BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ is gearing up for its annual music festival, XpoNential Festival 2018. This year’s lineup has been announced and it features headliners like Philadelphia classic rockers The War On Drugs, legendary former Talking Heads leader David Byrne and explosive electro-pop band Sylvan Esso. Also announced for the festival, which will take place over two days on Friday, July 27 and Satuday, July 28, are Kentucky-based country star Sturgill Simpson and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

David Byrne was recently in the news for the announcement of his new solo album, which will come out in March of 2018. The album is called American Utopia and will be accompanied by what Byrne is calling his most ambitious tour since the famous big-suit-featuring tour that resulted in the Talking Heads live album Stop Making Sense.

Meanwhile, The War On Drugs are coming off of yet another critically acclaimed album, A Deeper Understanding. That album produced a grip of singles, including “Pain,” “The Strangest Things” and “Nothing to Find.” The latter video features an appearance by Sophia Lillis. The band will be hometown heroes of sorts, as the festival will be held just across the Delaware River from their home base of Philadelphia.

UPDATE (3/13): XpoNential Festival has announced a slew of new bands for 2018. Included in this round of announcements are a few Americana-based acts are Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Margo Price and The Lone Bellow. The band Bermuda Triangle will make an appearance, with their lead singer being none other than Brittany Howard. Hiss Golden Messenger, Lo Moon, Sunflower Bean and Phoebe Bridgers all add a bit of an indie presence to the festival. Other acts announced for this round include JD McPherson, Becca Mancari and Jesse Lafser, Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Tank and the Bangas, Mondo Cozmo, Courtney Marie Andrews, Mt. Joy, Jupiter & Okwess, Devon Gilfillian; Hurry; and Swift Technique

Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna