The 2011 Truck America Festival, set to take place in the Catskills from Septeber 9-11, has been CANCELLED. The Hold Steady, Okkervil River, Ra Ra Riot, Wye Oak, The Felice Brothers, and many more were set to play what would have been the UK festival's second year in America. Though no official reason has been given, a source says it was not due to ticket sales, but rather related to a not-so-great turnout at the July UK version of the fest.

The Hold Steady at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 (more)

Last month, we announced that Truck America is returning to the Catskills in September (the 9th through the 11th) and will be headlined by The Hold Steady and Okkervil River. The only other confirmed bands at the time were Ra Ra Riot and Wye Oak. The lineup has since been updated to include Fruit Bats, Vetiver, The Felice Brothers, CItay, Gary Higgins, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Takka Takka, Hospitality, The Low Anthem and others. Check out the full list below. Early bird tickets are still on sale.

For The Low Anthem, it's one of many dates they just announced including one at Terminal 5 with Iron & Wine.

Speaking of The Hold Steady, frontman Craig Finn posted to his Tumblr that he's making a solo album:

"I'm in Austin TX for a few weeks. Making a record. Staying in a friend's guest house. Got here yesterday. So far so good. I'll be tracking the progress here."

He has also been tracking his progress on the Tumblr.

Check out the full Truck America lineup update below...

Continue reading "Truck America expands lineup, Craig Finn working on solo LP"

The British music festival Truck Festival is returning to America again this year and back in the Catskills at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY from September 9-11. This year's Truck America will be headlined by The Hold Steady and Okkervil River. Other confirmed bands include Ra Ra Riot and Wye Oak, and an announcement with over 30 other bands is coming soon. Early Bird tickets are on sale now. The first 200 people who pre-order their passes will receive the special $99 rate for the entire weekend (kids can get in even cheaper).

Last year was the fest's first year in the US. Read more about it HERE.

Meanwhile, Okkervil River are finishing up a tour with Titus Andronicus. The Hold Steady head out at the end of August with The Donkeys for a short tour. Updated dates below...

Continue reading "Truck America returns to the Catskills, initial lineup includes Okkervil River, The Hold Steady & more"

Gary Louris @ Truck America (more by Alexandra Marvar)

Gary Louris of the Jayhawks (who are playing three nights in a row in their hometown of Minneapolis in June) played the Truck America Festival earlier this month (NYC Taper taped it) and kicked off a short tour in Cambridge, Massachusetts last night (5/13). That tour continues to Le Poisson Rouge in NYC tonight (5/14). All dates below...

Continue reading "Gary Louris on tour (dates), played Truck America (recording)"

words & photos by Alexandra Marvar, more photos by Claire Bennnett, Gabe Soria & Sonam Zoksang

Roadside Graves @ Truck America

"After 12 years America got its first taste of Truck at a resort in the Catskills about three hours outside of New York City. A more modest affair in size and lineup than the forthcoming Truck in Steventon this July, the Full Moon resort was perfectly situated for the comparatively small event.

The entire weekend made for a remarkably relaxed experience. While the weather in the Catskills in early May is usually akin to that of Oxfordshire in the summer, the days were unseasonably warm and the nights crisp, making sitting in an unheated converted barn after midnight a pleasant experience." [Clash]

Alexandra Marvar, who performed at British Truck festival offshoot TRUCK AMERICA this past weekend with the Mercury Rev orchestra, and with Common Prayer, reviews the fest's highlights with accompanying pictures. Check it out below...

Continue reading "The Truck America Festival in pics & review"

photos by Ryan Muir

The Joy Formidable @ Union Hall

"The Joy Formidable is the first band signed to Black Bell Records, the label founded by Passion Pit's synth player/sampler Ayad Al Adhamy. The band will release their Black Bell debut, an eight-song EP titled A Balloon Called Moaning, on May 4.

The EP was recorded in the band's home bedroom studio and was entirely self-produced. The Joy Formidable has sold out multiple UK tours throughout the past year and supported several standout bands including Editors and The Temper Trap. After touring the UK with Passion Pit, the band was invited to join them as the opening act to their shows at New York's Terminal 5. Additionally, the band played two stateside headlining shows at Brooklyn's Union Hall and New York City's Pianos, both of which sold out." -PR

Tickets are on sale NOW for a Monday, May 10th Joy Formidable show at Mercury Lounge in NYC.

The UK band, now on a short tour (all dates below), played Bamboozle on Sunday, a sold out show at Mercury Lounge the night before that, and the Truck America Festival the day before that. Earlier this year, as mentioned above, they visited NYC for some shows including one at Union Hall in Brooklyn with Jaguar Club and Ravens & Chimes. Pictures from that show, with the tour dates, below...

Continue reading "The Joy Formidable played Union Hall (pics), Bamboozle, Truck Fest & Mercury Lounge (where they play again soon - ON SALE)"

Sean Bones @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple in 2009 (more by Natasha Ryan)

If you're looking for a last minute excuse for a road trip this weekend, the Truck America Fest is happening for three days in the Catskills. Check out the full schedule at their site. Gothamist interviewed fest organizer Robin Bennett...

Gothamist: Would you ever want to bring the festival closer to NYC?

Robin: This is a only 2 and a half hour drive--you have to travel that far to get this type of peace and calm--and it can take that long to get through the Holland tunnel on a bad day!

Gothamist: Please share your strangest "only in New York" story.

Robin: I saw some blog commenters complaining that the festival wasn't in the city.... but that's the WHOLE POINT! Also just witnessed a local radio boss and his promo man arguing about changing the station brand colors from blue and green to red and yelloq--"but that's the color of the San Dego padres!"

if you're staying in the city, Sean Bones is playing a $3 at 3pm Happy Hour show at Pianos on Saturday. Later in the evening Brooklyn Bowl has shows both early (Peelander-Z!) and late (Amazing Baby). There are other shows Saturday too... coming soon in the What's Going on Saturday post. For tonight, check What's Going on Friday.

Saturday and Sunday are Genesis Breyer P-Orridge's tag sale, and a Spring Food and Craft Market at Brooklyn Lyceum.

Sunday head to Hoboken for the Hoboken Arts & Music Fest. More later.

Continue reading "Truck America festival underway, a Food & Craft Market in Brooklyn, Sean Bones, Brooklyn Bowl & other stuff "

The Sadies...

Truck America is a 3day festival (april 30-may 2) held up in the catskill mountains @ the full moon resort in big indian, ny. the truck family has been putting on festivals and gatherings in the UK for the past 13 years and have just made the jump to the american market. mercury rev (with a full orchestra), white rabbits, here we go magic, ida, the joy formidable and neil halstead are just a few of the confirmed live performances. in addition to lots of live music, they're also going to have handfuls of workshops, kids activities and late night campfire singalongs. weekend pass is only $120 and includes 3 nights of campsite access and parking (day tickets also available). if camping isn't your thing, accommodations are also available at the resort as well as meal packages.

The full lineup is below and tickets are on sale.

Before then there are a pair of "warm up shows" happening in NYC. The first is tonight (4/21) at The Bell House and features all bands also playing the festival: Atlantic/Pacific (ex-Texas is the Reason), Dusty & The Dreaming Spires (Robin & Joe from Goldrush/Truck), Oxygen Ponies and Cat Martino. The second happens April 26th at Matchless, with The Caulfield Sisters and the Truck Family All Stars (members of Common Prayer, Dusty & The Dreaming Spires & Hopewell).

Sixties-style rockers The Sadies will be one of the bands at Truck America. They also have a new album, Darker Circles, out May 18th at Yep Roc. Their tour dates take them across Canada and down the West Coast, where they play a few shows with Kurt Vile. Back east, Vile plays a release show for his new 12" EP Square Shells, which comes out at the end of May on Matador, at Union Pool on June 18th. Joining him will be Meg Baird and Mad Scene.

The full lineup for Truck America and other tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Truck America's full lineup, NYC warm-up shows, new Sadies album & tour dates, a Kurt Vile EP & show & stuff"

Truck America, the first US version of the 13-years-running UK fest, will take place Friday, April 30th to Sunday, May 2nd at The Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY (map), a little less than three hours from NYC. Confirmed bands include White Rabbits, Hopewell, Tim Easton, The Sadies, Ida, The Joy Formidable, Neil Halstead, The Silent League, Cat Martino, Common Prayer, Oxygen Ponies, Brandon Patton, Atlantic/Pacific, Dusty & The Dreaming Spires, The Shoestring Band and headliner Mercury Rev. Tickets are on sale now online (and details on where to get tickets in person are below).

The three-day, three-stage fest will have on-site accomodations, workshops and more. Details and poster are below...

Continue reading "Truck America comes to Big Indian, NY in 2010 - lineup includes Mercury Rev, White Rabbits, Neil Halstead, more"