Rock the Garden adds Kamasi Washington, Feist, Nikki Lane, P.O.S. to 2018 roster

After announcing an ultra-obvious headliner in Father John Misty four months ago, Rock the Garden organizers are adding some very adventurous surprises to round out the rest of the lineup for the June 16 bash outside Walker Art Center.

Jazz music's most buzzing new star in at least a decade, Kamasi Washington, and indie-pop mainstay Feist top out the list of RTG 2018 performers announced Tuesday.

Torchy alt-twanger Nikki Lane of "Jackpot" notoriety and boogie-woogie-flavored Philadelphia rockers Low Cut Connie will round out the schedule on the main stage this year. A second stage in the refurbished Sculpture Garden will also be back for a second year with sets by Twin Cities mainstays P.O.S. and Chastity Brown and buzzing, snarling British post-punk band Shame.

Remaining tickets for the 2:30-10 p.m. affair go on sale to Walker and Minnesota Public Radio members starting right away today at 10 a.m. for $69 via eTix.com. If any are left after today, they then go on sale to the public Thursday for $74. Word is about two-thirds of the tickets were already sold back in December when Mr. Misty was announced.

A second-generation Los Angeles jazz musician, saxophonist Washington wowed audiences across the country (including yours truly) with his appearances last year after the release of his sprawling, aptly named three-disc debut "The Epic," which followed his rise to prominence on rapper Kendrick Lamar's landmark album "To Pimp a Butterfly."

After a four-year hiatus, "1-2-3-4" hitmaker (Leslie) Feist returned with a strong album last year and was a bright figure literally and figuratively at the third annual Eaux Claires festival. Low Cut Connie has been in steady rotation of late at 89.3 the Current (RTG's co-host) with the songs "Beverly" and "Boozophilia." Both LCC and Shame were standouts at the South by Southwest Music Conference last month.