Gogol Bordello – Showbams

BottleRock delivers one of its best lineups yet with Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran & Stevie Nicks booked to headline Napa festival in 2024

January 8, 2024 by Josh Herwitt 2 Comments

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 24th-26th, 2024 //

With the first week of 2024 already in the books, it’s that time of the year when the music industry starts to look toward the warmer months on the calendar. And that always means one thing: a bunch of music festival lineups being announced over the next few months.

BottleRock has been one of several major U.S. music festivals to reveal its plans in early January, and this year followed suit with the three-day event once again targeting Memorial Day weekend up in Napa Valley and releasing one of its best lineups to date.

This time Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran and Stevie Nicks sit atop the bill with a top-notch undercard that’s highlighted by Maná, Kali Uchis, Megan Thee Stallion, Queens of the Stone Age, St. Vincent, Norah Jones, The Offspring and My Morning Jacket. It will be the first time at BottleRock for Pearl Jam and Sheeran, while Nicks had been tapped to headline in 2021 before canceling her performance due to COVID-19 concerns and subsequently being replaced by Chris Stapleton.

The BottleRock 2024 lineup is HERE! 🙌🎸🎶

3-day tickets go on sale tomorrow, January 9, at 10 a.m. PT. ✨ pic.twitter.com/T50dxV3YtW

— BottleRock Napa (@BottleRockNapa) January 8, 2024

But with coronavirus mostly behind us now, Nicks should finally get to take the stage this May and so will a lot of other acts like Nelly, T-Pain, Miike Snow, Oliver Tree, Bebe Rexha, Cold War Kids, Jessie Murph, Stephen Sanchez, Cannons, All Time Low, Action Bronson, Gogol Bordello, Tower of Power, Stephen Marley, The Soul Rebels feat. Tabli Kweli, Chevy Metal and Pete Yorn. Check out the poster above to see who else is scheduled to perform.

One part of the fest that’s uniquely BottleRock is the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage where celebrity chefs team up with various musicians and athletes to deliver a live cooking demonstration, and 2023 yielded some interesting results as José Andrés collaborated with Lil Nas X and Duran Duran worked with Giada De Laurentiis.

Tickets can be purchased here beginning this Tuesday, January 9th at 10 a.m. PT, and it’s worth noting three-day GA passes have increased to $456 plus fees with VIP ($1,195), Skydeck ($1,895), The Suites ($1,995) and Platinum ($5,995) experiences all SOLD OUT! So, who’s ready to BottleRock and roll?

UPDATE (January 10th): BottleRock has quickly dropped daily lineups two days after releasing its 2024 roster, and we must say that Saturday looks mighty fine with Pearl Jam leading a day that will boast Maná, Kali Uchis, My Morning Jacket, Cold War Kids, T-Pain, Tower of Power and Deep Sea Diver, among others.

Some of Friday’s highlights include Stevie Nicks followed by St. Vincent, Miike Snow and Say She She, while Sunday will see Sheeran close things out after sets from Queens of the Stone Age, Norah Jones, The Offspring, Action Bronson, The Soul Rebels feat. Talib Kweli and more.

Single-day tickets go on sale this Thursday, January 11th at 10 a.m. PT and three-day passes for all tiers — GA, VIP, Skydeck and Platinum — have already sold out, so don’t miss your chance here!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Action Bronson, Akira Galaxy, ALEXSUCKS, All Time Low, Bebe Rexha, BottleRock, BottleRock 2024, BottleRock Napa, BottleRock Napa 2024, BottleRock Napa Valley, BottleRock Napa Valley 2024, BoyWithUke, Brittany Davis, Bully, Cannons, Celisse, Chevy Metal, Chris Shiflett, Chris Stapleton, Cold War Kids, Colony House, Con Brio, Deep Sea Diver, Dehd, DJ Umami, Dominic Fike, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Fleece, Forrest Day, Giada De Laurentiis, Gogol Bordello, Grace Bowers, Grace McKagan, Holly Humberstone, Jack Kays, Jane Leo, Jared Harper, Jessie Murph, John Cruz, José Andrés, Kali Uchis, LARussell, Lil Nas X, Linka Moja, Loveless, Mama Said, Maná, Megan Thee Stallion, Miike Snow, Momma, Mondo Cozmo, MonoNeon, Monsieur Periné, Moonalice, Naima, Napa Valley Youth Symphony, Nelly, Norah Jones, Oliver Tree, Pearl Jam, Pete Yorn, Queens of the Stone Age, Royel Otis, Sage Bava, Sanho, Say She She, Sophia Zamani, St. Vincent, Stephen Marley, Stephen Sanchez, Stevie Nicks, T-Pain, Talib Kweli, The Alive, The Aquadolls, The Beaches, The Kid LAROI, The Moss, The Offspring, The Record Company, The Scarlet Opera, The Silverado Pickups, The Soul Rebels, The Soul Rebels feat. Tabli Kweli, The Takes, Tors, Tower of Power, Windser

BottleRock Napa Valley makes more strides in 2016

June 6, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

By Mike Rosati & Norm de Veyra //

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 27th-29th, 2016 //

BottleRock Napa Valley once again returned to downtown Napa over Memorial Day weekend for its fourth edition, boasting an improved fan experience and an eclectic bill of music over a three-day stretch.

Serving as this year’s headliners were Stevie Wonder, Florence & the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while other notable acts included The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Grouplove and more.

But some of the best performances of the weekend came from artists playing on the festival’s smaller stages, from Long Beach’s Cold War Kids to Welsh alt-rockers The Joy Formidable. The Suffers, a 10-piece soul band from Texas, made one of the biggest impressions on the final day of BottleRock, along with San Francisco indie-pop outfit Dangermaker and singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim.

Florence & the Machine

Among all of the music being played, one of the highlights was undoubtedly the festival’s Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage, which welcomed appearances by classic stoner-comedy duo Cheech & Chong (who kicked things off with a special show at The Uptown Theater in Napa the night before BottleRock) and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Even “American Pie” actor Thomas Ian Nicholas joined in on the fun during a set dedicated to the 1999 film.

Showbams was on hand for all three days of BottleRock, noting an upgraded layout, more food/beverage options and better VIP accommodations than in past years. And though the festival still has room to grow, it has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Fantastic Negrito

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Cold War Kids

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Black Pistol Fire

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Andy Grammar

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - White Panda

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Atlas Genius

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Ziggy Marley

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Son Little

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Struts

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Joy Formidable

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Panic Is Perfect

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Walk the Moon

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Pharcyde

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Iron Heart

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Coleman Hell

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Langhorne Slim & The Law

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Rodrigo y Gabriela

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Suffers

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Deap Vally

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Ivan & Alyosha

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Shovels

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Jamestown Revival

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Moth & The Flame

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - machineheart

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Dangermaker

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - X Ambassadors

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Deep Vally

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Moth & The Flameh

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Shovels & Rope

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage - Cheech & Chong

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage - American Pie

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage - Gordon Ramsay

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage - Vida Blue & Mark Ibanez

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage - Vida Blue

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Cheech & Chong at The Uptown Theater

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Black Pistol Fire, BottleRock, BottleRock 2016, BottleRock Napa, BottleRock Napa 2016, BottleRock Napa Valley, BottleRock Napa Valley 2016, Cheech & Chong, Cold War Kids, Coleman Hell, Dangermaker, Deap Vally, Death Cab For Cutie, Fantastic Negrito, Florence & the Machine, Gogol Bordello, GROUPLOVE, Iration, Ivan & Alyosha, Jamestown Revival, k.flay, Kaleo, Langhorne Slim, Langhorne Slim & The Law, Lenny Kravitz, machineheart, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mike Stud, Moonalice, Panic Is Perfect, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Shovels & Rope, Soak, Son Little, Stevie Wonder, The Joy Formidable, The Lumineers, The Moth & The Flame, The Pharcyde, The Score, The Struts, The Suffers, Walk the Moon, White Panda, X Ambassadors, Ziggy Marley

BottleRock drops 2016 lineup, led by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Florence + the Machine

January 5, 2016 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 27th-29th, 2016 //

While everyone has been fixating on Monday night’s Coachella lineup announcement, which includes a reunited LCD Soundsystem and some form of Guns N’ Roses headlining the Indio festival, BottleRock Napa Valley was busy unveiling their own bill less than a day later.

The three-day festival in downtown Napa, which appeals to an older crowd than the aforementioned Coachella, announced its lineup early Tuesday and will welcome Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder and Florence + the Machine as headliners over Memorial Day weekend.

With more than 70 artists scheduled to perform across four stages, other noteworthy acts on this year’s lineup include The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Grouplove, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gogol Bordello, Cold War Kids, Iration, Misterwives, Atlas Genius, Buddy Guy, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Pharcyde, The Joy Formidable, X Ambassadors, Ozomatli and Jamestown Revival.

BottleRock will also be bringing back and expanding its popular Culinary Stage that’s known for matching culinary stars up with celebrities, as last year’s festival saw Snoop Dogg teaming up with “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, January 7th at 10 a.m. here and start at $269 for a three-day GA pass. VIP passes will be sold for $619, and a three-day platinum pass is as much as $3,100.

So, as you get ready for your “first taste of summer,” go back in time with our 2014 coverage.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Atlas Genius, BottleRock, BottleRock 2016, BottleRock Napa, BottleRock Napa 2016, BottleRock Napa Valley, BottleRock Napa Valley 2016, Buddy Guy, Cold War Kids, Death Cab For Cutie, Florence & the Machine, Gogol Bordello, GROUPLOVE, Iration, Jamestown Revival, Lenny Kravitz, Michael Franti & Spearhead, MisterWives, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Stevie Wonder, The Joy Formidable, The Lumineers, The Pharcyde, Walk the Moon, X Ambassadors, Ziggy Marley

Sasquatch! continues to reign supreme as the Pacific Northwest’s premier music festival

June 1, 2015 by Nik Crossman 1 Comment

Photos by Pedro Paredes // Written by Nik Crossman //

Sasquatch! Music Festival //
Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA
May 22nd-25th, 2015 //

2015 marked the 14th successful year of Sasquatch! Music Festival thanks to a hunch followed by a Pacific Northwest concert promoter. Back in 2002, when the U.S. festival scene was an infant, Adam Zacks decided to try his luck with an untapped market and bring the festival experience to the Pacific Northwest. The single-day festival sold out its first year, quickly validating Zacks’ hunch and setting the stage for one of the world’s most unique festival experiences.

Embracing the culture of the Pacific Northwest, Sasquatch! caters to the growing breed of indie-centric fans caring just as much about the festival experience (if not more) than the music itself. Over the last 14 years, Sasquatch! has become a “must-do” for festivalgoers and continues to impress with a stellar lineup playing against the majestic backdrop of The Gorge.

So, when I fell into tickets the week before the festival, I jumped at the opportunity to see some of my favorite bands jam out at Mother Nature’s cathedral. Having no campsite and no ride to/from the festival, I posted a Hail Mary message on the Sasquatch! Facebook page, asking a bunch of strangers to take me in as one of their own … and it worked! That’s when I realized Sasquatch! is more than the music — it’s coming together as a community to lend a hand and help a fellow human.

The two-hour drive from Seattle to The Gorge wet the appetite for the alluring landscapes to come. My two new friends and I arrived Friday afternoon, just in time to set up camp and catch the sun fall behind the mountainous horizon.

Little Dragon

Friday

Kicking off the festival, Friday’s lineup included the sounds of Ought, Mother Mother, Gogol Bordello, Action Bronson, Angel Olsen, AlunaGeorge, Little Dragon, Of Monsters and Men, Sleater-Kinney and of course, Flume, the 23-year-old Australian DJ/producer who has been taking the electronic music scene by storm since dropping his debut album in 2012. Despite a little rain early Friday night, the festival was in full swing and the energy inside the grounds built on itself with each performance. The unique sound of Little Dragon had the crowd flowing together, sprinkling in rumors and heightened anticipation for SBTRK‘s set on Sunday night. “Will Little Dragon come out for ‘Wildfire’?!” By the time Flume dropped his first beat at the Bigfoot Stage, the energy was palpable and everyone could feel why this young DJ was chosen to close out Friday night.

Modest Mouse

Saturday

With the loving melodies of Milo Green rushing over the Bigfoot State by mid-day, Twenty One Pilots picked up the tempo with an animated performance on the Sasquatch Stage, where the dynamic duo commanded their early-day crowd. Sylvan Esso threw down a Bigfoot dance party when their hit “Coffee” ignited the entire crowd to dance along with the ever-so-strange Amelia Meath on stage. Chromeo‘s love for themselves may only be surpassed by the massive turnout the funky duo brought to Sasquatch! main stage early in the evening. Their funk-tastic sound and vibrant stage presence was perfectly timed to set the stage for following acts like Glass Animals, Kiesza, Modest Mouse, ODESZA and Spoon. Kiesza took the El Chupacabra tent by stormy lights and surprisingly produced more vigor into the crowd than the Seattle duo ODESZA, who seemed to play a more mellow version of themselves than most are familiar with. Just down the hill from ODESZA, 22-year-old rock band Spoon spilled heavy guitar riffs over the crowd and presented an alternative ending to Saturday’s electronic scene. For the second night in a row, Sasquatch! closed out the night with a young, up-and-coming electronic act, staying true to their committed mix bag of new and established performers.

St. Vincent

Sunday

Milky Chance wooed the crowd at the Sasquatch Stage in the late afternoon on Sunday with their unique electro-folk-reggae sounds, lead vocalists Clemens Rehbein’s deep, melodic vocals and the magnificent backdrop of The Gorge. Shortly after Milky Chance stirred the crowd, the unlikely future of rap, Kate Tempest, lived up to her reputation as a force to be reckoned with while showering the crowd with positive affirmations. The sun started setting behind The Gorge while the idiosyncratic St. Vincent moved so distinctly across the stage like an elegant robot, convincing the crowd they made the right choice. The sultry vixen Lana Del Rey attracted one of the largest crowds to the Sasquatch Stage on Sunday night. While Del Rey is not as active as some of her siren peers, her presence was not lacking. Captivating the masses while her white dress blew in the wind, Del Rey abandoned the stage to walk among her amorous fans before leaving her set early to pass the spotlight to an epic instrumental jam session by her band. Madeon, the 21-year-old child prodigy, proved himself once again in the El Chupacabra late on Sunday night when he led the crowd on a fantastic journey of impeccable mashups and psychedelic lights.

Slow Magic

Monday

Monday was the last day of the four-day festival, and the crowds started to thin between the intermittent rain clouds playing hide and seek with the sun. Monday was also the day of drums, at least in the El Chupacabra. Armed only with a wolf mask, laptop and two drumsticks, Slow Magic kicked off the night in the Spanish-flavored tent with a one-of-a-kind experience. With his rare combination of synth and live drumming, Slow Magic is re-imagining electronic music as we know it. Not far behind the solo drumming DJ were the three-piece veterans The Glitch Mob. The trio conquered the stage with their new musical element “The Blade,” which combines both lights and instruments into something that looks like it came out of a space-age movie scene. Drumming their way into the bones of the crowd, The Glitch Mob elicited some of the most hands-in-the-air praise I saw all weekend. They closed out Sasquatch! with a bang, literally.

Camping

The Sasquatch! campgrounds were far from organized, which presents pros and cons, pending what you’re after. The grueling trek from general camping to the grounds made going to the festival more of a commitment than many appreciated. After a few journeys to and from, premium camping seemed well worth the investment. The wheel-and-spoke layout of the grounds made it easy to find other campsites and stumble into the food trucks for a late-night zombie dog. The camping community itself was friendly and full of love for each other, inviting neighbors to play beer darts and other awesome lawn games.

Activities

Despite the loving nature of the campers, the Sasquatch! campgrounds lacked the festival-sponsored activities so many of us have come to appreciate and expect like morning yoga classes at Coachella and personal development workshops at Lightning in a Bottle (LIB). The Sasquatch! community inside the grounds attempted to provide this outlet with a vintage arcade, self-defense demonstrations and community dance parties, but they fell short relative to other festivals. One could also argue the lack of art installations throughout the Sasquatch! grounds presents an area of improvement for the festival. That is, until they’re reminded of the natural art blanketing all of The Gorge. Well done, Mother Nature!

Sustainability

While LIB has been dubbed as “The Greenest Festival in America,” you’d think all festivals would have a strong commitment to sustainably responsible business practices by now. This was an oversight for Sasquatch!, as recycling bins were nowhere to be found and trash cans were often overflowing — a pretty easy, yet significant improvement that needs to be made.

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Mother Mother

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Gogol Bordello

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Action Bronson

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Little Dragon

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Of Monsters and Men

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Sleater-Kinney

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Diarrhea Planet

Sasquatch! Music Festival - The War on Drugs

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Glass Animals

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Modest Mouse

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Kate Tempest

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Future Islands

Sasquatch! Music Festival - The Districts

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Sharon Van Etten

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Run the Jewels

Sasquatch! Music Festival - Kendrick Lamar

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Action Bronson, Amelia Meath, Angel Olsen, Broncho, Chromeo, Diarrhea Planet, Flume, Future Islands, FUZZ, Glass Animals, Gogol Bordello, Gorge Amphitheatre, James Blake, Jenny Lewis, Kate Tempest, Kendrick Lamar, Kiesza, King Tuff, Lana Del Rey, Little Dragon, Live Nation, Madeon, Milky Chance, Milo Green, MO, Modest Mouse, Mother Mother, Odesza, Of Monsters and Men, Ought, Real Estate, Run The Jewels, Sasquatch!, Sasquatch! 2015, Sasquatch! Music Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival 2015, SBTRK, Schoolboy Q, Sharon Van Etten, Sleater-Kinney, Slow Magic, Spoon, St. Vincent, Sylvan Esso, Tame Impala, The Districts, The Glitch Mob, The Gorge, The War on Drugs, Twenty One Pilots

Outside Lands 2014: Lineup locks, likely acts & long shots

March 12, 2014 by Kevin Quandt & Mike Frash 18 Comments

Photos by Tim Hampson // Written by Mike Frash & Kevin Quandt //

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 8th-10th, 2014 //

As we inch towards springtime, leading to summer, and Coachella is within a month’s reach, some Bay Area music freaks (like us) begin to speculate about who is gonna be gracing those stages freckled throughout Golden Gate Park come August. Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is set to return to SF on August 8th-10th.

The greatest indicators are the group’s touring schedules — Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal and Pickathon in Oregon have announced their schedules the weekend prior to Outside Lands (with Lollapalooza to still be announced). Squamish Valley Music Festival in British Columbia is the same weekend as Outside Lands, but Vancouver is close enough for artists to double dip.

Conversely, we can confirm some big acts that won’t be on the bill due to scheduling conflicts. But if this is even close to what the Outside Lands 2014 lineup looks like, the Bay Area should be in for a delicious, fog-enhanced treat.

UPDATE 4/7: The lineup has been announced!

Lock It In (we think)

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: A new album on the way and a lack of dates out West makes him a solid candidate for top billing this year. Also, keep in mind that OSL has never repeated headliners, as well as the fact that Super Fly (Bonnaroo), who along with Another Planet Presents, handles the bulk of the booking.

Arctic Monkeys: [CONFIRMED] These festival stalwarts announced an extensive tour with a noticeable gap in the western demographic which leads to speculation that they’ll return for a sub-headlining set. Confirmed for August 10th at Osheaga.

Chromeo: [CONFIRMED] A Red Rocks date on August 5th is a good sign that these party starters are en route back to San Francisco for a possible Twin Peaks headlining spot.

Modest Mouse: Confirmed for Osheaga, and with no California dates on the calendar for the recently announced tour, Modest Mouse is starting to look like a lock.

Cut Copy: [CONFIRMED] Cut Copy and Chromeo are on parallel tracks. Both will have played APE shows in the past year, and their tour buses are aligning toward the Bay in early August.

CHVRCHES: [CONFIRMED] Confirmed for Osheaga, it just makes sense that one of the the biggest breakout acts of 2013 will triumphantly return to the Bay after playing the Independent, Mezzanine & Fox Theater Oakland over the past year.

Flume: [CONFIRMED] It’s due time for this EDM heat-seeker to return to San Francisco, and what better place and time than Outside Lands. Flume’s popularity could land him Twin Peaks headlining duties.

Tycho: [CONFIRMED] Having become the darlings of Another Planet, what better progressive act to grace the bill than Tycho. Sold out shows in the coming weeks lend to a strong demand.

Foster the People: Performing at Squamish Valley Music Festival Friday lends a good possibility that Mark Foster and band will trek down to Golden Gate Park for a Sunday set. A slot at Osheaga Festival the weekend prior says they’ll be hitting many large events as they support their latest release Supermodel.

Iron & Wine and Glen Hansard: These two artists are booked to play Hollywood Bowl on August 10th, leading most savvy music aficionados to make the leap that these acts will be present.

Danny Brown: A lack of Bay Area dates coupled with spots on the ‘OSL crossover’ festival, Squamish, could mean we are in for a ‘Kush Koma’ with oddball, Danny Brown.

Likely To Appear

Elton John: The announcement of Sir Elton playing Bonnaroo has fueled this rumor nicely, even if questions of availability swirl. The main issue would be surrounding a clause with Caesars where John has a residency. However, this Vegas run ends in April, so it looks possible.

Green Day: These Bay Area legends have surprisingly never played Outside Lands, and it seems possible we’ll see them grace the main stage for a night with Billy Joe and company.

Coldplay: New music on the way, coupled with scheduled appearances at South by Southwest is a clear sign that Chris Martin and lads are gearing up to re-dominate the world with their anthemic rock. Also, never headlined OSL.

Tiësto: [CONFIRMED] Ranger Dave likes to book some of the biggest names in the EDM world to ‘compete’ with headliners, attracting a slightly younger crowd to congregate at Twin Peaks on most evenings. Tiësto’s production would fit nicely into the bigness of past DJ spotlights.

Frank Ocean: Frankie is mounting his come back after a relatively quiet past few years. His billing on Bonnaroo fuels the speculation that Super Fly booked him, and other acts, for more than just Roo.

The Flaming Lips: [CONFIRMED] Wayne Coyne has had a busy past few months with a recent release and some serious Fall touring. Now, as summer looms, it appears the Lips will be omnipresent at summer festivals. Recent Another Planet shows coupled with Bonnaroo presence make these weirdo legends a likely booking.

Lorde: Has any act ever gone to sub-headliner status this quickly? Based on her popularity and the way she’s altered the pop landscape, Lorde deserves it. She’s confirmed to play Osheaga and her April dates at Fox Theater sold out immediately.

Chance the Rapper: No longer Chicago’s secret, Chancelor Bennett needs to get better acquainted with the Bay Area. There is a gap in his schedule, and the Acid Rapper is confirmed for Osheaga.

HAIM: [CONFIRMED] For being California girls, sisters Este, Danielle and Alana could show a bit more love to the Bay Area (They’ve played in England over 20 times). Their first ever show in the Bay was at Treasure Island Music Festival last year, and their fauxchella Fillmore dates were tough tickets to snag as they sold out in seconds.

Lykke Li: [CONFIRMED] Confirmed for Friday of Squamish, it’s very possible the breathtaking Swedish singer-songwriter could grace Outside Lands on Sunday.

Foxygen: Even though there has been turmoil (broken legs, inner-band conflict), the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic should come play “San Francisco” in it’s namesake. The group is confirmed for Pickathon as well.

Mikal Cronin: [CONFIRMED] The singer-songwriter has become quite the popular local musician and would be ideal for a showcase of SF rock. Booked for the Oregon Pickathon means he’ll be active around this time.

Valerie June: [CONFIRMED] The American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is playing Pickathon and other West Coast dates prior to Outside Lands. June’s sound will fit nicely into the festival’s curation net.

It Could Happen

Kanye West: [CONFIRMED] As it appears OutKast will not be the infamous first hip-hop headliner, we look to Kanye West as an outside possibility as the debut of rap taking center stage one summer evening. Inclusion on Bonnaroo’s docket makes a reasonably strong start to an argument for Yeezy.

Eminem: Already a rumored headliner for Lollapalooza, Slim Shady has also booked a co-headlining date with Rihanna at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena the Thursday before Outside Lands while also confirmed for Squamish on Sunday the 10th. Starting to trend toward “likely”, should we be adding RiRi as a rumored headliner?

Tool: Already playing two SF shows in March, would it be that much of a surprise to see Tool headlining one night? Certainly they are big enough to handle top billing duties.

Pharrell Williams: A Ranger Dave’s “hat” tweet has led many to speculate the possibility of Williams’ presence on the festival grounds. Limited dates pepper his itinerary, so it’s anyone’s guess.

The Avett Brothers: Having not played the event in over five years and select festival appearances over the summer, one could make the argument that Avett will return. Bonnaroo booking also helps this case.

Kendrick Lamar: K-Dot’s touring schedule is open, but there are no obvious indicators an Outside Lands appearance will happen. But for a festival that’s usually short on hip hop & rap, it would be too fun to see the Outside Lands stage and surrounding area get crazy during “Backseat Freestyle”.

Gogol Bordello: The Gypsy-punk freaks are confirmed to play Osheaga, and they played Outside Lands in 2010. A return seems possible.

Jagwar Ma: [CONFIRMED] Being rather active in the festival realm in 2014, these party-starters can easily jump from Osheaga over to SF. A previous Another Planet-booked show at the Independent demonstrates there is communication present.

Long Shots: Already booked elsewhere (don’t count on it)

OutKast: Andre 3000 and Big Boi might be playing over 40 festivals this year, but Outside Lands won’t be one of them. OutKast is confirmed for Flow Festival in Finland the same weekend as Outside Lands.

Arcade Fire: Win Butler and company are performing at Squamish Valley Music Festival, but they have a date set at Shoreline in July, and they headlined three years ago.

Jack Johnson
Queens of the Stone Age
Robert Plant
Santana
Neutral Milk Hotel
Janelle Monae
DARKSIDE
Mac Demarco

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Chance The Rapper, Chromeo, Chvrches, Coldplay, Cut Copy, Elton John, Flume, Foster the People, Foxygen, Frank Ocean, Glen Hansard, Gogol Bordello, Gramatik, Green Day, Haim, Iron & Wine, Jack Johnson, Jagwar Ma, Janelle Monáe, Kendrick Lamar, Lord Huron, Lorde, Lykke LI, Mac Demarco, Mayer Hawthorne, Mikal Cronin, Modest Mouse, Neutral Milk Hotel, OSL, OutKast, Outside Lands, Outside Lands Music Festival 2014, Pharrell Williams, Portugal. The Man, Queens of the Stoneage, Robert Plant, Santana, Sharon Van Etten, The Avett Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Tool, Tycho, Valerie June

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: 10 best ‘Hardly Bluegrass’ shows

September 5, 2013 by Kevin Quandt & Mike Frash 7 Comments

The artist lineup for the best free music festival (in the world?), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, has been released and it’s as strong as ever. The festival began as “Strictly Bluegrass Festival” in 2001 through the hard work of Warren Hellman, the sole benefactor and founder of HSB who passed away in late 2011. Hellman has made sure the festival will continue on long after his death — the investment mogul, banjo performer and all around music fan routinely referred to his festival as a “selfish gift.”

After three years of “Strictly Bluegrass,” Hellman changed the name of the Festival to its current moniker and started inviting acts that strayed from pure bluegrass. In the past few years, San Francisco has witnessed performances from Buckethead, MC Hammer, and Broken Social Scene at Hardly Strictly, so clearly the fest has evolved over 13 years.

And this year there are plenty of acts that are “Hardly Bluegrass” — here are the 10 best looking non-bluegrass shows (and a bonus wildcard) October 4-6, 2013 in Golden Gate Park.

Father John Misty

For a guy that gained traction as ‘the drummer from Fleet Foxes,’ things have certainly changed in the course of 1.5 years for Father John Misty. Now, FJM is more well-known than the group that helped catapult him into contemporary culture. This entire conversation is a moot point as J. Tillman has presented himself as the twenty-first century troubadour, mixing a mentality dripping in Bohemianism with over-the-top stage theatrics. The result is a debaucherous yet beautiful live music performance that should fit nicely into HSB.

And his fall tour promises a new experience — it’s billed as a “Solo Variety Show” featuring comedian Kate Berlant. Doesn’t a Father John Misty show already seem like a solo variety hour? FJM’s San Francisco shows in October will kick off this fall tour, so if you can’t bear the possibility of showing up late to Golden Gate Park and settling on a poor spot, reserve a ticket for his Thursday pre-HSB show at Slim’s. -MIKE FRASH

Sonny and the Sunsets

With such a vast array of acts present on the many stages over the 3 days, it’s a wonder so many local artists are able to be present on the lineup. Well this year, Sonny Smith, and his band the Sunsets, is likely to win over many new fans with his infectious take on folkified psych-pop with a flair for catchy lyrics and a rousing stage presence. The multifaceted front-man connects to his audiences in very intimate ways, so try to catch this rising star before he’s out of reach. -KEVIN QUANDT

First Aid Kit

For a duo whose greatest single (so far) revolves around “Emmylou,” “June,” “Gram” & “Johnny”, it’s really not too surprising to see the sisterly Swedish group First Aid Kit on the Hardly Strictly bill. If the schedule doesn’t preclude them, the ladies from First Aid Kit can catch Emmylou Harris’ set in the flesh at Hellman Hollow (most likely on Sunday).

When thinking about future Hardly Strictly mainstays amongst the new offerings this year, First Aid Kit just seems like the perfect fit going forward. And who would be more perfect than third year “Friday Friends” curator of the Rooster stage Conor Oberst to introduce the group to the festival?

Oberst made a cameo on the final track of First Aid Kit’s excellent 2012 LP The Lion’s Roar, and Klara Söderberg spoke about the experience last year: “People say you should never meet your idols. But for us it’s been the opposite, but that’s because our idols are the coolest, sweetest people.” Klara was referencing Oberst & company, so be sure to get to Golden Gate Park early Friday to secure your spot in Marx Meadow. Expect Oberst to make an appearance with First Aid Kit. -MF

The Evens

Ian MacKaye is not a name most would consider to be present on the bill for Hardly Strictly, but alas Conor Oberst invited the former Minor Threat/Fugazi frontman and his wife Amy Farina to his showcase on Friday. The Evens have a stripped-down punk-folk sound delivered in a guitar and drums format with husband and wife handling vocals equally. McCaye’s most consistent project after Fugazi demonstrates that a mellowed out sound is where his passions are now after years of hardcore and punk. You won’t be the only one calling in sick on Friday, October 4th. -KQ

Gogol Bordello

Gypsy-punk ensemble Gogol Bordello certainly fall into the “Hardly Bluegrass” category of this quintessential SF music fest. Eugene Hütz is the lead force of the bombastic, ecstatic curators of weird and crazy, but as many as five performers step into the spotlight to contribute vocals throughout any given song. A Gogol Bordello performance boarders on surrealism, projecting a humorous party atmosphere that is irresistible to join in on — just ask anyone in their small but loyal (and rabid) fan club near the front. -MF

Allah-Las

Hopefully the throngs of attendees will be rewarded with one of those perfect Indian Summer weekends; sun shining, a few patchy clouds and a steady on-shore breeze from the Pacific. Essentially a perfect storm to enjoy the lo-fi, surfed-out sound of LA band, the Allah-las. These garage rock wunderkids have been blazing a trail across the Western US with their melancholic, yet optimistic, take on traditional rock and roll. Tinges of psychedelia will certainly nod to the origins of loud, outdoor music events in Golden Gate Park. -KQ

The Wood Brothers

The Wood Brothers, Oliver and Chris Wood, procure roots-influenced folk rock that is simple and effective. The focus here is on straightforward lyricism, along with basic acoustic guitar and upright bass with simple rhythm backing. Chris Wood is better known as the bassist from Medeski, Martin & Wood, a jazz-fusion trio that has often included John Scofield in recent years. While you won’t hear a lick of vocals with MMW, The Wood Brothers should get music fans swooning and swaying come October.-MF

Low

These Minnesotan slow rockers have been mystifying their audiences for 20 years with a blend of muted tempos and minimized song stylings. Low are considered ‘slowcore’ mavericks, and have been heralded for dynamic stage shows that reach exploratory levels, especially in reinterpretations of cover songs from Toto to Outkast. An “anything goes” attitude is needed for the large crowds and distances at HSB, so might as well take another chance with indie demigods, Low. -KQ

Calexico

Named after the border town of Calexico California, Calexico aren’t your typical indie group. Aspects of Latin, country, jazz & rock can be gleaned from this band that has been going at it for about 15 years — but the overall product sounds mysterious and rambling. Joey Burns & John Convertino are the two constants in Calexico, who continue to tour on their 2012 LP, Algiers. Calexico will also be performing at Slim’s Friday night. -MF

Betty LaVette

50 years of soul singing makes Betty Lavette one of the vets in the industry, even if she is still a relatively new name to music lovers. A wide range of influences also lends to a truly unique voice and writing style, which is likely to thrill patrons of all ages. Her rise to fame was relatively late in her career, but she has since graced many of the biggest stages and collaborated with a “who’s who” of legends such as Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. A sunday morning slot could be a perfect way to ease into the final day. -KQ

WILDCARD BONUS:

String Cheese Incident

String Cheese Incident and the circus that follows the group on the road will most likely bring their joyful sound to the Satr Stage. Kyle Hollingsworth, keyboardist of SCI, appeared last year alongside Steve Kimock, Keller Williams & Bernie Worrell Sunday evening at the Star Stage — so maybe Hollingsworth (and Keller) convinced the rest of the group that HSB is a worthwhile festival to contribute to, for all the right reasons.

Will SCI play to the roots of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass by honing in on bluegrass numbers like “Good Times Around the Bend” & “Restless Wind”, or will the group curate a ‘normal’ show by incorporating jamtronica classics like “Rivertrance” or mind-melters like “Miss Brown’s Teahouse” or “Jellyfish”? -MF

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Allah-Las, Betty LaVette, Calexico, Father John Misty, First Aid Kit, Gogol Bordello, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Low, Sonny and the Sunsets, The Evens, The Wood Brothers

Outside Lands 2013: Five last-minute finds

August 8, 2013 by Mike Frash Leave a Comment

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2013 //

As Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in SF’s Golden Gate Park prepares to open its doors, music fans are scrambling to pick which shows they should grace. And while it’s impossible to see everything, isn’t it the worst when you discover an artist right after a festival? Here are five under-the-radar artists you might want to consider before Outside Lands begins.

Check out our Outside Lands articles:

• Outside Lands 2013: Ten sets not to miss
• Outside Lands 2013 Beer/Artist Pairings
• Outside Lands Schedule Announced!
• Daft Punk to replace D’Angelo at Outside Lands?
• Outside Lands Music Festival Lineup 2013: Rumors vs. Reality

Discover your last-minute finds by listening to our Outside Lands 2013 Spotify playlist:

CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers – Friday at 6:05 p.m. // Sutro Stage

So the bad news is D’Angelo can’t perform at Outside Lands due to a health scare. The awesome news is festival promotor APE was able to fill the gap with the legendary group CHIC, featuring Nile Rodgers. Anyone that’s been paying attention to Daft Punk this year already knows who Nile Rodgers is — he’s responsible for the funkiest electric guitar grooves in American history. Expect a dance party. Expect butts to be shaking. Don’t expect Daft Punk. CHIC Featuring Nile Rodgers is only directly opposed to Wavves and Stanton Warriors and should serve as a proper warm up for Sir Paul.

The Growlers – Saturday at 3:25 p.m. // Sutro Stage

Southern California psych-garage rockers The Growlers have steadily been making their way up festival bills the past few years, and for good reason. There is certainly an element of 1960s California surf rock present in their guitar tones, but vocal and instrumental reverb effects are more in your face. Touring on their new album Hung At Heart, The Growlers will face tough competition Saturday against Young the Giant and Youth Lagoon. But as their song “One Million Lovers” says, “You know you’re living when it all becomes a blur.”

Bombino – Saturday at 4:30 p.m. // Panhandle Stage

Bombino is an worldwide artist on the rise halfway through the year 2013. An acclaimed Nigerian singer songwriter and guitarist, Omara “Bombino” Mortar focuses his tongue on geopolitical concerns in the northern Sahara region. Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys produced Bombino’s second album, Nomad, which was released in the US this year, and people have taken notice. Bombino and his band have opened for Robert Plant, Amadou & Mariam and Gogol Bordello this year alone. Bombino is up against Thao & The Get Down Stay Down on Saturday.

GRiZ – Saturday at 7:50 p.m. // Panhandle Stage

GRiZ offers your only chance at dance music Saturday, save for Baauer and the beats that circulate within the Heineken dome. Balancing between not-too-aggressive dubstep and hip-hop aesthetics while adding live instrumentation, GRIZ will be a nice warm up before both Phoenix and more notably Nine Inch Nails. A late add to the festival lineup, GRiZ is only directly opposed by Head and the Heart.

Deap Vally – Sunday at 2:50 p.m. // Panhandle Stage

Female rock duo Deap Vally have been hitting the bricks hard in 2013, touring endlessly while turning heads at the biggest festivals in the land. Odds are Deap Vally will continue this trend Sunday on Outside Land’s smallest stage. The LA-based twosome’s rock and roll energy is undeniable, and their hooks plenty catchy. Their debut LP Sistrionix was unleashed earlier this summer, and the ladies might need some fan support while FOALS and Kurt Vile perform at the same time.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals, Outside Lands Tagged With: Amadou & Mariam, Baauer, Bombino, Chic, Daft Punk, Dan Auerbach, Deap Vally, FOALS, Gogol Bordello, GRIZ, Kurt Vile, Nile Rodgers, Nine Inch Nails, obert Plant, Outside Lands Music Festival, Paul McCartney, Phoenix, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, The Black Keys, The Growlers, Young The Giant, Youth Lagoon

Outside Lands Music Festival 2013: Lineup rumors vs. reality

April 1, 2013 by Mike Frash 19 Comments

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2013 //

The best fest in the West returns this August! Many may disagree with that statement due to the fact that Outside Lands is geographically located between two other premier music festivals in Coachella and Sasquatch! (and don’t forget the gem that is High Sierra Music Festival), but the Northern California fest now in its sixth year that is organized and curated by Another Planet Entertainment has a lot going for it.

The location in Golden Gate Park on the west side of SF, surrounded by public transportation, is prime and convenient. The foggy weather allows for extended high-energy partying. The sun is nice and all, but not when you have to hide from it for half the festival. There are no beer gardens — carry around your world-class beer like the grown-ass adult you are. And the food! The beer! The wine! It’s local and delicious. Outside Lands has unmatched food and beverage selections for a music festival. And the music is pretty choice as well.

So, it got us thinking, who will be performing at Outside Lands in August? By taking a look at bands & artists touring this summer and the shows/festivals they have already booked, we’ve narrowed down the lineup possibilities and classified each outfit as “rumor” or “reality.”

UPDATE: We didn’t do half bad! The lineup was announced on Tuesday, April 16th.

Paul McCartney – Reality

Already announced as a headliner for Bonnaroo, Paul McCartney has been listed as a confirmed artist over at Last.fm. And based on Outside Lands’ history, this legendary act makes too much sense. Envision the polo fields chanting “naaaah, naah nah nanana naaaaaaah” to close out the weekend. Sounds better than a mailed in Happy Birthday (sorry Stevie).

Daft Punk – Rumor

Just … no. Don’t get your hopes up. Even though APE tweeted this recently:

A James Murphy DJ set seems more likely. Rumors swirled around Coachella, then Lollapalooza and Glastonbury after Daft Punk announced their new record Random Access Memories will be out via Columbia on May 21st.

Save it. The iconic French duo already said they will not be touring in 2013, but a 2014 tour seems likely once they update their live show to incorporate the new jams, which sound like true 1970s disco. Hope I’m wrong on this, but Daft Punk does not seem likely.

Green Day – Reality

Festival organizers mentioned last August that they had already booked a headliner for 2013. This immediately made me think Green Day, as they had three records pending release at the time. Green Day would certainly be playing festivals in support of the new material throughout 2013 (and they are), and the Bay Area natives have never played Outside Lands. There is a big gap in their touring schedule in early August as well.

Atoms for Peace – Rumor

Thom York’s electronic/rock supergroup, which also features Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich & Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Flea, would be a suitable headliner at any summer festival. But the group will be touring Europe in July and have no dates set in August. Atoms for Peace announced an LA & Santa Barbara show October 16 & 17, so plan on seeing them at Treasure Island Music Festival.

Nine Inch Nails – Reality

Nine Inch Nails would be a great grab and a must-see headliner, and their current schedule makes it possible. They’ll be headlining Lollapalooza, and they have dates scheduled in Europe starting August 15, but NIN still has Outside Lands weekend open. The new NIN lineup is Reznor, Eric Avery from Jane’s Addiction, Adrian Belew from King Crimson, Josh Eustis from Telefon Tel Aviv and previous NIN members Alessandro Cortini and Ilan Rubin.

Mumford & Sons – Rumor

Mumford & Sons have a gap in their schedule from August 9-11, and they will be in North America for Lollapalooza & Osheaga Music Festivals the weekend before Outside Lands. They will also be touring in North America after Outside Lands, so it’s possible they could headline OSL. But Mumford & Sons will be playing the Greek Theater Berkeley for three dates in late May, so Outside Lands seems far fetched. Tickets ~~go on sale Friday at 10am~~ are sold out.

Phoenix – Reality

It already seemed fishy that Phoenix would skip the Bay Area during Fauxchella, opting for Davis over SF or Oakland. Then on Thursday The Independent added a last-minute Phoenix date for Monday April 1, and obviously many people did not score tickets. Phoenix is a confirmed headliner at Lollapalooza, then they have a gap in their schedule from August 9-11 before heading to Europe.

Queens of the Stone Age – Reality

Queens of the Stone Age will be at Outside Lands, as they are performing at Lollapalooza, then Squamish Music Festival in BC Canada right before and during Outside Lands. SF is the next logical festival stop.

Vampire Weekend – Reality

Just like QOTSA, Vampire Weekend are signed onto Lollapalooza and Squamish Music Festivals. Plan on Vampire Weekend being near the top of the Outside Lands lineup when it comes out.

The Postal Service – Rumor

The Postal Service has a gap in their schedule from August 9th-11th, but they most likely will not be at Outside Lands. They have two dates lined up at the Greek Theater Berkeley, and there are tickets still available for the July 27th show.

Willie Nelson – Reality

Willie Nelson falls right into the wheelhouse of Outside Lands legends that have played in the past. And the red-headed stranger will be playing at The Hollywood Bowl on Friday, August 9.

The National – Reality

The National will be playing the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on August 10th, so it only makes sense that they will be at Outside Lands on Friday or Sunday. Last.fm has already indicated The National is a confirmed group. The National into Paul McCartney to end the weekend would be a winning combination.

Other Likely Performers at Outside Lands:
The Lumineers
Pretty Lights
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Hot Chip
Grizzly Bear
Jurassic 5
Kaskade
FOALS
Crystal Castles
Gogol Bordello
Divine Fits
Fitz & the Tantrums
Band of Horses
Young the Giant
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Toro Y Moi
Major Lazer
Ben Howard
Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers
Tegan & Sara
Freighted Rabbit
Hall & Oates
Holy Ghost
DIIV
Wavves
Matt & Kim
Childish Gambino
Jessie Ware
Wild Nothing
Atlas Genius
Reignwolf
Baauer
Capitol Cities
IO Echo
Icona Pop
Wild Belle
Midi Matilda
Bear Mountain
Deap Valley
Diamond Rings
Little Green Cars
Family of the Year
Keys N Krates
The Neighbourhood

Filed Under: Festivals, Outside Lands Tagged With: Atlas Genius, Atoms for Peace, Baauer, Band of Horses, Bear Mountain, Ben Howard, Capitol Cities, Childish Gambino, Crystal Castles, Daft Punk, Deap Valley, Diamond Rings, DIIV, Divine Fits, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Family of the Year, Fitz & the Tantrums, FOALS, Freighted Rabbit, Gogol Bordello, Golden Gate Park, Green Day, Grizzly Bear, Hall & Oates, Holy Ghost, Hot Chip, Icona Pop, io echo, Jessie Ware, Jurassic 5, Kaskade, Keys N Krates, Little Green Cars, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Major Lazer, Matt & Kim, Midi Matilda, Mumford & Sons, Nine Inch Nails, Outside Lands, Outside Lands 2013, Paul McCartney, Phoenix, Pretty Lights, Queens of the Stone Age, Reignwolf, San Francisco, Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers, Tegan & Sara, The Lumineers, The National, The Neighbourhood, The Postal Service, Toro Y Moi, Vampire Weekend, Wavves, Wild Belle, Wild Nothing, Willie Nelson, Young The Giant

Sea of Dreams offers exotic, crazy-sexy NYE in SF

January 3, 2013 by Mike Frash 3 Comments

By Mike Frash //

Sea of Dreams //
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco
December 31st, 2012 //

Sea of Dreams NYE 2013, coined “Lunasea,” offered four stages of live and electronic music, interesting chill-out areas in a tea room and burlesque room, and the best group of revelers you can find in San Francisco on New Years.

The scene that’s created at the SF Concourse Exhibition Center at the end of every year jolts you out of the routines and rigors of life, and enables you to take a journey if you choose, if just for one night. The people that made their way to “Lunasea” seemed to be a mix of Burners and High Sierra Music Festival goers – meaning that most everyone was kind and in a sharing mood.

Gogol Bordello – Lunasea Stage: East Hall

The crazy-sexy music choices at Sea of Dreams are another reason why many people choose this event for New Years. This year, gypsy-punk troupe Gogol Bordello stormed the main stage for the NYE countdown show.

Gogol Bordello’s stage presence, energy and WTF awesomeness is probably only matched by Die Antwoord, but Gogol Bordello brings the crazy with five people taking the spotlight at points. Eugene Hütz is the lead presence, and he doesn’t disappoint.

Shpongle’s Quixotic Masquerade – Lunasea Stage: East Hall

Shpongle premiered his “Quixotic Masquerade” at Lunasea 2013. The electronic music pioneer joined forces with performance art troupe Quixotic to create a show that was sexy and exotic. The first half hour featured only the art troupe Quixotic, then at 1:10am Shpongle appeared from behind his multi-colored DJ platform

Shpongle’s sound is decidedly rooted in traditional & world music sounds, and a live violinist accompanied the digital music for the show. The experience was sexy, weird, and exotic – perfect for Sea of Dreams.