Now we really know what's going on. The CBGB Festival is happening July 5 - 8 at some 30 venues across the city, with over 300 bands participating, including the previously mentioned free Guided by Voices, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Cloud Nothings show at Summerstage (which now also includes The War on Drugs), the The Baseball Project and Craig Finn at City Winery, L.A. Guns at Highline, the Cro Mags, Sick of it All, Vision of Disorder, Absolution, and Sal Naim show at Webster Hall, and D Generation's Bowery Electric show. Newly added artists include Rocket from the Tombs, MEN, PS I Love You, Reggie Watts, Gary Lucas, Weekend, and more TBA. The full list of currently confirmed artists is below.

It's also a film festival with both new and classic rock films/docs, including the world premiere of The Rise and Fall of The Clash, plus American Hardcore, Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements, The Dead Boys - Live at CBGB/OMFUG 1977, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Kurt Cobain About a Son, The Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973 and more.

In addition, they've added a CMJ/SXSW-like music industry conference with panels/workshops concerning the music industry, independent artists, and a CBGB "Tales from the Club" panel each day. All conferences take place at the Sunshine Cinema and East Village Cinema. The festival also closes with the "distilled spirits fest" at Beekman Beer Garden on July 8.

There are variety of badges available too, from music and film showcase badges to one that get you into everything (or potentially at least...badges don't guarantee admission). The press release we got claims badges have been on sale since May 7 but this is the first we've heard about it. Regardless, early bird prices on music showcase badges is $69 and runs through May 31. It jumps to $79 if you buy before July 4 and walk-up badges once the fest starts are $89. Film fest badges are $99/$159/$219 for earlybird/regular/walk-up. You can also get a music conference badge which gains you entry to the showcases, workshops, and panels, and a music/film combo badge which gains you entry to all of that plus the film screenings. Full details on the vast array of CBGB Festival badge options are at their website. What this means to people who already bought tickets to individual shows already but want a badge too, we're not sure.

A list of all confirmed bands, films, conferences, and participating venues is below.

Continue reading "CBGB Festival announces details: badges, bands, films, industry conference, and booze"

DOWNLOAD: Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game (MP3)

Harlem Shakes @ Highline Ballroom (more by Ryan Muir)

Harlem Shakes' new album, Technicolor Health, is out now on Gigantic. The disc's first single , "Strictly Game," which we've posted before, is posted again above.

The band has upcoming May/June tour dates with Passion Pit and Cale Parks, though none in New York. But that doesn't mean there aren't any Harlem Shakes shows to be had.

First the band plays a "Big Ups to Jules De B." show at Bushwick's Starr Space on Thursday, April 23rd with LD Beghtol (Magnetic Fields, Flare), Hospitality, and Mr. Dream. That show is a party for Jules De Balincourt, who did the artwork for the band's newest record. (More details and artwork below.)

Then the band has a free early show at Pianos on Wednesday, May 6th with The Cringe and Sean Bones. (That's before the Japandroids, The Octagon, Heavenly States show the same night.) Poster for the Shakes gig below.

Then, after a May 16th Sarah Lawrence show (in Westchester County) and the Passion Pit/Cale Parks tour, Harlem Shakes return for a July 1st show at the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 24th at noon. Openers aren't announced yet.

Before embarking on that tour, Cale Parks (you may know him as one of the guys who plays percussion/piano/vibes in Aloha) is performing at Santos Party House on Saturday, May 9th with Cymbals Eat Guitars, So So Glos, Real Estate and Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic). The show, hosted by Andrew WK, is a benefit for DKMS, which is the world's largest bone marrow donor center. Tickets for that show are on sale.

One day after finishing their tour with the Harlem Shakes, Passion Pit play two headlining shows of their own at Bowery Ballroom (both now sold out).

Video from the Harlem Shakes' March 26th MHOW gig, details on the band's Bushwick show, and all upcoming tour dates below...

Continue reading "Harlem Shakes - 2 small NYC shows, 1 free, 1 big one & other 2009 Tour Dates (w/ Passion Pit & Cale Parks) "