Filtering by Category: Festival
Bonnaroo 2018 Sunday Highlights
The final day of Bonnaroo began with a rainstorm, breaking the streak of sunny days that the festival had seen so far. Fortunately, the rain stopped in time for most of the acts scheduled in Centeroo, only leaving behind some puddles and mud piles around the festival grounds. The mud didn't stop the party, and music only got off to a delayed start at some of the stages, eventually catching back up to the original schedule. Check out our final day highlights of Roo 2018 below.
Sir Sly Opened With a New Song
Sir Sly was on one of the stages effected by the rain delay, but they got things moving quickly, only starting about ten minutes late, rewarding the patiently awaiting tent by opening with an unreleased new song called "Welcome The Pressure." "This has been the year of our dreams," frontman Landon Jacobs told the crowd, mentioning that this was their very first Bonnaroo and that they'd had so many great opportunities this year. Sir Sly has had a recent much-deserved streak of success following the release of their sophomore album Don't You Worry, Honey; the album showcases a raw vulnerability in Jacobs' lyrics, which reveal the hardships of a divorce and losing his mom to brain cancer, and the growth that the trio has shown in their sound and production. During their live show, all of that mixed with Jacobs zealous stage presence makes for an unforgettable show. At their Roo set, Jacobs moved around the stage to jam with his bandmates Jason Suwito and Hayden Coplen, and even climbed up the stage truss at one point. The band let their enthusiastic audience let them know how appreciative they are of their support, with Jacobs saying, "This reconfirmed the choice I made years ago to finish this album instead of sticking it out with someone who didn't support my dreams," referring to his decision to pursue music instead of staying in his marriage. It was clear that the crowd at Bonnaroo were very happy he made that choice, too.
Fans Danced in the Mud to Jungle
London soul collective Jungle hit the Which Stage in the evening with the sun shining, almost making us all forget that it had stormed earlier that day...if it hadn’t been for the giant mud pits around that stage. Fans made the most of it though, sliding around barefoot in the mud to move along to the cool, groovy tunes provided by Jungle. Jungle's mix of chilled out and funk vibes paired perfectly with the mood on the last day of Roo, allowing for fans to relax a bit after three long days of music and festivities. The group also played several new songs, like "Happy Man," "Cherry," and "House in LA," which all follow up their 2014 debut album.
Dua Lipa Hosted a Dance Party
British singer songwriter Dua Lipa has quickly become one of the biggest names in international pop music over the last year, with collaborations with the likes of Calvin Harris and Sean Paul. Naturally, she drew a massive crowd at the What Stage for her evening set, with flocks of fans eager to get in any last chance to dance this weekend. As expected, Dua brought the dance party, providing all of the bangers and by bringing along her crew of backing dancers and singers. Opening with "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)," the set kept moving with hit after hit, like "Be The One" and "Hotter Than Hell," which had the crowd singing along to the catchy choruses.
The Killers Opened With "Mr. Brightside"
Some ardent fans had been waiting all day for a chance to get in the main pit for The Killers' headlining slot. By 10:20 PM, the long wait was over when the band hit the decked out stage, with frontman Brandon Flowers looking sharp as usual in a flashy red suit. The energy of the huge crowd immediately peaked when the opening chords of "Mr. Brightside" rang out into the field, fans losing their minds, jumping and dancing around for the entire song. It's rare that a band starts their set with their biggest hit, but the bold move got the crowd immediately amped up and ready for the remainder of the set that featured a dynamic mix of The Killers' discography. About two songs in, Flowers brought up the quote from Evel Knievel that people come to see the attempt, not the perfect landing, and that they'd be giving it their all to put on a rock'n'roll show. As promised, The Killers gave it their all for the final set of the entire weekend, ending the weekend on a high note.
That's a wrap for Bonnaroo 2018! Keep an eye out for our upcoming festival coverage this summer.
Bonnaroo 2018 Saturday Highlights
Saturday at Bonnaroo featured tons of incredible shows from artists of every genre. In fact, the schedule was so jam-packed that it left a lot of fans wishing they could be two places at once due to conflicting shows. Here are some highlights you may have missed from the third day of Roo if you were busy hopping from show to show.
POND Crowd Surfed During Their Second Song
POND took the stage bright and early on Saturday afternoon, breaking in the This Tent with their psych rock jams and laid back attitudes. The band let the crowd know that their Bonnaroo performance was the very last show of their recent US tour before they return home to Australia, and they definitely went out with a bang. Frontman Nick Allbrook began the set on the right foot, immediately jumping into the audience to crowd surf during the second song. From there on, the energy remained high, with Allbrook sauntering around the entire stage, jumping down at certain points to go up to the fans at the barricade. The crowd’s energy remained right up there with the band’s, with everyone dancing and singing along despite the extreme heat.
POND Frontman Nick Allbrook
Chance The Rapper Crashed Knox Fortune's Set
Chicago Producer and singer songwriter Knox Fortune has garnered buzz for his work with rapper Joey Purp, but more notably for singing the hook on Chance The Rapper’s song “All Night.” Naturally, when rumors surfaced on Friday that Chance The Rapper had been spotted around the Bonnaroo campgrounds, some clever fans began to speculate whether or not Chance might join Knox Fortune’s set to bring their collaboration to life. Sure enough, towards the end of Knox’s afternoon set at the That Tent, some lucky fans were able to witness a rare special performance of the track when Chance came onstage to perform his verses. Chance hasn’t made any other pop up appearances onstage this weekend, so this may have been the only chance to catch him (pun intended).
Knox Fortune at The That Tent
Rag'N'Bone Man Apologized For His Dancing
British singer songwriter Rory Graham, aka Rag’N’Bone Man, combines his raw, bluesy vocals with soulful pop melodies to craft addictively catchy songs that made for a great sing along during his set. The success of his single “Human” from his debut album also of the same name attracted hoards of fans to the This Tent for his evening set. During his set, Graham displayed his humble nature, often thanking the crowd for turning up and making self-deprecating jokes. He told the crowd that playing festivals in the states can be quite daunting since he always thinks no one “knows who the fuck I am,” and he seemed genuinely touched at how many people turned up to watch him. All of the fans who showed up were treated to stripped down introductions and intricate arrangements of Graham’s songs, as well as some laughs when he chatted between tunes. “I apologize for my dancing,” Graham said, recalling a time someone wrote a review of his show saying he was good, but his dancing is awful. We’re all for his dancing here though since Bonnaroo is about radiating positivity.
Rag'n'Bone Man at the This Tent
A Blow Up Doll Crowd Surfed During Post Animal
Our pals in Post Animal made their Bonnaroo debut last night to an overflowing and hyped up crowd at the Who Stage. Although their set time clashed with some other major shows, including Bon Iver’s first set, fans still flocked to see their second ever festival performance, following last month’s debut at Shaky Knees in Atlanta. Throughout the past couple of years, the group has beefed up their live show, honing in on their song transitions and arrangements to make for a special experience of their songs that you can only get at their live shows. Their efforts to put on a smooth and engaging show didn’t go unnoticed by their enthusiastic crowd, who immediately opened up a mosh pit and crowd surfed throughout the 45 minute set. One audience member brought a blow up doll with them, which surfed above the crowd and even ended up on stage at one point. Post Animal has never been known to put on a tame show, but last night was definitely one of the wildest. You can catch their next major festival performance later in the summer, when they take the Lollapalooza stage for the first time.
Justin Vernon Brought The Eaux Claires Spirit to the Second Bon Iver Set
When Bon Iver’s first set of Saturday night consisted mostly of songs from the album 22, A Million, fans began to speculate that the later set would include some of the classics from the earlier days. However, Justin Vernon took a completely different approach by turning the set into a collaborative performance piece. The collaborative vision closely tied into the mission of Vernon’s hometown festival in Eau Claires, Wisconsin, which frequently features surprise sets and crossover between bands and artists during their shows. Not only did the Bon Iver show last night have special guest appearances, but dancers also accompanied the music for certain songs. Coupled with the intricate lighting design, the dancers tied together the show’s production level. As for the musical guests, Vernon first invited Francis and the Lights early on in the set, before welcoming him back to perform their hit “Friends”…with both Vernon and Francis joining in on the dancing. Other guests included Moses Sumney and Sylvan Esso, with the latter coming out on stage to perform “Flume” with the band, as well as their own song “Coffee.” Vernon even invited Parkland survivor Aalayah Eastmond out to speak about gun control, adding some activism into the set. Overall, the show was completely unique to most Bon Iver shows you’d catch, which made for the perfect ending to Bonnaroo’s third day.
Bonnaroo 2018 Friday Highlights
Bonnaroo continued on Friday with even more memorable moments than the first day. Read up on what you may have missed around Centeroo on Friday, and as always keep an eye on our social media for live updates throughout the weekend.
An Encouraging Crowd Waited For Japanese Breakfast
Tons of Bonnarooians flocked to Centeroo early on Friday to catch Japanese Breakfast's set that was scheduled for 2:15 PM. Although the set got off to a late start, actually starting around 2:30, fans waited patiently, cheering and clapping through the last minute sound check. Front woman Michelle Zauner started off the set stationary with her guitar, but a couple of songs in, she roamed the stage sans guitar to get closer to the audience and work the entire crowd. As Zauner sang through songs on her 2017 album Soft Sounds From Another Planet, the crowd sang along loudly, getting Bonnaroo Day 2 off to a great start.
Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast
Sheryl Crow Teased an Unannounced Performer
"This [song] is older than most of y'all. You guys are younger than this song, and you know it. That's weird," Sheryl Crow addressed the overflowing audience at her early evening set at the What Stage, who had been singing along all the words. Although the hits Crow played during her Friday set may have been from years ago, that didn't stop the diverse audience from knowing them all, and she started strong with epic sing alongs like "If It Makes You Happy" and "Every Day Is A Winding Road." Crow's stage banter remained strong throughout her entire set, with her teasing both her participation in the Super Jam and a surprise guest appearance. After pointing out a Tom Petty sign one of the audience members was holding up, Crow asked for the fan to pass it to her, and she held it up, reminding everyone to come see the Super Jam tribute to Tom Petty later that night. "Y'all have a big weekend ahead of you," Crow said. "I just met someone who is gonna be on the stage later, but it's not announced. I would leak it, but I haven't had anything to drink yet." Maybe tonight we'll find out who the unannounced performer is, but Crow never did end up leaking it during her set.
Paramore Finally Played Bonnaroo
Paramore hit the What Stage after Sheryl Crow, taking the stage to eager audience members, who were all excited to finally see the Nashville band on the Roo stage. "Right in our backyard and we never came to see you," lead singer Hayley Williams said to the Friday evening crowd, addressing the band's absence from the festival thus far. Although Paramore fans might have been waiting years to see the band on the farm, Williams and the band more than made up for it with a mix of songs from throughout their discography, Williams' powerhouse vocals that stayed strong despite her constant dancing and jumping, and the performance of a Halfnoise song (drummer Zac Farro's other project). The band also took the time to use their platform to promote positivity between their songs, Williams addressing the death of Anthony Bourdain, as the news had broken earlier that day. "I see a lot of smiles, and that's really nice to see in 2018," Williams said, continuing on to say that the news these days is usually pretty awful, but dancing and music has the ability to bring people together and add something positive to all of the negative news of the world. Paramore's set definitely acted as the perfect mood booster and distraction on a day that had begun with some heavy news for the entertainment industry.
Okey Dokey Brought Out All Their Friends
Like Paramore, Nashville duo Okey Dokey also played their first Bonnaroo as this project, but lead singer Aaron Martin told the audience that this was his fifth time at Bonnaroo. In celebration of Okey Dokey making it to Roo, the pair invited a bunch of their musical friends to join them on The Who Stage. Liz Cooper of Liz Cooper & The Stampede joined the band on stage for the entire set, playing different percussion instruments (including a banana shaker), but towards the end of the set, she sang a duet with Martin. Rayland Baxter, who would later be joining in on the Tom Petty Super Jam, also joined this sort of mini Super Jam, singing the song he had written with the group. Brad Shultz and Nick Bockrath of Cage The Elephant even hopped on stage to play guitar for a couple of songs.
Okey Dokey Featuring Liz Cooper
Super Jam Featured an All Star Line Up Playing Tom Petty Hits
Every year, Bonnaroo puts on a Super Jam featuring a line up of musical guests performing at the festival throughout the weekend. This year, the Super Jam paid tribute to Tom Petty, which meant the entire crowd screamed along the entire time as the band played through hit after hit. The core band that played the entire two hour set included Patrick Hallahan, Tom Blankenship, Pat Sansone, Craig Pfunder, Daniel Creamer, and The Watson Twins, and the special guests ranged from artists just starting out to veteran rockstars. Bonnaroo first timers FRENSHIP and Durand Jones and the Indications joined early on in the set to play "Refugee" and "You Wreck Me," with legend Sheryl Crow following shortly after to sing "American Girl." The massive crowd that had flocked to the This Tent for the jam had dwindled slightly towards the end of the set, but the tent remained packed until past 3AM, with special guests like Matt Shultz (Cage The Elephant), Vanessa Carlton, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), and Sameer Gadhia (Young The Giant) anchoring out the set with songs like "Breakdown," "Learning to Fly," and "Free Fallin'." The artists that contributed all sounded incredible together, paying a beautiful homage to Mr. Tom Petty.
Super Jam closing out the This Tent on Friday
Bonnaroo 2018 Thursday Highlights
Bonnaroo 2018 kicked off yesterday, delivering the usual friendly and fun atmosphere full of random acts of kindness, pop up experiences, and 24/7 entertainment throughout the stages and campgrounds. As you get ready for Roo day 2, read up on the music highlights of Thursday below!
Jade Bird Made Her US Festival Debut
British singer songwriter Jade Bird hit the ground running during her first US festival appearance by not only playing a late night set at The Who Stage, but by playing a stripped down set at Coleman's The Campout experience out by plaza four. Jade's raw vocal power and fiery spirit shone through just as much at the early afternoon set as it did during her main performance. The enthusiastic Thursday night crowd welcomed Bird with open arms as she played through songs on her debut EP like "Good Woman" and "Cathedral," as well as a couple covers of songs by The Pixies and Kate Bush. Bird's performance of her popular single "Lottery" acted as the highlight of the set, the crowd all singing along to the belter of a chorus. "I've been Jade Bird and you guys have been the best audience I've ever had," Bird said at the end of her show.
Jade Bird at the Coleman Camp Out experience
Ron Gallo Said Sorry a Bunch
Self-proclaimed really nice guy Ron Gallo and his band packed the tent for their energetic early evening set at the That Tent. Gallo displayed his usual quirky antics during the show, incorporating a trumpet into their songs, introducing his band and himself in a monotone voice as he read off a piece of paper, and saying "sorry" a bunch of times mid-song. Although the live band is usually a trio with Joe Bisirri on bass and Dylan Sevey on drums, the group was joined by the band's tour manager on keys yesterday and during the last song, the band added an impromptu new member. Gallo invited an audience member onstage to play his guitar, ending the set on a high note.
Ron Gallo and his newest band member
FRENSHIP Took Their Pants Off
Los Angeles duo James Sunderland and Brett Hite, better known as FRENSHIP, played their first Bonnaroo last night to an eager crowd at the This Tent, and they were shocked at the Thursday turn out. "Nobody comes on a Thursday," Sunderland said in awe of the overflowing tent, which was full of fans singing the lyrics back to them. In addition to playing their popular tracks like "Carpet" and "Capsize" from their first EP, Hite and Sunderland treated the crowd to some of their newer singles like "LOVE Somebody" and "MI Amore." The duo also made sure to dress their best for their Bonnaroo debut by wearing matching pants. "We're wearing the same damn pants. We wore the same pants for you, Bonnaroo," they admitted. The audience was so enthusiastic that they started a "take them off!" chant about the pants, and Sunderland made a promise that they would take them off by the end of the set if the audience promised to stay with them through their entire career. True to their words, during the final song "1000 Nights," Sunderland took his pants off, ending their set with another memorable moment.
James Sunderland finishing FRENSHIP's set sans pants
Durand Jones & The Indications Brought Soul to The Farm
Soul outfit Durand Jones and The Indications delivered the smoothest set of Thursday, bringing their full, rich big band sound to the That Tent. The band displayed incredible chemistry and musicianship as they played through their hour long set, horns and woodwinds complementing the sheer power Durand Jones' vocals. Their groovy, R&B songs have a retro quality to them, but their tight sound and Jones' showmanship put a refreshing spin on a vintage sound. Drummer Aaron Frazer also displayed his incredible multi-tasking skills when he lent his vocals to a few of the songs during the set. The group will take part in the "Into The Great Wide Open" Superjam tonight, so if you missed them on Thursday, make sure you catch them during this all-star packed set tonight.
Durand Jones and The Indications Bringing Soul to The Farm
Cage The Elephant Played a Surprise Set
If you're camping at 'Roo, you might have noticed the permanent party set up in Plaza 9, which has been curated by none other than Cage The Elephant's Matt Shultz. The set up in Plaza 9 includes birthday decorations to celebrate Roo Day, as well as pop up experiences with some of the performing artists; like karaoke with Okey Dokey, watercolor painting with Lissie, DJ sets, and yoga. Thursday at Plaza 9 ended with a huge bang when Cage The Elephant played a surprise full show, which they had teased with a now deleted Instagram post. If you weren't in the know for the secret show, you can also catch Shultz and his bandmate Nick Bockrath partaking in the "Into The Great Wide Open" Superjam tonight.
Cage the elephant surprise bonnaroo set it’s good to be back on the farm pic.twitter.com/7gX4p01plh
— Jacob (@JacobShebek) June 8, 2018
Stay tuned for our daily updates throughout the weekend, and follow us on social media for live updates throughout the day.
Bonnaroo Round Up: Our 2018 Top Picks
Since 2002, Bonnaroo has been bringing some of the biggest international acts and the best upcoming acts to Manchester, TN for four days of music, comedy, festivities and more. This year, thousands of music fans will return to the farm this Thursday, June 7th for another memorable 'Roo. Stay tuned for our daily coverage during the festival, but for now check out our eight must-see acts of Bonnaroo 2018 below!
POND
Last year, POND released their seventh studio album, The Weather, which is full of energetic, psychedelic tunes that will instantly sweep everyone off their feet. Their records have this incredible quality that completely engulfs listeners, creating a mystical world with entrancing synths and hypnotizing melodies, but their live show adds even more depth to their layered, multifaceted songs. Frontman Nick Allbrook hooks in audience members with his captivating stage presence, so don't miss POND on Saturday, June 9th at 2:45PM on the This Stage.
For Fans Of: Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mild High Club
Start With: "Sweep Me Off My Feet," "Paint Me Silver," "30000 Megatons"
Post Animal
After steadily gaining traction in the Chicago music scene over the past couple of years, Post Animal began touring extensively, working their way up to a national act. The group is currently on tour promoting their debut album When I Think Of You in a Castle, which was released April 20th via Polyvinyl Records. Their live shows always pack in non-stop energy with intense guitar riffs and expansive arrangements, creating a completely different atmosphere from the studio recordings. This year has already seen Post Animal at SXSW and Shaky Knees Festival, but make sure you catch them at Bonnaroo so you can say you saw them at one of their first festival performances way back when. Catch them Saturday, June 9th at 9:45PM on the Who Stage.
For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Thee Oh Sees
Start With: "When I Get Home," "Special Moment," "Gelatin Mode"
Alex Lahey
Aussie singer songwriter Alex Lahey will instantly win you over with her lighthearted melodies and relatable lyrics. Lahey's debut EP B Grade University and debut album I Love You Like a Brother are both full of honest narratives that will have you singing along, and her authentic laid-back attitude pairs perfectly with a Summer festival. Catch her at Roo on Friday, June 8th at 2:15PM on the What Stage.
For Fans Of: Courtney Barnett, Middle Kids, Waxahatchee
Start With: "Wes Anderson," "You Don't Think You Like People Like Me," "Lotto In Reverse"
Sir Sly
Fronted by Landon Jacobs, LA based trio Sir Sly recently made an incredible comeback with their 2017 sophomore album Don't You Worry, Honey. The long awaited album came three years after their promising debut and reflects upon Jacobs' struggles of losing his mother to cancer and the end of his marriage. The new songs possess a raw vulnerability in the lyrics and see a growth in Sir Sly's production skill, and the group always delivers a vibrant live performance, with Jacobs being known to climb things mid-show. Make sure you catch them Sunday, June 10th at 4PM at the This Tent to witness all of their stage antics.
For Fans Of: Foster The People, Hippo Campus, K.Flay
Start With: "High," "&Run," "Altar"
Jade Bird
British singer songwriter Jade Bird first made waves when she dropped her debut EP Something American last year, which shows off her fiery spirit, sweeping vocal range, and twangy folk riffs. Since then, she's been hard at work on the road, playing SXSW and touring with the likes of Anderson East and First Aid Kit. This fall, Jade Bird will head out on her first headlining tour, but before then don't miss her at Bonnaroo; she's playing Thursday, June 7th at 11PM on the Who Stage.
For Fans Of: Maggie Rogers, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers
Start With: "Lottery," "Furious," "Something American"
Ron Gallo
Nashville's Ron Gallo has been steadily touring since the release of his debut album Heavy Meta, hitting the festival circuit especially hard in 2017, with appearances at the likes of Governor's Ball and Lollapalooza. Whether he's playing on a festival stage or a club show, Gallo always brings along his quirky antics; from playing a trumpet mid-song to passing off his guitar to an audience member, there's no shortage of entertainment. Gallo managed to release an 8-song EP earlier this year in the midst of all his touring, so his recent shows have been refreshed to include new material. If you're looking to hear some great music and have a laugh, Catch Ron at the That Tent on Thursday, June 7th at 5:00 PM.
For Fans Of: White Reaper, Diane Coffee, Naked Giants
Start With: "Put The Kids To Bed," "Really Nice Guys," "Young Lady, You're Scaring Me"
Jungle
Fronted by Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson, London collective Jungle will be sure to get you dancing with their smooth mix of soul and funk grooves. It's been a while since the group released their debut, self-titled album, but they've teased their follow up with two singles this year that both contain their signature effortlessly cool touch. Get ready to move and check out their set on Sunday, June 10th on the Which Stage at 5:15PM.
For Fans Of: SBTRKT, Metronomy, TV On The Radio
Start With: "Time," "Happy Man," "The Heat"
Rag'n'Bone Man
Speaking of soul, British singer songwriter Rory Graham (better known by his moniker Rag'n'Bone Man) has garnered international attention with his booming, powerful and soulful vocals. Rag'n'Bone Man's debut record Human features a diverse mix of layered narratives that highlight Graham's flexible range; from a bluesy growl to a rich baritone and even a hip hop flow, the album truly showcases Graham's dynamic talent as a singer and writer. Live, Graham brings that all to life with a large band that distinguishes the show from the album with fleshed out arrangements. Catch Rag'n'Bone Man on Saturday, June 9th at 6:45PM at the This Tent.
For Fans Of: Bastille, Jacob Banks, Jack Garratt
Start With: "Your Way or the Rope," "Human," "Wolves"
Remember that once CenterRoo opens up on Thursday, it will remain open 24/7 until the festival ends, so make sure you check out the entire schedule here. The SuperJam lineup this year is particularly epic with members of Cage The Elephant, Wilco, Young The Giant, Sheryl Crow, Japanese Breakfast, Durand Jones & The Indications and more playing the music of Tom Petty. Keep up with it all by following us on social media throughout the fest:
Mamby On The Beach 2018 Lineup Announced
Mamby On The Beach returns for another year of great music on Oakwood Beach. The lineup includes artists from all over the genre-sphere, ranging from Common to Cold War Kids to Duke Demont. Some of our absolute lineup favorites include Tune-Yards, HONNE, LÉON, St. Lucia, Jamila Woods, and Oh Wonder, but you can see the full lineup below! To experience this completely diverse lineup while also enjoying some time on the beach, make sure you grab your tickets the Mamby here.
Check out our photos from Day 1 of Mamby on the Beach 2017 here
SXSW 2018 Spotlight
It's that time of year again, where thousands of music fans, musicians, and music industry folks flock down to Austin, Texas for a jam packelizd week of endless live music. Going over the countless events and showcases that just keep rolling in, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed about who to see and what to do at the annationnual SXSW music festival. While we can't really help with the problem of wanting to be in 5 places at once, we can help you focus in on some of the key bands to see this week. Check out our list of our top ten must-see acts at SXSW 2018 below, and make sure you give our SXSW Spotify playlist a listen for even more recommendations.
Shame
London's buzzy post-punk rockers Shame have already been making a name for themselves all over The States, going on a headlining tour surrounding their debut album, Songs of Praise, which came out in January. Everybody and anybody who has seen them live seems to only have positive things to say about their raw and rambunctious energy onstage, and there will be no shortage of opportunities to catch one of their rowdy performances at this year's SXSW. Make sure you catch them this year before they move on to bigger and bigger venues. See their SXSW schedule here.
Photo: Holly Whitaker
For Fans Of: Idles, Ought, The Vaccines
Start With: "Lampoon," "Dust on Trial," "Concrete"
Nation of Language
Fronted by Ian Devaney, this Brooklyn based trio manages to borrow components from past generations of musical geniuses, without delivering boring reiterations. Nation of Language recently toured with The Wombats, instantly winning over the crowd with their addictive synth melodies that sound like they belong on a soundtrack for a John Hughes film. While the band have yet to put out an album, they've gained traction and attention nationally with a handful of single releases. See their SXSW schedule here.
Photo by Rachel Zyzda
For Fans Of: The Psychedelic Furs, Night Riots, John Maus
Start With: "I've Thought About Chicago," "On Division St," "What Does the Normal Man Feel?"
Post Animal
If you're an avid ANCHR reader, this definitely isn't the first you've heard about Post Animal....and it definitely won't the last time you'll hear their name if you're going to SXSW this year. The Chicago based outfit had an insane year in 2017, touring across the entire country, and 2018 is set to be even bigger for them, rightfully so. Their shows never lack in energy and over the years they've expanded their live arrangements while keeping a tight sound. Following their rigorous touring schedule surrounding SXSW, Post Animal will release their official debut album via Polyvinyl Records on April 20th. Their summer touring schedule includes cities across the country and appearances at major festivals like Shaky Knees and Bonnaroo, so don't miss out on the abundance of chances to see Post Animal at SXSW before they blow up even more. Check out their full schedule here.
Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana
For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, King Gizzard, POND
Start With: "When I Get Home," "Special Moment," "Ralphie"
Ron Gallo
Nashville's Ron Gallo might be another familiar name to ANCHR readers, as we've frequently covered him here. Gallo has already had a great year, playing festivals like Governor's Ball and Lollapalooza in support of his debut solo album Heavy Meta, but he's managed to keep cranking out new music despite a grueling tour schedule. His live show not only highlights the chemistry between him and his band, but he always encourages kindness among his audiences, working to keep his shows a safe space, while also making his audience laugh with his quirky between-song anecdotes. If you're looking to hear some great music and have a laugh, make sure you go see Ron Gallo this year. Check out his schedule here.
Photo by C.J. Harvey
For Fans Of: White Reaper, Diane Coffee, Naked Giants
Start With: "Put The Kids To Bed," "Really Nice Guys," "All the Punks are Domesticated"
Caroline Rose
NYC's Caroline Rose just put out her debut album Loner at the end of February, and with insanely catchy choruses, clever lyrical quips, and thoughtful themes, it's been nothing but well received. I have yet to see one of Caroline Rose's show, but based on the light-hearted tone of her album, her live show will undoubtedly be a blast. Lucky for us, there's no shortage of opportunities to see her down in Austin this week. See her plentiful schedule here.
Photo Credit: Matt Hogan
For Fans Of: Liz Cooper & The Stampede, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett
Start With: "Bikini," "More of the Same," "Money"
BAUM
Currently based in LA, the NYC native Sabrina Teitelbaum has been garnering all sorts of praise over her material released as BAUM. Although her releases are limited to only three official singles, BAUM threads powerful and empowering themes through catchy pop melodies. Her debut EP will be released on 3/16 during SXSW, so make sure you catch one of her shows to hear the new tracks live. See BAUM's schedule here.
Photo By Shervin Lainez.
For Fans Of: Grace Mitchell, Ryn Weaver, VÉRITE
Start With: "This Body," "Hot Water"
The Nude Party
If any of the bands on this list fall into the don't-judge-a-band-by-their-name category, it's this band. The Nude Party spices up their rock'n'roll tunes with a hint of twang and psychedelia. During their shows, the band members feed off one another's energy so well, and their audiences quickly reciprocate the infectious energy. See where you can catch on of their rowdy shows here.
For Fans Of: Black Lips, Meatbodies, Frankie & The Witch Fingers
Start With: "Time To Go," "Life's a Joke," "Poor Boy Walking Blues"
Acid Dad
NYC rockers Acid Dad just put out their debut self-titled album on Friday, and they'll be celebrating all week in Austin, in the midst of an on-going national tour. The four piece have a distinct sound that blends psych and punk rock perfectly, and it translates incredibly well in a live setting. Check them out at SXSW at one of their plethora of live shows; information here.
For Fans Of: Honduras, No Parents, NE-HI
Start With: "Don't Get Taken," "Come Outside," "Fool's Gold"
HINDS
Another name that should be familiar if you're a regular ANCHR reader, HINDS crafts irresistibly lively and light-hearted lo-fi rock tunes with melodies that'll get lodged in your head for days. Their live show is really where it's at...the quartet from Madrid exude so much chemistry and project endless positivity and energy whenever they take the stage, making their show one you cannot miss if you're going to SXSW. Luckily, HINDS have a new album on the way, so they will be hitting the Austin pavement hard this week. See their packed schedule here.
Photo By Aaron Serrano
For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, The Big Moon, Cherry Glazerr
Start With: "Bamboo," "Garden," and "New For You"
Liza Anne
Liza Anne's incredibly candid and raw songwriting style makes her music effortlessly relatable. The Nashville singer-songwriter's third album, Fine But Dying, showcases her vulnerability in the most beautiful way, and the eleven tracks remain cohesive while also exploring different sonic pallets. Her live shows take that authenticity and amplifies it in a stunningly captivating way, so don't miss your chance to see her in Austin.
Photo By Tom McGeehan
For Fans Of: Japanese Breakfast, Tennis, Alvvays
Start With: "Small Talks," "Socks," "Paranoia"
There you have it! Again, don't forget to check out our Spotify list for even more recommendations. Also remember that these artists are all playing official showcases, but there's tons of unofficial showcases by both official and unofficial artists throughout the week. Keep your eyes on our social media for more unofficial suggestions, and make sure you check out Treehouse Records' showcase on 3/16 as well as all of the events put on by Howdy Gals here.
LIVE: HINDS Closed Out TNK Fest 2018 at Lincoln Hall
Madrid quartet HINDS was number one on our most anticipated acts of TNK Fest 2018, and they definitely did not disappoint during their show this past Sunday! They closed out the annual winter, multi-day and multi-venue festival at Lincoln Hall, following rowdy performances from openers Peel and Sløtface.
Bursting onto the stage to the sounds of “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate on the house speakers, the four piece immediately let the audience know that they were in for a light hearted and energetic performance filled with good vibes. The last time HINDS had played one of their endearing and energetic shows in Chicago was back in May of last year, where they packed The Empty Bottle for a free Red Bull sponsored show. The Lincoln Hall audience welcomed HINDS back to town with open arms; eagerly soaking up their irresistible and lively lo-fi rock tunes.
The band kicked off the evening with one of their most popular tracks, “Garden,” from the 2016 album Leave Me Alone, and the set that followed kept the audience engaged and enthralled from start to finish. Between playing even more crowd favorites from the same album, like “Castigadas En El Granero” and “Chili Town,” Carlotta Cosials talked about how Chicago almost felt like a second home to them, even though they came a long way from Madrid to play a small run of North American tour dates. In addition to the handful of shows HINDS have played in town, they also played an entire tour with Chicago’s Twin Peaks, and of course, Twin Peaks showed up to support their former tour mates and now friends for their show at Lincoln Hall.
The band also talked about some exciting news they had just shared earlier in the week; a new album and another expansive tour in the Spring. Accompanying the news of the album, I Don’t Run, HINDS released lead single “New For You,” which they played amongst their other setlist staples. After delivering nearly an hour of their catchy tunes at a non-stop pace, HINDS left the stage briefly, only to return for an encore that kicked off with a surprise. Twin Peaks members Clay Frankel and Colin Croom took the stage to give HINDS a hand with a cover of “Sweet Thing” from Twin Peaks’ Wild Onion LP, giving HINDS’ show in Chicago a special hometown touch.
If you missed out on this performance at Lincoln Hall, don’t sweat too much...HINDS will be back at the same venue during their upcoming tour! Grab tickets to their May 15th show here, and check out the rest of their tour dates right here.
Photo gallery of Sløtface, Peel, and HINDS by Catalina Florea
While you wait for HINDS to come play in a city near you, listen to "New For You" below, and pre-order I Don't Run here.
TNK Fest 2018: Five Must See Acts
Ahh, it's January in Chicago, which means snow and sub-zero temperatures. On the bright side, it also means it's time for Tomorrow Never Knows Fest, the annual multi-venue, 5-day, indoor (thank god) festival. Last year we wrote about our five most anticipated bands playing the festival, but we also discovered some new favorites, like Dream Version, Overcoats, and Acid Dad. While we're excited for pretty much all of the bands playing this year, and looking forward to even discovering some new favorites, here are our top five most anticipated acts of TNK Fest 2018.
HINDS
This Madrid quartet consisting of Carlotta Cosials, Ana García Perrote, Ade Martín, and Amber Grimberge crafts irresistibly lively and light-hearted lo-fi rock tunes with melodies that'll get lodged in your head for days, but their live show is where it's at. The four piece exude crazy chemistry and project so much positivity and energy whenever they take the stage, making their set at TNK 2018 one you absolutely cannot miss. Although they're based in Spain, 2017 saw HINDS over in The States quite a bit, performing at Coachella, and co-headlining a tour with Chicago's Twin Peaks. It's been a minute since they headlined a packed Empty Bottle here in the city back in May, though, so make sure you snag a ticket to welcome them back to Chicago.
When/Where: Lincoln Hall //January 21st, 9PM. Grab tickets here.
Start With: "Bamboo," "Garden," and "Warts"
ANCHR Recommended Local Bands Playing The Show: PEEL
For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, The Big Moon, Cherry Glazerr
Photo By Aaron Serrano
Ron Gallo
Speaking of incredible stage presence, the Nashville-via-Philly singer songwriter Ron Gallo puts on an unforgettable show. 2017 was quite the year for Gallo, which saw the release of his debut solo album, Heavy Meta, following Gallo's time with his band Toy Soldiers. Heavy Meta sees Gallo exploring serious subjects in a quirky and blunt way, wrapped up in raw and rowdy rock tunes. Gallo toured heavily last year as well, not only touring Europe and The States, but appearing heavily on the festival circuit; playing Lollapalooza, Shaky Knees, Lou Fest and more! This year he's already been booked for Coachella and Hangout, but help him kick things off by grabbing tickets to see him with Diane Coffee at TNK Fest! You can get ready for the show by re-visiting our interview with Ron Gallo here.
When/Where: Lincoln Hall //January 19th, 9PM. Grab tickets here.
Start With: "Young Lady, You're Scaring Me," "Put The Kids to Bed," and "All the Punks are Domesticated"
ANCHR Recommended Local Bands Playing The Show: Yoko and the Oh No's
For Fans Of: Cage The Elephant, The Districts, Naked Giants
Photo by Rachel Zyzda
Snail Mail
The brainchild of the Maryland musical prodigy Lindsey Jordan, Snail Mail brings honest alternative rock narratives that deserve your full attention. Following her 2015 and 2016 EPs, Sticki and Habit, Jordan toured extensively with the likes of Waxahatchee and Beach Fossils in 2017. This year is already filling up quickly for her, with Snail Mail being booked for Coachella and national tour dates announced through April. Help Snail Mail also kick off a sure-to-be successful year by coming to her show at Schubas Tavern, which features a stacked lineup of fellow badass bands and artists, including Stef Chura and Ratboys.
When/Where: Schubas Tavern //January 19th, 8PM. The show is sold out, but you can grab TNK 5-day passes here.
Start With: "Thinning," "Habit," and "Slug"
ANCHR Recommended Local Bands Playing The Show: Bunny
For Fans Of: Priests, Japanese Breakfast, Beach Fossils
Photo By Audrey Melton
Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Nashville based trio Liz Cooper & The Stampede blend multiple genres together to create a recognizable yet refreshing sound. The nomadic and multi-talented Liz Cooper fronts the group, and the trio's folk rock melodies mesh perfectly with Cooper's soulful and raspy vocals. The group has caught the eye of many lately; recording Audiotree sessions and performing at their annual festival last year, as well as making an appearance at the massive ACL Festival in 2017. The three piece will perform at Lincoln Hall with Rayland Baxter, and you can get ready for the show by re-visiting our interview with Liz Cooper & The Stampede here.
When/Where: Lincoln Hall //January 20th, 9PM. Grab tickets here.
Start With: "Mountain Man," "Hey Man," and "Dalai Lama"
For Fans Of: Desert Noises, Big Thief, Julien Baker
Photo by Rachel Zyzda
Okey Dokey
Also from Nashville, the duo of Aaron Martin and Johny Fisher (guitarist for The Weeks) blend retro and soulful tones into psychedelic rock tunes that completely capture their listeners with the stories told in each song. Okey Dokey's show at TNK fest marks nearly a year since the release of their debut album, Love You, Mean It, which brought on an incredible year for them in 2017. Their show at Schubas will undoubtedly showcase their fun and dynamic spirit, and the lineup also includes former Chicagoan Cut Worms and Sonny Smith, so don't miss it!
When/Where: Schubas Tavern //January 18th, 8PM. Grab tickets here.
Start With: "Wavy Gravy," "Coffee Boi," and "Low Rent/ Blue Skies"
ANCHR Recommended Local Bands Playing The Show: Cafe Racer
For Fans Of: Mt. Joy, Omni, Hoops
Photo Courtesy of Okey Dokey