Flosstradamus dropped a new EP, called X☮, last week and have shared another, titled X☯, this week via their website. X☮ can be downloaded for free HERE, and so can X☯, if you tweet "I got the @flosstradamus X EP2 at x.flosstradamus.com #FLOSSX" HERE. A third EP, X☢, is set to be released on October 18.

Flosstradamus are currently on tour, and have added a few more dates to their 2012 schedule. One of those dates is a hometown show at Metro on December 22. Advance tickets for that show are on sale now.

All 2012 tour dates and the cover art for X☯ are below...

Continue reading "Flosstradamus released another free EP, playing Metro"

As mentioned, the Mad Decent Block Parties are returning to select cities next month and will make a stop in Chicago on August 18. We now know that it will be happening from noon-10PM that day on W. Fulton St. between N. Ashland Ave. & N. Justine St., right next to the Cobra Lounge. Though a specific list of artists have not yet been revealed for the Chicago block party, the overall lineup includes Major Lazer, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Spaceghostpurrp, Lunice, Jacques Greene, Casey Veggies, BADBADNOTGOOD, Baauer, Jim-E Stack, Bosco Delrey, Three Loco, and more.

Flosstradamus were originally included in the lineup, but have been told by the Chicago Police Department that their headlining set at West Fest almost caused a riot so they have removed the duo from the block party. We were in attendance but admittedly were over at the main stage watching the Black Lips at that time. We did however exit the festival near Floss' stage, WHILE they were still playing, but did not see anything too crazy. Bummer.

RSVP for the event is still open. Stay tuned for the full Chicago lineup.

Major Lazer @ Governors Ball (NYC) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Mad Decent Block Parties are returning to select cities this summer and have announced their overall lineup (subject to change at each stop). The Chicago party is set for August 18. RSVP is open.

The overall lineup inclues Major Lazer, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Spaceghostpurrp, Lunice, Jacques Greene, Casey Veggies, BADBADNOTGOOD, Baauer, Jim-E Stack, Bosco Delrey, Flosstradamus, Three Loco (aka Andy Milonakis, Dirt Nasty, and Riff Raff), and many more.

Check out the full lineup and a trailer below...

Continue reading "Major Lazer, Spaceghostpurrp, BADBADNOTGOOD, Lunice & more playing Mad Decent Block Parties"

R. Ring

West Fest 2012, which is taking place on July 7 & 8 on Chicago Ave. between Damen Ave. and Wood St., have announced their full lineup including performances by the Black Lips, Man or Astro-Man?, Stagnant Pools, Mates of State, Crooked Fingers, R. Ring, and many more. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 to offset the costs of the event and to benefit local non-profits.

Check out the full lineup-by-day (with set times) below...

Continue reading "West Fest 2012 - complete lineup & schedule"

West Fest 2012 is set to take place on July 7 & 8 on Chicago Ave. (between Damen Ave. and Wood St.). The street fest's initial main stage lineup includes Mates of State, Black Lips, Bad Veins, He's My Brother She's My Sister, R. Ring, Bestfriends, Stagnant Pools, and more TBA. There will also be a DJ stage on each day featuring Flosstradamus, Sinden, Samone Roberts, and others. The current lineup can be found below.

As announced, Black Lips are also playing the Empty Bottle on July 6. Both K-Holes and Circles were recently added to the bill and tickets are not surprisingly sold-out. K-Holes released new record, Dismania, on May 1 via Hardly Art. Check out their video for the sax-filled album track "Window in the Wall" at the bottom of this post.

Current West Fest lineup and K-Holes' video for "Window in the Wall" below...

Continue reading "West Fest 2012 - initial lineup (Black Lips, Bad Veins, R Ring, Stagnant Pools & more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound @ Hotel Vegan

"...Before we were able to bask in the glory, we were driving in MAD traffic to get across town to Hotel Vegas to play Brooklyn Vegan's "Hotel Vegan" party. We barely got to the stage in time, screeched up, lept out of the van like we were the A-Team. Set up. Go. 11 people in the room, tops. The big names are outside in the back. And then something clicked, we just continue to be locked in. I look up five songs later and the room is packed. Wall to wall hipsters, including friends from Gypsy Blood, The Pinstripes, and Kane Place Record Club. It was a riot. Like a real house party. Next thing I know, we're shaking hands and getting in cell phone pictures and some real cool guy from Chicago with a little city pride takes us all out to dinner..." [JC Brooks SXSW Tour Diary]

Special thanks to a Sailor Jerry, Brooklyn Brewery, HobNob Wines, and Honest Tea for providing refreshments. Thanks also to our backline partners Korg, Vox, and Blackstar Amplification for helping make the sound happen,

Thanks especially to everyone who stopped by and to the many artists who played. Check out more pictures from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "pics: Chicago represented @ Hotel Vegan in Austin (with JC Brooks, Maps & Atlases, Flosstradamus & many more)"

We're excited and pleased to announce BV Chicago's first-ever Austin event, a full stage of Chicago musicians along side TWO MORE BrooklynVegan-programmed stages, at Hotel 'Vegan' (aka Hotel Vegas & Volstead Lounge at1500 E. 6th Street) on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from noon - 6PM. Hotel Vegan will be runing from Wednesday through Saturday during SXSW Music, and we're excited to be showcasing Chicago bands on one of the three stages, on the first of those four days.

Headlining the BV Chicago stage will be JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound (who just announced a big hometown show at Metro). Also on the bill: Flosstradamus (which one half of, J2K, performed at a recent BV Chicago event) with a special guest, The-Drum (who shared that bill with J2K), Maps & Atlases (who have a new album and big hometown show at Metro + tour coming up), White Mystery, FIELDED, Gypsyblood, and Minor Characters (who have a pre-SXSW show at Schubas).

It looks like this:

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - bvChicago Stage at Hotel 'Vegan'
12:00PM - Minor Characters
12:35PM - Gypsyblood
01:15PM - FIELDED
02:00PM - White Mystery
02:45PM - Maps & Atlases
03:30PM - The-Drum
04:15PM - Flosstradamus
05:00PM - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

Thanks to our backline partners Korg, Vox, and Blackstar Amplification for providing the gear to make this party possible.

And stay tuned for the rest of the "Hotel Vegan" lineups soon!

UPDATE: Here's what another one of the Wednesday stages looks like.

photos by James Richards IV

J2K @ Vita Hill Social Club on 2/25/2012

On Saturday night (February 25), we hosted a free show at the temporary Vita Hill Social Club in Wicker Park. J2K, one half of Flosstradamus, headlined the event with support from ShowYouSuck and The-Drum (DJs). A full set of pictures from Saturday night are in this post.

During his set, ShowYouSuck announced that he and Flosstradamus, who have produced a number of his tracks in the past, will be releasing a collaborative EP this spring! Stay tuned for more info on the album and in the meantime, you can check out Flosstradamus' brand new EP, Total Recall.

As mentioned in our "What's Going on Monday?" post, ShowYouSuck will headline Debonair Social Club's REHAB tonight.

Thanks to everyone who came out to our show on Saturday night!

More pictures (like the one above) can be found below..

Continue reading "J2K of Flosstradamus, ShowYouSuck & The-Drum (DJs) played a BVC Presents show @ Vita Hill Social Club (pics)"

UPDATE: We've added The-Drum (DJs).

We're proud and excited to announce that we'll be throwing a FREE event at Sony Playstation's Vita Hill Social Club Chicago pop-up shop in Wicker Park (1444 N. Milwaukee Ave.) SATURDAY NIGHT (February 25), from 7-10PM.

The brand new Playstation Vita, which hit stores on Wednesday in North America, has been available for demo by the general public at Vita Hill all month. You can still test it out on Saturday night, accompanied by some BV Chicago-programmed live music, free snacks and drinks!

We've got performances by: J2K of Flosstradamus and ShowYouSuck!

Complimentary cocktails provided by Tito's Handmade Vodka for those 21 and over. Free Guayaki Yerba Mate, KIND Healthy Snacks, and Vita Coco Coconut Water for everyone.

Admission will be on a first come-first served basis, until the space hits capacity. Doors open at 7PM.

Come join us at the Vita Hill Social Club Satuday!

--

Speaking of Flosstradamus, they JUST put out a new EP, Total Recall, yesterday via the Mad Decent imprint Jeffree's. Check out its tracklisting below. Stream Total Recall HERE and/or download the files HERE.

Song streams/videos of both artists and Flosstradamus' EP info, below..

Continue reading "BV Chicago Presents: J2K of Flosstradamus & ShowYouSuck @ Playstation's Vita Hill Social Club (FREE this Saturday)"

A-Trak @ a SPIN party (NYC) (more by Bryan Bruchman)

Though tickets haven't been posted yet, jet-setting DJ A-Trak will be performing at The Mid on February 10th. His Chicago performance is part of a short (and sporadic) string of winter dates, which you can view all of below.

Flosstradamus will play a hometown show at the venue, though much sooner. He'll headline a FREE (with RSVP) event on December 28th, along side AraabMuzik, Zebo, Prob Cause, and BBU.

French techno producer/DJ Laurent Garnier is also coming to The Mid, on January 13th. He'll perform with Benjamin Rippert and Scan X. Tickets are still available.

Head below for all 2011/12 A-Track dates..

Continue reading "A-Trak is coming to The Mid, so is Laurent Garnier & more DJs"

Fred Flintstone @ Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010 (photo by Maria Marchenko)

Thanksgiving Day 2011 is just around the corner. Despite possibly being cooped up with strange relatives, there are also a ton of great Chicago shows surrounding the holiday...

THANKSGIVING DAY EVE
Touche Amore, Pianos Become The Teeth, and Seahaven will play Beat Kitchen.
Tickets are still available.

Thee Oh Sees will play both an early and late show at the Empty Bottle.
Tickets are still available.

Yakuza, The Atlas Moth, Batillus, and The Swan King will play Subterranean.
Tickets are still available.

Flosstradamus, Supreme Cuts, and Calez will play Lincoln Hall.
Tickets are still available.

Naked Raygun, Falcon, Dan Vapid and The Cheats, and My Big Beautiful will play Metro. Tickets are still available.

THANKSGIVING
Have vegan Thanksgiving dinner at the Chicago Diner.

Check out the parade, downtown (State St btwn E Congress Pkwy & W Randolph St), from 8AM on.

BLACK FRIDAY
Tinariwen, and Sophie Hunger will play Metro. Tickets are still available.

Nicolas Jaar, Hernan Sanchez, and Striz will play Smart Bar. Tickets are still available.

Scattered Trees, A Lull, and Urbanites will play Lincoln Hall. Tickets are still available.

My Gold Mask, La Scala, and Baby Magic will play Empty Bottle.
Tickets are still available.

K. Flay, eTrain, and Add-2 will play Subterranean. Tickets are still available.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH
Marketa Irglova and Sean Rowe will play Lincoln Hall. Tickets are still available.

Tandoori Knights, Bloodshot Bill, Nobunny, Outer Minds, and Radar Eyes will play the Bottom Lounge. Tickets are still available.

The Kooks, YAWN, and The Postelles will play a sold out show at the Vic.

Cianide, Johnny Vomit, Cardiac Arrest, and Bones will play Empty Bottle.
Tickets are still available.

Peter Murphy, She Wants Revenge, Hussle Club, and DJ Scary Lady Sarah will play Metro. Tickets are still available.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
Magic Milk, Small Wonder, and PK Fire will play Panchos. Tickets are still available.

--
Stay tuned for more shows in each day's "What's Going On?" post.

Astronautalis

Astronautalis is set to release his new LP, This Is Our Science on September 13th via Fake Four Inc. He'll play Schubas on October 1st. Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Viva Brother

Viva Brother are playing Lincoln Hall on October 25th.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Fu Manchu pin

Fu Manchu will perform their album In Search Of in its entirety at Double Door on November 7th. Supporting the band will be Honky, and The Shrine.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at noon CST.

Har Mar Superstar hanging out @ Swan Dive - BV SXSW 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Har Mar Superstar will play the Double Door on November 10th.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at noon CST.

Keep Shelly in Athens

Keep Shelly in Athens, who we just suggested you should check out, are playing Lincoln Hall on November 14th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Flosstradamus @ Pier 54 in 2009 (more by Alex Reside)

Flosstradamus will play Lincoln Hall on November 23rd.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

S. Carey @ Highline Ballroom in 2010 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

S. Carey who has been, and will be on tour with Bon Iver through mid-November, will play a solo show at Schubas on December 2nd.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.