Sat, 03/07/2009 - 12:13 am

The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival -- to be held in Chicago's Union Park Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19 -- is announcing the first round of band's to perform at this years festival, as well as a new series that will include Friday's performances. On Friday, the festival welcomes Yo La Tengo, The Jesus Lizard (first show in Chicago in eleven years!), Tortoise and Built to Spill; Saturday will see performances by The National, Pharoahe Monch, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, while Sunday’s event includes Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen and Vivian Girls!

In years past, Friday night has been presented in conjunction with All Tomorrow’s Parties and their “Don’t Look Back” series, which is devoted to artists playing one seminal album from their back catalogue in its entirety. In 2008, Mission of Burma performed Vs., Sebadoh played Bubble & Scrape, and Public Enemy performed It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. 2007 saw Slint performing Spiderland, Gza/Genius performing Liquid Swords, and Sonic Youth performing Daydream Nation.

This year, the Pitchfork Music Festival is mixing things up a bit and putting the set lists in the hands of the fans, under a new series titled “Write the Night: Set Lists By Request.” When someone buys a ticket they will receive a confirmation email that will include a link to a web page where they can vote on which of each band’s songs they’d like to hear during their set – and truly be the ones to “Write the Night.” Voting will begin on March 13 (when tickets go on sale) and will end on June 12.


To recap the 2009 line-up so far:

Friday - "Write the Night: Set Lists by Request"
Built to Spill
The Jesus Lizard
Yo La Tengo
Tortoise

Saturday
The National
Pharoahe Monch
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Sunday
Grizzly Bear
The Walkmen
Vivian Girls

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

This year marks the fourth anniversary of the Pitchfork Music Festival – and the fifth time Pitchfork has presented a music festival in Union Park. The three-day event will once again showcase a wide range of global artists on three stages, with a focus on forward thinking programming at a reasonable price. Beginning with the music and continuing through all facets of its production, the Pitchfork Music Festival is dedicated to providing both attendees and musicians an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable, and fun experience. In years past the Pitchfork Music Festival has proven to be the best event to see indie stars in key, ascendant points in their careers, as well as a wide range of established and widely loved artists that appeal to a diverse audience.

An independently run, consistently sold-out festival, Pitchfork attracts more than 45,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. With over 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the Pitchfork Music Festival offers attendees a wide range of activities on top of its stellar musical program. Additionally, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

Pitchfork Media is the premier destination for music criticism, news, features, and audio/video content. With more than 1.9 million unique readers per month and over 20 million page views, Pitchfork has earned one of the internet’s most loyal followings and a reputation as the music world’s primary tastemaker.

Tickets for the 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival go on sale Friday, March 13. More bands will be announced in the coming weeks and further information can be found at http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 6:11 am

The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival, to be held July 17 - 19 at Chicago's Union Park, is right around the corner. As the diverse ingredients of the lineup congeal, there are a few changes to be made. Black Lips are now playing on Saturday and Michael Columbia are playing on Sunday. Charles Hamilton has unfortunately cancelled his performance, however we are very excited to announce that Antlers is now added to the bill! See below for the full lineup.

In addition to the various acts which make this the city's most forward-thinking and adventurous lineup, there are all sorts of entertaining activities to take part in throughout the weekend proving the Pitchfork Music Festival is one of the most fiercely independent events of the summer. Below are just a few of the reasons the Pitchfork Music Festival is not just a great place to enjoy the best in music, but the best in community and artistic endeavors. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES

-- CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights
The Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) Record Fair & Other Delights is a can’t-miss event for music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts from around the country.  Bringing you the best selection of vinyl and CDs to be found under one tent, vendors offer everything from rock and pop to psychedelia and folk, soul and jazz to country and international, house and hip-hop to rockabilly and R&B, and even more! The fair benefits the Chicago Independent Radio Project, an organization committed to bringing a brand new community radio station to Chicago.

-- Coterie
At Coterie Chicago, you will find handmade goods created by a skilled artisan workforce committed to providing cutting-edge art, style, and accessories that enhance your life. Buying directly from the maker creates a heightened sense of community, and now, more than ever, buying products from local artists and makers puts you at the forefront of real, lasting economic and creative stimulus.

-- FLATSTOCK presented by API
The FLATSTOCK poster show series, presented by the American Poster Institute (API), is an ongoing series of exhibitions featuring the work of many of the most popular concert poster artists working today.  The FLATSTOCK shows provide the public with opportunities to see fine poster art in person and to meet the artists who've created it, while showcasing the breadth of individual styles they represent.  Since beginning in 2003, Flatstock has presented 20 events in the U.S. and Europe and has become the epicenter of the current phenomenon in handmade poster art.

-- Festival Retail
The retail area features over fifteen individual retail vendors including Chicago local's Futurgarb, Crossroads Trading Co., and The Alley.  The stores include local artwork, clothing apparel, and accessories, ranging from hand-made to consignment.  

-- Rock for Kids
Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free music instruction to underprivileged children in the Chicago area.The Rock For Kids booth features a variety of ways for concert goers to learn more about Rock For Kids and support their mission, including an auction of unique items from your favorite Pitchfork artists.

"WRITE THE NIGHT" VOTING REMINDER

Remember ticket buyers can go online and "Write the Night" by voting for the set list of their dreams for the bands performing on Friday night, Built to Spill, The Flaming Lips, the Jesus Lizard, Tortoise and Yo La Tengo, as well as selected requests for The Flaming Lips on Sunday. The ballot boxes are open until June 12th. Don't forget to vote! Dreams can come true!

If you have yet to purchase tickets, two-day and one-day passes are still available at: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com, but don't delay, as three-day passes sold out in record time this year, and two-day and Sunday tickets are expected to sell out by the middle of next week!


2009 Pitchfork Music Festival - The Complete Lineup!

Friday - "Write the Night: Set Lists by Request"
Built to Spill
The Jesus Lizard
Yo La Tengo
Tortoise

Saturday
The National
Beirut
DOOM
Yeasayer
Final Fantasy
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Fucked Up
Plants and Animals
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Black Lips
Matt and Kim
Lindstrøm
Wavves
Ponytail
Bowerbirds
Antlers
The Duchess and The Duke
Disappears

Sunday
The Flaming Lips
Grizzly Bear
M83
The Walkmen
The Thermals
Pharoahe Monch
Blitzen Trapper
Frightened Rabbit
The Mae Shi
The Very Best
Mew
Vivian Girls
Japandroids
DJ/Rupture
Women
Killer Whales
Dianogah
Michael Columbia

***********************************

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

This year marks the fourth anniversary of the Pitchfork Music Festival -- and the fifth time Pitchfork has presented a music festival in Union Park. The three-day event will once again showcase a wide range of global artists on three stages, with a focus on forward thinking programming at a reasonable price. Beginning with the music and continuing through all facets of its production, the Pitchfork Music Festival is dedicated to providing both attendees and musicians an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable, and fun experience. In years past the Pitchfork Music Festival has proven to be the best event to see indie stars in key, ascendant points in their careers, as well as a wide range of established and widely loved artists that appeal to a diverse audience.

An independently run, consistently sold-out festival, Pitchfork attracts more than 45,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. With over 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the Pitchfork Music Festival offers attendees a wide range of activities on top of its stellar musical program. Additionally, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.
Sat, 06/20/2009 - 2:45 am

The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival, to be held July 17th - 19th in Chicago's Union Park, is closing in, and the schedule is now officially set! Plans can be made, airline tickets bought, and squeaky bicycle wheels greased.  Also, Sunday tickets are now sold out! There is still a limited quantity of Friday and Saturday tickets available, and they can be purchased here.

Pitchfork Music Festival 2009 Schedule

FRIDAY, JULY 17
8:40 (A)  Built to Spill
7:20 (C)  The Jesus Lizard
6:10 (A)  Yo La Tengo
5:00 (C)  Tortoise

SATURDAY, JULY 18
8:40 (A)  The National
8:30 (B)  The Black Lips
7:30 (B)  Matt and Kim
7:25 (C)  Beirut
6:30 (B)  Lindstrøm
6:15 (A)  Doom
5:30 (B)  Wavves
5:15 (C)  Yeasayer
4:30 (B)  Ponytail
4:15 (A)  Final Fantasy
3:35 (B)  Bowerbirds
3:20 (C)  The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
2:40 (B)  The Antlers
2:30 (A)  Fucked Up
1:45 (C)  Plants and Animals
1:45 (B)  The Dutchess & The Duke
1:00 (A)  Cymbals Eat Guitars
1:00 (B)  Disappears

SUNDAY, JULY 19
8:40 (A)  The Flaming Lips
8:30 (B)  The Very Best
7:30 (B)  Mew
7:25 (C)  Grizzly Bear
6:30 (B)  Vivian Girls
6:15 (A)  M83
5:30 (B)  Japandroids
5:15 (C)  The Walkmen
4:30 (B)  DJ/Rupture
4:15 (A)  The Thermals
3:35 (B)  Women
3:20 (C)  Pharoahe Monch
2:40 (B)  The Killer Whales
2:30 (A)  Blitzen Trapper
1:45 (C)  Frightened Rabbit
1:45 (B)  Dianogah
1:00 (A)  The Mae Shi
1:00 (B)  Michael Columbia

A=Aluminum Stage, B=Balance Stage, C=Connector Stage

******************************

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

This year marks the fourth anniversary of the Pitchfork Music Festival -- and the fifth time Pitchfork has presented a music festival in Union Park. The three-day event will once again showcase a wide range of global artists on three stages, with a focus on forward thinking programming at a reasonable price. Beginning with the music and continuing through all facets of its production, the Pitchfork Music Festival is dedicated to providing both attendees and musicians an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable, and fun experience. In years past the Pitchfork Music Festival has proven to be the best event to see indie stars in key, ascendant points in their careers, as well as a wide range of established and widely loved artists that appeal to a diverse audience.
 
 
An independently run, consistently sold-out festival, Pitchfork attracts more than 45,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. With over 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the Pitchfork Music Festival offers attendees a wide range of activities on top of its stellar musical program. Additionally, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.
 
 
Pitchfork Media is the premier destination for music criticism, news, features, and audio/video content. With more than 1.9 million unique readers per month and over 20 million page views, Pitchfork has earned one of the internet’s most loyal followings and a reputation as the music world’s primary tastemaker.
 
 
Tickets for the 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival are on sale now. Further information can be found at http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.
Mon, 04/12/2010 - 5:46 pm

The Tallest Man On Earth, Delorean, Surfer Blood, Washed Out, Best Coast, Sharon Van Etten, jj and Netherfriends also added to bill.

As spring rears its welcome head, we get closer and closer to the Pitchfork Music Festival.  With its reasonable ticket prices, comfortable and positive environment in the heart of Chicago, and combination of already internationally acclaimed acts and innovative up-and-comers, the Pitchfork Music Festival, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, is one of the best music festivals around.

This year’s festival, happening Friday, July 16 – Sunday, July 18 in Chicago’s Union Park, features a huge range of already announced acts including Pavement, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Panda Bear, Broken Social Scene, St. Vincent, El-P, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Raekwon, Girls, Titus Andronicus, Bear in Heaven, Sleigh Bells, Freddie Gibbs and many more. We are pleased to announce another exceptional round of acts to the already jaw-dropping line-up, further making this year’s event the best Pitchfork Music Festival yet. New additions to Friday include the classic pop of Sweden’s Robyn and the return of art-rockers Liars, as well as The Tallest Man on Earth and Sharon Van Etten, while Saturday sees the additions of Wolf Parade, Barcelona-based Delorean, and the hazy summer vibes of Real Estate, as well as Free Energy, jj, WHY?, Kurt Vile, and Netherfriends. Sunday will now also feature Big Boi, party-starting dancehall revivalists Major Lazer, and Beach House, Neon Indian, Surfer Blood, Local Natives, Washed Out and Best Coast.

Single-day tickets can be purchased for $40 for all three days of the festival at www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com. As previously reported, three-day passes sold out in record time and are no longer available. This year, Friday will feature more bands for festival-goers to enjoy than in year’s past. Don’t delay on purchasing tickets for all three days, as they are sure to go very quickly.

The 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival Line-up:

Friday

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Robyn **

Liars **

El-P

The Tallest Man on Earth **

Sharon Van Etten **

--

Saturday

LCD Soundsystem

Panda Bear

Wolf Parade **

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Raekwon

Titus Andronicus

WHY? **

Delorean **

Real Estate **

Bear In Heaven

Free Energy **

The Smith Westerns

Dâm-Funk

Kurt Vile **

Freddie Gibbs

jj **

Netherfriends **

 --

Sunday

Pavement

Big Boi **

Major Lazer **

St. Vincent

Lightning Bolt

Beach House **

Girls

Sleigh Bells

Neon Indian **

Cass McCombs

Here We Go Magic

Surfer Blood **

Local Natives **

Washed Out **

Best Coast **

Cave

Allá

** new additions

--

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

The Pitchfork Music Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year at Union Park in Chicago. The three-day event will once again showcase a variety of cutting-edge, global performers on three stages in one of the most comfortable and positive festival environments in the country, all brought to fans at a fraction of the price of any other nationally renowned music festival. In previous years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has provided a diverse audience the opportunity to see performances by some of the world’s most innovative and flourishing young acts, often acting as a barometer for what will be popular in the coming years, while also presenting a wide range of internationally renowned and beloved acts.

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

Pitchfork Media is the premier destination for music criticism, news, features, and audio/video content. With more than 2 million unique readers per month and over 25 million page views, Pitchfork has earned one of the internet’s most loyal followings and a reputation as the music world’s primary tastemaker.

Fri, 05/21/2010 - 10:12 pm

The 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival, celebrating its 5th Anniversary, is being held July 16 – July 18 at Chicago’s Union Park, and this year is primed to be the best ever.  The festival is proud to announce the addition of the Jonathan Richman-inspired, summery pop of Sonny & The Sunsets, set to fill the spot left vacant by the unfortunate cancellation of jj.

Also, those who have not purchased their tickets yet should do so, as Sunday tickets are almost gone. To miss Pavement’s lone announced Chicago appearance could be a mistake that could haunt one for the rest of their days. Purchase single-day tickets.

Those who have attended PMF in previous years can attest that the festival is never JUST about the music. Apart from being one of the most affordable and green-friendly festivals in the country, it also proudly acts as a showcase for some of Chicago’s best retailers and artisans.

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES:

-- CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights

The Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) Record Fair & Other Delights is a can’t-miss event for music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts from around the country.  Bringing you the best selection of vinyl and CDs to be found under one tent, vendors offer everything from rock and pop to psychedelia and folk, soul and jazz to country and international, house and hip-hop to rockabilly and R&B, and even more!

-- Coterie

At Coterie Chicago, you will find handmade goods created by a skilled artisan workforce committed to providing cutting-edge art, style, and accessories that enhance your life. Buying directly from the maker creates a heightened sense of community, and now, more than ever, buying products from local artists and makers puts you at the forefront of real, lasting economic and creative stimulus.

-- FLATSTOCK presented by API

The FLATSTOCK poster show series, presented by the American Poster Institute (API), is an ongoing series of exhibitions featuring the work of many of the most popular concert poster artists working today.  The FLATSTOCK shows provide the public with opportunities to see fine poster art in person and to meet the artists who've created it, while showcasing the breadth of individual styles they represent.  Since beginning in 2003, Flatstock has presented events in the U.S. and Europe and has become the epicenter of the current phenomenon in handmade poster art.

-- Rock for Kids

Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free music instruction to underprivileged children in the Chicago area. The Rock For Kids booth features a variety of ways for concert goers to learn more about Rock For Kids and support their mission, including an auction of unique items from your favorite Pitchfork artists.

The 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival Lineup:

Friday

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Robyn

Liars

El-P

The Tallest Man on Earth

Sharon Van Etten

Saturday

LCD Soundsystem

Panda Bear

Wolf Parade

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Raekwon

Titus Andronicus

WHY?

Delorean

Real Estate

Bear In Heaven

Free Energy

The Smith Westerns

Dâm-Funk

Kurt Vile

Freddie Gibbs

Sonny & The Sunsets **

Netherfriends

Sunday

Pavement

Big Boi

Major Lazer

St. Vincent

Lightning Bolt

Beach House

Girls

Sleigh Bells

Neon Indian

Cass McCombs

Here We Go Magic

Surfer Blood

Local Natives

Washed Out

Best Coast

Cave

Allá

** new addition

Set times will be published mid-June.

 

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

The Pitchfork Music Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year at Union Park in Chicago. The three-day event will once again showcase a variety of cutting-edge, global performers on three stages in one of the most comfortable and positive festival environments in the country, all brought to fans at a fraction of the price of any other nationally renowned music festival. In previous years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has provided a diverse audience the opportunity to see performances by some of the world’s most innovative and flourishing young acts, often acting as a barometer for what will be popular in the coming years, while also presenting a wide range of internationally renowned and beloved acts.

 

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

Mon, 06/14/2010 - 4:23 pm

Sunday single-day tickets to the Pitchfork Music Festival (PMF), held at Chicago’s Union Park on July 16-July 18, have sold out, joining three-day passes on the roll-call of extinct opportunities. Saturday looks to be next on the list, as tickets vanish with palpable urgency. Be sure to get single-day passes for the Friday and Saturday festivities before it’s too late! Tickets can be purchased here.

In addition to providing a rewarding experience to music fans, PMF takes its responsibility to the environment seriously, and we encourage our audience, musicians, and vendors to do the same.  Last year, PMF recycled 46% of waste by weight (12 tons), and this year, the goal is to break 50%. Following are some steps we’re taking to ensure that our environmental “footprint” is as small as possible.

Recycling

Managing waste is a very important part of any large gathering, and PMF has put together a comprehensive recycling program to limit what we send to the landfill.  Our recycling crew works with all of our vendors to help them recycle as much as possible, but we need YOUR help as well!!

If you come to PMF, please recycle your plastic cups and bottles, along with any cans and paper you come across.  We will have more recycling receptacles than ever this year, and your participation is greatly appreciated!

Biking, Walking, and Public Transportation

We're happy to announce an enhanced bike parking area under the Chicago Reader's biker village brought to you by Clif Bar. Free, secure bicycle parking will be available at the south end of the festival site, which will help aid less traffic congestion. We encourage you to bike, walk, or take the bus or train to and from the festival.  For folks coming from the Chicago area, please visit the following to plan your trip: www.transitchicago.com, www.pacebus.com, www.metrarail.com

If you are traveling from outside Chicago, please consider using a bus or train for your journey:  www.amtrak.com, www.greyhound.com, www.megabus.com | Thank you for being responsible in planning your trip!

Sustainable Power

All power for the festival comes from biodiesel fuel, which is cleaner than normal diesel fuel and reduces demand for foreign (or Gulf of Mexico) oil.  For more information on this energy resource, please visit www.biodiesel.org.

Carbon Offsets

The nature of an international music festival creates the need for a LOT of travel.  All the plane, train, van, and car miles that bring bands and fans from around the globe contribute significantly to the pressing problem of climate change. One way to fight this is to purchase “carbon offsets” that help fund actual projects which reduce emissions causing climate change. Individuals, companies, and other groups can buy these carbon offsets.

We’ve researched different companies that do good work in the carbon offset market. TerraPass is one of the best companies out there; you can visit their website to calculate your travel emissions, and then buy reasonably priced offsets to cover your trip.  You can also see TerraPass’s past and present projects on their website.

PMF Artist Offsets

PMF is putting our money where our mouth is: This year, we are buying carbon offsets to cover the travel of all our musicians.  Please consider purchasing your own!

The 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival Lineup:

Friday

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Robyn

Liars

El-P

The Tallest Man on Earth

Sharon Van Etten

Saturday

LCD Soundsystem

Panda Bear

Wolf Parade

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Raekwon

Titus Andronicus

WHY?

Delorean

Real Estate

Bear In Heaven

Free Energy

The Smith Westerns

Dâm-Funk

Kurt Vile

Freddie Gibbs

Sonny & The Sunsets

Netherfriends

Sunday

Pavement

Big Boi

Major Lazer

St. Vincent

Lightning Bolt

Beach House

Girls

Sleigh Bells

Neon Indian

Cass McCombs

Here We Go Magic

Surfer Blood

Local Natives

Washed Out

Best Coast

Cave

Allá

Set times will be published mid-June.

About the Pitchfork Music Festival:

The Pitchfork Music Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year at Union Park in Chicago. The three-day event will once again showcase a variety of cutting-edge, global performers on three stages in one of the most comfortable and positive festival environments in the country, all brought to fans at a fraction of the price of any other nationally renowned music festival. In previous years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has provided a diverse audience the opportunity to see performances by some of the world’s most innovative and flourishing young acts, often acting as a barometer for what will be popular in the coming years, while also presenting a wide range of internationally renowned and beloved acts.

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 11 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

Fri, 09/03/2010 - 1:13 am

MoogFest 2010 is undoubtedly throwing the biggest Halloween party of the year! With the already-amazing, previously announced weekend lineup, and now the killer additions of Cee-Lo, Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian, and Omar Souleyman to Sunday night, All Hallows’ Eve, plus Mutemath playing Friday, the festival just continues to surprise and delight.  AC Entertainment has made it very clear – Halloween in Asheville is the place to be.  And there’s more to come – new artists will be joining the lineup in the coming weeks, plus details about the workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions, and more will be announced soon.

MoogFest 2010, the extraordinary three-day festival, celebrating the innovative vision of sonic pioneer, Robert Moog, will take place Halloween weekend, October 29-31, in Asheville, NC. Tickets for MoogFest 2010 are on sale now. Weekend festival passes, along with tickets to each individual day, are available. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit moogfest.com.

 

--

MoogFest 2010 Lineup:

Friday, October 29

DEVO

MGMT

Big Boi

Girl Talk

Panda Bear

RJD2

Mutemath

Dan Deacon

Van Dyke Parks

Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible

Saturn Never Sleeps (Featuring King Britt & Rucyl)

The Octopus Project

Kuroma

Clare & The Reasons

Saturday, October 30

Massive Attack

Thievery Corporation

Jonsi

Disco Biscuits

Caribou

Four Tet

Matmos

Dâm-Funk

School of Seven Bells

Jon Hopkins

Emeralds

Mountain Man

Ikonika

Sunday, October 31

Cee-Lo

Pretty Lights

Hot Chip

Sleigh Bells

El-P

Neon Indian

Omar Souleyman

Mimosa

Two Fresh

DJ Spooky

About Moog Music:

Asheville is the headquarters of Moog Music, the company Bob Moog formed in 1963.  Moog’s push for continual innovation permeates the company’s culture to this day.  In 2008, they produced the groundbreaking Moog Guitar and more projects are currently in development.  2010 marks a landmark in the company’s history as the 40th anniversary of the MiniMoog, one of the most popular of the Moog synthesizers, which will certainly be a focus of the MoogFest 2010 weekend.

Wed, 09/08/2010 - 9:08 pm

The Moog Innovation Award celebrates pioneering artists whose genre-defying work exemplifies the bold, innovative spirit of Bob Moog. Moog Music would like to congratulate DEVO on being the 2010 recipient of The Moog Innovation Award, to be presented to the band during MoogFest 2010 weekend, October 29-31 in Asheville, NC. As part of this award, Moog Music will present DEVO with a very special synthesizer, details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks. Past recipients of the previously titled Moog Award include Keith Emerson, Herb Deutsch, Gershon Kingsley, Jan Hammer and Bernie Worrell.

“MoogFest is about shunning limitations, opening your mind and rejoicing in what’s next. MoogFest is about celebrating the marriage of technology and art, fearlessly embracing the future while respecting the genre-definers of the past. That’s why we created the Moog Innovation Award, to celebrate artists that helped to catapult pop music into the future and commemorate those artists that boldly burst through established norms to pave the way forward. That’s the spirit of Bob Moog and that’s the essence of the Moog Innovation Award.

The first recipient of the Moog Innovation Award is DEVO and we feel that they are a perfect representation of innovative sound-sculpting and genre-defying electronic music. Like Bob Moog, DEVO enthusiastically charted their own course and thus dramatically affected pop culture because of it. Not to mention the fact that they used Moog instruments to create their inimitable sound. MoogFest and the Moog Innovation Award is the perfect way to pay homage to Bob Moog and his adopted hometown of Asheville, NC where he raised his kids, gave birth to some of his greatest inventions and where he re-established the company that bears his name and carries on his legacy, Moog Music.”   – Emmy Parker, Moog Music

DEVO, along with many more internationally renowned performers known for pushing creativity towards new dimensions, will play MoogFest 2010, a three-day festival celebrating the innovative vision of Bob Moog. MoogFest 2010 tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit moogfest.com.

MoogFest 2010 Lineup:

Friday, October 29

DEVO

MGMT

Big Boi

Girl Talk

Panda Bear

RJD2

Mutemath

Dan Deacon

Van Dyke Parks

Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible

Saturn Never Sleeps (Featuring King Britt & Rucyl)

The Octopus Project

Kuroma

Clare & The Reasons

Saturday, October 30

Massive Attack

Thievery Corporation

Jonsi

Disco Biscuits

Caribou

Four Tet

Matmos

Dâm-Funk

School of Seven Bells

Jon Hopkins

Emeralds

Mountain Man

Ikonika

Sunday, October 31

Cee Lo Green

Pretty Lights

Hot Chip

Sleigh Bells

El-P

Neon Indian

Omar Souleyman

Mimosa

Two Fresh

DJ Spooky

For more information about Moog Music and its founder, Bob Moog, visit moogmusic.com.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 12:46 am

The countdown to MoogFest 2010, the extraordinary three-day festival that celebrates the innovative spirit of sonic pioneer Robert Moog, during Halloween weekend, Oct. 29 – 31 in downtown Asheville, NC, is officially underway! With just under three weeks to go, it’s time to start preparing your costumes! Extra treats for Moog-inspired disguises. As the, ahem, Moog-ster Mash draws near, AC Entertainment has rounded out the ultimate lineup, including many special late night performances to be held at Club 828 and the Moogaplex. It’s going to be a scream!

Friday’s MoogFest additions include Javelin, Star Mountain, Lorn and Paper Tiger, plus the MoogFest exclusive, Dan Deacon’s Ambient Analog Moog Set. Saturday welcomes Alex B, The Volt Per Octaves w/ Special Guest Bernie Worrell, Nosaj Thing, Projek Moog w/ Brian Kehew, Pnuma Trio, Strut & Friends Perform “Check Your Head”, RBTS Win, Virtual Boy and DJ Bowie. And Sunday will now feature Dark Party, Shout Out Out Out Out, Headtronics, MartyParty, Mindelixir, THUMP, Dâm-Funk DJ Set, Gramatik and Michael Menart.

In addition to the Red Bull Music Academy Moog Workshops and Panels, MoogFest has announced the addition of a fine arts component to the festival weekend. SYNTH: A Group Art Show Inspired by Bob Moog is a showcase of hand made limited-edition prints inspired by Bob Moog’s legacy. Confirmed artists and more information can be found here.

MoogFest 2010 tickets are on sale now. To purchase weekend passes or single day tickets and for more information about the festival, click here. To see the weekend schedule visit here.

MoogFest supports the Bob Moog Foundation. We encourage you to do the same! For more information about Moog Music and its founder, Bob Moog, visit moogmusic.com.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 1:07 am

The 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will take place on Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17th! The three-day music festival returns to Chicago’s Union Park to celebrate cutting-edge music from around the world on three stages, giving festival-goers one of the most inviting, reasonably priced, and unexpected weekends of music under the sun.

The Pitchfork Music Festival has brought the likes of Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Bon Iver, Animal Collective, Girl Talk, Sleigh Bells, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, Beach House, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, St. Vincent, Best Coast, Titus Andronicus, and more, just as those bands were beginning to tickle the consciousness of the nation. The mix of many of these flourishing performers with internationally renowned and beloved acts such as Pavement, The Flaming Lips, Public Enemy, Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, The Jesus Lizard, Yoko Ono, Os Mutantes, and Built To Spill, just to name a few, make the Pitchfork Music Festival one of the most well-curated and focused festivals in the country.

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 26 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

Tickets for the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival go on sale Friday, March 4, with single-day tickets for $45 and three-day passes for $110! If last year was any indicator, three-day passes will sell out in under a week (last year they sold out in FIVE DAYS!), so be sure to get your tickets ASAP! Tickets will be available on the festival website.

Sat, 03/05/2011 - 12:28 am

As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th! Tickets will officially be on sale today at 12 PM CST, with single-day tickets for $45 and three-day passes for $110! If last year was any indicator, three-day passes will sell out in under a week (last year they sold out in FIVE DAYS!), so be sure to get your tickets ASAP! Tickets will be available on the festival website.

In keeping with the high standard of booking and organizing one of the most innovative and refreshingly left-field festivals around, we are pleased to announce the first flock of bands confirmed to perform at this year’s festival! Friday will see the return of Animal Collective, as well as first-timers James Blake, Das Racist, and Curren$y. Saturday’s lineup begins to take form with newcomers Woods, Sun Airway, Kylesa and Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, as well as returning performers Fleet Foxes and the triumphantly reformed Dismemberment Plan. Sunday’s bill will include TV on the Radio, Cut Copy, Deerhunter, Destroyer, OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All), and Yuck. More performers will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival.

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 26 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011 LINEUP SO FAR:

FRIDAY

Animal Collective

James Blake

Das Racist

Curren$y

SATURDAY

Fleet Foxes

The Dismemberment Plan

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Woods

Sun Airway

Kylesa

SUNDAY

TV on the Radio

Cut Copy

Deerhunter

Destroyer

OFWGKTA

Yuck

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 11:26 pm

As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th at Chicago's Union Park! Tickets went on sale on March 4th, and, as predicted, three-day passes sold out in a record time of 24 hours! That said, eager prospective festival goers should fear not, as single-day passes are still available for the totally reasonable price of $45. Tickets can be purchased here.

And now, without further ado, the newest additions to the 2011 Pitchfork Festival lineup! Friday will see the addition of Guided By Voices and Neko Case; Saturday’s lineup will feature No Age, Gang Gang Dance, G-Side, and Chrissy Murderbot; Sunday’s stellar lineup now includes The Fresh & Onlys, Radio Dept., HEALTH, Shabazz Palaces, Baths, How To Dress Well, Kurt Vile, and Twin Sister. Stay tuned for more bands still to be announced in the coming weeks!

An independently run, consistently sold-out event, the Pitchfork Music Festival attracts 50,000 fans of all ages from 45 states and 26 countries. In addition to presenting an outstanding musical line-up at a reasonable price, the festival also offers a vast array of other activities for attendees to enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and the local economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.

THE 2011 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL SO FAR:

FRIDAY

Animal Collective

Neko Case*

Guided By Voices*

James Blake

Das Racist

Curren$y

SATURDAY

Fleet Foxes

The Dismemberment Plan

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

No Age*

Gang Gang Dance*

G-Side*

Woods

Sun Airway

Kylesa

Chrissy Murderbot*

SUNDAY

TV on the Radio

Cut Copy

Deerhunter

Destroyer

OFWGKTA

HEALTH*

Kurt Vile*

Yuck

The Fresh & Onlys*

Radio Dept.*

Baths*

Shabazz Palaces*

Twin Sister*

How To Dress Well*

* New addition

Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:06 pm

As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17 at Chicago's Union Park! Three-day passes are sold out (gone within 24 hours!), but single-day passes are still available for the totally reasonable price of $45. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Pitchfork Music Festival is stoked to round out its 2011 lineup with a slew of new acts. Friday welcomes Thurston Moore, Battles, tUnE-yArDs, Gatekeeper, and EMA. Saturday’s lineup sees the most new performers, with DJ Shadow, Zola Jesus, Twin Shadow, Toro Y Moi, Cold Cave, Wild Nothing, Julianna Barwick, and OFF! Sunday’s additions are Superchunk and Darkstar. And there we have it: The lineup for the always engaging Pitchfork Music Festival is complete. Stay tuned for more info about this year’s vendors, initiatives, and ancillary events in the weeks leading up to the festival!

THE 2011 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL!

FRIDAY

Animal Collective

Neko Case

Guided By Voices

Thurston Moore*

Battles*

James Blake

Das Racist

Curren$y

tUnE-yArDs*

Gatekeeper*

EMA*

SATURDAY

Fleet Foxes

DJ Shadow*

The Dismemberment Plan

Destroyer

No Age

Gang Gang Dance

Zola Jesus*

Twin Shadow*

Toro Y Moi*

Cold Cave*

Wild Nothing*

OFF!*

 

Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:28 pm

AC Entertainment is proud to announce the initial lineup for Moogfest 2011, the annual festival of electronic and visionary music, celebrating the innovative spirit of Bob Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer. Taking place Oct. 28 – 30, in beautiful Asheville, NC, Moogfest’s Halloween harvest of musical delights builds on the tremendous success of last year’s reinvention of the Moogfest concept in the city that Bob Moog called home.

This year’s Moogfest lineup highlights a remarkable synergy of classic electronic music pioneers, contemporary groundbreaking artists, and young upstarts who are further pushing musical boundaries. ‘70s innovators, including Tangerine Dream, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Suicide, will present rare US performances as they join a lineup that includes the Flaming Lips, Passion Pit, STS9, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, Chromeo, Battles, Umphrey’s McGee, Mayer Hawthorne & The County, M83, Holy F**k, Matthew Dear, Twin Shadow, Toro y Moi, The Naked And Famous, Tim Hecker, Anika, Austra, Causing A Tiger, and Gold Panda, with many others still to be announced.

The final Moogfest 2011 lineup will ultimately feature performances by over 60 internationally acclaimed artists in numerous venues throughout downtown, including the Asheville Civic Center Arena, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and world-renown Orange Peel Social & Pleasure Club. The festival will also host workshops, talks, interactive experiences and art exhibitions and installations.

“Last year’s reinvented Moogfest – the first to take place in Asheville - was an amazing experience – and the response from artists and fans alike was extraordinary,” says AC Entertainment founder, Ashley Capps. “We’re very excited and inspired to build upon that success for the 2011 festival.”

Weekend passes for Moogfest 2011 will go on sale on Saturday, June 4, at 12 Noon Eastern exclusively at www.moogfest.com.

Moogfest 2011 Confirmed Artists:

Flaming Lips

Passion Pit

Tangerine Dream

STS9

Ghostland Observatory

Suicide (performing their legendary first album)

Crystal Castles

Chromeo

Battles

Umphrey’s McGee

M83

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Holy F**k

Matthew Dear

Toro Y Moi

Twin Shadow

Oneohtrix Point Never

The Naked And Famous

Tim Hecker

Brandt Bauer Frick

Cant

Gold Panda

Austra

Little Dragon

Anika

Causing A Tiger

Ford & Lopatin

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 3:18 am

With three-day passes to the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival (PMF) sold out, single-day tickets are going fast. Don’t miss out on three outstanding days in Chicago’s Union Park (July 15th-17th) with the most dynamic and forward-looking lineup of any festival in the country. This year's lineup includes TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, Guided By Voices, Neko Case, Das Racist, EMA, DJ Shadow, G-Side, No Age, Superchunk, How To Dress Well, OFWGKTA, and many more! Full lineup is below and tickets can be purchased here.

In addition to providing a rewarding experience to music fans, PMF takes its responsibility to the environment seriously, and we encourage our audience, musicians, and vendors to do the same.  Last year, PMF recycled 42% of waste by weight (10 tons), and this year, the goal is to break 50%. The following are some steps we’re taking to ensure that our environmental “footprint” is as small as possible.

Recycling

Managing waste is a very important part of any large gathering, and PMF has put together a comprehensive recycling program to limit what we waste. This year, the Pitchfork Music Festival is excited to introduce a brand new organics recycling initiative, a program that will enable food vendors to send any food waste generated at the festival to composting facilities, rather than to landfill. Our recycling crew works with all of our vendors to help them recycle as much as possible, but we need YOUR help as well!!

If you come to PMF, please recycle your plastic cups and bottles, along with any cans and paper you come across.  We will have more recycling receptacles than ever this year, and your participation is greatly appreciated!

Biking, Walking, and Public Transportation

We're happy to announce an enhanced bike parking area under the Chicago Reader's Biker Villager. Free, secure bicycle parking will be available at the south end of the festival site, which will aid in reducing traffic congestion. We encourage you to bike, walk, or take the bus or train to and from the festival.  For folks coming from the Chicago area, please visit the following to plan your trip:

www.transitchicago.com, www.pacebus.com, www.metrarail.com

If you are traveling from outside Chicago, please consider using a bus or train for your journey:

www.amtrak.com, www.greyhound.com, www.megabus.com

Sustainable Power

All power for the festival comes from biodiesel fuel, which is cleaner than normal diesel fuel and reduces demand for oil.  For more information on this energy resource, please visit www.biodiesel.org. The festival will also be providing hybrid vehicles for festival and artist transport.

Carbon Offsets

The nature of an international music festival creates the need for a LOT of travel.  All the plane, train, van, and car miles that bring bands and fans from around the globe contribute significantly to the pressing problem of climate change. One way to fight this is to purchase “carbon offsets” that help fund actual projects that reduce emissions causing climate change. Individuals, companies, and other groups can buy these carbon offsets.

PMF Artist Offsets

This year, we are buying carbon offsets to cover the travel of all our musicians.  Please consider purchasing your own!

The 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival Lineup:

FRIDAY

Animal Collective

Neko Case

Guided By Voices

Thurston Moore

Battles

James Blake

Das Racist

Curren$y

tUnE-yArDs

Gatekeeper

EMA

SATURDAY

Fleet Foxes

DJ Shadow

The Dismemberment Plan

Destroyer

No Age

Gang Gang Dance

Zola Jesus

Twin Shadow

Toro Y Moi

Cold Cave

Wild Nothing

OFF!

G-Side

Woods

Sun Airway

Julianna Barwick

Chrissy Murderbot feat. MC ZULU

SUNDAY

TV on the Radio

Cut Copy

Deerhunter

Superchunk

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

OFWGKTA

HEALTH

Kurt Vile and the Violators

Yuck

The Fresh & Onlys

Radio Dept.

Baths

Kylesa

Shabazz Palaces

Twin Sister

How to Dress Well

Darkstar

Fri, 06/24/2011 - 3:00 am

Moogfest 2011, AC Entertainment’s annual festival of electronic and visionary music, celebrating the innovative spirit of Bob Moog, is expanding on the tremendous success of last year’s reinvented Moogfest concept. Moby, performing with a full band, Amon Tobin: ISAM Live, Dan Deacon, Kode9, The Antlers, Atlas Sound, Glasser, Beak> (Portishead’s Geoff Barrow), Stickmen (Tony Levin & Pat Mastelotto), Lunzproject (Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story), and Wham City Comedy Tour will now join the already exceptional 2011 lineup of electronic music pioneers, contemporary groundbreaking artists, and up & comers further pushing musical boundaries.

As previously announced, ‘70s innovators Tangerine Dream, Suicide, and Hans-Joachim Roedelius, will join the Flaming Lips, Passion Pit, STS9, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, Battles, Tim Hecker, Toro Y Moi, Matthew Dear, Holy F**k, M83, Austra, Twin Shadow, and many more, at this year’s festival. And there’s much more in the works – more concerts, as well as information regarding workshops, talks, interactive experiences, art exhibitions and installations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Moogfest 2011 takes place October 28-30 in beautiful Asheville, NC, headquarters of Moog Music, and the adopted home of Bob Moog.

Weekend passes for Moogfest 2011 are on sale now exclusively at www.moogfest.com

Moogfest 2011 Confirmed Artists:

Flaming Lips

Moby (full band) **

Passion Pit

STS9

Tangerine Dream

Crystal Castles

Umphrey’s McGee

Chromeo

Amon Tobin: ISAM Live **

Ghostland Observatory

Suicide Performing Their Legendary First Album “Suicide”

M83

Battles

Anika

Atlas Sound **

Little Dragon

The Antlers

Holy F**k

The Naked & Famous

Dan Deacon **

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Tim Hecker

Twin Shadow

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Beak> **

Matthew Dear (band)

Toro Y Moi

Kode9 **

Glasser **

Gold Panda

Brandt, Bauer, Frick

Lunzproject Feat. Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story **

Stickmen (Tony Levin & Pat Mastelotto) **

Austra

Cant

Wham City Comedy Tour **

Causing A Tiger

Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Oneohtrix Point Never

Ford & Lopatin

** New additions

 

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 7:16 pm

Only one week until this year's Pitchfork Music Festival, which takes place July 15-17 at Chicago's Union Park. With the event right around the corner, PMF would like to inform everyone of a few key components that help make the festival such a distinct event – the live festival webcast, a slew of Chicago’s favorite food vendors, plus a new addition this year, the Pitchfork Music Festival mobile app. Also, please note that Sunday tickets are officially sold out; and the final batch of tickets for Friday and Saturday have been made available. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

Pitchfork Music Festival Webcast:

If you can't make it out to Chicago at all, fear not: Pitchfork will be webcasting the whole thing live, so feel free to fest it up in the comfort of your own home (sun tan not included).

Optimus, via its production arm ONE at Optimus, is the official webcast production partner of the Pitchfork Music Festival for the fifh year running.  Optimus is a creative collaborator and partner with a passion for the festival and the independent music community, consistently capturing the essence of both in its work for the Pitchfork Music Festival.  As a valued partner in aspects of coordinating, shooting and producing live video feeds of the performances, Optimus works with the festival to enable people around the world to watch the independent music event in real time.  The production and post-production house also creates original video content to promote the festival and the brand, and will run two such pieces on the screens between bands during the festival.

Pitchfork Music Festival Mobile App:

If you are heading to the fest, then you can make use of the Pitchfork Music Festival mobile app, designed by Diacarta to help you plan out your festival experience. You can select bands from the official schedule and set alerts to let you know where you have to be and when, share your schedule and experience on Facebook and Twitter, learn more about the artists that are performing, and take a look at a map of the festival grounds. Best of all, it's free.

2011 Food Vendors:

Additionally, the PMF welcomes back the great variety and quality of food we’ve provided in year’s past, including Robinson’s Ribs, Stars of Siam, Bite Café, The Rice Table, Wishbone, Abbey Pub, Cevapcici, Bombay Station, Urb Garden, La Luce, Berghoff, Connie’s Pizza, Heineken, Chicago Diner, Whole Foods, and Temptation Ice Cream.

The full festival schedule is below. See you at Union Park!

2011 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, JULY 15 – gates at 3pm

8:30 (GREEN) Animal Collective

7:30 (BLUE) James Blake

7:20 (RED) Neko Case

6:30 (BLUE) Das Racist

6:25 (GREEN) Guided By Voices

5:30 (BLUE) Curren$y

5:30 (RED) Thurston Moore

4:35 (GREEN) Battles

4:30 (BLUE) tUnE-yArDs

3:30 (RED) EMA

3:20 (BLUE) Gatekeeper

SATURDAY, JULY 16 – gates at 12pm

8:30 (GREEN) Fleet Foxes

7:40 (BLUE) Zola Jesus

7:25 (RED) DJ Shadow

6:45 (BLUE) Twin Shadow

6:15 (GREEN) The Dismemberment Plan

5:45 (BLUE) The Radio Dept.

5:15 (RED) Destroyer

4:45 (BLUE) OFF!

4:15 (GREEN) Gang Gang Dance

3:45 (BLUE) Wild Nothing

3:20 (RED) No Age

2:50 (BLUE) G-Side

2:30 (GREEN) Cold Cave

1:55 (BLUE) Sun Airway

1:45 (RED) Woods

1:00 (BLUE) Chrissy Murderbot Feat MC ZULU

1:00 (GREEN) Julianna Barwick

SUNDAY, JULY 17 – gates at 12pm

8:30 (GREEN) TV on the Radio

7:40 (BLUE) HEALTH

7:25 (RED) Cut Copy

6:45 (BLUE) Toro Y Moi

6:15 (GREEN) Deerhunter

5:45 (BLUE) Kylesa

5:15 (RED) Superchunk

4:45 (BLUE) Baths

4:15 (GREEN) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

3:45 (BLUE) Shabazz Palaces

3:20 (RED) OFWGKTA

2:50 (BLUE) Twin Sister

2:30 (GREEN) Kurt Vile & the Violators

1:55 (BLUE) How to Dress Well

1:45 (RED) Yuck

1:00 (BLUE) Darkstar

1:00 (GREEN) The Fresh & Onlys

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 11:55 pm

Moogfest 2011 is honored to announce the exhibition of Brian Eno’s remarkable 77 Million Paintings as a part of this year’s continually expanding palette of festival offerings. This exhibition will mark the first installation of 77 Million Paintings in the United States, outside of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Previous 77 Million Paintings exhibitions throughout the world have included installations at the Venice Biennale, the Milan Triennale, and the Sydney Opera House.

Conceived by Eno as “visual music,” 77 Million Paintings is a constantly evolving sound and image-scape born from his exploration of light as an artistic medium and his interest in the aesthetic possibilities of generative software. Presented on a uniquely configured constellation of video monitors, 77 Million Paintings is a serene and beautiful work, slowly evolving and transforming in time such that no two instants are quite the same. It is art that encourages the viewer to slow down and enter a contemplative state, reflecting on the uniqueness of a passing moment that has almost certainly never existed before.

77 Million Paintings will be exhibited at the YMI Cultural Center, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of downtown Asheville. The YMI Cultural Center’s auditorium will be transformed for 77 Million Paintings, creating a thoroughly immesive experience for those attending the exhibition. Opening on October 28, the first day of Moogfest 2011, the exhibition will continue beyond the festival weekend until the end of November.

In addition to the 77 Million Paintings installation, Eno will also present one of his legendary and mind-expanding “Illustrated Talks” during the Moogfest 2011 weekend.

Artist, musician, producer, songwriter, and political activist, Brian Eno first came to international prominence in the early 1970s as a founding member of the British band, Roxy Music, bringing a playful, exciting, and innovative approach to electronics and synthesized sound to the group. Many regard his synthesizer solo on the band’s “Editions of You” as one of the visionary, cutting edge uses of the instrument’s true sound generating potential. After leaving the band, Eno went on to create an acclaimed groundbreaking series of recordings during the 1970s, including such classics as Another Green World and Music for Airports, encompassing both exploratory pop and experimental music. During this time, he also became the leading practitioner of “ambient music.” His visionary production work with other artists, including U2, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, and Coldplay has led to some of their most powerful and enduring musical creations.

Though best known for his musical endeavors, Eno’s work in the visual arts actually predates his musical career. In fact, as Eno recounts, had it not been for a chance encounter with Roxy Music’s Andy Mackay in a London Subway, he would “ . . . probably be an art teacher now.” A 1969 graduate of the Winchester School of Arts, Eno’s work with light and video paralleled his musical career in the 1980s and ‘90s, with exhibitions throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan.

Eno’s musical creativity today continues in a particularly fertile new phase. He has recently released two compelling albums on Warp Records. Small Craft on a Milk Sea, released in late 2010, was a collaboration with two young electronic players/composers, Leo Abrahams and Jon Hopkins (who appeared at Moogfest last year). Last month, he released a unique and hypnotic collaboration with poet Rick Holland, Drums Between the Bells, which explores new worlds of musical possibilities in the intersection of the human voice with electronic music.

Both the 77 Million Paintings exhibition, and the “Illustrated Talk,” will be separately ticketed events. During the Moogfest 2011 weekend of October 28 – 30, attendance at the 77 Million Paintings exhibition will be restricted to only Moogfest pass holders. VIP pass holders will be admitted free of charge, while weekend pass holders will be admitted at a specially reduced price. 77 Million Paintings will remain on exhibition in Asheville until the end of the November and will be open to the general public beginning November 2.

Details regarding Eno’s “Illustrated Talk” will be released in the coming weeks. Moogfest VIPs and weekend pass holders will be given first opportunity to purchase tickets to the talk at reduced prices for a limited period of time. Any remaining tickets will be offered to the general public afterwards.

Moogfest 2011 takes place October 28-30 in beautiful Asheville, NC, headquarters of Moog Music, and the adopted home of Bob Moog.

Weekend passes for Moogfest 2011 are on sale now exclusively at moogfest.com.

--

Moogfest 2011 Confirmed Artists:

Brian Eno (77 Million Paintings, Illustrated Talk)

The Flaming Lips

Moby (full band)

Passion Pit

STS9

Tangerine Dream

Crystal Castles

Umphrey’s McGee

Chromeo

Amon Tobin: ISAM Live

Ghostland Observatory

Suicide Performing Their Legendary First Album “Suicide”

M83

Battles

Anika

Atlas Sound

Little Dragon

The Antlers

Holy F**k

The Naked & Famous

Dan Deacon

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Tim Hecker

Twin Shadow

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Beak>

Matthew Dear (band)

Toro y Moi

Kode9

Glasser

Gold Panda

Brandt Brauer Frick

Lunzproject Feat. Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story

Stickmen (Tony Levin & Pat Mastelotto)

Austra

CANT

Wham City Comedy Tour

Causing A Tiger

Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Oneohtrix Point Never

Ford & Lopatin

Mon, 09/12/2011 - 3:18 pm

Beirut has just released their new album, The Rip Tide, on Zach Condon’s very own Pompeii Records. In support of this new album, Condon commissioned Sunset Television to create a video for album track, “Santa Fe.” A longtime fan of their work, Condon says “Sunset Television has filled a comedy void for me for the last couple years. To me it's a group of filmmakers tastefully making fun of their own craft, with references everybody else wears like a badge of honor.  I'm honored they would take me under their wing for a video.” Check out their work with the video for “Santa Fe” below.

Catch Beirut live in a town near you in the weeks to come.

BEIRUT TOUR DATES:

Mon. Sep. 12 -- Paris, France @ Olympia

Wed. Sep. 14 -- Brussels, Belgium @ AB

Fri. Sep. 16 -- London, UK @ Brixton Academy

Wed. Sep. 21 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5

Thu. Sep. 22 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5

Mon. Sep. 26 -- Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater

Wed. Sep. 28 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

Sat. Oct. 1 -- Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater - DNA

Tue. Oct. 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre

Thu. Oct. 6 – Santa Fe, NM @ Warehouse 21 Benefit

Fri. Oct. 7 -- Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Community Convention Center

Sun. Oct. 9 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

Tue. Oct. 11 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall

Tue. Oct. 25 – Richmond, VA @ The National

Thu. Oct. 27 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse

Sat. Oct. 29 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek

Fri. Nov. 4 -- Mexico City, Mexico @ Salon Vive Cuervo

Sat. Nov. 5 -- Mexico City, Mexico @ Salon Vive Cuervo

Wed. Nov. 9 -- Lexington, KY @ The Kentucky Theater

Fri. Nov. 11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts

Sun. Nov. 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

Thu, 09/22/2011 - 12:09 pm

Moogfest, the annual festival celebrating the vision of sonic pioneer Bob Moog, happening October 28-30 in Asheville, NC, is drawing near! With just five weeks to go, we have a bunch of new Moogfest-related news to share. But first, lets remind you of the excellent lineup AC Entertainment has put together for attendees this year -- The Flaming Lips, Moby, Passion Pit, STS9, Tangerine Dream, TV on the Radio, Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (DFA/LCD Soundsystem), Umphrey’s McGee, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Amon Tobin: ISAM Live, Flying Lotus, Suicide (playing their legendary first album in its entirety), Ghostland Observatory, Childish Gambino, M83, Neon Indian, St. Vincent, Beak>, Matthew Dear, Tim Hecker, Anika, Toro Y Moi, Zomby, John Maus, CANT, and Oneohtrix Point Never, are just some of the many stellar acts gathering for this year’s event. And let’s not forget Brian Eno’s extraordinary video installation, 77 Million Paintings, will be exhibited for the first time in the United States outside of the West Coast. Eno will also present his mind-expanding “Illustrated Talk.” The day-by-day breakdown is below.

Also, Moogfest 2011 is expanding in a big way.  In addition to concerts at the Asheville Civic Center Arena, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and the Orange Peel, new venues for the weekend will include the newly renovated Asheville Music Hall (formerly Stella Blue), the beautiful and intimate Diana Wortham Theatre, and news of an outdoor venue will be announced soon.

Additionally, details surrounding the fine arts component of Moogfest are ready to be shared. SYNTH: A Group Art Show Inspired by Bob Moog, is a showcase of handmade limited-edition screen prints by some of the top concert poster artists and graphic designers working today. This year’s show will also feature a special limited edition print created by The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne. All proceeds from SYNTH go to support the Bob Moog Foundation. For more information and a list of confirmed artists, visit www.moogfest.com.

Of course, there is a ton more in store – information on this year’s workshops, interactive experiences and discussion panels will be announced in the coming weeks. Additionally, this year there will be surprise daytime performances and events all over town on Saturday and Sunday.

Single day tickets are now on sale, and weekend passes are still available at www.moogfest.com. Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings and Illustrated Talk are separately ticketed events, specially priced for Moogfest attendees. Visit www.moogfest.com for more information.

Moogfest 2011 Schedule By Day

77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno – runs throughout weekend

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

Moby

TV on the Radio

Tangerine Dream

Chromeo

Flying Lotus

Little Dragon

Holy F**k

The Antlers

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Matthew Dear

Zomby

Beak>

Atlas Sound

Anika

Austra

John Maus

Lunzproject (Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Tim Story)

Araabmuzik

Mimi Goes & Ben Neill

Warm Ghost

Causing A Tiger

Grimes

Shahzad Ismaily **

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Brian Eno “Illustrated Talk”

The Flaming Lips

STS9

Crystal Castles

Amon Tobin: ISAM Live

Suicide

Battles

Dan Deacon

SBTRKT

St. Vincent

The Naked & Famous

Yacht

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Twin Shadow

Brandt Brauer Frick

Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Tim Hecker

The Stickmen

CANT

Oneohtrix Point Never

Cloudland Canyon

Wham City Comedy Tour

Moon Duo

Fine Peduncle

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30

Passion Pit

Umphrey’s McGee

M83

Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (DFA/LCD Soundsystem)

Ghostland Observatory

Childish Gambino

Neon Indian **

Beats Antique

Glasser

Toro Y Moi

EOTO

Kode9

The Drums

Gold Panda

Savoy

Emancipator **

Baths

Fareed Haque + Mathgames

Ford & Lopatin

Active Child

 

** new additions

Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:27 am

Moogfest, the annual festival celebrating the vision of sonic pioneer Bob Moog, continues to expand upon its extraordinary plans for 2011! With the weekend of October 28-30 just over three weeks away, we are excited to share all sorts of new Moogfest-related news that make this year’s event even more of a can’t miss for fall!

One of the most monumental and influential musical figures of the past century – the composer and performer Terry Riley – will be joining the Moogfest line up this year, presenting a special concert. Although he has chosen to perform mostly acoustic in recent years, Riley will present a rare concert of his legendary electronic keyboard music, including his remarkable A Rainbow In Curved Air, the visionary work which shaped and inspired the music of Pink Floyd, the Who, and countless others, including fellow Moogfest icons Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Tangerine Dream, and, of course, Brian Eno.

Riley’s son, the outstanding guitarist, performer and composer Gyan Riley, will also join him in concert. Gyan’s most recent work, Stream of Gratitude, was released on John Zorn's Tzadik label earlier this year.

Speaking of Brian Eno, Warp Records has announced the exclusive pre-release of Eno’s new EP, Panic Of Looking, at Harvest Records in Asheville during the Moogfest weekend, giving festival attendees the opportunity to pick up the new release before anyone else in the world. Eno will be attending Moogfest 2011 for the opening of his video installation, 77 Million Paintings. He will also be presenting an “Illustrated Talk” on Saturday afternoon during the festival.

With a growing fest comes a need for more venue space and so, Moogfest is moving outdoors with The Launch Pad at the Renaissance, located in the heart of downtown Asheville. Offering a large open air space in the lush atmosphere of Asheville in autumn, The Launch Pad at the Renaissance will host epic performances beginning in the late afternoon of each day and continuing into the evening

And, of course, in the next three weeks we’ll be rolling out more information on Moogfest’s panels and workshops, where your favorite artists and insiders will discuss all things Moog and electronic music. A number of this year’s performers will be participating in the panels which will take place all 3 days, including Moby, Dan Deacon, and Neon Indian, just to name a few. More details will be announced soon.

Finally, don’t forget about this year’s excellent lineup: The Flaming Lips, Moby, Passion Pit, STS9, Tangerine Dream, TV on the Radio, Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (DFA/LCD Soundsystem), Umphrey’s McGee, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Amon Tobin: ISAM Live, Flying Lotus, Suicide (playing their legendary first album in its entirety), Ghostland Observatory, Childish Gambino, M83, Neon Indian, St. Vincent, Beak>, Matthew Dear, Tim Hecker, The Field, Anika, Toro Y Moi, Zomby, John Maus, CANT, and Oneohtrix Point Never, are just some of the many exceptional acts gathering for this year’s event. The day-by-day breakdown is below.

And stay tuned for even more information…

Single day tickets are now on sale, and weekend passes are still available at www.moogfest.com. Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings and Illustrated Talk are separately ticketed events, specially priced for Moogfest attendees. Visit www.moogfest.com for more information.

Moogfest 2011 Schedule By Day

77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno – runs throughout weekend

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

Moby

TV on the Radio

Tangerine Dream

Chromeo

Flying Lotus

Little Dragon

Holy F**k

The Antlers

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Matthew Dear

Zomby

Beak>

Atlas Sound

The Field **

Anika

Austra

John Maus

Lunzproject (Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Tim Story)

Araabmuzik

Mimi Goes & Ben Neill

Warm Ghost

Causing A Tiger

Grimes

Shahzad Ismaily

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Brian Eno “Illustrated Talk”

Terry and Gyan Riley

The Flaming Lips

STS9

Crystal Castles

Amon Tobin: ISAM Live

Suicide

Battles

Dan Deacon

SBTRKT

St. Vincent

The Naked & Famous

Kode9

Yacht

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Twin Shadow

Brandt Brauer Frick

Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Tim Hecker

The Stickmen

CANT

Oneohtrix Point Never

Cloudland Canyon

Marley Carroll **

Wham City Comedy Tour

Moon Duo

Fine Peduncle

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30

Passion Pit

Umphrey’s McGee

M83

Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (DFA/LCD Soundsystem)

Ghostland Observatory

Childish Gambino

Neon Indian

Beats Antique

Glasser

Toro Y Moi

EOTO

The Drums

Gold Panda

Savoy

Emancipator

Baths

Fareed Haque + Mathgames

Ford & Lopatin

Active Child

 

** new additions

Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:16 am
Breathe Owl Breathe have always been storytellers. It only makes sense that they would spin a pair of tales that people of all ages could cherish together; stories and songs so simple and poignant in their message that adults and children alike will find moments and melodies that resonate for them.
 
A combination of art, music, and literature, The Listeners / These Train Tracks is a statement about the artist, a band, and the desire to make things that sound nice, look good, and feel real. The Listeners / These Train Tracks is close to a three-year work in progress, created almost entirely by artist/musician Micah Middaugh of Breathe Owl Breathe inside the confines of Cavern Lantern Wonder Welding in the Jordan River Valley, MI.  This is the first release from the band since joining the newly reformed RAD label, which has been releasing records, skateboards, and t-shirts since 2007, and will release The Listeners / These Train Tracks on December 6th.
 
After years of writing children's books in single editions, Micah has crafted two stories in a single canvas-covered volume that reads from the outside covers inward, ending at the center. And here, in the middle of The Listeners / These Train Tracks, slipped between a copper block printed sleeve hand cranked by Micah and book artist, Chad Pastotnik, are two new Breathe Owl Breathe songs pressed to black 70 gram 7" vinyl.  Every single cover, page, sleeve, and block was created and printed in Michigan. It's a book, it's a record, it's a wonderful piece of art to look at, listen to, and hold in your hands as often as you'd like.
Wed, 11/09/2011 - 1:36 pm

Sharon Van Etten is delighted to share news of Tramp, her stunning Jagjaguwar debut album, out February 7, and the follow up to last year’s epic (Ba Da Bing). Tramp showcases an artist in full control of her powers. With her third album, Van Etten’s words and voice are now two parts of a larger evocative whole.

The shimmering sound of Tramp both defies and illuminates the unsteadiness of a life in flux. Throughout the 14 months of scattered recording sessions, Van Etten was without a home -- crashing with friends and storing her possessions between varied locations. The only constant in Van Etten's life during this time was spent in the garage studio of The National's Aaron Dessner.

A two-year journey brought her to that point of instability. Upon the release of the intricate, understated epic, Van Etten surprised the music world with a touching embrace. Coming off the release of her spartan first effort, Because I Was In Love (Language of Stone; 2009), Van Etten created a short album of diverse songs connected by a shared goal of an expanded sound and her unmistakable voice. Since epic’s release, she has opened the Pitchfork Music Festival, played The Hollywood Bowl with Neko Case and at Radio City Music Hall with The Antlers, sung on new records for Beirut and Ed Askew, and collaborated with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Megafaun on the Songs Of The South project.

Van Etten’s Tramp contains as much striking rock as pious, minimal beauty; it can be as emotionally combative as it can sultry. Contributions from Matt Barrick (Walkmen), Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman), Zach Condon (Beirut), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), Julianna Barwick, and Dessner himself add a glowing sheen to the already substantial offering.

Van Etten will play shows with Shearwater and The War On Drugs all over North America in support of this release. A list of tour dates is below.

--

TRAMP TRACKLISTING:

01. Warsaw

02. Give Out

03. Serpents

04. Kevin’s

05. Leonard

06. In Line

07. All I Can

08. We Are Fine

09. Magic Chords

10. Ask

11. I’m Wrong

12. Joke or a Lie
---

SHARON VAN ETTEN TOUR DATES

Tue. Dec. 13 -- New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre w/ The National

Fri. Feb. 10 -- Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 11 -- Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Shearwater

Sun. Feb. 12 -- Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle w/ Shearwater

Tue. Feb. 14 -- Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center w/ Shearwater

Wed. Feb. 15 -- Newport, KY @ Southgate House w/ Shearwater

Thu. Feb. 16 -- Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/ Shearwater

Fri. Feb. 17 -- Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 18 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center w/ Shearwater

Tue. Feb. 21 -- Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace w/ Shearwater

Wed. Feb. 22 -- Montreal, QC @ Il Motore w/ Shearwater

Thu. Feb. 23 -- Boston, MA @ Paradise w/ Shearwater

Fri. Feb. 24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 25 -- New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Shearwater

Tue. March 20 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Avalon w/ The War On Drugs

Wed. March 21 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ The War On Drugs

Fri. March 23 -- Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater w/ The War On Drugs

Sat. March 24 -- Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret w/ The War On Drugs

Sun. March 25 -- Seattle, WA @ The Neptune

Tue. March 27 -- Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room w/ The War On Drugs

Mon. March 28 -- Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater w/ The War On Drugs

Sat, March 31 -- St. Louis, MO @ Luminary Center for the Arts w/ The War On Drugs

Sun. April 1 -- Bloomington, IN @ Rhino's w/ The War On Drugs

Thu, 12/01/2011 - 9:42 am

The best songs of North Carolina’s Bowerbirds have always seemed eternal. Coruscated by Beth Tacular’s bird song and Phil Moore’s environmentalist empathy, “In Our Talons” (off Bowerbirds’ Hymns for a Dark Horse) was, at its core, a quest for solidarity in a world of closing shadows. Upper Air’s “Northern Lights” painted a pained portrait of love shrouded in doubt as perfectly as Cash, Dylan or Cohen ever have. These felt like more than songs; they felt like treasures.But those recordings were made on the quick and the cheap, with nylon-stringed guitars, fiddle lines and drum patterns that became comfortable. You could imagine these songs as old stateside standards, because, really, that’s how they sounded—campfire anthems sung by a couple clinging to very deep love.The Clearing is the third album by the Bowerbirds, and as is often the case for bands that have found steady success, they had more time and better resources to make it. This is a bigger record, with bolder sounds, a broader scope, and more complicated songs. Tuck The Darkness In,” for example, surges in its final two minutes with a wall of electric guitars and drums, while other tracks feature restless vibraphones, pianos and drums. Thing is, these songs don’t cede to the increased production demands. The guitars and strings, codas and bridges simply make these thoughts more urgent, more vital and more necessary, but not one bit less permanent.The Clearing is more than a third record for the Bowerbirds. Between 2009’s Upper Air and this one, Beth nearly died after a mysterious illness that put her in the hospital. They rescued and adopted a dog that ran beneath their tour van’s tires. Beth and Phil even ended their long relationship but began it again after realizing that, despite their own shortcomings, they didn’t want to be with anyone else. Mostly, though, they returned to their cabin in the woods of North Carolina to nest—to make soup and walk dogs, to make art and write songs, to realize that this was their life and find contentment in it. For the Bowerbirds, The Clearing represents the perfect realization of a fresh, timely outlook. Here, there’s acceptance with ambition, patience with aspirations, understanding with intelligence. On The Clearing, Phil and Beth sing of the best and most important moments of their life and, in turn, create new ones.BowerbirdsThe Clearing is available on Dead Oceans starting March 6, 2012—and, subsequently, forever. See them live all over North America this spring. (Full list of dates is below.)

Thu, 12/08/2011 - 10:47 am

With over 60 shows played since the release of Slave Ambient on Secretly Canadian in August, and another 40 ahead on the calendar, The War On Drugs are proving to be one of the hardest working bands around. (If only their van could keep up!) The band’s December tour kicked off this past weekend, leading into a strong finish for 2011 – Lincoln Hall and Bowery Ballroom headlining gigs sold out and a Music Hall of Williamsburg show was announced yesterday; best of 2011 picks are rolling in from the likes of Uncut (#10), MOJO (#21), MTV (#11), American Songwriter (#24), Paste (#37), to name a few, and a slew of features have just hit the net.This momentum is certain to continue deep into 2012 as The War On Drugs begin the year with their debut performance on late night television January 10th on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and add a spring tour with White Rabbits on the way to SXSW to their previously announced jaunt with Sharon Van Etten. This all follows the release of the “Come to the City” 7-inch single on January 24 and European tour in February.As mentioned above, a bunch of excellent new War On Drugs’ tour-centric features have recently run online. Check out Pitchfork TV’s “+1” segment, which brings us back to that first show on the road following the release of Slave Ambient. Additionally, MPLS TV gives a further glimpse into the story behind the “Baby Missiles” video, and finally, SPIN.com takes us behind the scenes of The War On Drugs’ touring from 2011 with their photo tour diary feature. The captions are well worth the read!--The War On Drugs’ Tour Dates (new dates in bold)Thu. 12/08/11 – Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn'sFri. 12/09/11 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe [SOLD OUT]Sat. 12/10/11 – Ithaca, NY @ CastawaysSun. 12/11/11 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom [SOLD OUT]Mon. 12/12/11 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre #Sat. 12/17/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer $Tue. 02/14/12 - Nijmegen, NL @ DoornroosjeWed. 02/15/12 - Amsterdman, NL @ MelkwegThu. 02/16/12 - Copenhagen, DK @ VegaFri. 02/17/12 - Hamburg, DE @ MolotowSun. 02/19/12 - Berlin, DE @ Magnet ClubMon. 02/20/12 - Frankfurt, DE @ BrotfabrikTue. 02/21/12 - Paris, FR @ La MaroquinerieWed. 02/22/12 - Antwerp, BE @ TrixThu. 02/23/12 - Liverpool, UK @ The KazimierFri. 02/24/12 - Dublin, IE @ Whelan’sSun. 02/26/12 - Glasgow, UK @ StereoMon. 02/26/12 - Manchester, UK @ Sound ControlTue. 02/28/12 - London, UK @ Electric BallroomWed. 02/29/12 - Brighton, UK @ Concord 2Thu. 03/01/12 - Bristol, UK @ TheklaThu. 03/08/12  - Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre ^Fri. 03/09/12 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre ^Sun. 03/11/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse ^Mon. 03/12/12 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree ^Tue. 03/13/12 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^ Wed. 03/14/12 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds ^Tue. 03/20/12 - Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon *Wed. 03/21/12 - San Francisco, CA @ Independent *Fri. 03/23/12 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin *Sat. 03/24/12 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore *Tue. 03/27/12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room *Wed. 03/28/12 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird *Sat. 03/31/12 - St. Louis, MO @ Luminary Center for the Arts *Sun. 04/01/12 – Bloomington, IN @ Rhino's *Fri. 04/06/12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of WilliamsburgSat. 04/21/12 – Harrisonburg, VA @ Rocktown Beer and Music Festival# with The National$ with Sun Airway^ with White Rabbits* with Sharon Van Etten

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 11:55 am

Over the course of ten albums, not to mention an avalanche of side projects, remixes and collaborations, Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma of Mouse On Mars established themselves as two of the most inventive and unpredictable artists in electronic music. However, since they delivered the bracing, angular salvo that was Varcharz back in 2006, there has been an uncharacteristic period of silence.In 2012, that silence is broken. Mouse on Mars’ triumphant return comes in the shape of Parastrophics, a life-affirming and constantly surprising album which is crammed with ideas, exuberance and sheer kinetic energy. It's like listening to the entire history of pop music - distilled, refined and crystallized into a string of compulsive new shapes, full of glitter, intrigue and addictive detail. Atomized fragments from two lifetimes of listening flare and fade, tiny scraps of memory shrapnel hover, tantalizing and insubstantial, before being whisked away by the next impatient idea.Despite all that restless curiosity, Parastrophics also demonstrates a peerless command of pace. Whereas some previous Mouse On Mars’ releases have bordered on the frenetic, their latest displays a subtle but persuasive sense of control. Even when tempos climb, 303s squirm and kick / snare patterns snap to brisk attention, there's an elegance to the way that each element slips in and out of the mix which speaks of maturity. Parastrophics is as a playful as ever, but it's never throwaway. The closing track “Seaqz“ is the perfect illustration, a frenetic romp which is perfectly held in check by gracefully undulating melodies; it brings into focus the beguiling sense of confidence that suffuses the whole record. All of which is a roundabout way of saying that, after six years away, Mouse On Mars have come back with their best record yet.Mouse on Mars’ Parastrophics is out February 28, 2012 on Monkeytown Records.--Parastrophics Tracklisting:01. the beach stop 02. chordblocker, cinnamon toasted 03. metrotopy 04. wienuss 05. they know your name 06. syncropticians 07. cricket 08. imatch 09. polaroyced 10. gearknot cherry 11. bruised to imwimper 12. baku hipster13. seaqz

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 9:07 am

This Saturday, January 21st on PBS Stations across the nation, Austin City Limits presents an extraordinary performance by Joanna Newsom! By which we mean an everyday, ordinary Joanna Newsom performance – she’s always extraordinary! This will be Joanna’s debut performance on Austin City Limits following appearances on other late night programs including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Finally, Joanna has a chance to play some of her longer songs for all the world to see - thank you, ACL!Recorded and taped August 1, 2011 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater, the episode features The Milk-Eyed Mender’s “Bridges and Balloons,” and Have One On Me’s “Good Intentions Paving Company” and title track, “Have One On Me.” As if Joanna on TV isn’t enough, this ACL episode is coupled with a performance by Fleet Foxes making for one supreme hour of entertainment by two musical acts who are also the best of friends!Watch a sneak peek of Joanna Newsom performing “Bridges and Balloons” on Austin City Limits.Make sure to check your local listings and tune in to Austin City Limits January 21st.What else has Joanna been up to in the past several months? Just before making her way to Austin for the ACL taping, she traveled to the great Northwest for a guest stint on “Portlandia” and an Under The Radar cover story interview with Robin Pecknold, took part in Vogue’s CFDA Fashion Fund shoot, and lent her vocals to The Muppets Original Soundtrack’s “The Muppet Show Theme.”The “Portlandia” episode featuring Joanna airs Friday, February 17th.  Be sure to tune into that too!

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 3:09 pm
Thrill Jockey Records is proud to present Koïma, the second full-length album by Malian songwriter and guitarist Sidi Touré. Sidi’s music comes from Gao, a city in the north of Mali, and draws inspiration from traditional music and religion, but is informed by western blues, rock, and culture. The winner of two Malian national awards for best singer, Sidi was leader of Gao’s regional orchestra, The Songhaï Stars, and is a nationally renowned figure in his home country. In 2011, Sidi released Sahel Folk, his debut album for Thrill Jockey, and toured North America for the first time. This tour took him to prestigious venues and festivals, including New York’s Lincoln Center, Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Chicago World Music Festival. Through Thrill Jockey’s introduction of Sidi to new audiences, he is beginning to achieve well-deserved success and critical acclaim abroad.
 
Koïma is the natural progression from Sahel Folk, as Sidi has moved from an album of duets, recorded all in one take in his sister’s home in Gao, to a quintet recorded in a studio in Bamako. With Koïma, the intent is to record a different side of Songhaï music from the sparse style captured on Sahel Folk. The music is still distinctly Gao, but represented this time in a much richer and luxuriant way. We move from the intimacy of a quiet meeting between friends to the celebration of an evening of dance. On Koïma, Sidi is able to more fully realize his vision for his music.
 
The album title Koïma literally means "go hear." Koïma is an emblematic place of Gao, "a Dune with his feet in the waters of the river Niger, and with his head touching the sky," says Sidi. In Malian folklore, Koïma is the meeting place for the most powerful wizards of the world. This album is an offering to the mystical power of that place. Koïma is out April 17th.
 
Listen to the track “Tondi Karaa,” which translates to “The White Stone.” This song refers to a legendary stone that sat in the center of Gao for 500 years, a symbol of purity and prosperity, that, in the 1970s, went missing. Sidi sings of how misfortunate has befallen Gao ever since, and the missing stone represents how individuality and money have damaged the unity of the Songhaï culture.
 
KOÏMA TRACKLISTING
1. Ni See Ay Ga Done
2. Maïmouna
3. Aïy Faadji
4. Woy Tiladio
5. Koïma
6. Ishi Tanmaha
7. A Chacun Sa Chance
8. Kalay Makoï
Fri, 01/27/2012 - 9:24 am

Patrick Watson will be releasing his new album on Domino and Secret City in April of this year. Adventures In Your Own Backyard will be released the week of April 16th in his native Canada, continental Europe and Japan, to be followed the week of April 30th in the rest of the world.Adventures... was made at home after a grueling five-year run that saw Patrick and his band (bassist Mishka Stein, guitarist Simon Angell and drummer Robbie Kuster) tour the world in support of two critically-acclaimed and successful albums, including the Polaris award-winning Close To Paradise. During this time, Patrick also contributed to Ma Fleur, the 2007 album from The Cinematic Orchestra, co-writing and singing on a sizeable portion of the record.In Patrick’s own words, Adventures... is an effort on the band’s part to “make the kind of music we would want to listen to at home.” The album’s title is a nod to this sentiment and to the fact that it was recorded almost entirely in Watson’s apartment in Montreal, unlike his previous efforts which were sprawling recordings in both geography and arrangements.In spite of the relatively spartan settings in which to record, Adventures... is equally as ambitious as Watson’s previous efforts and a thing of dynamic beauty. The result is an album that is still ripe with the touchstones one has come to expect from Patrick Watson and his collaborators, but permeated with a greater sense of patience and confidence. Adventures in Your Own Backyard is an attempt by Watson and the band to simplify their sights—to make music a bit more close to home in every sense of the phrase.Adventures... will be preceded by the single and video for the sweeping, elegant “Into Giants,” which is available for preview to all at www.patrickwatson.net and via the widget below. Patrick and his band have already lined up shows before the album’s release that will include a headlining appearance at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas in March, a variety of dates across Europe this April, and support dates with Andrew Bird in the US this May:--Patrick Watson Tour Dates:Wed. 03/14/12 – Sat. 03/17/12 -- Austin, TX @ SXSWThu. 05/03/12 -- Philadelphia PA @ Union Transfer w/ Andrew BirdFri. 05/04/12 -- New York NY @ Beacon Theatre w/ Andrew BirdSun. 05/06/12 -- Boston MA @ House of Blues w/ Andrew BirdTue. 05/08/12 -- Washington DC @ The 930 Club w/ Andrew BirdWed. 05/09/12 -- Baltimore MD @ RamsHead Live w/ Andrew Bird Tracklisting is as follows:01. Lighthouse02. Blackwind03. Step Out For A While04. The Quiet Crowd05. Into Giants06. Morning Sheets07. Words In The Fire08. The Things You Do09. Strange Crooked Road10. Noisy Sunday11. Adventures In Your Own Backyard12. Swimming Pools

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 1:07 pm

Montreal’s Plants and Animals recently announced news of a large North American tour in support of their forthcoming album, The End of That, due out February 28th on Secret City. In addition to the previously announced dates which take them throughout Canada, down to Austin for SXSW, and all over the eastern half of the United States, they are now adding a midwest and west coast leg in May. A full list of dates is below.

After sharing album track, Lightshow,” Plants and Animals are excited to give listeners a further peek into The End of That with "Songs of Love," premiered earlier today on SPIN.com. Showing the various sides of Plants and Animals in a confident, unmasked way, “Song For Love” is one of the album tracks very much bridging the gap between their 2008 debut, Parc Avenue, and 2010’s darker La La Land.

 

PLANTS AND ANIMALS’ TOUR DATES:

Thu. Mar. 8 – Ottawa, ON @ Ritual

Fri. Mar. 9 – Quebec, QC @ Le Cercle

Sat. Mar. 10 – Montreal, QC @ Le Cabaret du Mile End

Thu. Mar. 15 - Austin, TX @ St. David's Historic Sanctuary

Fr. Mar. 16 - Austin, TX @ Lovejoy's (The Midgetmen Party) - 3:45 PM

Sat. Mar. 17 - Austin, TX @ Spill Bar (M for Montreal/Iceland Airwaves Showcase pres. w/ Filter & Culture Collide) 

Tue. Mar. 20 – Victoria, BC @ Lucky Bar

Wed. Mar. 21 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre

Thu. Mar. 22 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

Sat. Mar. 24 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

Tue. Mar. 27 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room

Wed. Mar. 28 – Calgary, AB @ Republik

Thu. Mar. 29 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigo’s

Fri. Mar. 30 – Winnipeg, AB @ West End Cultural Centre

Sat. Mar. 31 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry

Wed. Apr. 4 - Boston, MA @ TT The Bear's 

Thu. Apr. 5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

Fri. Apr. 6 - Washington, DC @ The Red Palace

Sat. Apr. 7 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Sun. Apr. 8 - Atlanta, GA @ 529

Wed. Apr. 11 - Orlando, FL @ The Social

Tue. April 12 - Tampa, FL @ Crowbar

Fri. Apr. 13 - Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree

Sat. Apr. 14 - Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe

Wed. Apr. 18 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Thu. Apr. 19 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

Fri, Apr. 20 - London, ON @ APK Live

Sat. Apr. 21 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace

Fri. May 11 - Chicago, IL @ Schuba's

Sat. May 12 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency

Tue. May 15 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive

Wed. May 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court

Fri. May 18 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

Sat. May 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Satellite

Mon. May 21 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah

Fri. May 25 - Austin, TX @ Lambert's

Wed. May 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 2:07 pm

Django Django released their self-titled, debut album overseas last month on Because. For the four, long years leading up to this release, the band had been busy working in the East London bedroom slept in by their drummer, producer and de facto leader David Maclean. The result of all this hard work is a great debut and one deserving all the excellent recognition it’s receiving in their home country. Debuting at number 25 on the UK charts, and selling out their first UK tour 6 weeks in advance, the time has now come for Django Django to capture the attention of North America. The band will play their first performance in North America on March 10th in Brooklyn at Glasslands, then venture to Austin for SXSW. All signs point to many more stateside visits in the months to come.

While the plans for a North American release are put in place, Django Django is pleased to share with you album track, “Default.”

“When ‘Default’ follows, you are thrown into the realms of wonderment. There’s no point fighting it, you can’t help but be sucked in by the simple beat built for the dance floor.” – Drowned In Sound

Comprised of Vincent Neff (singer, guitar), Jimmy Dixon (bass), Tommy Grace (synths) and the aforementioned David Maclean, the quartet, who met at art school in Edinburgh, first came to people’s attentions after a gradual migration to London a couple years ago. They released the double A-side single "Storm"/"Love's Dart" in 2009, laying down the blueprint for a confident, adventurous and psychedelically-bruised strain of art-rock that melds intangible electronic flourishes to the visceral rub of live instrumentation. The time since has been spent holed away, expanding upon the blueprint, seeing where they can push it. Focused on creativity and experimentation, Django Django is a band with exacting high stands, a thirst to explore, and a strong motto of sticking to their guns.

Django Django tour dates:

Sat. March 10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands

Wed. March 14 – Austin, TX @ Easy Tiger Patio [12 AM]

Sat. March 17 – Austin, TX @ Latitude [10 PM]

More TBA

Mon, 02/20/2012 - 10:56 am

Dirty Three’s first new album in seven years (and first release on Drag City), Toward the Low Sun, is out next Tuesday, February 28th. For the next week, leading up to this release, NPR Music’s First Listen series will be streaming the album in its entirety. Listen with the link below.Returning to the basic formula for the Dirty Three on Toward the Low Sun, the labor and decision-making is divined evenly and democratically between Mick Turner, Jim White, and Warren Ellis. The sounds of traditional music are glimpsed in Warren’s violin as he saws away at something that kind of tightens our chest and give us that ol’ thousand-yard stare. Mick wanders hollow-bodied from abstract and dreamy to punishing hard chord rock in the space of a breath, never sacrificing a sense of the awesome along the path. And Jim . . . There’s drummers and time, and then there’s Jim White. He’s doing something that no one else does back there. Each takes the lead as the untidy trio trip lightly and jazzily from etude to still life to exploding the air into flames around us with just a violin, electric guitar and trap kit. NPR MUSIC FIRST LISTEN OF THE DIRTY THREE’S TOWARD THE LOW SUN 

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:43 am

Patrick Watson's Adventures in Your Own Backyard is set for release on May 1 on Domino in the United States, in conjunction with Secret City. As previously announced, Patrick and his band will play a headlining performance at SXSW, and select dates with Andrew Bird in May. Now, we are thrilled to share the news of Patrick’s extensive touring plans for the spring and summer. Joining Patrick (piano) in recreating his elegant songs live will be Mishka Stein (bassist), Simon Angell (guitar), Melanie Belair (violin), and Robbie Kuster (drummer). A full list of dates is below.

Adventures in Your Own Backyard is an attempt by Watson and his band to simplify their sights, and make music a bit more close to home in every sense of the phrase. The album was made at home, almost entirely in Watson's apartment in Montreal, after a grueling five-year run that saw Patrick tour the world in support of two critically-acclaimed and successful albums, including the Polaris award-winning Close To Paradise. During this time, Patrick also contributed to Ma Fleur, the 2007 album from The Cinematic Orchestra, co-writing and singing on a sizeable portion of the record. In spite of the relatively spartan settings in which to record, as opposed to his previous efforts which were sprawling recordings in both geography and arrangements, Adventures... is equally as ambitious as Watson’s past albums, though permeated with a greater sense of patience and confidence.

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PATRICK WATSON TOUR DATES:

Thu. 03/15/12 – Austin, TX @ St. David’s Historic Sanctuary w/ The Barr Brothers, Plants and Animals, Little Scream, Leif Vollebekk, Daniel Isaiah (Secret City / OPAK showcase)

Sat. 04/15/12 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Corona w/ Josef & Erika [Sold Out]

Sun. 04/16/12 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Corona w/ Josef & Erika [Sold Out]

Mon. 04/17/12 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Corona w/ Josef & Erika

Fri. 04/20/12 – Berlin, DE @ Hellig Kreuz Kirche

Sat. 04/21/12 – Rotterdamn, NL @ Motel Mozaique

Tue. 04/24/12 – Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage

Thu. 04/28/12 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg w/ The Barr Brothers

Sun. 04/29/12 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique w/ The Barr Brothers

Mon. 04/30/12 – London, UK @ St. Stephen’s Church

Tue. 05/01/12 – Brighton, UK @ Komedia

Thu. 05/03/12 – Philadelphia PA @ Union Transfer w/ Andrew Bird

Fri. 05/04/12 – New York NY @ Beacon Theatre w/ Andrew Bird

Sun. 05/06/12 – Boston MA @ House of Blues w/ Andrew Bird

Tue. 05/08/12 – Washington DC @ The 930 Club w/ Andrew Bird [Sold Out]

Wed. 05/09/12 – Baltimore MD @ RamsHead Live w/ Andrew Bird

Tue. 05/29/12 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall

Fri. 06/01/12 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

Sat. 06/02/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Centre

Mon. 06/04/12 – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive

Thu. 06/07/12 – San Diego, CA @ UCSD The Loft

Fri. 06/08/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theatre

Sat. 06/09/12 – Felton, CA @ Don Quixote’s

Sun. 06/10/12 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

Tue. 06/12/12 – Portland, OR @ Mission Theatre

Wed. 06/13/12 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia State Theatre

Thu. 06/14/12 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 11:47 am

Almost two decades in, Mouse on Mars continue to be one of the most inventive and unpredictable groups in electronic music. Further proof comes with their first new album in six years, Parastrophics, out February 28 on Monkeytown Records. For the next week, leading into the album’s release, XLR8R will be streaming the album in its entirety.

A life affirming and constantly surprising album, crammed with ideas, addictive detail and sheer kinetic energy, Parastrophics displays a beguiling sense of confidence and playfulness, and a subtle, yet persuasive sense of control and pace. Even when tempos climb, 303s squirm and kick / snare patterns snap to brisk attention, there's an elegance and maturity to the way each element slips in and out of the mix.

STREAM MOUSE ON MARS’ PARASTROPHICS VIA XLR8R

Mouse on Mars’ Tour Dates:

March 2 – Berlin, DE @ Columbia Club

March 3 – Cologne, DE @ E-Werk

April 4 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie

April 5 – Geneva, CH @ Electron Festival

April 6 – Zurich, CH @ Exil

April 12 – Munich, DE @ Backstage

April 13 – Florence, IT @ Marino Marini Museum

April 14 – Blogna, IT @ Locomotiv Club

April 20 – London, UK @ Village Underground

April 27 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefaehrlich

April 29 – Schorndorf, DE @ Manufaktur

May 18 – Lyon, FR @ Nuit Sonores Festival

May 19 – Brussels, BE @ Orangerie @ Les Nuits Du Botanique

June 15 – Barcelona, ES @ Sonar

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 9:34 am

The 2012 Pickathon Music Festival will take place on Friday, August 3 through Sunday, August 5, returning to the beautiful Pendarvis Farm near Portland, Oregon for its 14th year. The experience at Pickathon is unique; nowhere else can festivalgoers witness such a diverse mix of world-class artists set in what is commonly considered the most innovative and comfortable festival experience in the world. The three-day event continually breaks new ground in sustainability and strives to accommodate attendees and performers as though they were family. Simply put, Pickathon is the festival for people who don’t like the hassle of festivals!

World-Class Music:

Pickathon is a music-lover's paradise, featuring a well-curated 50-band bill where every artist plays at least twice. The festival provides what can only be described as a retreat for performers, with six inspired performance spaces spread throughout the 80 wooded acres of Pendarvis Farm. Past performers include amazing legends and veterans such as Mavis Staples, Will Oldham, Michael Hurley, Bill Callahan, The Heartless Bastards, Iris Dement, and Freakwater, as well as rising contemporaries like The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Justin Townes Earle, Black Mountain, Frank Fairfield, and more. And just wait until you see what they have in store for this year!

Groundbreaking Sustainability:

In a move unprecedented by any festival anywhere, Pickathon has become the first large-scale event in the United States (the world?) to implement a No Single-Use Philosophy! What does this mean? It means the festival has worked towards eliminating all single-use cups, bottles, dishware, and utensils. See more details of how Pickathon pulled off this amazing advancement in event mentality and execution here.

Unmatched Culinary Experience:

A mere 15 minutes from Portland, Oregon, Pickathon recreates the passionate food culture that is unique to the Pacific Northwest region. Food carts, local brewers and vintners, and great coffee will be on hand all weekend long, while menus will be curated by some of the area’s most exciting culinary talents.

Idyllic Festival Grounds:

Tucked away on 80 gorgeous acres of wooded Oregon landscape, Pickathon presents attendees with a perfect festival experience. With ample grounds for camping and miles of terrain for hiking, the festival provides more than enough room to accommodate the 5,500 daily attendees without ever feeling crowded. The six performance spaces spread throughout Pendarvis Farm provide distinctive and stylized environments to take in the music and atmosphere; including the beautiful tension-fabric structure that covers the Mountain View and Fir Meadow Stages, which ranks as one of the largest temporary installations of its kind in the world. Additionally, Pickathon boasts one of the most family-friendly environments of any festival.

A Day At Pickathon from Pickathon Festival on Vimeo.

Tickets for the 2012 Pickathon Music Festival will go on sale Tuesday, March 6th, with three-day passes starting at $175. The festival is sure to sell out this year, so be sure to get tickets early. Tickets will be available on the festival website, http://www.pickathon.com

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 10:15 am

The 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Chicago’s Union Park Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15! Seven years in, this independently run three-day event has consistently proven to be one of the most welcoming, comfortable, reasonably priced and rewarding weekends of music around.A tremendously focused and thoughtfully curated event, the Pitchfork Music Festival has historically introduced emerging bands while also honoring a great number of already beloved and internationally renowned acts. This year continues with that high standard and welcomes Vampire Weekend, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, AraabMUZIK, A$AP Rocky, The Field, Liturgy, Kendrick Lamar, Grimes, Cloud Nothings, Tim Hecker, and Willis Earl Beal! But this is only the beginning! There are more than 30 acts to still be announced.Additionally, we are excited to announce that the Pitchfork Music Festival will not be raising ticket prices in 2012! Our goal has always been to create an affordable atmosphere with music at its focus, and do so in a way that is sustainable and exciting. So why raise ticket prices if you don’t need to, right? Tickets for the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival go on sale Friday, March 9 at 12 PM CST, with single-day tickets for $45 and a limited number of three-day passes for $110! Based on years past, three-day passes will sell out very quickly. Tickets will be available on the festival website, http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.In addition to its musical offerings, the Pitchfork Music Festival also features a wide array of other activities for its 50,000 attendees of all ages from 45 states and 26 countries to easily enjoy. With 50 individual vendors, as well as specialty fairs, the fest not only supports local businesses and economy, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole.Pitchfork is the essential guide to independent music and beyond.  With more than four million unique readers and 40 million page views per month, the site has earned an extremely loyal following and a reputation as being the world's most trusted music publication.Visit www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more information.PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 LINEUP SO FAR:Vampire WeekendFeistGodspeed You! Black EmperorHot ChipAraabMUZIKA$AP RockyThe FieldLiturgyKendrick Lamar Grimes Cloud Nothings Tim Hecker Willis Earl Beal

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 9:24 am

Now located in the Woodstock of east PA, Lehigh Valley, Blues Control conceived Valley Tangents, their first album for Drag City, far from the madding crowds that they’d previous swarmed with and composed among. Could this be the reason for the homegrown, natural feel of the music, with the metronomical hissing of summer mosquito-bots behind their signature Debussy via Guaraldi qua Bley qua Hornsby pianisms, and the playful juxtapositions of a full spectrum of rock colors: stadium, industrial, psych and prog (to name just a few)?And yet, Blues Control’s shape-shifting qualities could lead us to type them as a mystic lounge act, with spacey guitar leads, a clarion synth and the punch of real drums. Only to suddenly discover they were instead playing inside a world music bag, wrapping their mellow drug-mospheres around a crisp keyboard center, evoking heat and nature with waves radiating from seemingly formal western scales! The exotic and the classical, wedded together with a freedom the old masters couldn’t imagine. Upon hearing Valley Tangents, long-time listeners will surely attest that the band are increasingly capable of anything in the spectrum that they feel should be integrated.Valley Tangents was recorded in Russ and Lea’s home in Coopersburg, PA, where the two moved from Queens (their launch pad of many years), and Black Dirt (a nexus for many Blues Control recordings to date). As with each of their earlier efforts, Valley Tangents is a full (r)evolution ahead of what came before, at times an unrecognizable new blend of sounds to call Blues Control.Blues Control’s Valley Tangents is out June 19th on Drag City. The band will tour the Northeast and Midwest this summer, and other destinations in the U.S. and abroad in the months beyond.Valley Tangents tracklisting:1. Love’s A Rondo2. Iron Pigs3. Opium Den/Fade to Blue4. Walking Robin5. Open Air6. Gypsum

Mon, 03/26/2012 - 2:05 pm

he 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival, taking place Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15 at Chicago’s Union Park, has added a slew of bands to its already superb lineup. This is quickly shaping up to be the best year yet! This year sees the return of previous performers Sleigh Bells and Dirty Projectors, two acts who played the festival at much earlier points in their career, and welcomes Flying Lotus, Danny Brown, Clams Casino, The Olivia Tremor Control, Iceage, The Men, Purity Ring, Schoolboy Q, and The Atlas Moth. These acts join a stellar lineup that already includes Vampire Weekend, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, A$AP Rocky, The Field, Liturgy, Willis Earl Beal, and more. There are still over 20 more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Pitchfork Music Festival is well known for introducing emerging bands while honoring already beloved and internationally renowned acts. That high standard of curating continues in 2012. Seven years in, the independently run event has consistently proven to be one of the most welcoming, comfortable, reasonably priced and rewarding weekends of music around. In addition to its musical offerings, the fest also features a wide array of other activities, including 50 individual vendors, plus specialty fairs, for attendees to enjoy.

Please note, the Pitchfork Music Festival has sold out of three-day passes. However, single-day passes are still available, but going fast . . . and we haven’t even announced over half of the lineup! As previously announced, this year’s festival has not raised ticket prices. Single-day tickets are available for $45 on the festival website, http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

Visit www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more information.

PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 LINEUP SO FAR:

AraabMUZIK

A$AP Rocky

The Atlas Moth **

Willis Earl Beal

Danny Brown **

Clams Casino **

Cloud Nothings

Dirty Projectors **

Feist

The Field

Flying Lotus **

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Grimes

Tim Hecker

Hot Chip

Iceage **

Kendrick Lamar
Liturgy

The Men **

Olivia Tremor Control **

Purity Ring **

Schoolboy Q **

Sleigh Bells **

Vampire Weekend

 

** just announced

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 12:36 pm

The creativity and color of Bowerbirds’ sophisticated arrangements and lyricism on new album The Clearing is fully grasped when witnessing the five-piece -- Phil Moore (vocal, guitar, keys), Beth Tacular (vocals, keys accordion, synth), Leah Gibson (cello, keys, synth), Yan Westerlund (drums), and Mark Paulson (violin, bass, keys guitar) -- perform live. Just over two weeks into their journey in support of this rich and dynamic album, the band is adding two weeks of June dates to their three-months-and-counting international tour. The June tour will take them to cities all over the East Coast and Midwest, where they have not yet ventured in support of The Clearing, in addition to a return visit to New York after selling out the Bowery Ballroom last month.

Experience some of The Clearing’s tender and epic moments via the video for “Tuck the Darkness In.” For those who have already seen it, give it another run! Who doesn’t like to shed a few tears in the middle of the workday?

Bowerbirds’ The Clearing is out now on Dead Oceans.

BOWERBIRDS’ TOUR DATES (new dates in bold)

Tue. April 3 -- Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile w/ Dry the River

Wed. April 4 -- Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Dry the River

Fri. April 6 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ Dry the River

Sat. April 7 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour w/ Dry the River

Sun. April 8 -- San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Dry the River

Wed. April 11 -- Austin, TX @ The Parish w/ Dry the River

Thu. April 12 -- Dallas, TX @ The Loft w/ Dry the River

Sat. April 14 -- Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree w/ Mandolin Orange

Sun. April 15 -- Atlanta, GA @ The Earl w/ Mandolin Orange

Fri. April 20 – Rotterdam, NL @ Motel Mozaique Festival

Sun. April 22 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega

Mon. April 23 – Stockholm, SE @ Debaser Slussen

Tue. April 24 – Goteborg, SE @Pusterviksbaren

Wed. April 25 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefahrlich

Thu. April 26 – Berlin, DE @ Lido

Fri. April 27 – Munich, DE @ Feierwerk

Sat. April 28 – Zurich, CH @ El Lokal

Mon. April 30 – Paris, FR @ Café De La Danse

Tue. May 1 Antwerp, BE @ Trix

Thu. May 3 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club

Fri. May 4 – Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute

Sat. May 5 – Brighton, UK @ The Haunt

Mon. May 7 – London, UK @ Cargo

Tue. May 8 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique

Wed. May 9 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso

Thu. June 7 -- Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar

Fri. June 8 -- Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center

Sat. June 9 -- Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop

Mon. June 11 -- Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick Lounge

Tue. June 12 -- Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom

Wed. June 13 -- Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre

Thu. June 14 -- Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall

Sun. June 17 -- Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt

Mon. June 18 -- Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall

Tue. June 19 -- Montreal, QC @ Il Motore

Wed. June 20 -- Portland, ME @ Space

Thu. June 21 -- Providence, RI @ The Met

Sat. June 23 – New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Fri. Aug. 3 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon Music Festival

Sat. Aug. 4 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon Music Festival

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 10:27 am

Pickathon 2012, happening Aug. 3 - 5 at Pendarvis Farm near Portland, Oregon, is excited to welcome four new additions to its already stellar lineup: The War on Drugs, Thee Oh Sees, THEESatisfaction and Cardboard Songsters. These great bands join other festival highlights such as Neko Case, Blitzen Trapper, Dr. Dog, Vieux Farka Touré, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, and much, much more. The full lineup is listed below. Tickets are still on sale but moving fast. The festival is expected to sell out this year, so go to www.pickathon.com and purchase them now!

In addition to these new performers, Pickathon is thrilled to announce that it will be expanding upon its revolutionary NO-SINGLE-USE POLICY with cups, dishware, utensils, and containers. In what is universally heralded as the cleanest festival in the country, perhaps the world, Pickathon is the only festival to employ these very unique and effective green initiatives, eliminating single use beer cups, water bottles, dishware, utensils, and containers. HERE’S HOW:

  • Eliminating Single Use Cups, Bottles, and Containers - Pickathon has replaced the otherwise common plastic beer cups with branded stainless steel cups, provided by Klean Kanteen, which each attendee holds on to for the weekend. As you can imagine, beer cups account for a large portion of any festival’s waste. Last year, this one measure reduced total waste by 21% per person and landfill waste by 16% per person. This year, single-use beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, are also being eliminated from the backstage areas, being replaced with kegs and stainless steel cups for artists and staff.

  • Eliminating All Single Use Dishware and Utensils - By using a simple system that employs tokens exchanged for dishware, last year Pickathon reduced total waste by 17% per person and landfill waste by 33%. While other festivals outside the US have attempted similar initiatives, Pickathon is unrivaled with its level of customer presentation and financial sustainability. For those curious as to how the token system works, this poster should clear up any questions.

  • Local Resources and Renewable Energy - This year, Pickathon will be building several new bars on the festival grounds made entirely from local lumber, largely out of naturally downed trees that will help repurpose and beautify the three unique serving areas Pickathon has to offer. Solar energy use at Pickathon is pervasive and covers several significant areas of production, such as offsetting power in both the indoor Barn venues and much of the vending area. Other site-wide coverage includes supplying power to 3.5 miles of LED strands for trail lights at night, attendee device charging stations, ticketing and front gate check-in, medical tent, and many of the food and beverage vendors. In 2012, on-site energy generation can be monitored on the web in realtime using DECK Monitoring, the innovative Portland, Oregon company that’s helping define energy intelligence. These steps, along with other common sense, eco-conscious initiatives, such as enabling over 15% of the audience to take alternate transportation methods, which include biking and a mass-transportation partnership with Eco-shuttle, solidify Pickathon as being on the avant-garde of large-scale and green events.

PICKATHON 2012 LINE-UP (in alphabetical order)

AA Bondy

Abigail Washburn

Alela Diane

The Barr Brothers

Blitzen Trapper

Bowerbirds

Bruce Molksy Band

Cajun Country Revival, ft. Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy

Captain Bogg & Salty

Cardboard Songsters**

Cass McCombs

The Cave Singers

CW Stoneking

Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass

Doug Paisley

Dr. Dog

Foghorn Stringband

Genticorum

Heartless Bastards

Hot 8 Brass Band

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Lake Street Dive

Langhorne Slim

Laura Gibson

Lonnie Walker

Los Cojolites

Lost Bayou Ramblers, ft. Gordon Gano

Midtown Dickens

The Mynabirds

Neko Case

Petunia & The Vipers

Phosphorescent

Reverend KM Williams

Robert Ellis

Shovels & Rope

Sonny & The Sunsets

Southeast Engine

Ted Jones and the Tarheel Boys

Thee Oh Sees**

THEESatisfaction**

Two Man Gentlemen Band

Typhoon

Vieux Farka Touré

The War on Drugs**

White Denim

Whitey Morgan & The 78’s

The Wood Brothers

Y La Bamba

** indicates new addition

Pickathon is a three-day event held annually at Pendarvis Farm near Portland Oregon that continually breaks new ground in sustainability and strives to accommodate attendees and performers as though they were family. Carefully curated line-ups, culinary spreads, samplings from local brewers and vintners, space to spread out, and the nations only single-use cup, dishware and utensil system make Pickathon an experience unlike any other. Simply put, Pickathon is the festival for people who don’t like the hassle of festivals!

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 1:42 pm
Grace and Lies. On the surface, the two concepts couldn't seem more different. One of them restores, the other ruins. One of them forgives, the other deceives. But to hear Kim Krans, frontwoman for Family Band, tell it, the two aren't opposed - they're intertwined. "Grace and Lies are two characters I envisioned last summer," she says, by way of explaining the haunting title track on the group's second record. "I couldn't get them out of my head. I saw them in a field behind our cabin, singing and slow dancing - like ghosts, sort of. They're the rulers of beauty and false promises. And we all fall for them from time to time."
 
And therein lies the beautiful dichotomy of Family Band. A collaboration between visual-artist-turned-singer Kim Krans and her husband, onetime heavy-metal guitarist Jonny Ollsin (Children, S.T.R.E.E.T.S.), the merging of the couple's sensibilities makes for music that's simultaneously elegant and visceral. Their songs are as stark as bare trees in winter, Krans' baleful alto swooping mournfully over Ollsin's glimmering guitar like a black crow against a grey sky. As its title implies Grace & Lies is equal parts light and shadow, evoking the mystery and terror of early Cat Power, the ghostly aura of Warpaint, with whom Family Band toured in 2011, and the hushed longing of prime-era Cowboy Junkies. Though they explored similar territory - both sonically and lyrically - on their self-released debut, Miller Path, on Grace their canvas is wider -- the greys lusher, the blacks deeper. Assisted by bass and lapsteel player Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger), with production and instrumental work by Dan Rossen of Grizzly Bear on "Again," the couple has made a record that boldly confronts life's darker questions. It's a document of a band staring down life's larger riddles - love, death, loss and deceit. But for all its lyrical intensity, there is a current of beauty and hope beneath its fragile, delicate songs.
 
Despite its dark subject matter, Grace is the product of a band coming comfortably into their own. And while Grace & Lies is not afraid to disappear into shadow, in the end, it's about understanding and growth. "In the end," Krans says, "This record is about learning to rewrite your own myth."
 
As well as playing music, Kim and Jonny run The Wild Unknown, a celebrated company featuring Kim's artwork, illustrations, and beyond. The couple spends a great amount of time at their handbuilt Miller Path cabin, just outside of Delhi, New York. Following last summer's forest party (which you can read about via The FADER), the band is making plans for this summer's celebration.
 
Family Band's sophomore album, Grace & Lies, is out July 24 on No Quarter. This morning, The FADER premiered an mp3 of the album's opening track, "Night Song." Download and listen to it below.
 
Grace & Lies tracklisting:
01. Night Song
02. Lace
03. Moonbeams
04. Ride
05. Your Name
06. Again
07. Grace & Lies
08. Keeper
09. Rest
Thu, 06/07/2012 - 9:49 am

It's with great honor that Domino imprint Double Six announces the release of John Cale's forthcoming full-length album, out October 2nd, 2012.Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood is a title to set tongues wagging and minds wondering, but for an album that seems born of a return to John's youth, it seems safely apt in its mischievousness.Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood is the result of sessions held at Cale's LA studio. Days were spent experimenting with MPCs, pounding fists onto pianos, manipulating glitches and lots of signature viola drone while patiently waiting for songs to reveal themselves. There was also a spontaneous session with Danger Mouse to create the opening track, "I Wanna Talk 2 U."As a producer Cale has reached a new plateau on this record. At the albums most maximal, it feels like looking at a collection of precious stones. Myriads of differently colored and textured surfaces carefully placed together, each finding their own space to beckon the ear. It's a blend of chaos and beauty in equal measure and a testament to the exploratory spirit at work which ensures there's always something new to the ears on a John Cale record.Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood will be available on gatefold heavyweight vinyl, CD and digital.Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood tracklist:01. I Wanna Talk 2 U                        02. Scotland Yard  03. Hemmingway                             04. Face To The Sky05. Nookie Wood                             06. December Rains07. Mary                                              08. Vampire Cafe09. Mothra                                             10. Living With You11. Midnight Feast                             12. Sandman (Flying Dutchman)

Fri, 06/08/2012 - 2:41 am

The 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival, happening July 13-15 at Chicago's Union Park, is shaping up to be most exceptional yet! With 47 acts performing, this year's fest features more music than ever before, all the while maintaining the Pitchfork Music Festival's high standards. The 5-week countdown begins today, and with that, we are excited to announce this year's schedule!

Three-day passes for the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival have been sold out for months, however, there are still some remaining single-day passes for each day available for $45 at www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

Visit www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more information on the 2012 festival, and to purchase tickets. Stay up on festival related news via the Pitchfork Music Festival Facebook page and Twitter.

2012 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, JULY 13 - gates at 3pm

8:30 (GREEN) Feist

8:20 (BLUE) Purity Ring

7:20 (RED) Dirty Projectors

7:15 (BLUE) Clams Casino

6:25 (GREEN) Big K.R.I.T.

6:15 (BLUE) Japandroids

5:30 (RED) A$AP Rocky

5:15 (BLUE) Tim Hecker

4:35 (GREEN) The Olivia Tremor Control

4:15 (BLUE) Willis Earl Beal

3:30 (RED) Lower Dens

3:20 (BLUE) Outer Minds

SATURDAY, JULY 14 - gates at 12pm

8:40 (BLUE) Grimes

8:30 (GREEN) Godspeed You! Black Emperor

7:40 (BLUE) Danny Brown

7:25 (RED) Hot Chip

6:45 (BLUE) Chromatics

6:15 (GREEN) Sleigh Bells

5:45 (BLUE) Schoolboy Q

5:15 (RED) Wild Flag

4:45 (BLUE) Nicolas Jaar

4:15 (GREEN) Flying Lotus

3:45 (BLUE) Youth Lagoon

3:20 (RED) Cults

2:50 (BLUE) Liturgy

2:30 (GREEN) Atlas Sound

1:55 (BLUE) Lotus Plaza

1:45 (RED) Cloud Nothings

1:00 (BLUE) The Atlas Moth

1:00 (GREEN) The Psychic Paramount

SUNDAY, JULY 15 - gates at 12pm

8:30 (GREEN) Vampire Weekend

7:40 (BLUE) The Field

7:25 (RED) Beach House

6:45 (BLUE) King Krule

6:15 (GREEN) AraabMuzik

5:45 (BLUE) Oneohtrix Point Never

5:15 (RED) Chavez

4:45 (BLUE) Kendrick Lamar

4:15 (GREEN) Real Estate

3:45 (BLUE) The Men

3:20 (RED) Ty Segall

2:50 (BLUE) Thee Oh Sees

2:30 (GREEN) Iceage

1:55 (BLUE) Milk Music

1:45 (RED) Unknown Mortal Orchestra

1:00 (BLUE) A Lull

1:00 (GREEN) Dirty Beaches

Seven years in, the independently run Pitchfork Music Festival has consistently proven to be one of the most welcoming, comfortable, reasonably priced and rewarding weekends of music around. In addition to its musical offerings, the fest also features a wide array of other activities, including 50 individual vendors, plus specialty fairs, all of which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 11:58 am

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements returns in its third incarnation with an early fall showcase, September 21-23, at the new Riverfront Theater (650 W. Chicago).Taking a vaudevillian approach, Brilliant Corners unites stylistically disparate forms of entertainment under one tent. This September's three-day event sustains the commitment to bringing together original musical voices from across genres, some of the funniest people in the comedy business, and astounding performance and stunt artists.The feature event each night will be musical performances. This season's lineup includes John Cale, Bobby Womack, Conor Oberst, Zola Jesus, Van Dyke Parks, and Helado Negro.On Friday and Saturday nights after the music, the stage will be handed over to comedians such as H. Jon Benjamin, Brian Babylon, Seaton Smith, Brandon Wetherbee, James Fritz, and The Puterbaugh Sisters.Plus, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons El Circo Cheapo presents its innovative circus show filled with soaring trapeze acrobatics, jugglers, clowns, and more.Additions to the full schedule of performers will be announced soon. Previous rosters have included Jeff Mangum, Bill Callahan, Shellac, Charles Bradley, School of Seven Bells, A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Sidi Touré, Bomba Estereo, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, A Lull, El Circo Cheapo Cabaret, Zoppe Family Circus, Bone and Bell, CAVE and more.TICKET INFOTickets go on sale Tuesday, June 26, at 12pm CDT. | Tickets are available hereSCHEDULEFRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21Feature event - 7pmJohn CaleZola JesusLate Comedy Show (FREE) - 10pmSeaton Smith with Drew MichaelMegan GaileyHosted by Brandon Wetherbee SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22Matinee - 5pmEl Circo CheapoFeature event - 7pmConor OberstVan Dyke ParksLate Comedy Show (FREE) - 10pmJon H. BenjaminwithJames FritzThe Puerbaugh SistersHosted by Brian BabylonSUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23Matinee - 5pmEl Circo CheapoFeature event - 7pmBobby WomackHelado Negro

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 11:21 am

Pickathon, happening August 3rd through the 5th at Pendarvis Farm near Portland, Oregon, is a mere month and change away! As always, the schedule is fully loaded with the spirit and charm that help make Pickathon unique. With six different stages, four unique activity locations, 50+ performers, and three long days - at its core, Pickathon is a weekend of music that within a 72-hour period hosts 100+ hours of scheduled performances in a variety of unique, comfortable, and intimate settings.

Added to the schedule this year is the premiere of a first-time collaboration with Portland Playhouse to present a music-based reinterpretation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, featuring festival performers Laura Gibson, Casey MacGill, and Bruce Molsky. Actors and musicians will come together the day of the performances and deliver a unique performance each night, with the musicians playing the part of Feste, the play's fool and minstrel.

In addition to the schedules for mom and dad, there are numerous performances, workshops, and activities to help entertain and engage the 13-and-under set.  The usual Pickathon Saturday begins with the annual 'Saturday Morning Kids Show' with returning favorites Cardboard Songsters. Activity highlights include survival skill workshops and demonstrations with Trackers Earth, morning rhythm classes for the kiddos with Music Together, a Kids Showcase with Annalisa Tornfelt, Yoga from 7-9am each morning, and yes, of course, the widely popular weekend-long Pickathon Circus Camps with the return of guerilla circus troupe, Circus Cascadia.

Alongside the announcement of the daily schedules, Pickathon has released a limited quantity of SINGLE DAY PASSES for each day of the festival (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Supplies are extremely limited, so if you are only able to attend for one day, act fast. Single-day, weekend, and parking passes are available here: http://www.pickathon.com/tickets

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3RD

Mountain View Stage

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars - 1:45-2:45pm

Laura Gibson - 3:30-4:30pm

AA Bondy - 5:15-6:15pm

Whitey Morgan & the 78's - 7:00-8:00pm

Heartless Bastards - 8:45-10:00pm

Pickathon Squaredance with Foghorn Stringband - 10:15-11:30pm

Fir Meadows Stage

Southeast Engine - 1:00-1:45pm

Reverend KM Williams - 2:45-3:30pm

Todd Snider - 4:30-5:15pm

White Denim - 6:15-7:00pm

Typhoon - 8:00-8:45pm

The Galaxy Barn

The Cactus Blossoms- 2:30-3:30pm

Doug Paisley - 4:00-5:00pm

Abigail Washburn - 5:30-6:30pm

Lonnie Walker - 7:00-8:00pm

Cajun Country Revival - 8:30-9:30pm

Thee Oh Sees - 10:00-11:00pm

Langhorne Slim - 11:30-12:30am

The Cave Singers - 1:00-2:00am

The Woods Stage

Hot 8 Brass Band - 3:00-4:00pm

Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass - 4:30-5:30pm

Bowerbirds - 6:00-7:00pm

Blitzen Trapper - 7:30-8:30pm

The Starlight Stage

Los Cojolites - 11:30-12:30am

The Barr Brothers - 1:00-2:00am

The Workshop Barn

Todd Snider - 2:00-3:00pm

Foghorn Stringband - 3:30-4:30pm

Alele Diane - 5:00-6:00pm

Portland Playhouse presents Twelfth Night featuring Laura Gibson - 6:30-7:45pm

The Backyard Bowl

Rock Bugs - 4:30-5:30

Magic Insect Medallions - 6:00-7:00

Orchard West with Trackers Earth

Foam Arrow Game (Ages 9-13) - 1:00-2:00pm

Animal Tracking Nature Walk (Woods) & Foam Arrow Target Shooting (Booth) - 2:30-3:30pm

Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Walk (Woods) & Foam Arrow Target Shooting (Booth) - 4:00-5:00pm

Foam Arrow Game (Ages 9-13) - 5:30-6:30pm

Fire By Friction Practice and Demo - 7:00-8:00pm

The Circus Court

Circus Camp - 1:00-2:00pm & 3:00-6:00pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH

Mountain View Stage

Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass - 11:00-12:00pm

Bowerbirds - 12:45-1:45pm

Thee Oh Sees - 2:30-3:30pm

Phosphorescent - 4:15-5:15pm

Hot 8 Brass Band - 6:00-7:00pm

Bombino - 8:00-9:00pm

Dr. Dog - 9:45-11:00pm

Fir Meadows Stage

Mynabirds - 12:00-12:45pm

The Two Man Gentlemen Band - 1:45-2:30pm

Abigail Washburn - 3:30-4:15pm

Langhorne Slim - 5:15-6:00pm

Kitty Daisy & Lewis - 7:00-8:00pm

THEESatisfaction - 9:00-9:45pm

The Galaxy Barn

Family Squaredance - 9:30-10:30am

Southeast Engine - 11:30-12:30pm

Reverend KM Williams - 1:00-2:00pm

Robert Ellis - 2:30-3:30pm

Y La Bamba - 4:00-5:00pm

Sonny & The Sunsets - 5:30-6:30pm

AA Bondy - 7:00-8:00pm

Whitey Morgan & The 78's - 8:30-9:30pm

Lost Bayou Ramblers feat. Gordon Gano - 10:00-11:00pm

White Denim - 11:30-12:30am

Heartless Bastards - 1:00-2:00am

The Woods Stage

Saturday Morning Kids Show with Cardboard Songsters - 10:30-11:30am

Los Cojolites - 12:00-1:00pm

Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys - 1:30-2:30pm

Typhoon - 3:00-4:00pm

The Cave Singers - 4:30-5:30pm

Cajun Country Revival - 6:00-7:00pm

The Wood Brothers - 7:30-8:30pm

Neko Case - 9:00-10:00pm

The Starlight Stage

Lake Street Dive - 11:00-12:00am

Cass McCombs 12:30-1:30am

The Workshop Barn

Hatha Yoga - 7:00-9:00am

Music Together - 9:30-10:30am

Midtown Dickens - 11:00-12:00pm

Petunia & The Vipers - 12:30-1:30pm

Laura Gibson - 2:00-3:00pm

Doug Paisley - 3:30-4:30pm

Genticorum - 5:00-6:00pm

Portland Playhouse presents Twelfth Night featuring Bruce Molsky - 6:30-7:45pm

The Backyard Bowl

Kid and Family Yoga - 8:00-9:00am

Rock Bugs - 9:30-10:30am

Clothespin Forest Folk - 12:00-1:00pm

Magic Insect Medallions - 1:30-2:30pm

Wire Sculpture - 3:00-4:00pm

Kite-Making & Flying - 4:30-5:30pm

Orchard West with Trackers Earth

Foam Arrow Game (Ages 9-13) - 11:00-12:00pm

Fibre Arts Demo & Foam Arrow Target Shooting - 12:30-1:30pm

Wild Edible Plants Nature Walk (Woods) & Foam Arrow Target Shooting (Booth) - 2:00-3:00pm

Foam Arrow Game (Ages 9-13) - 3:30-4:30pm

Wilderness Survival Intro - 5:00-6:00pm

The Circus Court

Circus Camp - 10:30-1:30pm

Circus Cascadia Clown Show & Circus Camp - 3:00-6:00pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH

Mountain View Stage

TBA - 10:00-11:00pm

Lost Bayou Ramblers feat. Gordon Gano - 11:45-12:45pm

The War On Drugs - 1:30-2:30pm

Sonny & The Sunsets - 3:15-4:15pm

The Wood Brothers - 5:00-6:00pm

Blitzen Trapper - 6:45-8:00pm

Neko Case - 8:45-10:00pm

Fir Meadows Stage

Kids Showcase with Annalisa Tornfelt - 9:00-10:00am

Casey MacGill - 11:00-11:45pm

Y La Bamba - 12:45-1:30pm

Shovels & Rope - 2:30-3:15pm

Genticorum - 4:15-5:00pm

Lake Street Dive - 6:00-6:45pm

Los Cojolites - 8:00-8:45pm

The Galaxy Barn

Bombino - 11:30-12:30pm

Petunia & The Vipers - 1:00-2:00pm

Cass McCombs - 2:30-3:30pm

THEESatisfaction - 4:00-5:00pm

Phosphorescent - 5:30-6:30pm

Bruce Molsky Band - 7:00-8:00pm

The War On Drugs - 8:30-9:30pm

Kitty Daisy & Lewis - 10:00-11:00pm

Hot 8 Brass Band - 11:30-12:30am

Dr. Dog - 1:00-2:00am

The Woods Stage

Genticorum - 12:00-1:00pm

Lonnie Walker - 1:30-2:30pm

Alela Diane - 3:00-4:00pm

Bruce Molsky Band - 4:30-5:30pm

Bombino - 6:00-7:00pm

The Barr Brothers - 7:30-8:30pm

The Starlight Stage

Mynabirds - 10:00-11:00pm

Robert Ellis - 11:30-12:30am

Midtown Dickens - 1:00-2:00am

The Workshop Barn

Hatha Yoga - 7:00-9:00am

Music Together - 9:30-10:30am

Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys - 11:00-12:00pm

Lake Street Dive - 12:30-1:30pm

The Two Man Gentlemen Band - 2:00-3:00pm

The Cactus Blossoms - 3:30-4:30pm

Shovels & Rope - 5:00-6:00pm

Portland Playhouse presents Twelfth Night featuring Casey MacGill - 6:30-7:45pm

The Backyard Bowl

Kid and Family Yoga - 8:00-9:00am

Clothespin Forest Folk - 9:30-10:30am

Edible Sculpture: Fruit & Vegetable Critters - 12:00-1:00pm

Kite-Making & Flying - 1:30-2:30pm

Fortune-Teller Fun - 3:00-4:00pm

Wire Sculpture - 4:30-5:30pm

Orchard West with Trackers Earth

Fibre Arts Demo - 12:30-1:30pm

Wild Edible Plants Nature Walk (Woods) & Foam Arrow Target Shooting (Booth) - 2:00-3:00pm

Foam Arrow Game (Ages 9-13) - 3:30-4:30pm

Wilderness Survival Intro - 5:00-6:00pm

The Circus Court

Circus Camp - 10:30-1:30pm

Pickathon Kids Circus Show & Wind Down Workshop - 3:00-6:00pm

Pickathon is a three-day event held annually at Pendarvis Farm near Portland Oregon that continually breaks new ground in festival sustainability concepts and strives to accommodate attendees and performers as though they were invited individually. Carefully curated line-ups, culinary spreads, samplings from local brewers and vintners, space to spread out, and the nations only single-use cup, dishware and utensil system make Pickathon an experience unlike any other. Pickathon represents the nexus of music, art, food, sustainability, and community.

Fri, 07/13/2012 - 1:06 pm

In the midst of a non-stop touring run, Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) linked up with legendary Houston producer and DJ OG Ron C to present a screwed and chopped version of Gillis' last full length release, All Day. The remixed version of the album is being titled Purple All Day and is available for download hereGillis' audio collage work has referenced the screwed and chopped sound since his first release in 2002, and throughout his career he has sampled many of the key players in Houston's hip-hop scene, ranging from old school heroes U.G.K. to newer artists such as Kirko Bangz. "It's an honor for OG Ron C to give my album the screwed and chopped treatment. I've been listening to his mixes for a long time. I love his work," says Gillis.

OG Ron C started Swishahouse Records with Michael "5000" Watts in 1995, and it quickly became one of the most well known outlets for screwed and chopped mixtapes in the Houston area.  Since then, he's been a fixture in the Houston hip-hop scene, helping to launch careers of people including Slim Thug and Mike Jones. On Purple All Day, OG Ron C says, "This was an amazing collab. Girl Talk's sense of creativity and blends are incredible, it's almost like a timewarp slingshot of some sort that makes u feel futuristic and historical all in one with the way he mixes old with new. Wow! I really enjoyed adding some Southern H-Town Purple flavor to it."

DOWNLOAD OG RON C'S PURPLE ALL DAY

Girl Talk is playing festivals and shows all over North America this summer and fall. Anyone who saw Girl Talk play around the release of All Day, or even in the last few months, will experience a range of brand new material and a new visual show. Tour dates are below.

Furthermore, in response to recent discussion in the media over live electronic music performance and inquiries via Facebook and Twitter, Gregg has decided to give an overview of his own techniques. Read this statement from Gregg Gillis regarding the Girl Talk live show below.

GREGG GILLIS EXPLAINS GIRL TALK LIVE SHOW:

I've been seeing a continuous discussion over the last couple of weeks about live electronic performance. I'm not really interested in debating anyone's points, but I thought I'd break down my own approach. I've gone over various aspects of this countless times in interviews, so this is nothing new, really, but I thought it might be helpful to clearly lay it out in one place.

I want to start off with some history of the project in order to provide some context. Prior to doing music and shows under the name Girl Talk, I was in some electronic-based bands, playing things like synthesizers and circuit-bent toys. This was in the late 90's. I didn't have my own laptop yet, but it was becoming more widespread as an instrument in the experimental electronic scene. I saw a variety of people use them live, ranging from Pittsburgh computer rock heroes Operation Re-Information to Austrian glitch artist Fennesz. I got my first laptop for college in 2000, and I decided to start a solo project called Girl Talk based around it. I wanted to do something that was entirely sample-based, influenced by audio collage artists like John Oswald, The Bomb Squad, and Kid 606.

I started to mess around with Audiomulch software (which I still use live today) and discovered ways to process sounds and trigger samples in real-time. I started playing shows within a few months. I never played at dance clubs, raves, or with DJs (sometimes someone would be playing some songs in between bands, but this was typically off to the side). Even though my music is made entirely out of samples, the goal has always been to make something transformative, something that could be considered a new entity. The shows I played were always at venues that had live music. The other artists could be electronic, punk, rap, whatever, but it was always live. These are the type of shows where you get on stage, it's silent, everyone is looking at you, and you perform. During the first few years of doing the project, I toured the country a few times. My friends (who also did various electronic music projects) and I would book shows anywhere that would have us, and we'd be lucky if we ever made gas money. It was always a blast.

The primary purpose of mentioning this background is to highlight the fact that a laptop was my instrument of choice before starting the project. I looked up to those artists I saw performing live on computers and wanted to do that. It wasn't like I produced a bunch of music, then had to figure out a way to perform it. The live sample-triggering and digital signal processing was how I arranged the collages in the first place. I never aspired to be a DJ in traditional terms. No disrespect to the DJ world at all, it just wasn't my scene. I was coming from the subculture of glitch and IDM, where nearly everyone I saw perform would be doing some form of live sound manipulation on a computer.

OK, with that out of the way, I'll go into a basic description of how I play live. Here's a video where I go through most things I'll mention here.

Every sample is triggered by hand. Every element is as isolated possible. In an hour of a typical set, there's probably somewhere between 300-400 samples. When you're hearing a drum beat, it's possible there may be three loops: 1) kick and snare together, 2) hand clap, and 3) hi-hat. So you could be hearing the kick and snare playing a rhythm and when the hand clap comes in, that's me clicking that sample. Likewise, every individual melody part is isolated. You could hear the piano from Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" playing, then transition into the piano with bass behind it, and then transition into a part with piano, bass, and singing. Those would be three individual loops and in order for that sequence to happen, I would click the new sample when I wanted that part to play. Multiple elements are combined into a single loop only when it's impossible for me to play the individual parts in a way that I feel is adequate. When I occasionally step away from the computer, the music will not progress forward; it will endlessly loop. You will never see me stage diving or with my hands in the air during transitional moments. I need to manually trigger all of the individual elements of that particular section in order for it to occur. The loops are quantized when initially assembling them to allow for beat-matching.

The set is mapped out in advance, in an ideal way that I want to get through it, and I will have it memorized. It almost never goes down exactly how I planned though. Mistakes happen or sometimes I feel like changing something up. At any given moment, I can skip over a part, repeat something more than I had rehearsed, or change the arrangements. There is some variation every night, even when I'm attempting to play the same material.

We have a video component to the show, but it is not sync'd up to a SMPTE feed. It is triggered live by the guy who also is doing my lights in real-time, Ben Silverstein. Rachael Johnston develops videos content, based around short audio clips I send to her. These visuals are built around the ideal way I want to play that particular part. If something changes on the spot, it's up to Ben to recognize this and improvise.

I make small changes to the set often. I will substitute a new part in for something that I don't feel like playing anymore. If I want to include a new section, I will have to develop a transition in and out of it. Creating the new material and becoming familiar with executing it live can be time-consuming, which is why I am usually only able to change a couple minutes per week. The set is made up of enough loops and samples that I need to constantly rehearse in order to keep all the details fresh in my mind. Typically on the day of the show, if there is any new material involved, I will spend minimally 2 hours practicing before the performance.

If you sat someone down in front of my laptop and gave them a quick demonstration on how to trigger samples, then yes, they would be able to learn to play parts of the live material. I do think it would be an extremely difficult task to memorize and execute the entire set though. Most of my time and effort goes into actually developing the material: cutting up all of the samples and going through the trial and error process of finding combinations that work. By the time it gets to the live set, it's already written. Anyone with a fundamental understanding of playing the guitar can learn how to play "Smoke On The Water," that doesn't mean that Deep Purple writing/playing that song is any less entertaining/valuable/awesome.

To reiterate, this was not meant to call anyone out or to start arguments. Everyone has their own approach to performing live electronic music, and I respect that. There is no right or wrong way to do it. I've been playing my laptop live for 12 years. Thanks to everyone who has made that possible!

GIRL TALK TOUR DATES:

Sat. July 14 - Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival

Sun. July 22 - Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival

Sun. July 29 - New York, NY @ Catalpa NYC Music Festival

Thu. Aug. 2 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom

Sat. Aug. 4 - New Braunfels, TX @ Whitewater on the Horseshoe

Thu. Aug. 16 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre

Fri. Aug. 17 - Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion

Sat. Aug. 18 - Holyoke, MA @ Mountain Park

Thu. Aug. 23 - Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Outer Harbor

Sat. Aug. 25 - St. Louis, MO @ LouFest 2012

Sat. Sep. 1 - Chicago, IL @ North Coast Music Festival

Tue. Sep. 4 - Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Centre

Wed. Sep. 5 - Calgary, AB @ Flames Central

Fri. Sep. 7 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom [SOLD OUT]

Sat. Sep. 8 - Portland, OR @ MusicFest NW

Wed. Sep. 19 - Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion

Thu. Sep. 20 - Raleigh, NC @ Longbranch

Fri. Sep. 21 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues

Sat. Sep. 22 - Atlanta, GA @ Music Midtown

Tue. Oct. 9 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

Wed. Oct. 10 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater

Thu. Oct. 11 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

Sat. Oct. 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 11:56 am

AC Entertainment is proud to announce the line up for the third annual Moogfest, the festival of electronic and visionary music that celebrates the innovative spirit of Bob Moog. Taking place on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27, 2012 in the city Bob Moog called home, Moogfest 2012 continues building on its exciting reinvention of the Moogfest concept and features its most distinctly invigorating lineup to date. Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 10 at Noon EST via www.moogfest.comComprised of a diverse yet synergistic group of inspired performers, the 2012 Moogfest lineup includes Primus 3D, a stop on the first ever traveling 3D-enhanced live musical tour, Swedish electro-pop wonders Miike Snow, the electrifying Santigold as well as rare U.S. performances from some of electronic music's most forward thinking artists including: Orbital, Richie Hawtin, Squarepusher, Carl Craig and Pantha du Prince. Hip-hop is showcased by GZA, presenting his classic, Liquid Swords, El-P and Killer Mike. Notables also confirmed are: the legendary Thomas Dolby, Explosions In The Sky, Divine Fits, Four Tet, the Magnetic Fields, Prefuse 73 with Teebs as well as some of the hottest newcomers to electronic music such as Actress, Disclosure, Juila Holter and Blondes. A full lineup is below.These artists will perform at venues throughout beautiful downtown Asheville, including the U.S. Cellular Center,which includes the ExploreAsheville.com arena (formerly the Asheville Civic Center Arena) and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Moogfest will also be utilizing other venues in Asheville, including the Orange Peel (named by Rolling Stone as one of the best clubs in the country) and the more intimate Asheville Music Hall.Weekend passes, daily GA tickets and VIP packages for Moogfest 2012 will go on sale Friday, August 10 at Noon EST exclusively at www.moogfest.com.Moogfest is produced in conjunction with Moog Music, the City of Asheville and directly benefits the Bob Moog Foundation.Visit www.moogfest.com for more information on this year's event.

Tue, 09/25/2012 - 10:56 am

The culmination of summer means annual fall highlight, Moogfest 2012, the festival of electronic and visionary music that celebrates the innovative spirit of Bob Moog, is just around the corner! With one month to go, we are excited to share the schedule for this year's festival, taking place Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 in beautiful Asheville, NC.  In addition to the schedule, we have much more Moogfest-related news to share.As previously announced, this year's many acts will perform at venues throughout charming downtown Asheville, including the U.S. Cellular Center, which includes the ExploreAsheville.com arena (formerly the Asheville Civic Center Arena) and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, the Orange Peel, Diana Wortham Theater,and Asheville Music Hall. You can see the entire schedule for both days here: www.moogfest.com.

Thu, 11/01/2012 - 12:57 pm

Moogfest 2012 is over, but the memory doesn't need to fade! NPR Music made it out again this year, and they've recapped their highlights, as well as documented some select performances from the festival. Listen as Bob Boilen and Sami Yenigun talk about their personal favorites and what they think makes Moogfest such a unique and extraordinary event. Their coverage includes full sets by Morton Subotnick, Andy Stott, Richie Hawtin, and Disclosure.

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Listen to All Songs Considered's "The Best of Moogfest 2012" episode.

Listen to sets from Moogfest 2011 & 2012 here.

Fri, 11/16/2012 - 5:21 pm

Copenhagen's Iceage released one of the most exciting and lauded albums of the last couple of years with their outstanding debut, New Brigade. Following two years of intense touring in support of New Brigade, the Danish four-piece have announced they are signing with Matador Records and releasing their sophomore album on February 19th! Escho will release the record in Denmark. Iceage shared the news earlier this morning via their website, and now Matador presents it as well. Further news surrounding the follow up to New Brigade will be revealed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, revisit what made Iceage one of the most talked about bands of the last couple of years below... And for those in the UK, be sure to catch them on the road later this month.--Iceage Tour Dates:Nov. 21 - Belfast, UK @ LimelightNov. 22 - Dublin, IRL @ Academy 2Nov. 23 - Manchester, UK @ Soup KitchenNov. 24 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Third DoorNov. 25 - York, UK @ StereoNov. 26 - Wrexham, UK @ Central StationNov. 27 - Nottingham, UK @ BodegaNov. 28 - Bristol, UK @ CroftNov. 29 - London, UK @ Hoxton Bar and KitchenNov 30. - Brighton, UK @ Green Door StoreDec. 1 - Oxford, UK @ CellarDec. 14 - Copenhagen, DK @ Mayhem w/ Lower Dec. 15 - Arhus, DK @ Splab w/ Lower

Thu, 11/29/2012 - 10:56 am

It's been a charmed few weeks for 21-year-old Australian producer Flume. His self-titled debut album reached #1 on the Australian iTunes album charts (overtaking One Direction) and he's still sitting at #2, right ahead of Taylor Swift! Now that he has, for all intents and purposes, conquered that continent, we are pleased to reveal a new track off the album, which is slated for a 2013 physical release in the US. Big things are stirring and Flume's potential seems limitless, so as a vital new talent takes our shores by storm, we don't blame you if you get "Star Eyes.""'Star Eyes' reflects the fleeting, soaring romantic sentiments its name implies." - Pitchfork

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 1:16 pm

The big news keeps coming with Sharon Van Etten. After completing her final U.S. tour of 2012 in support of Tramp, which culminated with a very special Town Hall show featuring guests including Thurston Moore, Aaron Dessner, Jenn Wasner, Brad Cook, and Peter Silbermann, and releasing the deluxe edition of Tramp a couple of weeks back, Sharon is honored to announce she'll be touring this spring with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds! The North American tour kicks off in Dallas on March 14th and currently runs through April 3rd in Denver. Tickets go on sale on Thu. Dec. 6th at 10am local time. Dates are below. Also, on Wed. Jan. 16th, Sharon will join John Cale at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for Life Along the Borderline: A Tribute to Nico.

Additionally, fans of Boardwalk Empire, perhaps you heard Ms. Van Etten's stunning rendition of Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do," on last night's season finale? We won't share any spoilers, but she performed it with a full orchestra a few months ago and it played during an epic scene with Boardwalk favorite, Richard Harrow.

In the meantime, keep an eye out as Tramp is landing on a slew of year-end lists. It's only Dec. 3rd and already Uncut, MOJO, NME, The Fly, and Paste have recognized it as one of the year's best. Much more is sure to come!

SHARON VAN ETTEN TOUR DATES

(* with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds)

Mon. Dec. 3 - London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire

Sun. Dec. 9 - Cardiff, UK @ Glee Club

Sat. Dec. 29 - Lorne, AU @ Falls Festival

Sun. Dec. 30 - Melbourne, AU @ The Corner

Mon. Dec. 31 - Marion Bay, AU @ Falls Festival

Wed. Jan. 2 - Brisbane, AU @ The Zoo

Fri. Jan. 4 - Busselton, AU @ Southbound Festival

Sun. Jan. 6 - Sydney, AU @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney Festival

Tue. Jan. 8 - Sydney, AU @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney Festival

Wed. Jan. 9 - Sydney, AU @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney Festival

Thu. March 14 - Dallas, TX @ McFarlin Memorial Auditorium *

Sat. March 16 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium *

Sun. March 17 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *

Tue. March 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre *

Wed. March 20 - Bethesda, MD @ Music Center at Strathmore *

Fri. March 22 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis *

Sat. March 23 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall *

Sun. March 24 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre *

Thu. March 28 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre *

Fri. March 29 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre *

Mon. April 1 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre *

Wed. April 3 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre *

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 5:38 pm

Following a sold-out tour of select US cities this fall, British four-piece Django Django will return stateside for a coast-to-coast tour in support of their self-titled, debut album, out now on Ribbon Music. The band will make first time appearances in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, Portland amongst many others. Catch Django Django this spring and witness why they are becoming a favorite of so many. This band has a very bright future ahead!   Django Django's US tour was announced earlier this morning via Stereogum, which also premiered The Very Best remix of "Life's A Beach." Yesterday, the "Life's A Beach" video,directed by Isaac Eastgate, debuted onEntertainment Weekly. A special "Life's A Beach" single bundle, featuring The Very Best Remix plus an additional remix by Priests of Sound by Steve Mason is now available on iTunes.Finally, XPN will be broadcasting Django Django's World Café interview and performance today. Stream it live from 2-4pm ET here or find it online later, here.DJANGO DJANGO TOUR DATES:(new dates in bold)Sat. Dec. 8 - Lisbon, PT @ Vodafone MEXE FestivalFri. Dec. 21 - London, UK @ Shepeherds Bush EmpireSat. Dec. 29 - Lorne Victoria, AU @ Falls FestivalMon. Dec. 31 - Marion Bay, Tasmania, AU @ Falls FestivalTue. Jan. 1 - Sydney, AU @ Field Day FestivalFri. Jan. 4 - Busselton, AU @ Southbound FestivalThu. Jan. 10 - Brisbane, AU @ The ZooFri. Jan. 11 - Sydney, AU @ The MetroSat. Jan. 12 - Melbourne, AU @ The Hi-FiThu. Feb. 7 - Newcastle, UK @ Academy *Fri. Feb. 8 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 1 *Sat. Feb. 9 - Leeds, UK @ Academy *Mon. Feb. 11 - Glasgow, UK @ Academy *Tue. Feb. 12 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City *Wed. Feb. 13 - Liverpool, UK @ Academy *Fri. Feb. 15 - Norwich, UK @ UEA *Sat. Feb. 16 - Birmingham, UK @ Academy *Sun. Feb. 17 - Cardiff, UK @ Uni Great Hall *Tue. Feb. 19 - Bristol, UK @ Academy *Wed. Feb. 20 - Bournemouth, UK @ Academy *Thu. Feb. 21 - Brighton, UK @ Dome *Sat. Feb. 23 - Brixton, UK @ Academy *Wed. March 6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of WilliamsburgThu. March 7 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of WilliamsburgFri. March 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union TransferSat. March 9 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 ClubMon. March 11 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock ClubTue. March 12 - Toronto, ON @ Opera HouseWed. March 13 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music HallFri. March 15 - Chicago, IL @ Cabaret MetroSat. March 16 - Minneapolis, MN @ First AveTue. March 19 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune BallroomWed. March 20 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir LoungeFri. March 22 - San Francisco, CA @ Public WorksSat. March 23 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre * NME Awards Tour w/ Miles Kane, Palma Violets, Peace

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 5:48 pm

C Entertainment announced today that it will rename its multi-day electronic music festival in Asheville, NC, as the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit for 2013, continuing to build on the success of the past three years when the event has been produced as Moogfest."The fans have embraced the festival with overwhelming enthusiasm during the past three years. They love the music, they love Asheville, and we are committed to continuing to evolve with them to create the very best festival experience that we can imagine, " says AC Entertainment CEO, Ashley Capps.From 2010 through 2012, Moogfest presented some of the greatest names in electronic music, hosting such artists as Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Orbital, Tangerine Dream, Jonsi, Richie Hawtin, Carl Craig, Brian Eno, and dozens of others. The event has featured educational panels, workshops, talks, installations, and art exhibitions in addition to numerous musical performances. Along the way the festival has received international acclaim from many publications, including NPR Music, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.The re-naming of the festival comes in the wake of Moog Music Inc. electing not to re-license the Moogfest name to AC Entertainment. "We received a letter from them following this year's festival, so we have no choice really but to re-name it. We have enjoyed booking, marketing and producing our event for our fans and want to continue with them on this creative journey," explains Capps."We're taking this opportunity to rethink the event a bit and challenge ourselves. While we are still focused on Halloween weekend, that time of year has its difficulties and we've been encouraged to consider other options. This part of the world is a very special place - hence the name, Mountain Oasis. We're proud of what we've accomplished so far, and there's so much more to explore."Details about Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit will be released in 2013.

Fri, 12/21/2012 - 10:46 am

The 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival will return to Chicago's Union Park for an eighth year on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21. The independently run, three-day event offers a cutting-edge lineup along with one of the most inviting, reasonably priced and rewarding weekends of music around. We are extremely excited to share this year's lineup, details of which will be announced early next year.Don't know what to get that special someone with discerning music taste for the holidays? This year, the festival is offering a limited amount of three-day passes starting at the very low price of $95 going on sale today, December 21. Once sold out, three-day passes will be available at the regular price of $120 and single day tickets will be available for $50 each. Three-day passes always sell out very quickly, so act fast!For the full price three-day pass, the festival is offering a special layaway program that allows purchasers to obtain the pass spread out over three payments.Pitchfork is the essential guide to independent music and beyond. With more than four million unique readers and 40 million page views per month, the site has earned an extremely loyal following and a reputation as being the world's most trusted music publication.Visit www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com and www.facebook.com/pitchforkmusicfestival for more information.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:17 am

The 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival is incredibly excited to announce R. Kelly, Bjork, and Belle & Sebastian will be headlining this year's festival. The full lineup, which will include dozens of acts, will be announced over the coming weeks. Follow @pitchforkfest for the latest news, announcements and exclusive content.The festival takes place Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 21 at Chicago's Union Park. In its eighth year, the independently run, three-day event continues to be one of the most inviting, reasonably priced and exciting weekends of music around, offering a cutting edge and thoughtfully curated lineup featuring both emerging and already beloved and internationally renowned acts.Three-day passes are currently on sale for $120 and single day tickets are available for $50 each. Three-day passes sell out very quickly so don't delay! As previously mentioned, for the full price three-day pass, the festival is offering a special layaway program that allows fans to purchase the pass in three installments. PURCHASE PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKETS HERE:http://tktwb.tw/Vnn09y In addition to its musical offerings, the Pitchfork Music Festival also features a wide array of other activities. The fest not only supports local businesses and economy with its 50 individual vendors and specialty fairs, but also promotes the Chicago arts community as a whole to its 50,000 attendees of all ages from all over the world.

Wed, 02/20/2013 - 12:13 pm

Pickathon is turning 15 and, like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better! Happening Friday, August 2nd - Sunday, August 4th at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, OR (a mere 15 minutes from downtown Portland), this year promises to be the best ever. Since day one, the idea behind Pickathon has always been pretty simple: what does it take to be the best weekend festival of the year for music lovers? This question has driven Pickathon to highly refine an experience that has few peers.Innovation has always been at the center of this process and through the years many important elements have come together; collaborating widely on yearly diverse lineups that are built on the idea of great music being the sole criteria; refining six unique performance venues designed to create juxtaposing alternate realities; trusting important decisions can be discussed and made with our online community such as maintaining a low crowd density; becoming the only large music festival to eliminate plastic and minimize single use items; recruiting the finest food and drink purveyors in the land; focusing constantly on eliminating "normal" festival hassles, and the list goes on.This year's lineup is truly a high point in Pickathon's existence. We are pleased to welcome Feist, Andrew Bird, Divine Fits, Sharon Van Etten, The Devil Makes Three, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Vieux Farka Touré, Howe Gelb, Lady, Shabazz Palaces, The Felice Brothers, Tift Merritt, Wayne Hancock, Marco Benevento, The Lone Bellow, Dale Watson, Foxygen, Parquet Courts, Breathe Owl Breathe, White Fence, Yellowbirds, and so much more! The full lineup is below (though there might be a few surprises along the way, so stay tuned). Also, remember, each band is at the festival for two days, playing two sets on two of six very unique stages! Where else can you see a band play an outdoor festival set in front of thousands and the next night, witness the same band in a sweaty and rollicking rock club environment? Only at Pickathon.Pickathon founder Zale Schoenborn spoke with SPIN Magazine, which premiered the lineup this morning along with the interview. Read more about what makes year 15 special on SPIN.com.Watch the Pickathon 2013 festival teaser here.Tickets are on-sale today! Purchase them here.PICKATHON 2013 LINE-UPFeistAndrew BirdDivine FitsThe Devil Makes ThreeKurt Vile & The ViolatorsSharon Van EttenShabazz PalacesSallie Ford & The Sound OutsideVieux Farka TouréHowe GelbLadyThe Felice BrothersTift MerrittThe Lone BellowDale WatsonFoxygenWayne HancockMarco BeneventoGinny HawkerParquet CourtsKing TuffBreathe Owl BreatheLake Street DiveDirk PowellLightning DustCedric Watson & Bijou CreoleJD McPhersonWhite FenceShinyribsYellowbirdsFoghorn StringbandShakey GravesCaleb Klauder Country BandBradford Lee Folk & The Bluegrass PlayboysI Draw SlowLeo RondeauMalcolm HolcombePure Bathing CultureSturgill SimpsonOld LightThe Cactus BlossomsPharis & Jason RomeoPickathon Squaredance with Caller Caroline Oakley

Thu, 03/21/2013 - 1:37 pm

For RocketNumberNine, capturing the spirit of the music is paramount and with their debut album, MeYouWeYou, the London-based Page brothers - Tom (drums) and Ben (synths) -- invite you into their tribal Chingford roots, taking music forwards to reach where it came from. This is hard hitting, modern dance music played live without a single click track in sight. With a name taken from a song by space jazz crusader Sun Ra and musical influences from Detroit to London to Africa and beyond, RocketNumberNine, have spent the last eight years shaping, breaking and squeezing their sound into what it is today.Before we get to today, let's revisit the musical journey that got them here. While working with legendary drummer Steve Reid, Tom met Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) resulting in the band going on a short tour with Four Tet. By the end of this run, Kieran decided he must produce and release the bands 14 minute "Matthew & Toby" via his TEXT label. It was recorded and mixed in a day without so much as a sniff of a computer -- a refreshing approach from the producer renowned for his electronic productions! This kick started a new era for RocketNumberNine as it saw them moving away from improvisation and condensing their electronic dance punk jazz mash up into bite sized chunks. Soon after, an early live collaboration with Four Tet and RocketNumberNine caught the attention of Thom Yorke who invited them to open for Radiohead at The Roseland Ballroom in New York in late 2011. At those shows, material started to take shape for what would later become the first collaborative release from RocketNumberNine and Four Tet, the "Roseland"/"Metropolis" 12"(TEXT023).This brings us to the present. The TEXT release has just hit, rumors are floating of a new collaboration with the enigmatic Miss Neneh Cherry, and, a long time coming, on May 21, 2013, their debut full-length, MeYouWeYouis finally going to be released by Smalltown Supersound. 2013 appears to be the year RocketNumberNine crosses out of the shadows surrounding the darkest of live dance music over into the light that is the infamy of wider adulation. Thom Yorke, Four Tet, Gilles Peterson and Caribou can't all be wrong!

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 2:05 pm

Pickathon 2013 (aka Pickathon's 15TH ANNIVERSARY!) is creeping closer by the day, so naturally this means there is more exciting news to share! We're thrilled to announce the addition of Ty Segall, The Relatives, and Jessica Pratt to this year's lineup! Where else but Pickathon can you find the crown prince of California garage rock on the same bill as Dallas gospel legends and a tranquil folk chanteuse?  These artists, alongside forty-four others will spread out for two sets each amongst seven dreamlike stages over three unbelievable days.Also, today we're pleased to present the first episode from PICKATHON TV! Highlighting what one could expect to encounter while at this years Pickathon, episode one is packed with amazing footage culled from the efforts of over 200 volunteers, artists, directors, and producers. A mere peek at the 2012 festival with a variety of artist interviews, shorts, and performances by Heartless Bastards, Blitzen Trapper, Thee Oh Sees, Lake Street Dive, Y La Bamba, Los Cojolites, and more!Watch episode one, premiered today on KEXP's Youtube channel.Weekend Tickets for Pickathon are limited but still available with no more than 3500 being sold in 2013! Purchase tickets here: http://pickathon.com/ticketsWATCH EPISODE ONE OF PICKATHON TV HERE - http://youtu.be/Cg9GIsBNnfcSUBSCRIBE TO PICKATHON'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE - http://bit.ly/15A5lCtWatch the teaser for Pickathon 2013 here - http://youtu.be/y2LYdW6PVr4PICKATHON 2013 LINE-UPFeistAndrew BirdDivine FitsThe Devil Makes ThreeTy Segall**Kurt Vile & The ViolatorsSharon Van EttenShabazz PalacesSallie Ford & The Sound OutsideVieux Farka TouréHowe GelbLadyThe Felice BrothersTift MerrittThe Lone BellowDale WatsonFoxygenWayne HancockMarco BeneventoGinny HawkerParquet CourtsKing TuffThe Relatives**Breathe Owl BreatheLake Street DiveLightning DustCedric Watson & Bijou CreoleJD McPhersonWhite FenceShinyribsYellowbirdsJessica Pratt**Foghorn StringbandShakey GravesCaleb Klauder Country BandBradford Lee Folk & The Bluegrass PlayboysI Draw SlowLeo RondeauMalcolm HolcombePure Bathing CultureSturgill SimpsonOld LightThe Cactus BlossomsPharis & Jason RomeroPickathon Squaredance with Caller Caroline OakleyPICKATHON FOR KIDSDiane FerlatteCardboard SongstersCat DoormanCircus CascadiaTrackers Earth** new additions

Tue, 04/30/2013 - 9:24 am

AC Entertainment is proud to announce the initial line up for the 2013 Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit, slated for the weekend of October 25 - 27 in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC. Nine Inch Nails, Bassnectar, and Pretty Lights will headline the three-day weekend, which also will feature a performance by Neutral Milk Hotel, who have not played live since 1998. Additionally, Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum is curating the night of music surrounding the band's performance, including special guests Daniel Johnston and Half Japanese.Other artists confirmed for this year's initial Mountain Oasis 2013 line up: the avant-rock Animal Collective, Trent Reznor's new project How To Destroy Angels, electronic rock legend Gary Numan, Montreal-based post-rock visionaries Godspeed You! Black Emperor, producer/rapper and "trip hop" pioneer Tricky, the powerful collaboration between Zola Jesus and JG Thirwell which debuted last spring at the Guggenheim Museum, electro-pop diva Jessie Ware, legendary electro-producer The Bug, and electronica pioneers Silver Apples along with a vital sampling of who's who of the new wave in electronica including Disclosure, Rustie, Chromatics, Robert DeLong, Jacques Greene, and Bondax.Additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks, with some 50 - 60 artists slated to perform in October.Weekend passes for Mountain Oasis 2013 will go on sale Thursday, May 2, at 12 Noon Eastern Time exclusively at www.mountainoasisfestival.com.The Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit is a 3-day music festival staged in the heart of downtown Asheville, NC. The vision and programming philosophy behind Mountain Oasis celebrates the creative spirit of musical exploration, along with the innovative spark that fuels all of the arts. Woven around the twin threads of contemporary electronic music and the creative use of technology - old and new - the festival features world-class musical performances by many of the greatest artists in contemporary music, along with talks, seminars, and panels by artists and others; interactive experiences for audiences; art installations and exhibitions and more.The events all take place indoors, within easy walking distance of one another, in the heart of downtown Asheville - in venues ranging from the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, both housed under one roof at the U.S. Cellular Center, to the world-renown music club, the Orange Peel; the beautiful performing arts space, the Diana Wortham Theatre; and in the intimate, high energyAsheville Music Hall. The mountain oasis that is Asheville provides extraordinary inspiration as a stunningly beautiful and unique setting for the festival. Both its rich cultural history and its current innovative vitality are inseparable from the Mountain Oasis experience.Please visit www.mountainoasisfestival.com for updates and additional information about Mountain Oasis 2013.2013 Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit Lineup (So Far):Nine Inch NailsBassnectarPretty Lights An evening with Neutral Milk Hotel and special guests Daniel Johnston and Half JapaneseAnimal CollectiveHow To Destroy AngelsGary NumanGodspeed You! Black EmperorTrickyDisclosureChromaticsZola Jesus and JG ThirlwellThe BugJessie WareRustieRobert DelongBosnian RainbowsJacques Greene BondaxSilver Apples

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 12:58 pm

Andy Kaufman changed the worlds of comedy and performance in the 1970s, showing fans and friends alike a determination to follow put-ons into territory no one had ever even considered "comic" before. His fervor was so intense that when he passed away suddenly in 1984, it seemed as if the ultimate disappearing act had been staged; one that some people believe is still ongoing, with the reveal soon to come. Among the many things that Andy achieved in his lifetime (and in the years following), a phonograph album release, the staple of stand-up comedians in his time, never happened - until now. Andy and His Grandmother is material never heard before, a skimming from 82 hours of micro-cassette tapes that Andy recorded during 1977-79. Andy regarded the micro-tape recorder as a fantastic new way of capturing his hoaxing, and carried it with him everywhere, for use at any given moment. Real life was the ultimate frontier for him, and these tapes demonstrate the heart of Andy's comedy. With gusto, he involves those closest to him, as well as total strangers, in put-ons, falsehoods and other provocations, pushing the limit on logic and emotional investment in everyday situations from the trivial to the deeply personal until any suspension of disbelief is out of the question for all involved, and everyone becomes fully immersed in whatever scenario Andy is suggesting as the new reality. With so much material on hand, Drag City turned to a writer, producer and comedian whose resume indicated to us that he was a true child of Kaufman's twisted talent. Since the late 90s, Vernon Chatman's work has been experienced by television viewers and aficionados of South Park, Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, The Heart She Holler, and Doggie Fizzle Televizzle, as well as fans of the Drag City DVD release Final Flesh. Vernon dug deeply into the tapes, working with editor Rodney Ascher (director of the notorious, controversial, and even acclaimed Room 237 documentary) to come up with a concept for a single LP that would include several dozen excerpts. Along the way, Vernon produced several tracks, adding effects to pieces that were clearly unfinished (in particular, "Sleep Comedy") and drafting SNL's Bill Hader to provide narration for the journey. The finished album, with liner notes from Vernon and Kaufman cohort Bob Zmuda is a work of comedy for our times - one that was performed over thirty years ago. Andy And His Grandmother is out July 16th on Drag City.TRACK LIST1. Andy Is Making A Record2. Andy And His Grandmother3. Andy's Land Live4. Andy Loves His Tape Recorder5. Slice Of Life6. Andy Goes To the Movies7. Kick In the Pants8. Andy Can Talk to Animals9. I'm Not Capable Of Having A Relationship10. Hookers11. Andy And His Grandmother Go For A Drive12. Sleep Comedy13. [HONK] vs. [DOG] A14. [HONK] vs. [DOG] B15. Andy Goes For A Taxi Ride16. Andy's English Friend Paul17. I Want Those Tapes

Tue, 05/28/2013 - 10:19 am

The first sound on Immunity is that of a key turning, unlocking the door into Jon Hopkins' East London studio. It's followed by the noise of the door slamming, then footsteps, and then finally the crisp, clipping rhythms and pulsating bass of "We Disappear" emerge. So begins a confident, dramatic record defined by an acute sense of physicality and place; a bold statement after the quiet, intimate Diamond Mine, his Mercury-nominated 2011 collaboration with King Creosote.From the moment you hear that key turn in the lock, Immunity announces itself as a powerful, multi-faceted beast, packed with the most dance-focused music Hopkins has ever made. Inspired by the arc of an epic night out, it feels like the hypnotic accompaniment to a journey of creativity, a trip inside Hopkins' mind, using analog synthesis alongside manipulations of physical, real-world sounds to make dance music that feels as natural and unforced as possible. Listen to Immunity in its entirety now via NPR Music's "First Listen" series.Jon Hopkins will play his first headlining show in New York on Tue. June 4th at Glasslands, and he'll return to New York in August for the PS1 Warm Up Series.JON HOPKINS' TOUR DATES:Fri. May 31 - Montreal, QC @ Mutek [Metropolis]Tue. June 4 - Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands w/ SFC Acid (live), Octo Octa [Buy Tix]Wed. June 12 - London, UK @ Village Underground~Thu. June 13 - Barcelona, ES @ Leisure SystemSun. June 23 - Westmeath, IE @ Body & oulWed. June 26 - Paris, FR @ La Point EphemereThu. June 27 - Lille, FR @ La PenicheSat. June 29 - Derry, IE @ Celtronic FestivalSat. July 6 - Amsterdam, NL @ Pitch FestivalFri. July 19 - Gente, BE @ 10 Days Off FestivalFri. Aug. 16 - Berlin, DE @ BerghainSat. Aug. 17 - Wales, UK @ Green Man FestivalFri. Aug. 23 - Katowice, PL @ Nowa MusykaSat. Aug. 31 - New York, NY @ PS1 Warm UpFri. Sep. 6 - Isle of Wight, UK @ BestivalSat. Sep. 21 - London, UK @ KokoThu. Oct. 3 - Bologna, IT @ Robot FestivalWed. Oct. 23 - Graz, SU @ ElevantThu. Oct. 26 - Munich, DE @ Münchner Kammerspiele ~ w/ The Field (support/solo live show), Nathan Fake (support/DJ set)

Mon, 06/03/2013 - 12:53 pm

The 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival, happening Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 21 at Chicago's Union Park, has officially sold out of three-day passes. In its commitment to presenting one of the most exciting, inviting and affordable weekends of music around, in its eighth year, the festival offered the opportunity to purchase more three-day passes than ever before. Those have now all been spoken for, however single-day passes are still available for $50 each. As the summer's most adventurous music festival, featuring an extremely diverse group of established legends, including Belle & Sebastian, R. Kelly, The Breeders, Wire, Swans, Björk, Yo La Tengo, and emerging artists, such as Savages, Disclosure, Autre Ne Veut, Metz, Mikal Cronin, Foxygen, Tree, and Angel Olsen, those single-day passes will be gone quickly! Details surrounding this year's specialty fairs, plus food and drink vendors will be announced in the coming weeks.THE 2013 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP:FridayBjörkJoanna NewsomWireWoodsMikal CroninAngel OlsenMac DeMarcoDaughn GibsonTrash TalkFrankie RoseSaturdayBelle & SebastianSolangeThe Breeders play Last SplashSavagesSwansRustieLow...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of DeadPhosphorescentAndy StottPissed JeansRyan HemsworthJulia HolterParquet CourtsMerchandiseMetzKen ModeWhite LungSundayR. KellyM.I.A.Yo La TengoLil BToro Y MoiTNGHTEl-PKiller MikeChairliftFoxygenSky FerreiraGlass CandyAutre Ne VeutEvian ChristWaxahatcheeBlood OrangeDJ RashadTree

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 11:14 am

As the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival, happening July 19-21 at Chicago's Union Park, is just one month away, we're excited to announce this year's schedule! In its eighth year, the festival remains committed to presenting one of the most exciting, inviting and affordable weekends of music around. Three-day passes are now sold out but single-day passes are still available for $50 each.2013 PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:FRIDAY, JULY 19 - gates at 3pm8:30pm - (Green) Björk7:20pm - (Red) Joanna Newsom6:25pm - (Green) Wire6:15pm - (Blue) Mikal Cronin5:30pm - (Red) Woods5:15pm - (Blue) Angel Olsen4:35pm - (Green) Mac DeMarco4:15pm - (Blue) Trash Talk3:30pm - (Red) Daughn Gibson3:20pm - (Blue) Frankie Rose SATURDAY, JULY 20 - gates at 12pm8:45pm - (Blue) Rustie8:30pm - (Green) Belle & Sebastian7:45pm - (Blue) Andy Stott7:25pm - (Red) Solange6:45pm - (Blue) Low6:15pm - (Green) The Breeders play Last Splash5:45pm - (Blue) Ryan Hemsworth5:15pm - (Red) Swans4:45pm - (Blue) Metz4:15pm - (Green) Savages3:45pm - (Blue) Merchandise3:20pm - (Red) ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead2:50pm - (Blue) Parquet Courts2:30pm - (Green) Phosphorescent1:55pm - (Blue) Julia Holter1:45pm - (Red) Pissed Jeans1:00pm - (Blue) KEN Mode1:00pm - (Green) White Lung SUNDAY, JULY 21 - gates at 12pm8:45pm - (Blue) TNGHT8:30pm - (Green) R. Kelly7:45pm - (Blue) Glass Candy7:25pm - (Red) MIA6:45pm - (Blue) Evian Christ6:15pm - (Green) Toro Y Moi5:45pm - (Blue) Chairlift5:15pm - (Red) Lil B4:45pm - (Blue) Sky Ferreira4:15pm - (Green) Yo La Tengo3:45pm - (Blue) Waxahatchee3:20pm - (Red) El-P2:50pm - (Blue) Blood Orange2:30pm - (Green) Killer Mike1:55pm - (Blue) Autre Ne Veut1:45pm - (Red) Foxygen1:00pm - (Blue) DJ Rashad1:00pm - (Green) Tree

Tue, 07/09/2013 - 12:35 pm

Spanning 15 years, the recording career of RJD2 (aka RJ Krohn) is starting to exhibit the type of resilience generally reserved for golfers and bebop musicians. The relevance of this should not go unnoticed; it is increasingly rare for artists in the sphere of hip-hop and electronic music to maintain a presence this far into a career. This feat becomes even more impressive considering it was all done via independent labels. 2013 will see the release of More Is Than Isn't, his 5th proper full-length LP (7th, if you count "The Horror" EP and 2011's Inversions of the Colossus), on his own RJ's Electrical Connections imprint. But before we delve into that, perhaps a quick recap of years 1-14 is in order.RJD2's first credit as a producer appeared in 1998 on the MHz 12", "Rocket Science," via Fondle 'Em Records. Initially playing the role of a DJ/producer in a rap group, this would lay the groundwork leading to a solo record deal on Definitive Jux, the label that released RJD2's 2002 debut, Deadringer. Both a critical and commercial success, the album's single "Ghostwriter" appeared in numerous ads, television shows and movies. 2006-2007 saw both the move to XL Recordings for The Third Hand, as well as the release of Magnificent City with Aceyalone, which birthed one of the most recognizable songs in RJD2's catalog, "A Beautiful Mine." It doubles as the theme song to AMC's "Mad Men." But in 2009, the landscape of record labels had changed drastically since the previous decade. RJ forged ahead with a newly minted record label, a box set and plans for his fourth LP, The Colossus.More Is Than Isn't, his new album and the second RJD2 record on his own label, sees RJ incorporating new production techniques and approaches while still keeping an eye on the basic aesthetic that has always driven him: soulful, melodic, beat-oriented music. A largely instrumental affair, the record does feature several vocalists: Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, Foreign Exchange), Aaron Livingston (Icebird, The Roots), rappers Blueprint, P. Blackk and STS, and Khari Mateen. Conceptually, the album is tied together by three instrumental pieces that are different explorations of the same harmonic theme. It captures a dynamic range not seen before on an RJD2 album, ranging from subdued jazz-tinged pieces to bombastic club music, and a lot of funk in between. Since last releasing an album, electronic music has continued to captivate the public's interest and has showed no signs of ebbing. The continuation of this movement gave RJ reassurance in the endeavor of making instrumental music. "In ways, all of my previous albums were in some fashion striving to achieve something more than being 'just instrumental music'; this is the first RJD2 album I've made that actually revels in a relative lack of vocals," he states. The ethereal, beat-driven vibes of his debut album also make appearances now and again, with textural usage of gritty drum breaks, lush analog synths and his ever-distinctive use of the MPC sampler. This record truly is a culmination of years of experience as both a producer and composer, bringing to fruition a record that stands on its own within the landscape of electronic and hip-hop music today.More Is Than Isn't is out October 8th, 2013 on RJ's Electrical Connections.More Is Than Isn't tracklisting:01. Suite 102. Temperamental (feat. Phonte Coleman)03. Behold, Numbers!04. Her Majesty's Socialist Request05. A Lot of Night Ahead of You06. Bathwater (feat. P. Blackk)07. Milk Tooth08. Suite 209. Winter Isn't Coming10. See You Leave (feat. STS and Kari Mateen)11. Got There, Sugar?12. Love and Go (feat. Aaron Livingston)13. Descended From Myth14. Dirty Hands15. It All Came To Me In A Dream (feat. Blueprint)16. Suite 3RJD2 tour dates:Thu. July 11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Morgan's PierTue. July 16 - Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at NauticaSun. July 28 - Dufer, OR @ WTF?! What The Festival w/ Purity RingThu. Aug. 1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Morgan's Pier

Tue, 07/16/2013 - 11:29 am

It's been an exceptional few months for Jon Hopkins surrounding the release of the brilliant Immunity, out last month via Domino Records. Finally, with this new album, Hopkins is receiving the stateside recognition he has so long deserved. To give an idea, NPR Music, avid supporters of Hopkins in the past, featured the album as a "First Listen," Pitchfork bestowed a "Best New Music" upon Immunity and did a "Guest List" interview with Jon, XLR8R took an in-depth look at Hopkins through an "In The Studio" feature, the Los Angeles Times included Immunity in its "best albums of 2013 so far" list, and The New York Times recognized the album in their Sunday' "Arts & Leisure" "Playlist" column. This is merely a taste and just the beginning of the many accolades Hopkins is receiving for this powerful new album, the boldest and most dance-focused music he has ever created. It's a confident, dramatic, and multi-faceted record defined by an acute sense of physicality and place; it feels like the hypnotic accompaniment to a journey of creativity -- a trip inside Hopkins' mind, using analog synthesis alongside manipulations of physical, real-world sounds to make dance music that feels as natural as possible.Following a sold out record release show (his first headlining show in New York), Hopkins returns to North America in August to play shows including, PS1 Warmup in New York, a Montreal gig with Moderat, and two shows at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles with Purity Ring. A full list of dates is below. These LA shows continue Purity Ring and Hopkins' mutual admiration and enduring creative relationship -- Hopkins mixed Purity Ring's "Saltkin" and recently remixed the song, "Amenamy," both tracks from their album, Shrines, and in turn, Purity Ring's Megan James has added vocals to Immunity's "Breathe This Air," a new version of which will be released later this summer.JON HOPKINS TOUR DATESFri. July 19 - Gente, BE @ 10 Days Off FestivalFri. Aug. 16 - Berlin, DE @ BerghainSat. Aug. 17 - Wales, UK @ Green Man FestivalFri. Aug. 23 - Katowice, PL @ Nowa MusykaSat Aug 24 - Leeds, UK @ Leeds FestivalTue. Aug. 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre w/ Purity RingWed. Aug. 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre w/ Purity RingFri. Aug. 30 - Colonia Condesa, MX @ AM LocalSat. Aug. 31 - New York, NY @ MOMA PS1 Warmup w/ Cajmere, Liars, Lil Silva, IO Echo, MilesSat. Aug. 31 - Brooklyn, NY @ VerbotenSun. Sep. 1 - Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont @ Société Des Arts Technologies w/ ModeratFri. Sep. 6 - Isle of Wight, UK @ BestivalSat. Sep. 14 - Bozen, IT @ Transart FestivalWed. Sep. 18 - Toulouse, FR @ La DynamoThu. Sep. 19 - Nimes, FR @ Marsatac FestivalFri. Sep. 20 - Nantes, FR @ ScopitoneSat. Sep. 21 - London, UK @ KokoTue. Sep. 24 - Manchester, UK @ GorillaFri. Sep. 27 - Amsterdam, NL @ Leisure SystemSat. Sep. 28 - Brussels, BE @ Bozar Electronic Arts FestivalWed. Oct. 23 - Graz, AU @ Elevate FestivalFri. Oct. 25 - Bergen, NO @ Ekko FestivalThu. Oct. 26 - Munich, DE @ Ritournelle

Thu, 08/01/2013 - 10:38 am

Pickathon is this weekend! We're almost there! Happening August 2 - 4 at Pendarvis Farm, a mere 15 minute drive from Portland, OR, this is the festival's 15th anniversary and we wish everyone could be there and experience this momentous occasion with us. Well, in a way, that's sort of possible! Once again, Pickathon will be broadcasting performances from the farm with help from our friends at Stumptown Bliss, and we're pleased to release the schedule. If you can't attend in person (which, we'd like to reiterate, there is no true substitute for), we welcome you to join us in digital spirit as we transmit our signals across the World Wide Web. Always committed to providing the highest quality video and audio, Pickathon will broadcast performances via the festival website (www.pickathon.com), as well as longtime supporter and partner KEXP (www.KEXP.org). Wired recently featured the measures Pickathon goes to to properly document the festival in a way that does the experience justice. "Everywhere you look at Pickathon, there's something cool happening - and someone with a camera chronicling it," says Pete Brook for Wired. Show up and partake, and if you absolutely can't, then we invite you to tune in!   VIEW/DOWNLOAD PICKATHON BROADCAST SCHEDULE HERE: http://bit.ly/15852iDPURCHASE TICKETS TO PICKATHON HERE: http://pickathon.com/tickets/

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 2:18 pm

With just over two months to go until the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit makes its mark on Asheville, AC Entertainment has finalized this year's lineup! Additions include a wide range of performers: Deltron 3030 (aka the collboration between Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Kid Koala),the US premiere of King Britt Presents Fhloston Paradigm featuring Pia Ercole (more on that below), XXYYXX, PANTyRAiD, Rudimental, Darkside (aka Nicholas Jarr and Dave Harrington), Baths, Claude VonStroke, The Orb, Raime, How To Dress Well, Laurel Halo, William Basinksi making a rare US appearance, Tourist, Nostalghia, Big Black Delta, Jherek Bischoff, I Speak Machine (Tara Busch), and Alan Howarth, best known for scoring the films of John Carpenter, including "Halloween II" and "Halloween III," amongst others. These performers and more, plus and an exciting group of already announced acts (full lineup is below) will descend upon downtown Asheville, Friday, October 25-Sunday, October 27, for what is certain to be an unforgettable weekend of live music and other activities.Mountain Oasis is pleased to present the US premiere of King Britt Presents Fhloston Paradigm featuring Pia Ercole. This was created by King Britt in an experimental attempt to go back to a semi primitive process of CV triggers and analog sequences. Within this experiment lies the connection between old world ideas and new world technology, with the result remaining otherwordly and the outcome being somewhere between "Blade Runner" and "808 State."Woven around the twin threads of contemporary electronic music and the creative use of technology - old and new - Mountain Oasis features world-class musical performances by many of the greatest artists in contemporary music, along with talks, seminars, and panels by artists and others; interactive experiences for audiences; art installations and exhibitions, and more. The events all take place indoors, within easy walking distance of one another, in the heart of downtown Asheville. The mountain oasis that is Asheville provides extraordinary inspiration as a stunningly beautiful and unique setting for the festival. Both its rich cultural history and its current innovative vitality are inseparable from the Mountain Oasis experience.VIP Weekend passes are now sold out, but GA Weekend passes and daily tickets are still available at www.mountainoasisfestival.com. Please visit www.mountainoasisfestival.com and follow Mountain Oasis @Mtn_Oasis for updates and additional information about Mountain Oasis 2013.2013 Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit Lineup:FridayBassnectarNeutral Milk HotelDeltron 3030 **TrickyBaths **Claude VonStroke **RustieXXYYXX **Sparks Jacques Greene Daniel Johnston Half JapaneseITAL (Live) Silver ApplesJherek Bischoff **Nostalghia **People Get Ready SaturdayNine Inch NailsAnimal CollectiveGodspeed You! Black EmperorGary NumanChromaticsZola Jesus & JG ThrillwellThe BugBosnian RainbowsRaime **Actress DeloreanKing Britt presents Fhloston Paradigm featuring Pia Ercole (USA Premiere) **Big Black Delta **I Speak Machine (Tara Busch) **Sorne SundayPretty Lights How To Destroy AngelsDisclosurePANTyRAiD **Darkside **The Orb **Mount KimbieJessie WareRudimental**How To Dress Well ** ShlohmoUlrich Schnauss William Basinski **Autre Ne Veut Tourist **Alan Howarth **Robert DelongLaurel Halo **T.Williams ** new additions

Wed, 09/18/2013 - 4:30 pm

From his very first producer credit on the MHz 12" "Rocket Science" (Fondle 'Em Records) to the critical and commercial success of debut album Deadringer (Def Jux) to birthing "A Beautiful Mine" (aka the theme song to AMC's "Mad Men"), it is no question RJD2 (aka Ramble Krohn) has had a very impressive fifteen year career. Released on his own RJ's Electrical Connections, his forthcoming and fifth full-length LP, More Is Than Isn't, expands on RJD2's already wide sonic palette. Throughout, he continues to focus on the basic idea that has consistently driven him through his years as a producer and composer - creating soulful, beat-oriented, melodic music. In typical RJ fashion, he showcases new production techniques and approaches through mostly instrumental music, at times remindful of the ethereal, beat driven vibes of his debut album, and a dynamic range not heard before on an RJD2 album, from bombastic club music to subdued jazz-tinged pieces with much funk in between. Though More Is Than Isn't is mostly an instrumental affair, it does feature several vocalists, and today, after sharing with you one of the album's standout instrumental tracks, "Her Majesty's Socialist Request," RJ is excited to present the rich, soulful vibes of "Temperamental" feat. Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, Foreign Exchange). Head to Esquire.com for an exclusive interview with RJ and to check out this new jam.More Is Than Isn't is out October 8th on RJ's Electrical Connections and available for pre-order. The iTunes pre-order includes an instant grat of "Temperamental."

Wed, 10/02/2013 - 2:36 pm

The inaugural Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit, happening Friday, October 25-Sunday, October 27 throughout downtown Asheville, is just under a month away. With the addition of Cut Copy, AC Entertainment is ready to share the festival's schedule (included below) and more details on a wide range of other activities for festival attendees and the Asheville community to enjoy.The Apothecary will play host to TRASH_AUDIO Synth Event 13 on Sunday, October 27 from 1:00-7:00pm. The event will showcase over a dozen gear manufacturers followed by a night of intimate, live performances curated by the TRASH_AUDIO collective (Alessandro Cortini, Justin McGrath, Surachai and Richard Devine).Also at The Apothecary, Sound & Vision Art Show, an exhibition pairing audio and visual works from up-and-coming local artists Gabriel Schaffer, Andy Herod, Gus Cutty and Jotti Mara, will be open throughout the weekend with a special reception Saturday, October 26 from 3:00-6:00pm where fans can meet the artists and experience live painting and performances.Johnny Mann and Scott Pederson, two of the brilliant minds behind Waves Audio, have teamed up with Mountain Oasis to bring you Mixing with Waves, a hands-on opportunity to interact with Waves products and see the software live in action at Echo Mountain Studios on Saturday, October 26 from 1:00-3:00pm.Each event is free of charge and open to the public. Full details can be found at www.mountainoasisfestival.com. More activities, including a craft beer experience, will be announced in the coming weeks. The activities above come in addition to the previously announced panels at the Diana Wortham Theatre - Inventors' Roundtable, a discussion featuring Paul Vo, Richard Devine, Tony Rolando and Richard Devine, and an Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Gary Numan, conducted by Electronic Musician's Geary Yelton. Panels are free of charge and open to Mountain Oasis pass and ticket holders only.A limited allotment of previously sold-out VIP Weekend passes have just been released, and GA Weekend passes and daily tickets are available now at www.mountainoasisfestival.com. Please visit www.mountainoasisfestival.com, like Mountain Oasis on Facebook, and follow Mountain Oasis on Twitter for updates and additional information.2013 MOUNTAIN OASIS ELECTRONIC MUSIC SUMMIT SCHEDULEFRIDAY, OCTOBER 25ExploreAsheville.com Arena  12:00-1:30am     Bassnectar10:15-11:15pm   Deltron 30308:45-9:45pm       Tricky7:15-8:15pm       Claude VonstrokeThomas Wolfe Auditorium11:30pm-1:00am Neutral Milk Hotel9:45-10:45pm     Daniel Johnston8:30-9:15pm       Half JapaneseThe Orange Peel12:30-2:00am     Baths10:45pm-12:00amRustie9:00-10:00pm     Laurel Halo7:30-8:30pm       Jacques GreeneDiana Wortham Theatre10:30pm-12:00amSparks8:45-9:45pm       People Get Ready7:00-7:50pm       Jherek BischoffAsheville Music Hall12:45-2:00am     xxyyxx11:00pm-12:00amTBD9:30-10:30pm     Silver ApplesSATURDAY, OCTOBER 26ExploreAsheville.com Arena  12:00-1:30am     Nine Inch Nails10:00-11:15pm   Godspeed You! Black Emperor8:15-9:30pm       Gary Numan7:00-7:45pm       Bosnian RainbowsThomas Wolfe Auditorium11:30pm-1:00am Animal Collective9:30-10:30pm     Chromatics7:45-8:45pm       Zola Jesus & JG ThrillwellThe Orange Peel12:30-2:00am     Actress10:45pm-12:00amThe Bug9:00-10:15pm     Robert Delong7:30-8:30pm       ITALDiana Wortham Theatre10:30-11:45pm   I Speak Machine (Tara Busch)8:45-10:00pm     Raime7:00-8:15pm       King Britt Presents Fhloston Paradigm (USA Premier) Featuring Pia ErcoleAsheville Music Hall12:45-2:00am     Delorean11:00pm-12:15amBig Black Delta9:15-10:30pm     SorneSUNDAY, OCTOBER 27ExploreAsheville.com Arena  10:30pm-12:00amPretty Lights8:45-9:45pm       Disclosure7:15-8:15pm       PANTyRAiD6:00-6:45pm       RudimentalThomas Wolfe Auditorium10:00-11:30pm   Cut Copy8:15-9:15pm       Darkside6:45-7:45pm       Jessie WareThe Orange Peel11:00pm-12:30amThe Orb9:15-10:15pm     Mount Kimbie7:45-8:45pm       How To Dress Well6:15-7:15pm       Autre Ne VeutDiana Wortham Theatre9:30-10:30pm     Alan Howarth7:30-8:30pm       Ulrich Schnauss6:00-7:00pm       William BasinskiAsheville Music Hall10:45pm-12:00amShlohmo9:15-10:15pm     Tourist7:45-8:45pm       T.Williams

Fri, 01/24/2014 - 11:23 am

The 2014 Pitchfork Music Festival will return to Chicago's Union Park for a ninth year on Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20. 2014 marks the tenth year that Pitchfork has curated and produced a summer music festival in Chicago. The independently run, three-day event offers an exciting and diverse lineup along with one of the most inviting, reasonably priced and rewarding weekends of music around. We are extremely excited to share this year's lineup, details of which will be announced in the coming months.Early bird three-day passes are currently available for $110 while supplies last. Once those are sold out, three-day passes will be available at the regular price of $130 and single day passes will be available for $60. Three-day passes always sell out very quickly, so act fast!PURCHASES TICKETS HERE:http://www.ticketfly.com/venue/9881Pitchfork is the essential guide to independent music and beyond. With more than five million unique readers and 45 million page views per month, the site has earned an extremely loyal following and a reputation as being the world's most trusted music publication.Visit www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com and www.facebook.com/pitchforkmusicfestival for more information. Follow @pitchforkfest for the latest news, announcements and exclusive content.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 6:55 am

He's been known as a wizard, a true star, a healer, an individualist and a soul brother. In an unlikely and exciting turn of events, the legendary artist, songwriter, producer and musical visionary Todd Rundgren (65) joins famed Norwegian space disco artist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and Emil Nikolaisen of the psychedelic rock outfit Serena-Maneesh for a very special project.Smalltown Supersound is proud to announce the summer release of the album, Runddans, and an exclusive festival tour of Europe later this summer. It's a joint venture, credited as Todd Rundgren, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, Emil Nikolaisen.The project came about after Rundgren remixed the track "Quiet Place To Live" off Lindstrøm's experimental album, Six Cups of Rebelin 2011. Rundgren was on top of Lindstrøm's wish list, being a huge admirer of the wildly varied musical output Rundgren has been responsible for since the late sixties. A career that has seen him through the mod pop band The Nazz, progressive rock/pop/etcetera with Utopia, and a breathtaking line of solo albums containing blue-eyed soul, new wave, bossa nova, techno, prog, ambient, disco and pure pop. Rundgren has also worked as a highly successful producer, his magnum opus perhaps being Skylarking by British pop act XTC. Since the early seventies, Rundgren has been a visionary user of new technology, and has always been on the lookout for new concepts in which to present his music. Doing a tired best-of tour has never been his schtick; he has always been on the move, this making him a natural hero for a new generation of musicians and music lovers.Rundgren joined Lindstrom and 4AD recording artist Nikolaisen for some intense days in an Oslo recording studio with a slight sketch but no clear agenda. But from a mutual feeling and a few chord structures, the music mushroomed into a gorgeous and deeply organic piece. The project has evolved since then, with work being done in Rundgren's studio in Hawaii and in Oslo. You can clearly recognize the idiosyncrasies of the three individual musical personalities melting into each other in a truly fascinating way as the piece evolves for 40 minutes. Is it free form disco? Is it psychedelic pop? Is it hi-tech soul? Any casual Rundgren fan knows that there is always more.

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 11:39 am

The 2014 Pitchfork Music Festival happening Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20 at Chicago's Union Park is incredibly excited to announce this year's headliners: Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel and Kendrick Lamar, as well as the first round of acts. On Friday night, Beck will headline and is preceded by Giorgio Moroder, Sun Kil Moon, Factory Floor, Death Grips, Haxan Cloak and Sharon Van Etten. Saturday, Neutral Milk Hotel headlines with additional performances from TuneYards, Mas Ysa, Pusha T, The Range, Ka, Wild Beasts, Circulatory System and The Julie Ruin. Closing out the festival on Sunday is headliner Kendrick Lamar with earlier sets from Grimes, Slowdive and DIIV. Continuing with the tradition of years past, the festival features a mix of legends and up-and-coming talent making for the most compelling, inviting and rewarding weekend of music around. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Regular three-day passes are currently on sale for $130 and regular single day passes are available for $60. Three-day passes always sell out very quickly, so act fast!

Tue, 02/25/2014 - 11:49 am

We're very excited to announce the dates for Pickathon 2014. Mark your calendars as "busy" for August 1st - August 3rd, because if you're doing it right, you'll be at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, OR, a mere 15 minutes outside of downtown Portland, for the best possible weekend of music, food, experiential art, fresh air, and fun you can imagine.If you're eager to find out who's playing in our 16th year, we're going to be rolling out the 2014 lineup every day starting tomorrow for the next 16 days. Just visit www.pickathon.com every day to see 3-4 new announced acts slated to perform this year.

Wed, 05/15/2019 - 5:18 pm

Wilco is proud to announce Sky Blue Sky, a destination concert experience curated by the band, taking place January 18-22, 2020 in Mexico at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Sky Blue Sky will feature three full shows by Wilco, plus performances by Courtney Barnett (solo), Sharon Van Etten, Kamasi Washington, Jeff Tweedy, Dr. Dog, Yo La Tengo, Calexico, The Autumn Defense, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Comet Is Coming, and local band, Archi. Public on sale begins May 22, 2019 at 12pm ET. 

The Sky Blue Sky all-inclusive experience is limited to 2300 fans where all guests stay on site at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Package prices start at $1599 with all meals, beverages, concerts, and activities included. Daily activities offered include poolside games, cooking demos, yoga classes, and more. Additionally, guests can book off-site excursions to explore the local culture and natural beauty of the area – such as visiting the nearby Mayan ruins in Tulum, snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal, or zip-lining through the jungle. All excursions will be available to book through the event website. For those who wish to extend their stay, there is a special discounted rate for extra nights before and after the event. 

The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is an all-inclusive resort located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Guests can choose from a variety of room categories throughout the property, including Concert Courtyard and Stagefront suites located at the Main Stage. Shows will take place in two outdoor, oceanside venues. 

Charitable organization, Positive Legacy will be working with the event to integrate live music and service by taking actions that positively impact the local community and the environment. Positive Legacy encourages artists and fans to participate in a day of service and cultural connection in the local community. In addition to the day of service, the event will feature a fundraising auction and donation drive to benefit local school children. All proceeds from the auction will go toward ongoing Positive Legacy projects in the region. 

Sky Blue Sky Lineup:
Wilco (3 shows)
Courtney Barnett (solo)
Sharon Van Etten
Kamasi Washington
Jeff Tweedy
Dr. Dog
Yo La Tengo
Calexico
The Autumn Defense
Durand Jones & The Indications
The Comet is Coming
Archi

Sky Blue Sky all-inclusive packages will be available for purchase on May 22nd at wilcoskybluesky.com

Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky is brought to you by Cloud 9 Adventures in partnership with The Bowery Presents and Higher Ground. Cloud 9 Adventures is the premier provider of international concert vacations at all-inclusive resorts and on luxurious cruise ships, bringing bands and fans together in intimate settings since 2003. The Bowery Presents is an independent promotion company based in New York City, known for providing the best concert experience for fans and artists at a variety of venues. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Higher Ground Presents has been bringing live music to the Northeast for over twenty years. The company has an extensive portfolio, booking and producing over 800 shows. 

Wed, 05/11/2022 - 10:13 am

Wilco’s new album, Cruel Country, is out May 27th via dBpm Records. Today, they release a new single, “Tired Of Taking It Out On You,” and announce a North American tour, on sale Friday, May 13th at 10am local time. Additionally, Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival is right around the corner, May 27-29 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. For the first time, Solid Sound Festival sets from Wilco and Jeff Tweedy will be available to livestream via Flymachine, and sponsored by Bose. Additionally, the band will perform Cruel Country live for the first time at the festival.

Watch the Video for Wilco’s “Tired Of Taking It Out On You

Solid Sound Festival Livestream Schedule & Details

Friday, May 27: Wilco — Performing Cruel Country

Saturday, May 28: Wilco

Sunday, May 29: Jeff Tweedy & Friends

Single-day ($20.00) and three-day ($50.00) livestream passes will be available, as well as a limited edition livestream poster and Wilco's viewfinder. Purchase passes to the Flymachine livestream here: fly.live/solidsound-pr.

Following the initial single “Falling Apart (Right Now),” “Tired Of Taking It Out On You” is an earnest look of self-introspection: “I’m tired of taking it out on you // Tired of needing to // Freeze my warmth away // Tear the tears out of your quiet face.” Tweedy’s vocals unwind over muted percussion, electric and acoustic guitar, and the honeyed twang of lap steel. The video was filmed at the Loft, where Cruel Country was made.

“I’ve realized over the years that a lot of the songs I’ve written have worked as reminders to myself to pay attention to various things,” says Tweedy. “Sometimes I think I’ve figured out how the world works in some small way, and I worry I’ll forget it if I don’t sing it back to myself occasionally. This song, I believe, is going to come in handy for just that purpose. I’m a person who needs to stay alert to how I’m treating others when I’m not feeling my best. And now that I mention it, when I look around, it seems like a lot of us have been taking things out on each other when we would be better served striving for understanding and empathy. I’m just trying to be honest with myself, and I guess I’m hoping if this song can help me focus on that, maybe someone else could find it useful in the same way.”

Cruel Country is comprised, almost entirely, of live takes, with just a handful of overdubs, and is by Tweedy’s own definition, the band’s first Country music album.  Everyone – Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche, Mikael Jorgensen, Pat Sansone and Nels Cline  – was in the room, playing together at The Loft in Chicago.  “It’s a style of recording that forces a band to surrender control and learn to trust each other, along with each others’ imperfections, musical and otherwise,” says Tweedy. Cruel Country is an “American music” album about “America.” If you listen closely, there’s a rough chronology of how we got here, to present-day USA. It is an album that doesn’t shy away from troubles, and there’s no denying that we’re still living in a very troubled time. “Country music is simply designed to aim squarely at the low-hanging fruit of the truth,” says Tweedy. “If someone can sing it, and it’s given a voice… well, then it becomes very hard not to see. We’re looking at it. It’s a cruel country, and it’s also beautiful. Love it or leave it. Or if you can’t love it, maybe you’ve already left.”

Solid Sound Festival Livestream

Stream “Falling Apart (Right Now)”

Pre-order Cruel Country

Purchase Tickets to See Wilco Live

2022 Wilco Tour Dates:

(new shows in bold)

Fri. May 27 - Sun. May 29 - North Adams, MA @ Solid Sound Festival

Sat. Jun. 11 - Oslo, NE @ Loaded Festival

Mon. Jun. 13 - Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio

Fri. Jun. 17 - Zeebrugge, BE @ Zeebrugge Beach Festival

Sat. Jun. 18 - Kent, UK @ Black Deer Festival

Wed. Jun. 22 - Barcelona, ES @ Poble Espanyol

Sat. Jun. 25 - Murcia, ES @ Plaza De Toros Murcia

Mon. Jun. 27 - Madrid, ES @ Noches Del Botanico

Fri. Aug. 12 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Paramount Theatre

Sun. Aug. 14 - Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park

Tue. Aug. 16 - Newport, KY @ PromoWest Pavilion Outdoor at OVATION

Wed. Aug. 17 - Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts/Kresge Auditorium

Sat. Aug. 20 - Montreal, QC @ MTELUS

Sun. Aug. 21 - Cooperstown, NY @ Brewery Ommegang

Tue. Aug. 23 - Lafayette, NY @ Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards

Wed. Aug. 24 - Burlington, VT @  The Green at Shelburne Museum

Thu. Aug. 25 - Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Sat. Aug. 27 - New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl

Mon. Aug. 28 - Martha’s Vineyard, MA @ Beach Road Weekend

Fri. Sept. 9 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee

Sun. Sept. 11 - Fargo, ND @ Fargo Brewing Company Outdoors

Mon. Sept. 12 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Wed. Sept. 14 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Thu. Sept. 15 - Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Opera

Sat. Sept. 17 - San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

Tue. Sept. 20 - Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Wed. Sept. 21 - Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Fri. Sept. 23 - Calgary, AB @ Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sat. Sept. 24 - Bozeman, MT @ The ELM

Tue. Oct. 4 - New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre

Wed. Oct. 5 - New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre

Tue, 04/04/2023 - 5:41 pm

Today, Jeff Tweedy announces a summer North American tour, beginning with a four night residency at New York’s Brooklyn Made, followed by stops in Washington, DC, St. Louis, Boulder and more. Additionally, Wilco are currently on the road in support of Cruel Country, released last year via dBpm Records. Full dates are listed below and tickets for the newly announced shows are on sale April 7th at 10am local.

Tweedy’s summer tour precedes the release of his third book, WORLD WITHIN A SONG: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music. Publishing November 7 via Dutton, WORLD WITHIN A SONG is a disarming and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration built around the 50-plus songs that changed Tweedy’s life. Fans, music lovers, and creatives of all types will find inspiration in Tweedy’s insightful blend of music and emotion in WORLD WITHIN A SONG.

Tweedy has also recently released a special episode for Audible’s Words + Music series, titled “Please Tell My Brothers.” In this volume, Tweedy introduces listeners to the people, occasions, and frames of mind that have inspired the songbooks of Wilco, Uncle Tupelo and his solo work, including little or unknown moments and motivations.

Watch Jeff Tweedy Chat with Seth Meyers

Listen to Please Tell My Brothers (Audible Original’s Words + Music)

Pre-order WORLD WITHIN A SONG: Music That Changed My Life and Life that Changed My Music

Jeff Tweedy Tour Dates

Wed. June 21 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Made *

Fri. June 23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Made *

Sat. June 24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Made *

Sun. June 25 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Made *

Wed. June 28 - Washington, DC @ The Atlantis *

Tue. July 18 - St. Louis, MO @ The Sheldon *

Wed. July 19 - Salina, KS @ Stiefel Theatre *

Fri. July 21 - Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater *

Sat. July 22 - Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center *

Sun. July 23 - Grand Junction, CO @ Avalon Theatre *

Tue. July 25 - Boise, ID @ Egyptian Theatre *

Wed. July 26 - Sandpoint, ID @ Panida Theater *

Fri. July 28 - Carnation, WA @ Timber Festival

Sat. July 29 - Vernon, BC - Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre

* w/ Le Ren

Wilco Tour Dates (New Dates in Bold)

Thu. April 6 @ Reykjavik, IS @ Eldborg Hall at the Harpa Center [SOLD OUT]

Fri. April 7 @ Reykjavik, IS @ Eldborg Hall at the Harpa Center [SOLD OUT]

Sat. April 8 - Reykjavik, IS @ Eldborg Hall at the Harpa Center [SOLD OUT]

Sun. April 16 - North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival

Tue. April 18 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live

Wed. April 19 - St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphithreatre

Thu. April 20 - Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall

Sat. April 22 - Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing Company

Sun. April 23 - Athens, GA @ The Classic Center

Mon. April 24 - Huntsville, AL @ Mark C Smith Concert Hall

Tue. April 25 - Nashville, TV @ Ryman Auditorium [SOLD OUT]

Thu. April 27 - Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre

Fri. April 28 - Asheville, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Sat. April 29 -Greensboro, NC @ White Oak Amphitheatre

Sun. April 30 - Athens, Oh @ Mountain Stage - Ohio University Templeton Blackburn Memorial Auditorium [SOLD OUT]

Thu. Aug. 10 - Cochran, BE @ Lokerse feesten

Sat. Aug. 12 - Aranda de Duero, ES @ Sonorama Festival

Mon. Aug. 14 - St. Feliu de Guíxols, ES @ Festival Porta Ferrada

Wed. Aug. 16 - Marbella, ES @ Starlite Marbella

Thu. Aug. 17 - Alicante, ES @ Plaza de Toros

Sat. Aug. 19 - Portugal, ES @ Paredes de Coura Festival

Sun. Aug. 20 - Vigo, ES @ Espazos Festival

Tue. Aug. 22 - Ramonville St. Agne, FR @ Le Bikini

Thu. Aug. 24 - San Mauro Pascoli, IT @ Acieloaperto Festival

Fri. Aug. 25 - Turin, IT @ Todays Festival

Sun. Aug. 27 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg

Mon. Aug. 28 - Utecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg

Wed. Aug. 30 - London, UK @ 02 Forum Kentish Town

Thu. Aug. 31 - Wiltshire, UK @ End of the Road Festival

Sat. Sep. 2 - Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall

Sun. Sep. 3 - Birmingham, UK @ Moseley Folk Festival

Tue. Sep. 5 - Manchester, UK @ The Bridgewater Hall

Wed. Sep. 6 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall

Fri. Sep. 8 - Dublin, UE @ 3Olympia Theatre [SOLD OUT]

Sun. Oct. 8 - Monterey, CA @ Rebels & Renegades Festival

Sat. Oct. 14 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre

Sat. Dec. 2 - Wed. Dec. 6 - Riviera Maya, MX @ Sky Blue Sky (Hard Rock Hotel)