Tue, 04/09/2013 - 10:55 am

2013 is going to be a busy time for John McCarten, formally known as Manic Focus, as he is slowly becoming one of the most in demand artists in dance music. After finishing a twelve date run as a supporting act for Big Gigantic's winter tour—his first month-long coast to coast tour this year—the bass induced electronic producer has just announced a new run of tour dates for spring along with various festival appearances this summer.Kicking off April 5th in New York, NY at the legendary Webster Hall, this tour will bring Manic Focus throughout the East Coast and Midwest, stopping in such cities as Cambridge, Asheville, and Birmingham before ending in Charleston, SC at the Music Farm Theatre.In addition to the GRiZ tour dates, Manic Focus is also set to perform at various music festivals throughout the U.S. Including slots at Coachella, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco, Summer Camp, as well as headlining the Mas Sol Music Festival in Olympia, Washington. Make sure you catch him this weekend at Coachella Music Festival at the DoLab stage!Tour Dates:April 12 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave w/ GRiZApril 13: Indio, CA – Coachella Music FestivalApril 17: Auburn, AL - Bourbon Street Bar w/ GRiZApril 18: Birmingham, AL - Zydeco w/ GRiZApril 20: Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel w/ GRiZApril 25: Baton Rouge, LA - The Varsity Theatre w/ GRiZMay 10: Charleston, SC - Music Farm w/ GRiZMay 24-25: Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music FestivalMay 26: Geneva, MN – Bella Music FestivalJun 20-24: Twain, CA – Bounce Music FestivalJun 27-29: Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Music FestivalJun 7: Olympia, WA – Mas Sol Music FestivalJul 11-13: Albany, NY – Camp Bisco Music Festival**more dates to be announced**

Wed, 02/22/2017 - 5:37 pm

Electro-soul composer Manic Focus is happy to announce that his highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Minds Rising, will drop on Friday, April 21, 2017. The first single, “Stronger” featuring Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Late Night Radio & Adam Deitch (Lettuce/Break Science), premieres this Thursday, February 23 on SiriusXM’s JamOn Radio, and officially drops everywhere else Friday, February 24th.

Minds Rising, a work nearly two years in the making, is a flawless fusion of electronic funk, soul, future bass & classic era hip-hop. It is the first full length LP since the 2014 release of Cerebral Eclipse and showcases sample-free, 100% original compositions laden with rowdy rhymes and vocal features from ProbCause and Psalm One, funky horn arrangements from Russ Liquid, dreamy top line hooks from Jennifer Hartswick, Carlile, and more.

In the past few weeks, John '"JmaC" McCarten (Manic Focus) has been on a touring spree with sell out shows ranging across the Midwest, Southeast, and the East Coast including Nashville, Brooklyn, Atlanta, DC, and Grand Rapids. The Minds Rising tour will continue to build momentum with performances in Colorado this weekend and other cities forthcoming such as Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Detroit, and more (listed below), with festival stops at Euphoria (Austin, TX), Summer Camp (Chillicothe, IL), and Fools Paradise (St Augustine, FL), plus several yet to be announced for the 2017 season.

In what promises to be Manic Focus's most successful year to date, 2017 is off to an incredible start as this new music begins to roll out to the world, one beat and bobbing head at a time.

  Date Venue Location   Tickets    
Feb 24 Agave Avon, CO Tickets
Feb 25 Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO Tickets
Mar 02 Red Herring Lounge Duluth, MN Tickets
Mar 03 Sanctuary Events Center Fargo, ND Tickets
Mar 04 Icon Lounge Sioux Falls, SD Tickets
Mar 18 Mainstage Morgantown, WV Tickets
Apr 06 Euphoria Music Festival Austin, TX Tickets
Apr 07 Euphoria Music Festival Austin, TX Tickets
Apr 08 Euphoria Music Festival Austin, TX Tickets
Apr 09 Euphoria Music Festival Austin, TX Tickets
Apr 14 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO Tickets
Apr 15 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN Tickets
Apr 21 The Miramar Theatre Milwaukee, WI Tickets
Apr 22 The Miramar Theatre Milwaukee, WI Tickets
Apr 27 Republic NOLA New Orleans, LA Tickets
Apr 28 The Canopy Club Urbana, IL Tickets
Apr 29 Majestic Theatre Detroit, MI  
May 06 Phunkberry Music Festival Eureka Springs, AR Tickets
Tue, 03/21/2017 - 12:39 pm

Electro-soul composer Manic Focus is happy to announce his highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Minds Rising, will drop on Friday, April 21, 2017.

The second single, “Putting All Of My People On” featuring ProbCause is out Friday 3/24 via iTunes and Spotify. Manic Focus blends a gargantuan trap production with ProbCause's laser-sharp lyricism, creating a track that strikes harmonious balance between rap and electronic music. This track is a must for party playlists and cranking as loudly as possible, and just a taste of what lies ahead with Manic Focus.

Minds Rising, a work nearly two years in the making, is a flawless fusion of electronic funk, soul, future bass & classic era hip-hop. It is Manic Focus' first full length LP since the 2014 release of Cerebral Eclipse and showcases sample-free, 100% original compositions laden with rowdy rhymes and vocal features from ProbCause, Psalm One, funky horn arrangements from Russ Liquid, dreamy top line hooks from Jennifer Hartswick, Carlile, and more.

Manic Focus Upcoming Tour Dates

03.31 - St. Augustine, FL - Fool’s Paradise
04.06 - Austin, TX - Euphoria Music & Camping Festival
04.14 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater*
04.15 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*
04.21 - Milwaukee, WI - The Miramar Theatre
04.22 - Milwaukee, WI - The Miramar Theatre
04.27 - New Orleans, LA - Republic
04.28 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
04.29 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
05.05 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
05.06 - Eureka Springs, AR - Phunkberry
05.20 - Pomeroy, OH - ColorDance
05.26-28 - Chilicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival
06.08-11 - Stephentown, NY - Disc Jam Music Festival
06.09 - South Haven, MI - GRIDLIFE
06.16-19 - Wolf Run Ranch, OR - What The Festival
07.13-15 - Scranton, PA - Camp Bisco

* - Minds Rising album release shows

Thu, 04/20/2017 - 6:55 am

Minds Rising, the new full-length album from Manic Focus, will release Friday, April 21st to all digital retailers and streaming platforms.

Minds Rising is an infectious encapsulation of Manic Focus' roots in funk, soul, new-era hip hop, and electronic music. The album is an artful curation of the burgeoning Chicago music landscape and beyond, featuring appearances from cutting-edge hip hop artists, vocalists, producers, and musicians from across the country. Minds Rising is an opus two years in the making, and paints an aural illustration of Manic Focus’ shift from producer to composer — one beat, instrument and verse at a time.

Minds Rising features collaborations with a stacked roster of talented musicians, including the percussive genius of Adam Deitch (Lettuce, Break Science), powerful vocals of Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), and meticulous production of Late Night Radio, who all join forces on the album’s soulful lead single, “Stronger.” ProbCause lays down heavy bars on the trap anthem “Putting All Of My People On." Russ Liquid backs “Habit” with a funky New Orleans style three-piece horn section, while emerging hip hop group the RapperChicks deliver witty, earth-shattering verses and a captivating chorus to round out the track. Brooklyn based musicians Exmag and Borahm Lee (Lowtemp Music, Break Science) harmonize on “Your X Now” to bring space jazz rhythms and twinkling piano elements to Manic Focus’ stellar composition. Other collaborations include features from future bass producer Psymbionic on “Pushing,” rising Chicago stars Statik on “Stochastic Resonance,” Carlile on “Timeless,” and the razor sharp lyricism of Chicago rapper Psalm One on “Joy In the Noise.”

Stream Minds Rising starting tomorrow on
Spotify // Soundcloud // iTunes // Apple Music // Google Play // Amazon Music

Manic Focus Upcoming Tour Dates

04.21 - Milwaukee, WI - Miramar Theatre
04.22 - Milwaukee, WI - Miramar Theatre
04.27 - New Orleans, LA - Republic
04.28 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
04.29 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
05.05 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
05.06 - Eureka Springs, AR - Phunkberry
05.20 - Pomeroy, OH - ColorDance
05.26 - Chilicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival
06.03 - Birmingham, AL - Slicefest
06.09 - South Haven, MI - GRIDLIFE
06.10 - Stephentown, NY - Disc Jam Music Festival
06.15 - Dufur, OR - What The Festival
06.30 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival
07.01 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival (Late Night)
07.13.17 - Scranton, PA - Camp Bisco Music Festival
08.04-08.05 - George, WA - Gorge Amphitheatre