Eight Musical Acts We Would Like To See At Preakness

Ellie Goulding performing in Finland. (Photo by Wikimedia Commons/Tuomas Vitikainen)
The 141st Kentucky Derby is now in the books, and all eyes turn towards Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes on May 16. In addition to phenomenal horse racing and countless traditions, the Preakness Stakes is also known for fantastic musical acts which perform in the Pimlico infield as part of “InfieldFest” on Preakness Day.
The 2015 Infieldfest will be headlined by trance music superstar Armin Van Buuren, and past headliners for the event have included Lorde and Pitbull, among many others.  In keeping with the tradition of booking only the best acts for a grand event such as the Preakness Stakes, below are eight musical acts we would love to be included as a part of Infieldfest in the future:
1. Ellie Goulding:  British singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding and her fashionable pop style would be a great fit for a future InfieldFest lineup.  In addition to her world-renowned voice, Ellie Goulding is also known for her numerous charitable causes, making her a fan-favorite everywhere she goes. 
2. Carl Cox:  one of the most notable personalities in all of house and techno music, Carl Cox is a “legend” in every sense of the word.  Having been a resident DJ in the dance music paradise of Ibiza since the 1980s, the InfieldFest crowd would certainly be in good hands with Carl Cox on the decks. 
3. Alabama Shakes:  Alabama Shakes made a splash when their first album, Boys & Girls, was nominated for three Grammy awards in 2013.  This rock band, which formed while some of the members were still attending high school in Alabama, is set to embark on an international tour in the summer of 2015.
ANNE CLARK OF ST. VINCENT

Photo by Wikimedia Commons/Piergud
4. St. Vincent:  Oklahoma native Anne Clark performs under the stage name “St. Vincent,” and her diverse act attracts fans from all different walks of life.  St. Vincent is known for incorporating multiple musical instruments into her sets, and at any given point you can find her utilizing guitars, pianos, or even clarinets and cellos as part of her performance. 
5. Alesso:  a Swedish electronic dance music DJ, Alesso has already risen to the top of the “EDM” landscape at only 23 years old.  He was a protégé of the Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso, and would be sure to have the entire infield dancing for hours on end. 
6. Above & Beyond:  there is no doubt that Armin Van Buuren and his melodic trance music will definitely be a hit at InfieldFest in 2015, and we feel that the ever-popular Above & Beyond will be able to carry the trance tradition at the Preakness moving forward.  Above & Beyond is a British group of three gentlemen (Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamäki) that is known for not only its uplifting and inspirational trance music, but also for having one of the most passionate fanbases in all of electronic music.
JAY-Z

Photo by Wikimediacommons/Joella Marano
7. Jay-Z:  Shawn Carter, better known as “Jay-Z,” is an international hip-hop superstar and would be a perfect addition to future Infieldfest lineups due to his limitless popularity.  Having been active since 1990, Jay-Z has produced many hit records that the crowd would be sure to know and love.
8. Ariana Grande:  At the age of 21, Ariana Grande has already been nominated for two Grammy awards.  Ariana Grande’s trendy pop sounds have given her a sizable following, and she is currently in the middle of an international tour which will run until October 2015.