Firefly 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

It's been crazy both in and not-in the NYC-area for festivals this past week. NYC was taken over by a very muddy Governors Ball last weekend (6/7-9), and this past weekend (6/14-16), while almost every Brooklyn venue took part in the Northside Festival, Toronto was hosting NXNE and Tennessee had Bonnaroo to name the ones we were most focused on. That's all behind us now, but those who are into festivals still have much more to look forward to this summer including another big one on the east coast this weekend.

This coming weekend, Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23, the Firefly Music Festival is returning to Dover, Delaware's Dover International Speedway, which is only about a 3 hour drive (directions) from NYC. The festival debuted last year, and like Governors Ball, they've upped their game a bit this year. There will be a bunch of great bands across four main stages, like:

On Friday, there's sets by Django Django, Dr. Dog, Action Bronson, Foxygen, Public Enemy, Grizzly Bear, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Earl Sweatshirt (who was added to the lineup in May) and more. And besides RHCP vs Earl (who start 15 minutes apart), the conflicts that day aren't too bad.

On Saturday, there's sets by Japandroids, Jim James (who replaced Imagine Dragons, so bonus points for that), Kendrick Lamar, Alabama Shakes vs Lord Huron at 5 PM, then CHVRCHES vs Edward Sharpe, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT vs Azealia Banks, and finally Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will headline the day, plus still more.

And on the festival's final day, Sunday, you can catch Haim, Matt & Kim, Toro y Moi, Passion Pit vs The Walkmen both going on at 6:30, Vampire Weekend, and more. Plus, if you need to leave early to get home from work on Monday, you can leave before Foster the People's headlining set. Two birds, huh?

And in addition to the main stages, there's some smaller side stuff too, like the Red Bull Sound Select Hub Stage which features bands who have joined the Red Bull Sound Select Program. We aren't familiar with all the bands playing that one, but we suggest you stop by Saturday for NYC's Heliotropes (who, by the way, are playing a record release show in NYC on 6/18, and streaming their new record). The Skins and Oxymorrons are both on that stage too, both NYC bands who we caught when they played the Afropunk-curated RBSS show at Knitting Factory with Danny Brown.

There's also the Coffee House Stage with other smaller acts including The Spinto Band, Jenny Owens Young, Pearl & the Beard, Hey Marseilles, Selah Sue, Trails & Ways, and many more.

Last but not least, in addition to just being there as fans and covering the festival, BrooklynVegan will be producing two hours of entertainment from 1-3pm each day inside the Soundwave tent, presented by Toyota and Spinmedia, and hosted by musician & BV contributor Billy Jones. Take a look at the festival map - our stage is toward the top left next to St. Jude.

Hosted overall by one of our favorite comedians, Dave Hill, the Soundwave stage will also feature programming by SPIN (5-7 each day) and Hype Machine (3-5 each day) in addition to the BrooklynVegan stuff (1-3 each day). Stay tuned for our full stage schedule, but get there on Friday at 1pm for a live interview with Django Django and look forward to a second performance by and audience Q & A with Amanda Palmer on Sunday at 2pm. More details soon!

Meanwhile, check out the full main stages Firefly lineup and schedule at Firefly's website where you'll also find much more info if you're attending, like the festival map which is also below...

Continue reading "Firefly Fest is in Delaware this weekend (schedule, map, BrooklynVegan Soundwave, other side stages & more)"

Phoenix at Music Hall of Williamsburg, 4/5/2013 (more by PSquared Photography)

Two days after announcing the existence of the second edition of Jay-Z's of Made in America festival, here comes the initial line-up. Set to go down August 31 - September 1 at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, look for appearances from Beyonce, Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel (who is collaborating with Kendrick), Solange, The Gaslight Anthem (who just announced two huge NYC shows), Phoenix (who just played MHoW and SNL), 2Chainz and more.

UPDATE: an initial announcement accidentally included artists from the 2012 lineup mixed in with the 2013 lineup. Those mistakes made it into our post but are now fixed.

So far no details on ticketing. Full line-up is below...

Continue reading "Made in America fest initial 2013 line-up: Beyonce, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix, Kendrick Lamar, Gaslight Anthem + more "

Firefly Music Festival 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Dover, DE festival Firefly Music Festival had a great first year in July of 2012, and afterwards immediately announced it'd return in 2013. The 2013 festival happens from June 21 - 23 at the Dover International Speedway, and the lineup was just announced. It includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, The Walkmen, Django Django, Public Enemy, CHVRCHES, Amanda Palmer, Foxygen, Alabama Shakes, Toro y Moi, Dan Deacon, Action Bronson, The Avett Brothers, and more; and the headliners are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vampire Weekend, and Foster the People. The full lineup is below and you can watch the announcement video at their website. TIckets go on general sale Thursday (2/21).

Firefly happens a couple weeks after NYC festival Governors Ball, which has some lineup similarities (Kendrick Lamar, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, Avett Brothers, etc). That one goes down on Randall's Island from June 7 - 9 and tickets are still available.

Firefly lineup below...

Continue reading "Firefly Music Festival announces 2013 lineup (Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, Tom Petty, RHCP & more)"

Rush at Barclays Center, October 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

In a just-held ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. that was hosted by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced after nominees surfaced a short two months ago. Among this year's class are Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Heart, Albert King and the long-snubbed Rush, along with receipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, Lou Adler and Quincy Jones.

Reportedly, Rush was the clear beneficiary of the recently instituted popular vote, and the band had the following comment:

"We are honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 3 of us are especially appreciative of our loyal fans whose support and dedication has gone a long way to making this possible. P.S. And special thanks to our moms for voting 6000 times!" - Alex, Geddy, & Neil

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

The Public Enemy-headlined Hip Hop Gods Tour hit Irving Plaza in NYC on Thursday night (11/29). We've got pictures, videos, and a shot of PE's setlist. It continues below...

Continue reading "Public Enemy, Immortal Technique, Monie Love & friends took over Irving Plaza (pics, video, setlist)"

Public Enemy released Yo! Bum Rush the Show 25 years ago and show no signs of slowing down. In fact, 2012 has been a busy year for the hip hop legends, releasing two albums this year: Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp in July and The Evil Empire of Everything this month. The cover art to the latter, which you can pick up at Amazon, is above and you can stream "Riotstarted" from it below which features Henry Rollins and Tom Morello.

Meanwhile, yesterday was the launch of the Hip Hop Gods tour that Public Enemy headline but also features X-Clan, Monie Love, Schoolly D, Leaders Of The New School and more. That tour hits NYC tonight at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still available but we have a few pairs to give away (in addition to what we're giving away on Facebook). Details on how to enter, song streams and a list of all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Public Enemy released two albums in 2012; Hip Hop Gods tour hits NYC tonight (win tix!)"

Public Enemy ATP NY 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Chuck D proudly presents the first annual HipHopGods Tour... The 12 date tour will feature Public Enemy, X-Clan, Monie Love, Schoolly D, Leaders Of The New School, Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers, Son Of Bazerk & No Self Control, Awesome Dre, Davy DMX and DJ Johnny Juice holding it down as the official tour DJ.

The initial tour will be filmed for future documentary, and subsequent tours will follow in 2013. The 3 hour concert, hosted by Chuck D, will move like a 1960s James Brown revue or Dick Clark Star Caravan making the concert a true once in a lifetime event.

Get your Africa medallions, "Get Used" jeans and Cazals ready, and catch the show at the tour dates listed below, alongside some classic videos from the era.

Continue reading "Public Enemy to headline "Hip Hop Gods" tour with X-Clan, Monie Love, Schoolly D + more (dates)"

Flavor Flav at ATP IBYM 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Flavor Flav of Public Enemy was arrested around 3AM on two charges in Las Vegas, felony assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor domestic violence, after an incident in his home this morning. According to TMZ, the Public Enemy wildman "allegedly got into a heated verbal argument with a teenager in his house, as well as his fiancee. His fiancee then called 911." No word on if said teen was Flav's offspring. Flavor Flav is currently being held on bail to the tune of $23k.

Kraftwerk at MoMA in April (more by Greg Cristman)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2013 nominees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Albert King, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, The Meters, Randy Newman, NWA, Procol Harum, Public Enemy, Rush, and Donna Summer.

For the first time in its history, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will offer fans the opportunity to officially participate in the induction selection process. Beginning on Thursday, October 4 and continuing through December 5, the public can vote for the five nominees they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a "fans' ballot" that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2013 inductees.

The Treasure Island Music Festival returns to San Francisco on October 13 and 14, featuring an impressive line-up including The xx, M83, Joanna Newsom, Grimes, Public Enemy, SBTRKT, Divine Fits (who just played their first-ever show last night), Ty Segall, The War on Drugs, Youth Lagoon Toro y Moi, Best Coast and more. Tickets are on sale now in both individual day or 2-day packages.

The full Treasure Island Fest line-up is below.

Continue reading "Treasure Island Music Festival 2012 line-up (M83, The xx, Joanna Newsom, SBTRKT, Divine Fits, Public Enemy & more)"

Public Enemy at ATP NJ in 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

In addition to the Seaside Summer Concert Series, Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz also presents the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series, which takes place at Wingate Field (on Brooklyn Ave between Rutland Rd and Winthrop St) this summer with free shows every Monday from July 16 to August 20. All shows begin at 7:30 PM.

Among the shows announced for this year's series is Public Enemy and Salt-N-Pepa on July 30 (!) and New Edition members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant (as 'Heads of State') on August 6. Full lineup below...

Continue reading "2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series lineup (free shows at Wingate Field w/ Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa & more)"

Lindstrom

Lindstrom will be releasing a 12" of remixes from his Six Cups of Rebel LP on June 25 with remixes from Oneohtrix Point Never (who plays Ecstatic Summer), Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, and Mark McGuire (of Emeralds). Have a listen to Oneohtrix Point Never's take on "Call Me Anytime" below.

Lindstrom is currently on a tour which brings him to NYC on Friday (5/25) for the previously discussed Webster Hall show with Simian Mobile Disco (tickets). That tour will also bring him to Detroit's Movement Electronic Music Festival this weekend where he'll play alongside Public Enemy, Actress, SBTRKT, Major Lazer, Gold Panda, Nina Kraviz, Matias Aguayo, FaltyDL, AraabMUZIK and more. Tickets for the fest are on sale now. The full lineup is listed below.

Speaking of electronic music festivals, Mutek goes down in Montreal from May 30 - June 3. The Mutek lineup includes Kode9, Nicolas Jaar, Clark, Blondes, Apparat, Shlohmo, Shackleton, Stephen O'Malley & Tim Hecker, Biosphere & Lustmord, and more. The full lineup is listed below.

In related news, as mentioned, Apparat will come to NYC after Mutek for a show at Gramercy Theater on May 31. It's since been announced that Sleepyhead will open that show. Tickets for that show are still available and we're also giving away a pair. Contest details below, along with a list of all dates, song stream, and those festival lineups.

Continue reading "Lindstrom releasing remixes 12", touring (dates); Movement Fest & Mutek coming soon (lineups); Apparat adds opener (win tix)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Public Enemy

STEREOGUM: What appealed to you about getting involved with All Tomorrow's Parties?

GEOFF BARROW: I just like that, for the most part, you wouldn't want to be there if you aren't actually into the music. It's not like Coachella where there are loads of girls walking around in bikinis and stuff like that. It's basically people enjoying what is often some really indulgent music. For us, it's like a Charlie in the Chocolate Factory moment. You win the golden ticket and you get to see how the candy is made. You get to choose the bands that play with you, which is just ... amazing. It's like, wow, yes, please.

STEREOGUM: Who in particular are you most excited about seeing?

GEOFF BARROW: We've been really lucky over the years. We've done three of these ATP festivals and it's always such a good experience. I'm always, always, always very into watching Public Enemy. Also, Ultramagnetic MCs because they are just mental and so important to hip hop. I'll also be watching Swans ... with earplugs. I want to watch everything. I want to watch as much as I possibly can.

Jeff Mangum played his second of three Asbury Park sets on Sunday (10/2), though like his Friday show, we don't have pictures of his set (he doesn't like pictures). We do have pictures of a lot of other sets from Sunday though, and they continue, along with shots of the general Asbury Park scenery (the conclusion of our ATP NJ 2011 coverage), below...

Continue reading "I'll Be Your Mirror 2011 -- pics from ATP Sunday (Public Enemy, Company Flow, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Deerhoof, Earth & more)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Chuck D on stage with Portishead @ ATP

Portishead completed their NYC & NJ adventure with a 2nd show at Hammerstein Ballroom last night (10/5), and an appearance on Fallon where they performed two songs. On air they played "Chase The Tear" which they first released in 2009 to help raise money for Amnesty International. Jimmy pointed out that you can get a new release of that single exclusively at the XL Records table at the Brooklyn Flea Brooklyn Flea's Independent Label Market this weekend. They also played 1994 song "Mysterons" at Fallon as a web exclusive. And much to the chagrin of the groaning tourists who were trapped in their seats at the show's taping yesterday, the band actually played "Mysterons" in full twice because apparently something went wrong the first time around. You can watch the version they kept, and what aired on TV, below.

Also in this post is a set of pictures (including the setlist) from Portishead's Sunday set at ATP I'll Be Your Mirror in Asbury Park. As mentioned in the post of pictures from their Saturday show, Chuck D joined the band on stage during "Machine Gun" on Sunday. As not mentioned, Simeon from Silver Apples joined them on "We Carry On" to help close the show. Chuck D video HERE. Simeon video below.

Silver Apples plays Public Assembly in Brooklyn TONIGHT (10/6).

Portishead associate Anika plays Glasslands tonight.

Portishead's Adrian Utley visited Criterion Cinema while in town, and is involved in a show happening in NYC on 10/29.

ATP pictures & Fallon videos below...

Continue reading "pics from Portishead's 2nd show @ ATP, both videos from Fallon last night ++++ Silver Apples & Anika tonight"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

After leaving us hanging for over 14 years, Portishead finally returned to the east coast of the United States to play one of my personal favorite shows of all time at Asbury Park's Convention Hall as part of ATP's "I'll Be Your Mirror" on Saturday night (10/1). Unfortunately I couldn't stick around to see them do it again on Sunday (with special guest Chuck D of Public Enemy who played before them that day), but I do plan on being at one or both of the Hammerstein Ballroom shows this week to relive it again. I'll definitely watch Fallon too.

Much like Radiohead recently, Portishead's live lineup included two bald men. Like Radiohead, one of those bald men was Clive Deamer on drums (at least I think it was). The guy is keeping busy.

Jeff Mangum, who played the night before, and the two days after (including tonight) was in the audience to check out the NJ fests's co-headliner. From my seat I could see him talking to the drummer of Shellac (who also played the night before and who also plays tonight). Beth Gibbons crowdsurfed on top of that audience at the end of the amazing set.

More ATP coverage coming. For now, here are the Portishead pics from Saturday (with setlist), and a video of Chuck D joining them on "Machine Gun" on Sunday (like he did in 2008 at Primavera). It all continues below...

Continue reading "Portishead played ATP NJ -- night 1 pics & setlist, night 2 video w/ special guest Chuck D"

ATP I'll Be Your Mirror begins in Asbury Park TODAY (9/30). Tickets are still available. Take a look at the previously posted stage times, but note that Sunday at Convention Hall now looks like this:

DD/MM/YYYY - 2.45pm-3.45pm
Deerhoof - 4.15pm-5.15pm
Company Flow - 5.45pm-6.45pm
Public Enemy - 7.15pm-9.15pm
Portishead - 10.00pm-11.30pm

DD/MM/YYYY also plays in NYC tonight.

by BBG

Company Flow at Santos (more by Brook Bobbins)

WOW. As El-P confirmed, Company Flow will return AGAIN on the Sunday (10/2) of ATP's I'll Be Your Mirror in NJ. Other additions to the Asbury Fest's already-great lineup are Public Enemy who will their classic Fear of a Black Planet LP in full on Sunday, and Thought Forms, who are on Portishead's whole tour, on Saturday. Full updated lineup is below, and tickets are still available in different formations.

In other news, El-P recently released a new track for Adult Swim, following up with an uncensored version for "Drones Over Brooklyn".

Some videos and the current ATP lineup below.

Continue reading "Company Flow & Public Enemy added to Asbury Park ATP"

Slayer at Izod Center (photos by Samantha Marble)

Slayer, Thee Oh Sees, Public Enemy, Girls, Danzig Legacy, (Danzig + Doyle von Frankenstein playing Misfits, Samhain & Danzig), Hot Snakes, Diplo, Major Lazer, Henry Rollins, Ted Leo & The Phramacists, Spank Rock, Murder City Devils, Hum, Lykke Li, Passion Pit, Four Tet, Rakim, The Damned, Austra, Purity Ring, and Flynt Flossy are just a few of the acts announced today as part of the Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup. Another amazing year! Check out the full lineup below and stay tuned for more announcements coming in August and September.

The new additions to the Austin, Texas festival, which takes place from 11/4 - 11/6, are in addition to the the previous "lineup leaks" that included Brian Posehn, Odd Future, Okkervil River, M83, X (performing "Los Angeles"), Reggie Watts, Flying Lotus, Tune-Yards, Ra Ra Riot, Kid Dynamite and others

2011 is the festival's sixth year, but first at its new home Auditorium Shores (no more Waterloo Park). Tickets are on sale now.

Slayer also has a NYC performance coming up with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth as part of the "Big Four" show at Yankee Stadium on 9/14. Tickets are still available.

Fun Fun Fun 2011 flyer and almost-full lineup is below.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup (Danzig Legazy, Passion Pit, Slayer, Lykke Li, The Damned, Henry Rollins & much more)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by BBG

Flavor Flav, in a rare moment of sanity, is sans clock and reality show video crew!

There was a moment between songs yesterday during Public Enemy's rollicking performance in the middle of a rain-streaked Central Park where Chuck D likened his legendary rap outfit to the venerable thirst quencher lemonade..."Take the water and the lemon out of that equation, and you get diabetes," Chuck said, referring to his scrawny partner in crime's recent reality show foibles. "VH-1 gave America diabetes."

While the crowd guffawed heartily, Flav took the diss in stride with a slight smirk on his face. The truth is the be-clocked rapper's turn on "Flavor of Love" probably only served to help Public Enemy in the long run. -[Crawdaddy]

"Son of Bazerk has the greatest voice ever!" That's according to Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, praising the lead rapper for the grandiosely monikered Son of Bazerk Featuring No Self Control and the Band, a Bomb Squad-associated group from Freeport, Long Island, who secured cult status in hip-hop off the back of 1991's critically acclaimed Bazerk, Bazerk, Bazerk album-and then promptly disappeared for nearly 20 years...

Hip-hop folklore attributes Son of Bazerk's vanishing act to one of two factors: Their sound was either ahead of its time, or they were stymied by Bomb Squad producer Hank Shocklee, who released their debut album through his M.C.A. imprint, S.O.U.L., but allegedly refused to sanction a follow-up, compelling Bazerk to characterize Shocklee as "one of the dirtiest motherfuckers I ever seen in my life" in a 2008 interview reprinted on the rap blog Unkut. -[Village Voice]

More pics from the Summerstage show are below...

Continue reading "Public Enemy played Central Park Summerstage w/ Blitz The Ambassador, Kendo And The Almost Famous Band, DJ Kool Herc AND Son of Bazerk! (pics, video)"

Central Park Summerstage (more by Chris La Putt)

The schedule for the 2010 SummerStage series, which has music not just at Central Park, is out, and there are some great looking shows to highlight.

At Central Park, the first "rock" show happens on Saturday, June 5th with Living Colour, Ebony Bones!, Pillow Theory and CX KiDTRONiK. Baaba Maal, who just played Irving Plaza, will be at Central Park too on Monday, June 14th The Tinariwen show on Saturday, June 26th also features Syrian beat & mikeman Omar Souleyman. Gil Scott-Heron plays Central Park in June and Marcus Garvey Park in August.

There's also El Guincho, Bostich and Fussible and others in Central Park on July 7th. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff plays Central Park on Sunday, July 11th. Raphael Saadiq performs there Saturday, July 17 at 3pm. The Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba/Fool's Gold show on Sunday, July 25th will also feature "West African electronica" band Burkina Electric.

On Wednesday, July 21st, there'll be a Comedy Central's The Daily Show and Friends Central Park gig hosted by Lewis Black with John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Cenac, Adam Lowitt and Rory Albanese.

There's also music from St. Vincent, Tune-Yards and Basia Bulat on August 1st at Central Park. The xx play with Jack Penate and Chairlift there on August 8th. At the same spot, Public Enemy play an August 15th day show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fear of A Black Planet, and the Specials play on August 22nd with Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and $mall ¢hange.

The borough-wide shows kick off with Jay Electronica in Red Hook Park on June 1st. Also at that park is Dan Deacon on Tuesday, June 15th. White Rabbits play East River Park on August 12th.

There's lots of great jazz too: McCoy Tyner plays with Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Francisco Mela as part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival on June 23rd. He also plays in the Charlie Parker Jazz Fest, which comes at the end of the summer with an incredible lineup. McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Scott, Jason Moran and the Bandwagon and Revive da Live play during the day at Marcus Garvey on Saturday, August 28th. Then the next day, James Moody, Catherine Russell, Vijay Iyer and The JD Allen Trio play at Tompkins Square Park.

The park benefit shows include John Butler Trio and State Radio on June 15th (tickets on sale), The Flaming Lips on July 26th, The Black Keys with the Morning Benders on July 27th and 28th, Hot Chip/Hercules & Love Affair/Holy Ghost on August 4th, Govt' Mule on August 11th (tickets), and one of the four Pavement shows September 21-24. Plus there's a "songbook of Simon & Garfunkel" benefit on June 8th.

Not all "Summerstage" shows are in Central Park anymore which drives home the point even further that the name of the venue in Central Park is actually "Rumsey Playfield" which hosts non-"Summerstage" shows too. Those so far include Coheed/Torche, CAKE, Ween, and Broken Social Scene.

The full Summerstage free show schedule is below...

Continue reading "Summerstage (Central Park & elsewhere) - full 2010 lineup "

Hopscotch Music Fest will be happening at ten venues in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, September 9th-11th. The three-day fest's two headlining shows are Panda Bear & Broken Social Scene with The Rosebuds on September 10th, and Public Enemy with No Age & The Love Language on September 11th. Other acts at the fest include Tortoise, Akron/Family, Best Coast, Burning Star Core, Atlas Sound, Fucked Up, Harvey Milk, Lucero and 9th Wonder. The lengthy full list is below. Tickets are on sale now.

Panda Bear's only other tour date currently is at Pitchfork Music Fest on July 17th in Chicago.

Another person at the fest with only a handful of shows beforehand is songwriter Richard Buckner. As of now he has four gigs before Hopscotch in September, and one comes Saturday, April 17th at Union Hall in Brooklyn with Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine. Tickets are on sale.

Richard Buckner hasn't had much in the way of news since three of his older records got reissued by this label Merge last year. He did stop by for a Daytrotter session that was posted March.

The list of bands at Hopscotch and Richard Buckner tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Music Fest in North Carolina has Panda Bear, Public Enemy, BSS & Richard Buckner (who plays other dates first)"

"We are having record sales to the tune of 27% higher than previous years and are fast approaching sell out on all 3 days. That said, tickets are absolutely still available for the time being, and I encourage those hoping to attend to make their purchases NOW!" [The Stranger]

Public Enemy are playing the Washington fest this year. "Harder Than You Think" below...

Continue reading "Sasquatch Festival on way to selling out quickly"

We'll get a more complete press release in the morning (and confirm what is listed below is 100% correct), but in the meantime below is a picture of the 2010 Sasquatch poster (that someone Tweeted) and the lineup as read by Bradford Cox at tonight's Atlas Sound show in Seattle (and being listed all over the Internet)....

Continue reading "Sasquatch announces 2010 lineup (includes Massive Attack & My Morning Jacket) (and many more) "

Public Enemy @ Roots Picnic (more by Tim Griffin)

WARREN, NJ, June 24, 2009 Speculation and predictions that have filled blogs and discussion boards can be put to rest. The Virgin Mobile Festival is returning, but with a catch. It'll be free.

Virgin Mobile USA, creator of one of the largest and most critically acclaimed music festivals in the U.S., announced today that it would host the 2009 Virgin Mobile Festival on Sunday, August 30, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., free of charge. All tickets will be given away, and previous Virgin Mobile Festival ticket buyers and Virgin Mobile customers will have the first crack at securing the 35,000 tickets.

The move celebrates both a giveback to music fans in a bad economy as well as an effort to solicit donations to homeless youth agencies in need around the country via The RE*Generation, Virgin Mobiles charitable arm. Most sponsors, including premier sponsor Kyocera Communications, will be building awareness for the cause in their marketing efforts around the festival.

"Instead of focusing on layoffs or the state of the economy, we want to focus on concrete ways to provide assistance to those in need", said Dan Schulman, CEO, Virgin Mobile USA. "People need outlets to both lend a helping hand and to escape and relax, for free, even if just for one day. We want to throw some good news in the mix".

The 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest will be hosted on the beautiful, 40 wooded acres of Merriweather Post Pavilion. The grounds and facilities of Merriweather will be expanded to accommodate the multiple stage and dance tent set-up from prior Virgin Mobile Festivals. Those scheduled to appear at this years FreeFest include Weezer, Blink-182, Franz Ferdinand, and Public Enemy, Jet, The National, Girl Talk, The Bravery, The Hold Steady, St. Vincent, Wale, and Taking Back Sunday, as well as dance tent favorites that include HOLY F*CK, Pete Tong, Danny Howells and Lee Burridge.

Continue reading "MD Virgin Mobile Fest returns in 2009 as a free event (lineup)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"The marquee event [at this year's Roots Picnic - June 6, 2009 in Philly] was Public Enemy's performance of their epochal 1988 album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed for only the third - and, they have said, the last - time on American soil, and the first time with a band.

Public Enemy's Chuck D famously called rap music African Americans' CNN, an analogy that bodes ill for the exhumation of a 20-year-old album. But fueled by an expanded Roots lineup that included a horn section from the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat orchestra Antibalas, Nation sounded like anything but old news. Chuck D's stentorian voice has lost none of its power to command, and Flavor Flav washed away years of reality-TV embarrassment, seeming more like a sharp-witted jester than a fool.

Rather than approximating Nation's sonic thicket, the Roots added melody and depth. The prison-riot saga "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" gained a funk guitar riff and blaring horns, with ?uestlove's snare hits ringing out like rifle shots.
[Philadelpha Inquirer]

Continue reading "Public Enemy performed 'It Takes a Million' w/ Antibalas & The Roots @ the Roots Picnic in Philly - pics"