SUMMER FESTIVAL '08 UPDATE
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Sept. 3-6
Friday, September 5, 2008 | 8:01 AM
The 2008 summer music festival circuit is slowing down, but is it done yet? Oh no, we still got a few more weeks before we call it a season.
MusicfestNW, Sept. 3-6
Portland, OR
Matt & Kim
Vampire Weekend
John Vanderslice
TV On The Radio
Built To Spill
Bouncing Souls
Ratatat
Flipper
The Helio Sequence
Sir Mix-A-Lot
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Friday, August 29, 2008 | 6:58 AM
Celebrate Labor Day weekend (considered by many to be the final weekend of summer) in Seattle, WA this Saturday and Sunday. Don't know what a "bumbershoot" is? Besides being a yearly music festival, it's also another word you can use for umbrella.
Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA
August 30-September 1
Beck
Death Cab For Cutie
Stone Temple Pilots
The Offspring
T.I.
(above: Use your "bumbershoot" however you wish this weekend!)
Band of Horses
The Black Keys
Man Man
Neko Case
The Walkmen
Surprising the Drummer
Monday, August 25, 2008 | 2:13 PM
I've been to a few surprise birthday parties in my time, but none have matched the unique premise of the one I attended this past weekend.
The family and girlfriend of our band's (Deck-of-Jack) drummer, Kid Meevin, planned a surprise birthday party for him, where he would be brought into his own backyard, not knowing that he would step behind his drum kit to perform a full live set of music.
Kudos to the masterminds behind it, who also did up a nice little V.I.P. tent for the band, ordered three table-long deli sandwiches, and printed hand towels--which were to be waved over the heads of friends and family--commemorating the occasion.
(left: By far, Kid Meevin's "Life Is Wonderful" Tour, was the best surprise B-Day Party of the summer!)
I did my part by making sure Kid Meevin was game-time-ready to perform an hour long set. During the weeks leading up to his birthday, I brought out what was thought to be a mock set-list, claiming that we might have a concert in the city soon, so it would benefit us all if we started playing an actual list of songs.
The weather cooperated all day long, and thankfully, no one called the authorities during the two sets (one planned and one impromptu) of very loud garage-punk that took place on Kid Meevin's back porch.
It was a happy birthday indeed!
1. The Birthday Boy, Kid Meevin.
2. (left to right) Fuzz, Kid, and Me.
3. "Hmm, do I play bass or cook on the grill?"
4. The V.I.P. Tent, yes indeed, they even have them at backyard surprise parties now!
5. There ain't no stage like a back porch with potted plants!
6. Frequent Indie Ear Commentor, Joe G.
Outside Lands Festival Webcast
Friday, August 22, 2008 | 9:58 AM
If you can't make it to San Francisco this weekend, you'll be able to catch a live webcast of the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. Not every band will be given the webcast treatment, but you'll be able to catch most of the action HERE. If you are going to be in San Francisco, make sure you tell Scott Jones "what's up?" for me. Thanks.
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Aug. 22-24
Friday, August 22, 2008 | 8:19 AM
If you're not in California this weekend, your other alternative to catching a summer music festival is heading overseas to attend two of England's biggies: the Reading and Leeds Festivals.
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, San Francisco, CA
August 22-24
Radiohead
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Beck
Primus
Cake
Wilco
Widepsread Panic
The Black Keys
The Cool Kids
Sunset Junction Street Festival, Los Angeles, CA
August 23-24
Broken Social Scene
The Black Keys
Kinky
Antibalas
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: August 15-17
Friday, August 15, 2008 | 10:56 AM
No big-name summer festivals this weekend. Considering we had three last week (All Points West, Virgin Mobile, New American Music Union), you'd think one of the organizers would have thrown one this week instead. But who even knows if Radiohead or Bob Dylan are available this week?
Hey big-name rock acts have lives too.
(left: Athens Popfest has the summer festival world all to themselves this weekend.)
Athens Popfest (Athens, GA)
Aug. 22-24
Roky Erickson & The Explosives
Elf Power
Circulatory System
Boyracer
Apes
Dark Meat
New American Music Union Day #1 Recap
Saturday, August 9, 2008 | 10:46 AM
With three music festivals to chose from this weekend--All Points West (Jersey City, NJ), Virgin Mobile (Baltimore), New American Music Union (Pittsburgh, PA)--I decided to attend the latter, just for the fact that I was heading back to Pittsburgh anyway to compete in a golf/fishing/corn-hole triathlon.
I was only able to catch the first night of the New American Music Union Festival, which was the obvious appetizer course (Tiny Masters Of Today, NASA, The Black Keys, and The Roots) for the festival's second day (Bob Dylan, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, Spoon).
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Aug. 8-10
Friday, August 8, 2008 | 12:44 PM
Bob Dylan has a busy weekend (performing at both a festival curated by the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis and one taking place on a horse racing track) and Radiohead prepare to rock out for the Statue of Liberty.
Pittsburgh, New York (well, Jersey City), and Baltimore are the places to be this weekend:
(left: Anthony Kiedis curates Pittsburgh's New American Music Union Fesitval, whew, that's a mouthful.)
New American Music Union Festival (Pittsburgh, PA)
August 8-9
Bob Dylan
The Raconteurs
Spoon
The Roots
Gnarls Barkley
The Black Keys
A Random Weekend in Pittsburgh
Friday, August 8, 2008 | 12:09 PM
Since the rise and fall of the Rolling Rock Town Fair (which in retrospect was a little ahead of its time), my hometown of Pittsburgh hasn't had much to celebrate when it comes to throwing summer music festivals. This year, however, Pittsburgh snagged one. Though the specifics are a little confusing, I must say, I'm very intrigued.
The New American Music Union Festival is taking place at the South Side Works (a newly renovated outdoor lifestyle plaza) in Pittsburgh, PA. For anyone who has ever visited Pittsburgh's South Side, you should know that that's the place to be on a Pittsburgh weekend (lots of good bars and clubs). Good planning so far.
Here's where it gets a bit odd though. The concert--having a unique battle of the bands competition between 15 unsigned indie acts--is being sponsored by American Eagle Outfitters (a company that most people don't associate with "indie" music).
It gets even more random.
(above: Anthony Kiedis, will he be in Pittsburgh this weekend too?)
SUMMER FEST UPDATE '08: Lollapalooza Wrap-Up
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 | 9:11 AM
It is really difficult to accurately recap a destination summer music festival with 120+ acts over 3 days. Something is always going to be missed. Schedules may be released with enough time for any festivalgoer to make careful decisions about where they want to be at any given time, but plans change. A band sounds terrible, so you walk a quarter-mile to another stage where your second choice is playing. You get a text message that something absolutely cannot be missed. Or maybe you just feel like being in the shade instead of the scorching sun with thousands of other people. It's just how big music festivals are.
(left: James, somewhere in that mass of people, braves the 3-day marathon of music known as Lollapalooza.)
So today I'll highlight a few of the unexpected delights from Lollapalooza 2008:
Put Your Lollapalooza Knowledge to the Test
Friday, August 1, 2008 | 9:46 AM
This weekend (August 1-3) Lollapalooza hits Grant Park in Chicago, IL for its twelfth installment. Borrowing from the European festival mold, Perry Farrell gathered together acts from all different genres of music to join his band, Jane's Addiction, for their farewell tour in 1991, christening the festival: Lollapalooza.
(left: Lollapalooza, from tour to hiatus to weekend festival.)
Lollapalooza differed from other festivals, because its line-up would tour the country, rather than just put on one show in one city. The tour flourished until many copycat festivals flooded the market. Lollapalooza went on hiatus in 1998, and made somewhat of a comeback in 2003. Ironically, after canceling the tour in 2004, Lollapalooza, like its European predecessors, became a one-stop music festival.
See how much you know about Lollapalooza:
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Aug. 1-3
Friday, August 1, 2008 | 8:18 AM
We enter the last full month of Summer Festival season with one of the biggies, a folk staple, and two great reasons to travel up to Montreal this weekend:
Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL)
August 1-3
Radiohead
Nine Inch Nails
Rage Against The Machine
Kayne West
Wilco
The Raconteurs
Love & Rockets
Gnarls Barkley
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: July 25-27
Friday, July 25, 2008 | 7:43 AM
Where did my summer go? Is this really the last weekend of July?
Damn.
Oh well, at least we have August to look forward to...
(left: As we cap off another year of July, enjoy the food, enjoy your friends, and of course, enjoy the music this weekend!)
Pemberton (Pemberton, B.C.)
July 25-27
Nine Inch Nails
Coldplay
Jay-Z
The Flaming Lips
Interpol
My Morning Jacket
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist
Pitchfork 2008...Best of the Rest!
Monday, July 21, 2008 | 8:53 AM
BIGGEST WASTE OF WATER AWARD
In the age of bottled-water, this may seem a little disgusting, but the Pitchfork Festival had some fountains cranking out some good 'ol Chicago tap water (which was mighty good). For some reason, this particular faucet wouldn't shut off. Because I'm down with a little water conservation every now and then, I tried my best to stop this fountain from running. The water fountain won.
DOWN FOR THE CAUSE AWARD
On a 90-degree day with the sun beating down on festival goers, this fan of Ghostface Killah & Raekwon braved it all and wore his black (100% cotton) Wu-Tang Clan shirt. You know how some shirts are worn until they become a light, sheer material? Well, this wasn't one of them. I'm getting sunburn just thinking about it.
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: July 18-20
Friday, July 18, 2008 | 10:48 AM
Pitchfork Music Festival (Chicago, IL)
July 18-20
Public Enemy
Sebadoh
Mission of Burma
Vampire Weekend
!!!
Dizzee Rascal
(above: Don't forget to check in with us this weekend, the "Indie Ear Blog" on IFC.com will be covering all the festivities from Chicago).
Cut Copy
Dinosaur Jr.
Spoon
The Apples In Stereo
Jay Reatard
Dizzee Rascal
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: July 9-13
Friday, July 11, 2008 | 9:18 AM
SP20 (Sub-Pop 20th Anniversary), Redmond, WA
July 12-13
The Vaselines
Flight of the Conchords
Iron & Wine
Wold Parade
Green River
The Helio Sequence
No Age
Red Red Meat
(left: Sub Pop celebrates their 20th Anniversary in grand style this weekend.)
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: July 3-6
Thursday, July 3, 2008 | 10:20 AM
Does the summer music festival circuit stop during the Fourth of July weekend? No way, it keeps right on rolling. If you want to avoid the backyard badminton games and family BBQ's this weekend, here's where to go:
(left: How will you spend your day on our nation's birthday?)
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: June 27-29
Friday, June 27, 2008 | 7:20 AM
Fun, fun, fun all summer long!
The summer music festival circuit keeps chugging through the month June. This weekend features one of the biggies, so big in fact it's billed as the world's largest music festival. Midwesterners know exactly what I'm talking about: Summerfest--a music festival so massive it'll be included in next week's Summer Festival '08 Update.
(left: Summerfest, it all goes down here in Milwaukee, WI.)
Eleven days of music with just about everyone you can imagine on the bill (well, no, the reunited Led Zeppelin's not playing, but just about everyone else is). If four days of SXSW wears me out, I could only imagine what 11 days of Summerfest would do to me.
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: June 20-22
Friday, June 20, 2008 | 10:26 AM
This weekend the summer festival fun heats up in eastern Pennsylvania, as Bethlehem, PA hosts NEARfest and Philadelphia, PA hosts Popped!
Popped! (Philadelphia, PA)
June 20-22
Second-year festival which aims to provide an all-ages, genre-spanning, worldwide music experience.
Slick Rick
Ting Tings
Mr. Lif
Mates of State
Gogol Bordello
Crystal Castles
Vampire Weekend
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Bonnaroo
Friday, June 13, 2008 | 8:12 AM
One of the summer festival biggies is almost underway, Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN).
This year the "hippe" festival is getting a little less hippier by the inclusion of Metallica, but fear not Birkenstock-wearing friends, Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, Willie Nelson, and Jack Johsnon will provide sufficient flower power.
Why is Bonnaroo one of the "biggies"? Well, if you're getting Robert Plant to play at your festival, you're not exactly in the minor leagues.
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: June 5-8
Friday, June 6, 2008 | 8:30 AM
Another weekend, another summer music festival. The sun is getting brighter, so don't forget the sunscreen--seriously--I'm not just saying that to be clever. Once you get the tips of your ears burnt, you'll never forget your suncreen again:
(left: The Roots are throwing a picnic this weekend and everyone's invited.)
The Roots Picnic
June, 7 (Philadelphia, PA)
Hip-hop/indie minded picnic held by The Roots in their hometown of the Illadelph.
SUMMER FESTIVAL UPDATE '08: Mountain Jam IV
Friday, May 30, 2008 | 7:34 AM
As I've been preaching for the last couple of months, both here on the Indie Ear and on Lunchbox, Summer Festival season is in full bloom.
Gone are the days when a traveling tour would hit your town. One-and-done weekend festivals are the latest rage (this summer there are over 80 and counting). Here's what we got this weekend:
Mountian Jam IV
May 30-June 1
Hunter Mountain, NY
(above: What's a jam-band's favorite thing to put on toast and crackers?)
The fourth installment of the jam-band friendly festival held the weekend after Memorial Day in upstate New York (hence the "mountain" in Mountain Jam). Think of this as a nice warm-up to Bonnaroo. Here's some of the artists playing this weekend:
Gov't Mule
Drive-By Truckers
Medeski, Sccofield, Matin & Wood
Citizen Cope
GALACTIC (w/ Mr. Lif)
Felice Brothers
Dr. Dog
Ongoing Coversations
- Prince? Or Portishead? 2 comments
- Born In The Flood 0 comments
- My Morning Jacket 4 comments
- IFC Vinyle Revivel!! 9 comments
- i'm not sure if my last post posted.. 1 comments
Most Commented
Most Recommended
- Please Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself (0)
- IT'S LIKE THAT: Is Metallica Worthy of Hippie Love? (2)
- IFC LIST MONTH: 50 Bands Your Kids Should Know (25-1) (3)
- SXSW 2008 Music Schedule Released (1)
- LIVE: The Cribs (0)
- TALK: Strike Anywhere (2)
- I Was Spoken To By An Advertisement... (0)
- Bored? Have Your Cat Sing Amy Winehouse Songs. (2)
- The Week That Was (and Still Is), Feb. 17-23 (1)
- SUPER TUESDAY: New Album Releases (Feb. 26) (0)
Categories
- BLOG BIOS
- FREE SONGS
- GUILTY PLEASURE
- HOGE POGE
- HOW TO SAVE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
- INDIE EAR MADNESS '08
- INDIE ROCK OLYMPIC SKETCHES
- IS IT ME? OR...
- IT'S LIKE THAT
- LIKE IT? LOVE IT? HATE IT?
- LISTS
- LIVE
- LOST TREASURES
- ME LIKEY
- NEWS
- SOON
- SUMMER FESTIVAL '08 UPDATE
- SUPER TUESDAY
- SXSW 2008
- TALK
- THE WEEK THAT WAS (AND STILL IS)
- VIDEO BLOG
