Wednesday, May 28, 2014

louisville.com articles so far

This summer I have been interning at louisville.com and focusing much of my writing on (Louisville) music. I figured I would post the links to all of them here today and post the ones I write later here as well. I hope you like them.You can also search my name (Will Ford) on louisville.com and see all my articles.

Phish Knows UofL Sports History And Made A Song About It
Five Louisville Bands About To Hit Your Summer

A Bit Outdated:

The Deloreans Accompany B-Side “As Long as It’s Here” With a New Video
 JaLin Roze dropping new song "Gold" Today

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Festies

Well here it is folks...what you have been highly anticipating over the weekend. Its The Festies. Let's toss out some awards for this festival season, shall we?

Best Headliners -- Outside Lands (The Killers, Kanye West, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
Worst Headliners: Lollapalooza (Eminem, Kings of Leon, Outkast)

Best "Get" -- The Decemberists (Boston Calling)

Best '90s Nostalgia Fest -- BottleRock (Weezer, Third Eye Blind, Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, Smash Mouth, Gin Blossoms, Ed Kowalcyzk of Live, Spin Doctors)

Best Jam Band Fest -- Wakarusa (Bands include SCI, STS9, Umphrey's McGee, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dr. Dog, Papadosio, Cherub, Vintage Trouble, The Mowgli's, The Knocks, The Weeks, The Floozies, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Moon Taxi, The Dirty Guv'nahs, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, The Revivalists, Leagues, and Space Capone)

Best Potential Collaboration -- Imagine Dragons w/ Kendrick Lamar (Made in America), Alison Mosshart w/ Jack White and/or Cage the Elephant (Free Press), Jeff Tweedy w/ Mavis Staples (Newport Folk)

Biggest Huh? -- John Mayer (Made in America), Ying Yang Twins (Free Press)

Most Unique Headliners -- The Cure, Eric Church (BottleRock), Elton John (Bonnaroo), Foo Fighters (Firefly), John Mayer (Made in America), Pearl Jam (Austin City Limits)

Best Use of the Midnight Hour -- Wakarusa, High Sierra

Best Lineup (major) -- 1. Firefly 2. Bonnaroo 3. Outside Lands

Best Lineup (mid-major) -- 1. Loufest 2. Newport Folk 3. Made in America (Philadelphia)

Kudos goes to Summer Camp, BottleRock, and Outside Lands for booking Zac Brown Band, Eric Church, and Kacey Musgraves. This is good country music out there and its right there in those guys.

Comments?

Friday, May 23, 2014

Your Comprehensive Look at The Rest of Festival Season

The blog post below will give you a good look at what festivals remain for this great summer. I've encompassed some big festivals, some small and hopefully with a diverse genre spectrum. I have some essential information about each festival listed as well as the best parts of their lineup at the end I will include some superlatives as well as scheduling conflicts you should consider. So let's get cracking. (Festivals are in chronological order.)

Disclaimers
1. While everyone got excited about Outkast touring at 40 festivals, I got sick of it and I won't be including their name in this. Think about it this way. I'm 20 years old so most of Outkast's "old stuff" are not relevant to me. I'm not a huge fan anyway so I won't gush over them.
2. I did not create this scientifically. I enjoy the festival season and I love lists and looking at all the band names. With that being said, everything here is subjective. I didn't include a festival or band because it was popular. I included it because I could see myself enjoying it.
3. My apologies to Beale Street, Hangout, Coachella, Jazz Fest, Sweetlife, Shaky Knees, Big Guava, and Counterpoint. Had I created this list earlier, these festivals would be included.
4. You will likely be able to decipher my taste in music by my inclusion and exclusion of the festivals and bands listed here.
5. For there to be a scheduling conflict, I decided a 45 minute overlap between sets was necessary. 

I want to also make sure to mention Voodoo Experience in New Orleans (October 31-November 2) and Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas ((October 24-26), but they have yet to announce their lineups.

Summer Camp Music Festival
Chillicothe, IL May 23-25
Notables: moe., Umphrey's McGee, Zac Brown Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Primus, Girl Talk, Blues Traveler, Matisyahu, Greensky Bluegrass, Cherub, The Floozies

Notes: 4 sets of moe., 5 sets of Umphrey's McGee, 2 sets of Zac Brown Band, 2 sets of Trey Anastasio Band


Sasquatch
May 23-25 The Gorge
Notables: Foster the People, Haim, Cut Copy, Cage the Elephant, Washed Out, Kongos, Band of Skulls, Sir Sly, Houndmouth, The Bright Light Social Hour

Notes: Sasquatch originally had a Labor Day weekend schedule with headliners including Soundgarden and Kraftwerk but it was cancelled


Boston Calling (Spring)
May 23-25 Boston, Massachusetts
Notables: Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Bastille, The Neighbourhood, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Magic Man

Notes: This will be the first performance since 2011 for The Decemberists and their only festival appearance of the year///Friday's performers consist just of Cass McCombs, Edward Sharpe, and Jack Johnson.

BottleRock
May 30-June 1 Napa Valley, California
Notables: The Cure, Sublime w/ Rome, Delta Rae, Ben Sollee, Matisyahu, Moon Taxi, Railroad Earth, Weezer, Matt & Kim, Heart, Third Eye Blind, Blues Traveler, Smash Mouth, Eric Church, Barenaked Ladies, Spin Doctors, Ed Kowalczyk

Notes: There is an immense fit of '90s nostalgia at this festival///Maybe most diverse lineup/headliners.

Scheduling conflicts: The Cure vs Sublime w/ Rome vs Railroad Earth

Free Press
May 31-June 1 Houston, Texas
Notables: Jack White, Vampire Weekend, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Cage the Elephant, The Kills, Big Gigantic, Chvrches, Washed Out, Lord Huron, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, The Orwells



KROQ Weenie Roast
May 31 Los Angeles, California
Notables: Avicii, Beck, Foster the People, The Neighbourhood, Bastille, Capital Cities, American Authors, Kongos, Bleachers, Cherub

Note: Not technically a festival, but its bigger than some of the others festivals mentioned and has many acts mentioned here as well.



Mountain Jam
June 5-8 Hunter Mountain, New York
Notables: Umphrey's McGee, Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Avett Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, Moon Taxi, The Weeks, Gov't Mule, Pretty Lights, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jeff Tweedy, The Allman Brothers Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Notes: In the final appearance of The Allman Brothers Band at Mountain Jam with Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, the guys will be performing their first two albums in their entirety.

Wakarusa
June 5-8 Ozark, Arkansas
Notables: String Cheese Incident, STS9, Umphrey's McGee, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dr. Dog, Vintage Trouble, Papadosio, Cherub, The Floozies, The Knocks, The Mowgli's, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Moon Taxi, The Dirty Guv'nahs, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Revivalists, The Weeks, Space Capone

Notes: Many bands will play multiple sets at Wakarusa, some playing until 6:15 am because the festival is in the middle of nowhere.

Governor's Ball
June 6-8 Randall's Island, New York
Notables: Phoenix, Washed Out, Bastille, La Roux, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Haerts, Little Comets, Jack White, The Strokes, Spoon, Broken Bells, Hunter Hunted, Vampire Weekend, Foster The People, Empire of the Sun, Skaters, Bleachers, Little Daylight

Notes: Julian Casablancas will be playing two show at this festival--a set with The Strokes and a solo set.

Bonnaroo
June 5-8 Manchester, Tennessee
Notables:Kanye West, Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Superjams led by Skrillex, Ed Helms, and Derek Trucks, Cut Copy, Chromeo, Broken Bells, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Umphrey's McGee, Grouplove, Chvrches, Cage the Elephant, Capital Cities, Jake Bugg, Dr. Dog, Washed Out, Sam Smith, ZZ Ward, MS MR, Grensky Bluegrass, Vintage Trouble, J Roddy Walston and the Business, Cherub, The Lone Bellow, Haerts, Lake Street Dive, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, The Wild Feathers, The Griswolds, John & Jacob, The Orwells

Notes: Skrillex superjam participants--Big Gigantic, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Robby Krieger, Zedd and more///Derek Trucks superjam participants--Chaka Khan, Taj Mahal, Susan Tedeschi, Andrew Bird, Ben Folds and more///Ed Helms superjam participants--Dierks Bentley, Lake Street Diver, The Lone Bellow, and more

Scheduling conflicts: Dr. Dog vs Sam Smith, Umphrey's McGee vs Jake Bugg vs Greensky Bluegrass vs John & Jacob, Vampire Weekend vs Chvrches, Haerts vs Tedeschi Trucks Band vs Cherub

Firefly
June 20-22 Dover, Delware
Notables: Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, Imagine Dragons, Beck, The Lumineers, Pretty Lights, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, Broken Bells, Band of Horses, Young the Giant, Big Gigantic, Girl Talk, Cage the Elephant, Grouplove, Local Natives, Jack Bugg, Twenty One Pilots, Kaiser Chiefs, MS MR, Washed Out, American Authors, Smallpools, Bleachers, The Mowgli's, NONONO, New Politics, Cherub, The Colourist, Wild Cub, Dan Croll, The Wild Feathers, Haerts, Litle Comets, Magic Man, Basic Vacations, Hunter Hunted, Misterwivs, Little Daylight, Kongos, The Griswolds, Sleeper Agent, John & Jacob, The Weeks, Cruiser, Stop Light Observations, Breach The Summit

Notes: Daily lineups have been released, but not set times. Local Natives headlines a small Thursday portion of the festival.

Electric Forest
June 26-29 Rothbury, Michigan
Notables: String Cheese Incident, STS9, Cut Copy, Matt & Kim, Bombino, Cherub, Moon Taxi, Papadosio, Penguin Prison, Rayland Baxter, St. Lucia, The Floozies, The Revivalists

Notes: SCI x3///STS9 x2///They still promise one final lineup announcement next week

Chive Fest
June 28 (Chicago)--Festival also takes place on July 12 in Seattle, August 16 in Denver and November 1 in Dallas, each with a different lineup.
Notables: Chicago--Empire of the Sun, Matt & Kim
                 Seattle--Girl Talk, St. Lucia, Moon Taxi

Notes: Chive Fest proclaims itself to be "probably the best little festival in the world"


























Summerfest
(June 25-29, July 1-6) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Notables: Arctic Monkeys, The Neighbourhood, Girl Talk, ZZ Ward, Umphrey's McGee, Kongos, Switchfoot, Jake Bugg, Bleachers, The Orwells, Los Lonely Boys, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Matisyahu, Delta Rae, Bombino, Kopecky Family Band, Moon Taxi, St. Lucia, The Wild Feathers, Bad Suns, Wild Cub, Railroad Earth, O.A.R., Smallpools, Lake Street Dive, Ed Kowalcyzk, Brad Paisley/Darius Rucker, Gary Clark Jr., Dave Matthews Band, Zac Brown Band

Notes: Summerfest calls itself The World's Largest Music Festival. This is some of the lineup:

 High Sierra
July 3-6 Quincy, California
Notables: Widespread Panic, STS9, Trampled by Turtles, Lord Huron, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Punch Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, Bombino, The Floozies

Notes: Widespread Panic x2///Late night shows by bands including Greensky Bluegrass and Beats Antique last until 3:15 am

Master Musicians
July 11-12 Somerset, Kentucky
Notables: Counting Crows, The Apache Relay, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Sundy Best, Willie Watson

Bunbury
July 11-13 Cincinnati, Ohio
Notables: Empire of the Sun, Young the Giant, New Politics, Cage the Elephant, ZZ Ward, Bad Suns, The Orwells, Hunter Hunted, Kopecky Family Band, Fly Golden Eagle, The Pass


Forecastle
July 18-20 Louisville, Kentucky
Notables: Spoon, Twenty One Pilots, Gary Clark Jr., Local Natives, St. Lucia, Benjamin Booker, Willie Watson, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Jack White, Band of Horses, Lord Huron, Spanish Gold, JaLin Roze, Beck, Nickelcreek, Trampled by Turtles, Brett Dennen, The Weeks, Matrimony, Leagues

Notes: Daily lineups are out, but schedule is not. While Louisville does not lend itself to late night shows on Forecastle grounds, the festival books late nights at local venues like the Belle of Louisville (it's a freaking steamboat), Headliner's, and the Louisville Palace.

Buckle Up
July 18-20 Cincinnati, Ohio
Notables: Eli Young Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ashley Monroe, Houndmouth, The Lone Bellow, Sundy Best, 23 String Band


Newport Folk Festival
July 25-27 Newport, Rhode Island
Notables: Ryan Adams, Band of Horses, Lake Street Dive, Nickelcreek, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Deer Tick, Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Willie Watson, Benjamin Booker, Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Dawes, Trampled by Turtles

Notes: Watch for a possible appearance by Jeff Tweedy during Mavis Staples's set. tweedy produced her last album///Also Dawes is performing as Conor Oberst's backing band during his tour. Expect more of the same at Newport.

 XPoNential
July 25-27 Camden, New Jersey
Notables: Beck, Ryan Adams, Band of Horses, Dawes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Lake Street Dive, Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston & the Business

Notes: This is another event put on by a radio station but it's too big to not mention.


Moontower
July 26 Lexington, Kentucky
Notables: Moon Taxi, Sundy Best, Machines Are People Too, Buffalo Rodeo
Gathering of the Vibes
August 31- September 1 Bridgeport, Connecticut
Notables: Widespread Panic, John Fogerty, The Disco Biscuits, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, moe., Umphrey's McGee, Rodrigo y Gabriela


Lollapalooza
August 1-3 Chicago, Illinois
Notables: Arctic Monkeys, Bleachers, The Avett Brothers, Benjamin Booker, Foster the People, Broken Bells, Space Capone, Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant, Cut Copy, Grouplove, Chvrches, Chromeo, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Blood Orange, Delta Rae, Jagwar Ma, Smallpools, Kongos, NONONO,

Outside Lands
August 8-10 San Fransisco, California
Notables: Kanye West, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Tiesto, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Cut Copy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Haim, Chromeo, Chvrches, Capital Cities, Kacey Musgraves, Local Natives, Grouplove, Deer Tick, Greensky Bluegrass, Jagwar Ma, Rayland Baxter

Lock'n
August 4-7 Arlington, Virginia
Notables: Bob Weir & Ratdog, Furthur, Gary Clark Jr., Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Phil Lesh & Friends, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The Revivalists, String Cheese Incident, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Umphrey's McGee, Widespread Panice, Wilco

Notes: SCI x2, Bob Weir & Ratdog x2, Widespread Panic x2 (one with Steve Winwood sitting in), Phil Lesh & Friends x2, Wilco x2

 The Peach
August 14-17 Scranton, Pennsylvania
Notables: Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, Trey Anastasio Band, Big Gigantic, Papadosio, The Revivalists

Notes: The Peach will feature its annual Wake Up set--this year the performer will be Warren Haynes...because why not play a third set?

Made in America
August 30-31 Simultaneous festival in Philadelphia and Los Angeles
Notables: (Philly) Kanye West, Tiesto, Pharrell Williams, Girl Talk, Spoon, Chromeo, Kongos, The Neighbourhood, Penguin Prison, Bleackers, Cherub (Los Angeles) Imagine Dragons, John Mayer, Kendrick Lamar, Weezer, Capital Cities, Dr. Dog, Terraplane Sun, ZZ Ward

Note: These festivals were curated by Jay-Z.


LouFest
September 6-7 St. Louis, Missouri
Notables: Arctic Monkeys, Grouplove, Matt & Kim, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Washed Out, Cherub, Vintage Trouble, Delta Spirit, Moon Taxi, Skaters, Kopecky Family Band


Austin City Limits
October 3-5, 10-12 Austin, Texas
Notables: Pearl Jam, Beck, Foster the People, The Avett Brothers, Spoon, Chromeo, Broken Bells, Chvrches, Capital Cities, Sam Smith, Kongos, Jagwar Ma, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lake Street Dive, Bleachers, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Space Capone, Benjamin Booker, Spanish Gold

 Phases of the Moon
September 11-14 Danville, Illinois
Notables: Widespread Panic, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Railroad Earth, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gov't Mule, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Galactic, Vintage Trouble, The Revivalists, live tributes to Phish and The Allman Brothers Band






Phew there ya have it folks. Stay tuned for the superlative post...


 





Thursday, May 15, 2014

Watch Out!: Upcoming Summer/Fall releases

May
May 19: Coldplay "Ghost Stories"


May 27: moe. "No Guts, No Glory"


June 
June 3: The Orwells "Disgraceland" 


 June 3: Matisyahu "Akeda"


June 3: Miranda Lambert "Platinum"


June 10: Jack White "Lazaretto"


June 10: O.A.R "The Rockville LP"


June 10: Umphrey's McGee "Similar Skin"


June 23: Ed Sheeran "X"


July
July 1: Bad Suns "Language and Perspective"



July 1: NONONO "We Are Only What We Feel"



July 1: Old Crow Medicine Show "Remedy"


July 8: Magic Man "Before The Waves"



July 15: Little Daylight "Hello Memory"
  
July 15: Bleachers "Strange Desire"
 
August 
August 19: Benjamin Booker "Benjamin Booker"
 
 September
September 9: Delta Spirit "Into The Wide"