The KahBang Festival, set for Aug. 8-11 in downtown Bangor and on the Bangor Waterfront, announced its first round of artists for the 2013 festival. Some of the early headliner announcements and returning KahBang bands and artists include the melodic Philadelphia band Dr. Dog (pictured at left), DJ favorites Lazerdisk Party Sex, electro group Paper Diamond and, for the third year in a row, the Maine-via-Brooklyn songwriter Lady Lamb the Beekeeper.

The KahBang Festival is New England’s largest discovery festival, and is entering its fifth year in Bangor. Over the course of four days, there will be multiple music, visual art and film events throughout the city. The festival starts Aug. 8 with a free concert in West Market Square, and continues on Friday and Saturday on the Bangor Waterfront.

This year KahBang is opening up to the public, with several of the Festival’s multiple performance stages able to be accessed for free. The general public will also have access to all art galleries, film screenings, food and craft vendors, fair rides, and select showcases. Ticketed events include Bangor Brew Fest, the Main Stage, Dance Stage, and Campsite.

On Festival grounds, KahBang Art and Film will be curating events on the Waterfront. Artists and filmmakers from across the country will be presenting a variety of works and styles. The Bangor Brew Fest at KahBang will take place on Aug. 10 with multiple craft and micro breweries from across North America.

The full list of bands announced this week include Dr. Dog, Lazerdisk Party Sex, Paper Diamond, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Lights, Oberhofer, Aer, Hopsin, Break Science, RDGLDRN, 12th Planet, Spose, Black Light Dinner Party, Crunk Witch, the Dirty Gems, Sun Club, The Knocks, Lucius, Brite Lite Brite, DJ Homewrecker, Ula Ruth, Skosh, the Bynars, Eight Feet Tall, the Rice Cakes, the Ugly Club, the Summit of Thieves, Junior Astronomers, Herra Terra, Late Cambrian, Toussaint Morrison, the Weeks, Mean Creek,  Graveyard Lovers, the Box Tiger, the Ghost of Paul Revere, Young Readers, When Particles Collide, B.Aull, One Shot Nothing and Of The Trees.

Many more artists will be announced in the coming days. Festival passes are currently priced at $35, while passes that include camping are $55, and a VIP pass will go on sale on June 10. To buy tickets, visit KahBang.com, or visit the KahBang Festival HQ at 84 Harlow St. in downtown Bangor.