The 2013 Pygmalion Music Festival is slated to take place from September 26-28 at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana, IL. Their initial lineup features The Breeders, Youth Lagoon, Major Lazer, Chance the Rapper, Foxygen, Daughter, Perfume Genius, Metz, On An On, Nat Baldwin, and many more, with a second artist announcement due in June. Three-day festival passes go on sale TODAY (Tuesday, May 7) at noon CST.

PMF 2013's initial lineup can be found below...

Continue reading "The Breeders, Perfume Genius, Chance the Rapper, Metz & more to play Pygmalion Music Festival 2013 (tix on sale today)"

Lou Barlow @ Green Music Fest (more by Rachel Angres)

Dinosaur Jr. was one of the many artists who played the 2012 edition of the Pygmalion Music Festival in Champaign-Urbana in September. The band's Lou Barlow listed it as one of his top three moments of 2012... he's just having trouble remembering what it's called...

#3 a festival in Champaign Illinois that featured almost every newish band i wanted to see, one after the other.. Willis Earl Beal , Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Lower Dens .. Grizzly Bear .. Willis was as odd as i could have expected, UMO was as fucked up and soulful as i could have desired and Lower Dens were.. sublime.. sounding nothing like Sublime , of course but, y'know..spare and beautiful..i love how younger kids these days sound like the older guys from my day.. the late 70's early 80's new wave/post-punkers from new york that wore big framed glasses and captured my teenage imagination.. i also saw Cloud Nothings that day which was interesting because they sounded like all the bands sebadoh played with in the mid-90's -combined- .. in conclusion , a great festival i can't remember the name of ...another musical highlight..

Lou's full list of three 'Best Moments' of 2012, below....

Continue reading "Lou Barlow loved the Pygmalion Music Festival (he just can't remember the name)"

Hum @ A.V. Fest 2011 (more by Matt Ziegler)

As mentioned, Sleigh Bells were one of the many acts slated to perform at the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival in Champaign-Urbana, IL next weekend. Due to "a recently sustained injury," SB have been forced to cancel their appearance at the fest. Taking their place as the opening night headliners at the Canopy Club, are Champaign-based alternative rockers Hum. Hum's most recent reunion was right around this time last year, when the group performed at the A.V. Fest and Fun Fun Fun in Austin, TX. Tickets for Hum are on sale now, and festival passes are also still available.

Sleigh Bells are also scheduled to play Metro on September 28, which is the first date of their tour with Araabmuzik. There's no word on whether the injury will affect that tour.

UPDATE: The "recently sustained injury" is a fractured radial bone in guitarist Derek Miller's right arm, due to a fall at a Florida skatepark. The Metro show has been moved to November 4, and the entire tour has been rerouted.

An updated list of Sleigh Bells dates and a couple of Hum videos are below...

Continue reading "Sleigh Bells cancel Pygmalion appearance, replaced by Hum"

DOWNLOAD: Cold Showers - "BC" (MP3)

Los Angeles' Cold Showers are gearing up for the release of their debut LP, Love and Regret, due out on October 9 via Dais Records. Sample their dark pop stylings by downloading the album's lead single "BC" at the top of this post. The track, which is also streaming below, features guest guitar work from Crystal Antlers member Andrew King.

Cold Showers are set to do some touring with The Soft Moon later this month. They won't be playing a Chicago show together, but The Soft Moon will be here in November. After their run with TSM, Cold Showers will head to Illinois perform at the Pygmalion Music Festival on September 29. Before that happens, they'll open for The Raveonettes and Melody's Echo Chamber at Lincoln Hall on September 27. Tickets are still available for that solid show.

All Cold Showers dates and album info for Love and Regret are below...

Continue reading "Cold Showers releasing debut LP, opening for The Raveonettes at Lincoln Hall, playing Pygmalion (MP3, dates)"

Lower Dens @ Central Park Summerstage in June (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Grizzly Bear are set to begin a fall North American tour in September in support of their forthcoming LP, Shields, due out on September 18 via Warp. You've already heard the album tracks "Sleeping Ute" and "Yet Again" from the follow-up to the group's excellent 2009 LP, Veckatimest. Their tour starts on September 18 in Knoxville, TN and features Unknown Mortal Orchestra as main support on its first leg. The final show of that first leg is a performance at the Highdive Outdoor Annex in Champaign-Urbana, IL on September 29 as part of the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival, which Unknown Mortal Orchestra have just been added to. They haven't yet appeared on the schedule, but it looks like they'll also be playing the Outdoor Annex with Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Frankie Rose, Cloud Nothings, and many more (tickets).

As mentioned, Grizzly Bear visit Chicago on September 30 to headline the Riv. Lower Dens have been added as the opener for that show, and will also support the band on all other North American dates in October. Tickets are still available.

All Grizzly Bear dates and streams of "Sleeping Ute" and "Yet Again" are below...

Continue reading "Lower Dens opening for Grizzly Bear at the Riv; Unknown Mortal Orchestra added to Pygmalion"

Frankie Rose @ MHoW (BV-Northside 2012) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Frankie Rose is one of the many acts that will head to Champaign-Urbana, IL in late-September to perform at the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival. Frankie will be playing the Highdive Outdoor Annex on September 29 with Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Willis Earl Beal, Common Loon, Purling Hiss, New Ruins, Grandkids, and more TBA. Individual tickets are still available for that show, as are three-day passes for the festival.

The following day (9/30), Frankie and co. will head to Chicago for a performance at the Empty Bottle. Tickets go on sale this Friday (8/3) at 10AM CST.

All known Frankie Rose dates and a new video for her song "Know Me" are below...

Continue reading "Frankie Rose playing the Empty Bottle after Pygmalion"

Cloud Nothings @ Pitchfork Festival 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

Cloud Nothings, who recently hit Chicago to play the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival, are getting ready to head out on a brief European tour next week. They'll return stateside in the beginning of September to play FYF Fest in Los Angeles. After what looks like two weeks off, the Cleveland, OH outfit will begin touring their way to Champaign-Urbana's Pygmalion Music Festival (September 27-29). Leading up to Illinois festival, Cloud Nothings will stop in Chicago for a two-night stand at Lincoln Hall on September 18 & 19. Tickets for both shows are going on sale this Friday (8/3) at noon CST. All dates are listed below.

Dylan Baldi and co. recently released their first live album, Live at Grog Shop, recorded at their hometown venue during an April 5 performance. Though physical versions of the record are now sold out, you can still stream and/or download (in exchange for your email address) the album HERE.

All Cloud Nothings dates and a video of them playing "No Future / No Past" at Grog Shop are below...

Continue reading "Cloud Nothings playing shows before Pygmalion, including two at Lincoln Hall "

photos by Rachel Angres

Dinosaur Jr. @ Green Music Fest on 6/23/2012

Dinosaur Jr. hit Chicago last weekend to play Subterranean on Friday night (6/22) and headline the first day of Green Music Fest on Saturday night. A set of pictures and the setlist from their festival performance are in this post.

As mentioned, Dinosaur Jr. will return to Illinois for the Pygmalion Music Festival in Champaign-Urbana in September. They'll be playing a mini festival within Pygmalion on Saturday, September 29 at the Highdive Outdoor Annex with Cloud Nothings, Frankie Rose, Willis Earl Beal, Common Loon, Purling Hiss, New Ruins, Grandkids, and more TBA. Individual tickets for the show are on sale now. Three-day festival passes are still available.

J, Lou, and Murph's latest effort, I Bet on Sky, is due out on September 18 via Jagjaguwar. Rolling Stone have premiered the album's lead single "Watch the Corners," which you can check out HERE.

More pictures from the group's Green Music Fest performance continue below...

Continue reading "Dinosaur Jr. played Green Music Fest (pics, setlist), returning for Pygmalion in September"

Sleigh Bells @ Terminal 5 in February (NYC) (more by Chris La Putt)

Pygmalion Music Festival, set to take place at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana from September 27-29, have just added a ton of new acts to the lineup. These additions include Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters, Night Beds, and more. An updated version can be found below.

Some of these acts have already been assigned to venues, like Sleigh Bells, who will kick off the festival with a performance at The Canopy Club on September 27. Dirty Projectors play the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on September 28, and later that night you can catch Best Coast at The Canopy Club. On September 29, Grizzly Bear and Dinosaur Jr. will headline a full day of music on two stages in Downtown Champaign. Many more shows are TBA.

Laetitia Sadier, one of the fest's many headliners, is set to release her second solo LP, Silencio, on July 24 via Drag City. The Stereolab member recently shared the album's first single "Find Me the Pulse of the Universe," which you can check out HERE. Before hitting Pygmalion, Sadier will play Schubas on September 15. Tickets go on sale this Friday (6/15) at noon CST. Full tour TBA.

An updated lineup for the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is below...

Continue reading "Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters & more acts added to Pygmalion Music Fest"

Dirty Projectors' Swing Lo Magellan

Dirty Projectors have been added to the 2012 edition of the Pygmalion Music Festival, set to take place from September 27-29 at venues throughout Champaign-Urbana, IL. A second wave of tickets for the festival are on sale. 10+ headliners and 20+ supporting acts are TBA shortly.

DP' new album, Swing Lo Magellan, is scheduled to hit stores on July 10 in the US via Domino Records. Take a listen to the LP's lead single "Gun Has No Trigger" at the bottom of this post.

Reminder: Dirty Projectors play on Friday (7/13) of Pitchfork Festival 2012.

Continue reading "Dirty Projectors added to Pygmalion Music Festival"

Grizzly Bear in Govenors Island in 2010 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Grizzly Bear have been hard at work on their currently untitled new album, which we now know is due out on September 18 via Warp. Take a listen to the album's great lead single "Sleeping Ute" at the bottom of this post.

In late-August, the group will head out on an international tour, which includes their previously announced stop at the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival on September 29 and a Chicago show at the Riv on September 30. Ticketing info for the Chicago show is forthcoming.

All Grizzly Bear tour dates are listed below, along with a stream of "Sleeping Ute."

Continue reading "Grizzly Bear releasing new LP, playing the Riv on tour after Pygmalion (dates, stream)"

The 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is set to take place from September 27-29 at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana. They've just announced their initial lineup of Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter, Lord Huron, Oh No Oh My, Big Freedia, Craft Spells, Zeus, My Jerusalem, and more. Current lineup below. Early Bird passes go on sale tomorrow (May 9) at 10AM CST.

Continue reading "Pygmalion Music Festival 2012 - initial lineup (Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter & more)"

"Toro y Moi light show @ Pygmalion festival." - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Fresh off of their show at The Canopy Club as part of the 2011 Pygmalion Music Festival, Toro y Moi, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Ava Luna will visit Lincoln Hall to play a sold out show Saturday night (9/24).

We've got a pair of tickets to give away! Details on how to enter to win them, with all tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Toro y Moi playing Lincoln Hall on Saturday (win tix!)"

Okkervil River @ Terminal 5 in July (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Laura Marling @ Sasquatch Festival in 2010 (more by Chris Graham)

today in Chicago
* Laura Marling, Alessi's Ark @ Lincoln Hall
* Okkervil River, The Felice Brothers @ the Vic
* World Music Festival @ Various Venues (Day 8)
* The Dig, The Kickback, Kellen & Me @ Schubas
* We Are Augustines, Fort Frances @ Subterranean
* An Horse, Magic Milk, Warm Ones @ Beat Kitchen
* Landfill Specter @ Empty Bottle (Early; Free Show)
* Pygmalion Music Festival @ Various Venues (Day 2)
* John Paul Keith, Tim Larson & The Owner Operators @ Hideout
* To Destroy A City, Selaroda, Cleared @ Empty Bottle (Late Show)
* Arlum, The Ugly, Of Wolves, Superbig @ Double Door (Free Show)
* The Safes, The God Damns, Kitchen Experiment, Things to Come @ Panchos
* Swans, Sir Richard Bishop, Daniel Knox, DJ Scary Lady Sarah @ Bottom Lounge
* Fighting For Scraps, Asinine, Ugly Bones, Dead Sheriff, Spare Change @ Ultra Lounge

World Music Festival comes to a close today.

Pygmalion Music Festival kicked off last night in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Wilco played Letterman last night. Check out the footage below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

DeKalb, IL's Middlewest Fest is back for a second year, taking place next Friday (9/9), and Saturday (9/10) at various venues throughout the city.

Featuring artists like: Tokyo Police Club, Gene Ween, Maps & Atlases, and more; the festival has positioned itself against the upcoming A.V. Fest, Hideout Block Party, and Pygmalion Music Fest.

Two-day passes are available for $40 each, with single-day passes being priced at $25. You can also purchase individual tickets for each show.

Head below to view the full festival lineup, and schedule.

Continue reading "Middlewest Fest is taking place next weekend in Dekalb -------- full lineup, set times, & other details"

The 2011 Pygmalion Music Festival, set to take place in Champaign-Urbana, IL from September 21st - 25th, has SOLD OUT of festival passes. There are a limited number of individual tickets available for each show.

Bachelorette @ Bowery Ballroom in May (more by Diana Wong)

Bachelorette (aka Annabel Alpers) has quite a busy September ahead of her. The New Zealand-based musician will come stateside for a string of dates, including a short run supporting Low, a performance at the 2011 Pygmalion Music Festival, and then a Chicago one-off at Empty Bottle.

Her third, and self-titled LP came out on May 16th via Drag City Records. Listen to a song:

Bachelorette - "Blanket"

Tickets for her Empty Bottle show with NewVillager on September 23rd are still available. You can view all 2011 tour dates below..

Continue reading "Bachelorette to play Pygmalion & Empty Bottle +++ touring w/ Low before both"

Unfortunately, The Luyas have canceled their Sunday (8/21) performance at Schubas. They will not be hitting Chicago again in the next few months, but they WILL be playing at the Pygmalion Music Festival on Friday (9/23) in nearby Champaign-Urbana, IL.

As previously announced, the 2011 Pygmalion Music Festival is set to take place from September 21st - 25th in Champaign-Urbana, IL. Much like the way that CMJ, and SXSW are arranged; Pygmalion will take form at various venues throughout the area.

Festival headliners include: Explosions In The Sky, Cut Copy, Toro y Moi, Gang Gang Dance, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and more.

Polyvinyl Records will celebrate their 15th anniversary during the fest, with a huge showcase featuring: Braid, Japandroids, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Starfucker, Joan Of Arc, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Asobi Seksu, and Owen.

Blanket-passes are still available for $65 (plus fees), and will grant you access into all of the individual shows taking place. Single tickets can also be purchased for each show.

Check out the full lineup, now with set times below..

Continue reading "Pygmalion Music Festival completes lineup, & posts set times"

Scattered Trees

A few days ago, the Chicago-based band Scattered Trees visited St.Louis, MO to record a live session at KDHX Radio (88.1 FM). Stream the 4-song session via a widget below.

Starting this Friday (7/30), the band will kick off a month-long North American run supporting The Alternate Routes. There is no Chicago stop on the tour, however Scattered Trees will be playing the Pygmalion Music Festival in nearby Champaign-Urbana, IL in September.

Head below to view all 2011 tour dates, and stay tuned for a local show.

Continue reading "Scattered Trees on tour w/ The Alternate Routes, recorded a KDHX session +++ playing Pygmalion"

Washed Out @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Ryan Barkan)

Washed Out recently played a live session for Sirius XMU, which included a cover of Chris Isaak's haunting classic "Wicked Game." Take a listen below.

Washed Out - "Wicked Game" (Chris Isaak Cover)

The full session will air on August 3rd at 8PM CST, on XMU (Channel 35).

As previously announced, Washed Out will be playing two Illinois shows in one week. They'll play the Riv on September 20th, and then The Canopy Club on September 23rd during the Pygmalion Music Festival. Both shows are part of Cut Copy's larger fall tour.

Tickets are still available for both the Riv, and their Pygmalion show at The Canopy Club.

Gang Gang Dance @ Angel Orensanz in NYC (more by Weird Magic)

Gang Gang Dance will play the last show of their summer tour tonight in NYC, which is actually a Rocks Off Concert Cruise. From tomorrow until late-September, the group will take some time off before heading out on a fall North American tour.

That tour kicks off on September 23rd, at the Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, OH. One day later, they'll venture to Champaign-Urbana, IL for the Pygmalion Music Festival.

Gang Gang Dance will return to Chicago (for the first time since the Pitchfork Festival) on October 20th to play Lincoln Hall. Tickets have not been posted as of yet.

Check out their full tour schedule, and more here.

Toro y Moi @ Bowery Ballroom in April (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Toro y Moi has just added a Chicago gig on September 24th at Lincoln Hall, surrounding his performance at Champaign-Urbana, IL's Pygmalion Music Festival.

The bill will also feature tour mates, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Ava Luna.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Toro y Moi's just announced Freaking Out EP hits stores on September 13th via Carpark.
You can download the single "Saturday Love" which is actually an Alexander O'Neal & Cherelle cover via a widget below (in exchange for your email address).

Head below to view Freaking Out's tracklisting and cover art, plus all 2011 tour dates.

Continue reading "Toro y Moi adds show @ Lincoln Hall surrounding Pygmalion +++ announces new EP 'Freaking Out'"

The Luyas @ Muzzle of Bees BBQ - SXSW 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The Luyas are currently off tour (for the first time in months), and I hope trying to relax.

Yesterday came the announcement that have just added a one-off show at Schubas on August 21st. The timing is interesting, as the show will be taking place right before their previously announced tour with The Dodos (which has no Chicago date).

There's still hope if you'd like to see both bands together! Their tour will stop in nearby Champaign-Urbana, IL for the Pygmalion Music Festival.

Tickets are on sale now for their Schubas date.

Head below to view all 2011 tour dates, and a recent on-stage collaboration between the two bands in Amsterdam.

Continue reading "The Luyas add one-off show @ Schubas before touring w/ The Dodos (dates)"

Cut Copy @ Terminal 5 in April (more by Dana (DISTORTION) Yavin)

Still in support of their phenomenal 2011 offering Zonoscope, Cut Copy have just announced a massive, fall US tour with support from Washed Out and Midnight Magic.

They'll hit the Chicagoland area twice this fall, playing the Riv on September 20th, and then the Pygmalion Music Festival on September 23rd.

Tickets go on pre-sale for their Riv date TODAY, at noon CST.
Username: Cut
Password: Copy
Tickets have not been posted for sale to the general public as of yet.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at 10AM CST.

Before the tour kicks off, Cut Copy have a large summer schedule including a performance on Sunday (7/17), of the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival.

Washed Out's new LP Within and Without came out yesterday via Sub Pop Records. He (they live) played a one-off at Bowery Ballroom two nights ago, with support from Grimes and Blood Orange. They'll spend the summer touring throughout Europe.

You can view all Cut Copy/Washed Out/Midnight Magic 2011 tour dates below..

Continue reading "Cut Copy announce fall tour w/ Washed Out & Midnight Magic, playing the Riv +++ tix on pre-sale today!!"