Volt, who remain criminally underrated. Listen to the band’s last album, “American Central Dust,” and see if you don’t agree. They are scheduled to release a new album in March to accompany the tour that will bring them to Arkansas. I’m also excited to catch MUTEMATH, Gogol Bordello and Calexico, three bands I’ve listened to much over the years but have failed to see live.

Of course, that’s how a festival works. Stylistic differences converge in interesting ways, and while my favorites aren’t likely to beyour favorites, Waka may be as diverse as it’s ever been.

That’s something we can all celebrate.

A full lineup can be foundcourtesy of wakarusa.com. For other thoughts on the lineup and the festival, visit our live music blog at nwatunedin.

com.

Whats Up, Pages 15 on 01/18/2013