It's that time of year again...Eaux Claires 2017 is just around the corner! Last year the forest won us over with exceptional, one-of-a-kind performances, secret art installations, and endless surprises. From the live debut of Bon Iver's new album 22 A Million (including a track- by-track song title reveal in the festival app) to Chance The Rapper crashing Francis and The Lights' late night set, Eaux Claires 2016 didn't skimp on the special moments. This year, with so many big names like Paul Simon, Chance The Rapper, and Wilco on the line up, there's no telling what wondrous collaborations will occur this time around. To get ready for the revival of our favorite festival, we've gone through the daily schedule and art installations to select our most anticipated moments.
The Schedule
All Images Courtesy of Eaux Claires/44 Communications
All of the above times are noted as "Open for Artist Collaborations" on the official schedule. Based on the many surprises during the last two years, you want to be close by to The Banks or OXBEAUX during the To Be Determined times in order to avoid major FOMO. Pro Tip: Download the Eaux Claires App, turn on notifications, and keep a portable charger with you! As we mentioned, Bon Iver debuted a new album last year, and the app revealed each new song title through the app. Impromptu performances were also announced via the app, so consider it your EXC Guru. Also, make sure to make a few festival buddies, since the ol' word of mouth system is also your friend at this festival. Last year, we saw the live debut of "Friends" by Bon Iver and Francis and The Lights during Francis and The Lights' set, which is something you just had to be there for.
The Art
Known for its secrets and surprises, the "extras" at the Eaux Claires are always evolving. However, here are some of the art installations that you definitely need to be on the look out for!
Moms Booth: If you're the type to get homesick at a music festival, perhaps this attraction will help! The festival organizers elaborates on this installation, saying "interactive installation staffed with real moms from the local community, including mothers of artists at the festival." If you're in need of some words of wisdom or some mom time, stop by this booth during your breaks from the music.
Living Room: Escape from the crowds of Eaux Claires and plop down on a couch in the middle of the forest in "Living Room." This installation also promises a stereo that may also be pumping out new music from some of the festival's artists.
Crickets: You guessed it- this installation will feature actual crickets, thousands of them. The artist behind this installation, Chris Kallmayer, says crickets will point to the memory, the passage of time, and the poetics of place."
These installations are just our top three of the countless art installations already announced, which will feature anything from live painting to poetry to sculptures. On top of the announced artists and exhibits, there's sure to be pop up features along the way. Download the app to say in the know.
Keep your eyes on our social media all this week leading up to the fest for more on what we're looking forward to, and tune in during the festival for live updates of Eaux Claires 2017!
In addition to all the great bands that played earlier in the day at WKQX's PIQNIQ, Stabbing Westward, Highly Suspect, Bleachers, and Jimmy Eat World also played. Check out their photo galleries below!
On Saturday, May 20th, WKQX hosted an incredible line up of some of the best alternative bands around. The epic show took place in Tinley Park at The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. The first bands of the day included Lucky Boy Confusion, Warpaint, K Flay, Joywave, and Sum 41. Check out the photo galleries of each band, and stay tuned for round 2, coming soon!
Hangout Fest 2017 wrapped up with a stellar day of music and almost perfect weather. The early afternoon rain quickly passed, leaving clouds and a cooler temperature than the first two days at the Alabama festival. Besides the weather, here are the highlights of the final day of Hangout Fest!
The Crowd Loved LANY So Bad
LA-based trio LANY drew a brave and exuberant crowd for their 1:45PM set, the front row screaming as the band sauntered onto Fitz's Stage. Despite the fact that it was windy and raining, LANY persevered and delivered an incredible performance. A few songs into the set, frontman Paul Jason Klein told the crowd that they deserve the world for sticking it out and waiting in the rain. As the set progressed, the crowd also sang along to every word, proving how loyal the LANY fanbase can be. Their show ended on a high note (literally) with the viral song "ILYSB," which features a catchy, falsetto-driven chorus.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Shaggy Impersonated Bill Clinton
For such an early afternoon set, Shaggy drew a very large crowd to his 1:30PM performance on The Hangout Stage. Towards the end of his set, the Jamaican singer played his smash hit “It Wasn’t Me,” and gave important advice for his fellow players. During the bridge of the song, he told everyone if they ever get caught cheating, "don't do like like Tiger Woods," but follow the footsteps on the ultimate player, Bill Clinton. A full on "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" impression followed. Hearing the iconic song live was definitely a bucket list checkmark for the entire crowd.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Franz Ferdinand Showed Off Their High Jumps
Franz Ferdinand's lead singer Alex Kapranos was all about the high kicks and jumps during their early evening set on the Fitz's Stage. While the Scottish band put on an incredibly energetic show and their set consisted of new songs, nothing was more iconic than the synchronized jumping that the crowd did during the hit "Take Me Out." This set was also their live comeback, after the band took some time off to work on their new album LateNightTales.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Chance The Rapper Played His First Show In Alabama
Chance The Rapper announced during his show that this was his first time ever being to Alabama, and he went all out to make his first time special for the Gulf Shores crowd. Backed by the very talented The Social Experiment, Chance delivered a layered and dynamic sound to the overflowing Surf Stage crowd on Sunday night. In addition to the support from The Social Experiment, Chance didn't skimp at all on production quality, with pyrotechnics, massive beach balls, and different interactive videos playing during each song. During his set, a fan appropriately held up a "W" Flag, since Chance's first time at Hangout was no doubt a victory.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Mumford Closed Out Hangout 2017 With A Bang
Fans flocked to the final set of Hangout Fest, completely packing the beach to watch the band of British brothers take the stage. Mumford and Sons put on a show that rocked, yet still lulled the crowd with their beautiful harmonies. Every time Mumford and Sons perform, you can tell they give every ounce of energy that they have to produce the best show possible. Their Hangout Set closed out with a fireworks finale, wrapping up Hangout Fest with a bang.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival.
That's all, folks! Check out our Facebook page for some videos of select sets. We hope you watched our Instagram story throughout the weekend and enjoyed following along Hangout Fest 2017 with us!
Thumbnail Image Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival.
Day two of Hangout Fest brought even more festivities and more music than the first day. Although it was supposed to storm all day, the good vibes kept the rain away until the evening. Check out which of the countless acts stood out on the middle day of Hangout 2017!
Mondo Cozmo Chugged a Beer at 12:30 PM
Singer-songwriter Mondo Cozmo kicked off Saturday's performances on the Fitz's Stage in style...by chugging a beer. Right at the start of their hour long set, Frontman Josh Ostrander pooled all of the cash that he and his band had and asked for a volunteer in the crowd to go on a beer run. When the volunteer returned, the crowd started a "chug" chant, and Ostrander stepped up to the challenge. The rest of his set included a live premiere of an unreleased song, and every song had the crowd moving along. Later in the afternoon, Ostrander also performed an acoustic set for some lucky festival goers (photographed below).
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
A R I Z O N A Played On Stage Way Too Small For Them
The Jersey natives ironically named after another state hit the BMI Stage at 1:30 on Saturday, to a massive crowd on the beach. With all of their streaming success (the band is close to 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify), A R I Z O N A definitely could have played one of the bigger stages at Hangout Fest. Despite having some technical difficulties, the show went on, albeit acoustically for some songs, and the crowd was loving it. About halfway through the set, the party got even crazier when a hamburger, a donut, and a poop emoji float was thrown into the crowd.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Mutemath Covered Black Hole Sun
Mutemath also drew a huge crowd at The Hangout stage for their 1:30 PM set, which included a special tribute to the late Chris Cornell. The New Orleans based band performed a stunning version of "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, in respect of Cornell. Later on in their set, they had a surprise guest, who helped out with her singing and dancing skills (photographed below).
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Local Natives' Frontman Took A Walk In The Crowd
Local Natives delivered an incredible set filled with positive vibes at 2:30 on The Surf Stage. During their third song, Taylor Rice hopped off stage to join the crowd, microphone and all. Rice also took some time during the set to promote activism among our generation, reminding the crowd that we all have a choice of what happens to the world before they played "Fountain Of Youth." Their feel-good set wrapped up with Rice going back into the crowd with an epic stage dive.
Hands down the best set of Hangout Day Two, Danny Miller and Max Harwood of Lewis Del Mar kept their word on their promise to play their asses off for the crowd. Not only did they deliver a gripping rendition of Kanye's song "Runaway" with special guest Anna Wise, but lead singer Danny Miller also took a ride on a turtle float towards the end of the set. Their dynamic and explosive performance concluded with the crowd going all out for the duo's viral song "Loud(y)." Check out the video of Miller's epic crowd surf below.
The Crowd Collectively Cheered During The Start Of "The Funeral"
Band of Horses kicked off Saturday evening at the festival with their mesmerizing set at The Hangout Stage. Their relaxed folk sound was the perfect breather for the festival goers that had been going since gates opened at 11. The highlight of their hypnotizing set had to be when the opening chords of "The Funeral" rang out and the entire crowd cheered with recognition of the popular track.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
The rain finally arrived during Saturday evening, pushing up Twenty One Pilot's start time to 9PM, but unfortunately the festival had to be cut short just before 10PM due to the storm. Stay tuned for updates from the final day of Hangout Fest.
Thumbnail image courtesy of Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
This past Friday afternoon, music fans flocked to The Hangout in Gulf Shores, Alabama for a stacked and diverse line up, filled with rookie and veteran musicians of different genres. In addition to the endless options of acts choose from, the festival also offers some unique activities and plenty of chill-out spots to offer their attendees an oasis from the blazing Alabama sun. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at all the other experiences that Hangout Fest has to offer (like their puppy kissing booth and wedding chapel), but for now tune in to find out about Friday's music highlights.
Joseph Woke Us Up With Harmonies
Joseph took the stage at 1:30 PM on Friday, right in the wee hours of the afternoon, as the crowd slowly trickled into the festival grounds to get acquainted with the lay of the land and the hidden gems of the festival. The Portland, Oregon-based Joseph immediately drew in the eager crowd with their tantalizing harmonies. The fact that the band consists of three sisters definitely plays a hand in the way that their vocals mesh so well, but besides the harmonies, all three sisters gave a stellar vocal performance. Their boundless talent impressed the early afternoon crowd to say the least.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Mac DeMarco Ripped His Shirt Off With His Bare Hands
Known to never disappoint with his live performances, Mac DeMarco warmed up the festival crowd for the nighttime sets with some of his familiar antics. After his trademark move of smoking cigarettes while performing multiple songs, DeMarco closed out his incredible set by stage diving during the last song, "Still Together." To top that epic moment, when he returned to the stage, he ripped off his own shirt with his bare hands, finishing the song sans shirt. Oh, and his drummer played the whole set in his underwear.
PS. Check out our Instagram story for a video of the stage dive.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Barns Courtney Hosted a Sweaty Sing Along
Singer-songwriter Barns Courtney drew an eager and friendly crowd during his evening set at the BMI Stage, which happened to be clashing with MGMT. During his popular tune "Glitter & Gold" Courtney got the receptive crowd to sing the chorus back to him. The track came a few songs into his set, and after exerting his energy in the humid Alabama temperatures, Courtney took a tune-and-talk break, telling the crowd "I'm a sweaty little bitch." If you've ever been to a Barns Courtney show, you know you can expect some laughs betweens songs.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Sharks Invaded MGMT's Set
As the sun began to set during MGMT's viral hit "Electric Feel," at least a dozen blowup sharks were released into the crowd at the Hangout Stage. The crowd had already been exuding positive vibes during the set, but the energy skyrocketed during this surprise addition to MGMT's show. The additional fun fit right in with the vibes of this beach festival.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Weezer Played Hit After Hit While Rivers Cuomo Rocked a Bucket Hat
A few songs into Weezer's nighttime set, I overheard a fellow festival-goer exclaim that Weezer was the best set of the day, and I'd have to agree. The music vets took the stage with an air of rock and roll poise that comes from years and years of making and performing music. In addition to the sense of ease and comfort that flowed between the band members, their set consisted of hit after hit, the crowd singing along to nearly every word from their opening song "Hash Pipe" to their final song, "Buddy Holly." Oh, and lead singer Rivers Cuomo totally rocked a bucket hat while delivering every hit.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Phoenix Filled In For Frank
Night one concluded with Phoenix delivering an incredible comeback set in support of their first album since 2013. Their appearance at the festival came as last minute addition when Frank Ocean dropped out of his headline slot a week prior to the festival, citing production delays. Phoenix's energetic and fun-filled show contained a mix of older and new songs that kept the crowd moving, almost making up for the pain of Frank dropping out.
Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival
Stay tuned for highlights of Day Two, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter for live updates!
At most music festivals, the headliners are typically the acts that draw you in, getting you to invest your time and money into watching two or more days of live music in some of the most random locations around the world. However, festivals are also all about discovering new music, and yes, that means getting there early. Take a peek at our short list of bands playing earlier in the day at Hangout Fest that you absolutely cannot miss...then come find us at the festival and dance with us during these sets.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
As the old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. You also shouldn't judge a band by its name...at least in this case. Hailing from Boone, North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise blend unique vocal tones with infectious, melodic riffs for a sound completely different than what you'd expect based on their band name. And man, do they know how to put on a live show. Catch them playing Fitz's Stage at Hangout Fest on Saturday at 2:30PM.
Photo Credit: Emily Quirk
For Fans Of: Lewis Del Mar, Alt-J, Modest Mouse, Sir-Sly
Start With: "Cocaine Jesus" and "Devil Like Me"
A R I Z O N A
Having only been around for about a year, this trio of producers from Jersey are blowing everyone's expectations out of the water. With catchy choruses and their clean production style, the band has earned their huge streaming audience (they have over 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify). A R I Z O N A's debut album actually comes out the first day of Hangout Fest, so they're sure to pack even more energy into their set than usual. Get to know more about this new band by checking out our interview, then go see them at Hangout on Saturday at 1:30PM on the BMI Stage.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
For Fans Of: Kevin Garrett, FRENSHIP, LANY, Jack Garratt
Start With: "I Was Wrong" and "Oceans Away"
Strand of Oaks
The multi-talented, singer-songwriter and producer Timothy Showalter, (AKA Strand of Oaks) leaves his stamp on his diverse and dynamic songs with his distinct voice. With some songs that lean more towards the folk realm, and others like "Everything," with its amped up guitar layers, Showalter's set will be sure to have a little something for everyone. Make sure you get down to the Mermaid Stage at 2:45PM on Sunday to catch him! Get ready for the show by listening to the newest album, Hard Love.
Photo Credit: Maclay Heriot
For Fans Of: The Lumineers, Big Thief, Band of Horses, Bright Eyes
Start With: "Radio Kids" and "Shut In"
Foreign Air
The somewhat mysterious duo Foreign Air craft hypnotizing tunes with infectious melodies that will be sure to have you moving. With a debut EP, called For The Light, and a new single under their belt, there's no telling what will be in store for Foreign Air once they release their debut album. Head down to the BMI Stage on Friday at 4PM to dance on the beach to the sweet sounds of Foreign Air.
For Fans Of: Glass Animals, Foals, Local Natives, Sylvan Esso
Start With: "In The Shadows" and "Call Off The Dogs"
White Reaper
Louisville, Kentucky based rockers are taking 2017 by a storm with their new album The World's Best American Band. Live, the band exert incredible energy, putting everything they've got into delivering an unforgettable rowdy and electrifying performance. If you want to blow off some steam with some good ol' fashioned Rock'N'Roll, go see them at The Mermaid Stage at 2:30PM on Friday.
Photo Credit: Jesse DeFlorio
For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, Ty Segall, The Orwells, Fidlar
Start With: "Judy French" and "The Stack"
Check out the full Hangout Fest line up here, and make sure you follow us on all our social media to get real-time updates next weekend!
In case you missed the initial line up announcement, WayHome came back today with a few line up additions, including Cage The Elephant and Foster The People. The full line up includes some of favorites, like Frank Ocean, The Shins, Honne, Rag'N'Bone Man, Blossoms, and many more incredible artists from a mix of genres. Check out the full line up below, and grab your festival passeshere. 3 Day Passes start at $229.99, and 1 day passes start at $89.99.
Returning for a third year, Chicago's very own Mamby on the Beach is back with a stellar line up for 2017! In case you missed it, the festival officially announced yesterday that headlining acts include MGMT and Walk The Moon. The two-day festival also features countless other acts, like Miike Snow, Marian Hill, Phoebe Ryan, Thundercat, and Misterwives. We're personally most excited for Raury, Local Natives, and MUNA, but you can check out the entire line up below.
Tickets range from $62.50-$99.50 for single day and $112-$169.99, with General Admission and VIP options available.
P.S. Last year, Chance the Rapper showed up at Mamby, so you never know what surprises might happen this year. Get your tickets now, before it's too late!
Day 2 at Daytrotter Downs was even bigger and badder than Day 1, with music kicking off at 10AM at a local record store. Once again, a mutual love and respect for music existed between the crowd and the bands. I also discovered new music and enjoyed every set that I managed to catch (you can check our Instagram for all of them), but here are the top highlights from Day 2....
The Sires Guitarist Kept Losing His Hat Opening up Day 2
If you look really closely in the photo below, you can see the hat of one of Sires' guitarists on the stage. The entire band was so into the music and grooving along so hard that the hat just wouldn't stay on. As with the opening slot of most festivals, the 2PM crowd for Sires was scarce, but they still gave their all and you could tell they love what they do when they get on stage. The band is from Iowa, so if you're local make sure to check them out if you haven't already!
In Tall Buildings Played Songs From The Upcoming Album
Frontman Erik Hall and his bandmates played a beautiful set in the afternoon yesterday, which featured some new songs. In our interview (coming soon) Erik revealed that was only the second time playing the new songs; the first being during Tomorrow Never Knows in Chicago in January. The new songs sounded incredible, so keep your eyes and ears out for new In Tall Buildings music this year.
Bobby Hussy Lit His Guitar On Fire
In our Daytrotter Downs spotlight, I mentioned that I'd heard all about Bobby Hussy's love for pyrotechnics and his stage presence, but I didn't know how well lighting his guitar on fire would go over in the setting of Daytrotter Downs. However, at 5PM, Bobby Hussy of The Hussy lit his guitar on fire on the floor of the Redstone Room. It just doesn't get more badass and more Rock'n'Roll than that. Check out the video on our Instagram, and make sure you go see The Hussy if you ever get the chance.
Sarah Potenza Gave A Shout Out to Humboldt Park
During her early evening set, Sarah Potenza wooed the crowd with her powerful, soulful vocals. She also provided the laughs with some of her stories, one of which included a part about the 10 years she lived in Chicago in a Humboldt Park apartment. After her set, she also did an impromptu interview with me, so stay tuned for that. She'll be in Chicago with Gaelynn Lea tomorrow, so check them out if you can!
All Eyes Were on Gaelynn Lea
For the first time during the entire festival, I didn't have much personal space to stand during Gaelynn Lea's performance. Because everyone was watching her set. She delivered an absolutely stunning and mesmerizing hour-long set to a packed house with her haunting vocals and incredible violin playing. Gaelynn also promoted taking risks and doing what you love during her set. Before playing a new song of hers, Gaelynn mentioned she was nervous to play it, but she was doing it anyway because "it's good to do things that make you nervous." Seriously, if you're reading this and you're based in Chicago, go see her at Schubas tomorrow night.
Adam Torres Captivated The Crowd with his Cutting Vocals
Without a doubt, Adam Torres was towards the top of my list to see during this festival, but his set exceeded my expectations. He put the entire crowd in a trance with his unique and haunting vocals, often backed by the beautiful violin playing of his bandmate Elizabeth Warren (he also made the "no not the senator" joke that most of you are probably thinking right now). He also gave the backstory to most of his songs before he played, which I always find fascinating when watching songs come to life.
Post Animal Just Being Post Animal
Hands down, the Post Animal set topped my list of favorite performances this weekend. As usual, they gave their performance their all and had the crowd reciprocating their massive energy levels. I mean, just check out the hair flip from Dalton in the photo below....
The house was completely packed and everyone in the front was moving the whole time. A few people even crowd surfed, making their set the rowdiest of the evening. The guys will be out at SXSW later this month, and they're also touring nationally throughout the Spring, so go see them when they roll through your town.
