Linkin Park headlining Bamboozle festival

Linkin Park is the surprising choice to headline the second day of the punk-oriented Bamboozle festival, scheduled for May 5th and 6th at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to MTV.com. The Bamboozle appearance will be Linkin Park's first U.S. performance in over two years and will likely feature material from the band's forthcoming third album. Band MC Mike Shinoda told us what fans can expect to hear: "I would say that there is an element to the album that will be familiar to people, simply because it's the same guys making the music. But at the same time, these guys have grown up quite a bit and definitely have a different mind-state about making songs. We want to make stuff that's hopefully cutting-edge and different."

As for the inclusion of a mainstream act like Linkin Park on the festival bill, organizers stressed that the show "has to diversify and embrace different scenes to make it better." They added that more unexpected acts, including a former American Idol contestant, could be revealed in the months ahead. Last year's show featured rapper Method Man sharing the stage with emo and punk staples like Fall Out Boy and Taking Back Sunday.

My Chemical Romance will headline the first day of the event.

A West Coast edition, called Bamboozle Left, debuted earlier this year in California.

The East Coast Bamboozle is expected to feature 120 bands on six stages. Tickets will cost $35 for a single day or $65 for a two-day pass, with a special pre-sale for two-day passes beginning this Friday (November 24th) at 12 p.m. ET at TheBamboozle.com.