In what seems like no-brainer music festival news that will surely make the nerdy indie rock contingent go crazy (I kid because I love guys), Pavement will be a headliner at Sasaquatch! 2010. Or at least that's what Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Seattle Weekly, Consequence of Sound and Paste are reporting.

Pavement seemed like a shoe-in for a headlining spot considering they are on the trendy reunion tour trail that hits all the big festivals (a la the 2004 Pixies, the 2006 Smashing Pumpkins et al) and Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus lives in the Pacific Northwest and has played at Sassy twice in the last three years. He even headlined the second stage one night in 2008 with his band The Jicks, so we here at Ear Candy HQ aren't too surprised (but we're impressed and very excited) to see Pavement on the bill for 2010.

Also of note in Sasquatch! news, a limited number of discounted three-day passes went on sale today at 10 a.m. They will be on sale until Dec. 31 of this year and they will set you back $170. Advance three-day passes cost $150 last year in case you were wondering. Maybe the extra $20 is the Pavement bump? The full lineup for the festival will be announced Feb. 16, 2010.

While it might seem odd to sell tickets to an event before anyone actually knows who will be performing (Pavement has yet to be 100 percent confirmed btw, but more on that in a minute) it is actually the thing to do in the world of destination festivals. You can buy a three-day pass to another festival that has yet to reveal details about its lineup, Lollapalooza 2010, right now for $175. Last year Seattle's own Bumbershoot had the best earlybird deal for three-day passes, charging a mere $60 for admission to Seattle's Music and Arts Festival, months before the lineup was revealed. So as you can see, it's not uncommon to see tickets months in advance without letting people know who they are paying to see.

Now about that skepticism on Pavement. I believe the highly reputable sources linked to above, but the press release I received this morning made no mention of Pavement. To be fair, Pitchfork is Pitchfork and I'm just little ole Ear Candy so maybe they have a source outside of the press release and I trust the crew over at Seattle Weekly, so it's pretty much a sure thing Pavement will be there. I'm waiting for a response to an email I sent to the Sasquatch! organizers and when I hear back I will let you know. Btw, you can read the press release below. See you at the Gorge in 2010.

SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL MAY 29-31 (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND) AT THE GORGE

DISCOUNT 3 DAY FESTIVAL PASSES ON SALE NOW

COMPLETE LINEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 16

Following early sellouts and rave reviews the past several years, and hailed by SPIN as “a pick-your-poison selection for your party at the edge of the earth,” the Sasquatch! Festival returns for its ninth year May 29-31 (Memorial Day Weekend), 2010 at The Gorge in Quincy, WA. For the first time, a special discounted 3-day festival pass will be available in time for the holiday gift season on Saturday, November 7 at 10:00 A.M. (PST) via sasquatchfestival.com. There are a limited number of discount passes, which will be available through December 31, 2009. The festival’s complete lineup will be announced February 16.

Festival creator Adam Zacks founded Sasquatch! in 2002 with the aim of constructing an event that catered to the eclectic tastes of voracious music enthusiasts. Zacks personally curates the lineups for each Sasquatch! Festival, hand-picking the diverse array of artists. “It’s our goal each year to present a fresh line up that reflects the independent spirit of the Pacific Northwest, respects the artists and audience, and celebrates the grandeur of The Gorge.”

The Sasquatch! Festival has established a tradition of presenting critically acclaimed emerging artists alongside established headliners. Previous lineups have spanned a broad spectrum of genres from rock to hip-hop, electronic to singer-songwriters; past performers include R.E.M. Coldplay, Kanye West, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, The Cure, Björk, and M.I.A. The festival also has a history of incorporating comedy including performances by Flight of The Conchords, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, and many more.

Known for its bucolic location as well as its programming zeitgeist, the Sasquatch! Festival marks its ninth year at The Gorge, a concert venue built in the Columbia River Gorge and offering spectacular views of the river canyon.