SPECIAL FESTIVAL GUIDE 20I3
CONTENTS
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Super Size Me: The Reality of SXSW Despite being too big for its indie britches, SXSW marches on as the ultimate opener to festival season
Going Back 2 Back to Cali For 2013, California’s big festival keeps the two weekend regimen, but shrinks on booking the megastars.
10 Festivals to Feast On Breaking down the ten major festivals worth checking out.
Hangin’ Out The rise, struggles and victories of Alabama’s premiere festival.
ALSO INSIDE HIDEFINITION ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK COMING ATTRACTIONS A-Z DIRECTORY
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WHAT’S AT HIFIMAGAZINE.NET FEATURES
Q&A with Topher Mohr A conversation with the Ann Harbor-raised white boy who doesn't mind getting down and funky RIP: George Jones Country music legend George Jones - The Possum - often hailed the "greatest voice in country" - dies at the age of 81 HIFI Guide: Chaka Khan In honor of 50 years of music, we celebrate the vast catalog of Chaka Khan’s solo catalog, along with her work with funk outfit Rufus. ALBUM REVIEWS Read what the critics had to say about new albums by Phoenix, Jamie Lidell, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Brad Paisley, New Kids on the Block.
PLAYLIST
May 2013 Listen to our exclusive Spotify playlist featuring new jams from Daft Punk, Phoenix, Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu, Mac Miller, Daughter, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses and the Courtney John Project.
HD
“Stars are never sleeping. Dead ones and the living.” David Bowie, lyrics from “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”
HI DEFINiTION
FESTIVAL FIESTA: R. Kelly collaborates on stage with Phoenix’s Thomas Mars during their Saturday performance at Coachella’s Weekend 1.
LET YOURSELF GO: With a recovering Billie Joe, Green Day returns to touring. First major stop: SXSW
EENY-MENNY-MINY-MOU5: Ultra Music fest crowd under the trance of Deadmau5.
HALF OF A GENTLEMAN:
DO IT FOR LOVE:
Ashton Kutcher greets fans at the Stagecoach festival in Indio, Cali. According to TMZ, the actor was involved in a violent confrontation with security.
Alongside Spearhead guitarist Jason Bowman, Michael Franti celebrates his birthday with the Spirit of Suwanee crowd.
BOW DOWN BITCHES: Beyoncé stands on her throne at Super Bowl XLVII.
GIVING UP THE FUN: Vampire Weekend showcased new music at AMEX live streaming concert in NYC.
MAMA WAS A ROLLING STONE: Lady Gaga shows up in Jersey for Rolling Stones’s anniversary gig
Despite being too big for its indie britches, SXSW marches on as the ultimate opener to festival season BY J MATTHEW COBB
L
et’s get the big news out of the way. Prince is heading to SXSW. Now the bad news. You’re probably not going to see him, unless you got that platinum badge or you play this silly lottery to get in. The South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival, held in Austin, Texas, is no longer the grassroots discovery festival it once was. Now, it attracts all the major superstars, all the big shots, and all the money-hungry big labels that a super-sized music festival should. Just to give you an idea of how serious the lineup is this year, Green Day will be performing to an enthusiastic crowd of fans eager to see Billie Joe Armstrong return to the stage after his 2012 rehab stint. Add Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Jim James, Nick Cave, Vampire Weekend, Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Leonard Cohen, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and the burgeoning Alt-J to the 2013 line-up. And now the press is complaining about large crowds, high prices and everything else. Dallas Morning News critic Mario Tarradell missed his place at Dave Grohl’s keynote speech due to the SXSW’s crowds and – by his own omission – the failure to bring along the sacred all-access badge. “It gets me into official SXSW events, of which Grohl’s speech is definitely one of them,” he wrote. “There’s no getting
passed the SXSW police without it. They check for it with keen eyes.” Even the stars are complaining. “Of the three times we’ve been to SXSW, this has been the most intensive,” Sara Quin, told Rolling Stone. The synth-driven indie pop duo, who released Heartthrob earlier this year, are performing six times at this year’s SXSW. PA problems even plagued the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis showcase. The popular rap duo, known for the No. 1 hit song “Thrift Shop,” were marred with additional problems throughout the set when it took over ten minutes to restore sound to good conditions. ”That was, like, the worst concert I’ve ever been to in my life,” one participant told Rolling Stone. But let’s be real. SXSW is one superhyped fantasy event. Kendrick Lamar headlined the Spotify SXSW show, but it was rapper Schoolboy Q that walked away with the loudest buzz when he took a sassy swipe at Kanye West’s jet set decision-making: “Rappers shouldn’t be onstage with models.” Apparently this was more than just a jab at his baby mama Kim Kardashian, it was also an uppercut at his on-stage appearances at Victoria’s Secret fashion shows in the past.
“Of the three times we’ve been to SXSW, this has been the most intense,” says Sara Quin.
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SXSW L.A. studio that birthed legacy albums like Foreigner’s Double Vision, Pat Benatar’s Crimes of Passion, Nirvana’s Nevermind and Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled album. It’s the Foo Fighter’s first foray into the world of movie directing and features appearances from Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, Lindsey Buckingham, Butch Vig and Rick Rubin. Other films are also making their way to the SXSW stage. The Greg Camalier-directed Muscle Shoals wowed many music lovers and critics at the Paramount Theater, with The Express-News declaring it was the “perfect start” to SXSW Music. The feature tells the often untold story of the North Alabama studio (FAME Studios) that created the landmark soundtracks for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Percy Sledge. Like Memphis’s Stax Records, FAME was also an important birthplace for racial harmony within the music industry. “We were color blind,” FAME owner Rick Hall says in the film. Good news for the ‘Muscle Shoals’ doc: entrepreneur Mark Cuban, co-owner of Magnolia Pictures, decided to pick up the film for nationwide distribution and may make its way into select theaters. It’s also slated to air on PBS’s Independent Lens in the near future. The tumultuous life of New Orleans jazz man James Booker is even the subject of Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker. “Booker’s problem was that he shot himself in the foot so many times, and it comes out in the film,” says Don Williams, who owns Booker’s life rights and publishing. “That doesn’t discount the fact he was a genius at the keyboard. He deserves to be acknowledged for what he did.” Film director Morgan Neville worked on the Booker film and will be showcasing another film of his: the highly-talked about doc Twenty Feet From Stardom. The film explores the legacy of background singers and the shadows they often linger in. Some of the film’s subjects are prominently well-known to the ear (Patti Austin, Darlene Love) and some haven’t earned their just due (Lisa Fischer, Lynn Mabry, Tata Vega, Merry Clayton). The Sundance film favorite is making major noise at SXSW and will be making its share of rounds on the film circuit throughout much of the summer. Music critic and author Nelson George is also showing off his Kickstarter-sponsored documentary about funk. George told his Facebook followers that Finding the Funk is still in development and has not been tweaked in post-production. “The film is still a work-inprogress,” he says, “but its not far from being complete.
IN SX:(top to bottom) Justin Timberlake lays down his “suit and tie” for a crowd of 800 for MySpace gig; Prince wows with a late show that ticked into 3 a.m.; rapper Ben Haggerty known best as Macklemore - goes crowd surfing. There will be more screenings in the near future as we refine it.” Despite not being near complete, it warrants the attention of the proudest funkateers. The film, narrated by ?uestlove, focuses on Sly Stone, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Shelia E. and Slave’s Steve Arrington. Sorry, no Prince sighting here. For that, you have to play the lottery and hope that you’re one of the “beautiful ones.”
c Music festivals come and they go. But some are still lying on the balance. Just what exactly lies in store for these slices of musical extravaganzas?
The Bamboozle
CounterPoint
East Rutherford, NJ
Atlanta, GA
“Happy holidaze Boozlers! We are sad to announce we will miss all of you in 2013 but keep your eyes peeled for 2014 info.” Those were the word left on a post made on the festival’s Facebook page. Since its inception, The Bamboozle - the ten-year old New Jersey fest which went into the business of franchising its brand as a touring event – used to reign with the major top-tier festivals in the U.S., but has experienced its own share of problems, particularly when city officials and Live Nation – the fest’s main artery – could not negotiate a new deal. Fans wonder if the effects of Hurricane Sandy may have played a role in the festival’s asunder.
There’s a bit of cloudiness surrounding the future of CounterPoint, a newer EDM fest hosted in Atlanta in September 2012. After its inaugural year, the rumor mill lit up about its future. Organizers recently responded to the queries, by saying, “We know that there are a lot of rumors going around and want to be clear that Atlanta is, and always will be, the home of CounterPoint. It’s going to be a big 2013.” Meanwhile a new EDM festival is coming to the area – the international travel event known as TomorrowWorld. It is scheduled to take place around the same time as CounterPoint. Until we see something fresh, we have to throw the fest in our limbo column.
BamaJam Enterprise, AL It’s one of the biggest country music festivals in the US, but now it remains to be seen if the fest will return to the Enterprise, Ala. area. It was abruptly cancelled in 2011 when event organizer Ronnie Gilley was being indicted for bribery by state lawmakers. It returned in 2012, with Gilley cleared of all charges. But there’s hardly been any correspondence with festival organizers over a 2013 return, particularly when a lineup was never announced and the Facebook page has gone kaput. Making matters worse, there is a notice of foreclosure on the BamaJam Farms RV Park by PCB Holdings marked January 29, 2013. It remains to be seen if it will return ever again.
Music Midtown Atlanta, GA Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters headline last year’s comeback festival held at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. For five years, Music Midtown sat idle, but returned with a feisty resilience. It plans to return in the fall, but the website has not been updated since 2012 and the lack of press releases to media raises many questions. Until then, we will have to keep it on the “chopping block” list.
River’s Edge Music Festival St. Paul, MN According to LiveNation officials, the $4.8 million, twoday event on St. Paul’s Harriet Island will not be returning in 2013. It debuted in June last year with Dave Matthews Bands, the Scissor Sisters and the Flaming Lips as headliners. It hasn’t been dismissed entirely and remains on hiatus. It filled the void left by the bankrupt Taste of Minnesota festival. Live Nation oversees River’s Edge. HIFIMAGAZINE.NET
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GOING Standing tall as the modern-day poster child of major festivals and the first serious one to kickstart the season, Coachella – nestled on the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California area – wants to challenge the traditional model of the festival industry. And it’s getting their attention.
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BY J MATTHEW COBB
TOaCALI
Coachella Susneet 2010
I
n 2011, organizers announced their premonition to host a 2-weekend affair, expanding beyond their three-day limitations. It would be held on back-to-back weekends using the same lineup. Festival founder Paul Tollett, who also oversees the festival production company Goldenvoice, said that the decision had everything to do with supply-and-demand. “We had too many people who wanted to go [in 2011,” he told Billboard.biz. “We feel that [in 2012] there will be even more that want to go, so we’re trying to create more room for them. The options would be to sell more tickets on one weekend or have to o weekends, and [the latter] is the option we went with.” Coachella isn’t the only festival in the world to spread the festivities beyond the three-day model. The supersized Summerfest in Milwaukee and the 10-day New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival are just a few American examples. But what baffles some and shocks many would be the idea to book the same talent for both weekends, giving the same artists the opportunity to perform for the same crowd or to feel as if they’ve set up a Vegas-like residency. Tollett was met with grief from those not so optimistic with the changes, but he believes that it will work. "In 2011 we had twice the number of people who wanted to go to that show," he said. "That was coming off a year in 2010 which we didn't run so well. It was still pretty magical, but the operations weren't the best we've ever had, and yet still twice the number of people wanted to go [in 2011]. This year, we had a phenomenal year, and I'm guessing there will be three times the number of people that want to go. I didn't want to ruin the show by putting 40,000 more people in per day. We've got more land, we could've gone that route, but we didn't want to do that. We found something else that works out. I'm believing in it." Tollett also knows that booking in bulk also cuts down expenses. It cheapens the budget, and it also makes it harder for other festivals to cash in on their talent. Because Coachella is spearheaded by
“It was hard watching people be upset that they couldn't go last year because tickets were going for
$500-$600 [on the secondary market] and that's just not right.” PAUL TOLLETT, COACHELLA FOUNDER Goldenvoice, which is also run by AEG Live, and because they oversee other festivals like Stagecoach, this bit of exclusivity amps up the Coachella brand and put them above the rest. In 2011, heavyweight names like Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, the Strokes and Kanye West headlined the fest, causing the event to sell out in a matter of a week. In 2012, the same thing happened, even with the new model in place. With the Black Keys, Radiohead and Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg (and a hologram-reincarnated Tupac Shakur in place) leading the bill, the two-weekend affair of the supersized Coachella sold out very fast. Weekend 1, as it is now billed, sold out within one hour and Weekend 2 wasn’t that far behind from selling out. Experts believed the public’s reaction leaned on the popularity of the festival and also on the amazing line-up. But there’s another matter of controversy surrounding the quick sellout, which has everything to do with ticket scalpers. Purchasers of bulk tickets are rushing to eBay, Craigslist and StubHub and selling those in-demand tickets for much more than their asking price. The normal prices ranged from $285 last year; look online for those same tickets and the highly-inflated prices were often double the regular value. As the festival neared, the ticket prices tripled their value. But Tollett is optimistic about the new model, despite the glitches and the trouble he’s getting from naysayers. He’s doing his best to give the festival goer a great set of options, while also avoiding
the idea of going the desperate route. “It was hard watching people be upset that they couldn't go last year because tickets were going for $500-$600 [on the secondary market] and that's just not right." Some people were even familiar about the Coachella’s exclusive layaway system. "We wanted to give people a long time for the layaway," Tollett explained. "We've done payment plans of two or three payments, and we've spoke to people that go and they've asked for a longer time on the payment plan." This led to selling tickets earlier than normal. Still, both weekends for 2013 sold out, even when it was obvious that Coachella 2013 would be much leaner of the heavyweight acts and would rely on familiar faces and a wide cluster of buzzing indie acts. That may have been the biggest concern for Coachella this year. Its lineup was blasted in the press for being too relaxed, safe and unimaginative. John Williams was one of the first reporters to talk about how fans were reacting to the 2013 line-up. “In what some are calling one of the weakest lineups in years, fans have taken to social media to air their displeasure. ‘We waited for this?’ ‘Where’s the big headliner?’ ‘I’m selling my airline tickets!’ Yes, all direct quotes from their official Facebook page. And of course, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t scrutinizing the lineup myself.” Plenty even threw low blows at Red Hot Chili Peppers returning as headliners. With 2011’s album I’m With You still in range, they remain a very strong act but one who has consistently returned to Coachella in the past. But the blows proved to be endless: “Is It in 1991?,” one person tweeted. Because it is amongst the earliest of the major US festivals, Coachella’s revealed line-up for 2013 allowed their competition, the Bonnaroos and the Lollapaloozas, to better spice up their schedules. And then rumors started to circulate about secret bookings that may have included the Rolling Stones and Daft Punk, but those proved to be untrue. The Rolling Stones will be touring the US commemorating fifty wonderful years of
The Lumineers, performing on Weekend 1 at Coachella, 4.14.13 of stone rollin’, even if tickets are going for $800 a pop, but Coachella was not on the list. “We’re not gonna do Coachella, ‘cos it’s too early,” Mick Jagger told NME. “And we’re not gonna be ready to go by April. But we’re not gonna stop.” And Daft Punk did arrive on the Indio campgrounds, blending in with the rest of the crowd without their futuristic robot garb on. But the electro duo was only there to plug their upcoming album, Random Access Memories, with an one-minute commercial reel showcasing their Pharrell/Nile Rodgers’ collaboration, “Get Lucky.” Although R&B singer R. Kelly made a surprise visit during Phoenix’s set, showcasing a medley of his sexy songs like “Ignition” and “I’m a Flirt,” there were hardly any big surprises to seriously talk about. Probably the biggest winner to emerge from Coachella this year was Phoenix, which showcased a smart workout of new material from their newly-released Bankrupt! album while pulling out crowd favorites like “1901,” “Too Late” and “Lasso.” Their finale’ was blessed with a forever-long “Entertainment,” which allowed frontman Thomas Mars to run out into the crowd, climb a tall truss in the middle of the field and then go crowd surfing, all while the Coldplayesque vamp played with epic thunder.
Solange Knowles, baby sister of Beyonce’, did appear on stage with the xx to relive an Aaliyah classic (“Hot Like Fire”).
W
ith two weekends featuring the same exact same talent, those who saw the performers on the first weekend will be a bit leery to see them for a second one. And that could even drown some of the excitement with repeat performances. And this could very well be the downfall of the double-dose of Coachella. “I can completely understand the reasons behind expanding the successful festival and the change could possibly make traffic and the logistics of finding accommodations, camping, or even just a spot to stand while watching a band in a tent much easier,” wrote Courtney Devores of the Charlotte Observer. “It also removes a bit of the magic of attending a ‘one time event’ assuming the organizers can get acts to commit to two weekends in a row.” Still, the show must go on. And so far, festival organizers are making good on the new changes, especially with both weekends sold out. And that’s saying a lot with a not-so-popular line-up gracing this year’s flyer.
HOT CHELLA DEPICTED 1. Phoenix’s Thomas Mars takes a quick break 2. Jessie Ware warming up the crowd with a little British Invasion 3. Red Hot Chili Peppers goofing off with some teen spirit.
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10 T O FE A ST ON
p FE ST IV A L S
Regardless of what side of the globe you’re on, music festivals are sprouting up everywhere - but it’s really a tough business to be in. That probably explains why so many freshman festivals dissolve after a couple of years. This guide to the big ten are proving they are here to stay, and are the ones to seriously check out.
10 GLASTONBURY ESTABLISHED: 1970
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 150,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: JUNE
Glastonbury (long form called Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts) may be the mac daddy of the major festivals. It’s been around since 1970 and it has a certain kind of prestige to it that connects it with the free festival movement of the Sixties. It also boasts an incredible culture of open-space camping. Hosted on the property of the farm site owned by Michael Eavis, six miles east of Glastonbury, the festival sells over 150,000 tickets yearly with much of the proceeds going to charity. A fallow year is usually documented in between every five years to help keep the peace with the villagers and surrounding citizens who often complain about the loud noise from the fiveday event. 2012 was a rest year, giving more attention to the Olympic Games being hosted in London. This year, the Rolling Stones plan to headline Glastonbury, one of the very few festival stops on their 50th anniversary tour.
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LOLLAPALOOZA ESTABLISHED: 1991
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 170,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: JUNE
There’s a bit of rock history rebellion that comes with Lollapalooza. Dig deep into the archives and you’ll find out that the fest was inspired by the works of famed concert promoter Bill Graham. Perry Farrell intended it to be a farewell party for Jane’s Addiction, which started out as a touring festival. The first event – chronicled perfectly in the June 2011 issue of SPIN – showcased the spirit of ‘90’s punk and some of Jane Addiction’s favorite bands ranging from Nine Inch Nails and Living Colour. Ice T’s West Coast metal band Body Count and Henry Rollins was also present. Fast forward to now and Lolla is one mega festival sporting over 100 acts with a colorful display of rock and its constellation of related genres. My Morning Jacket and Coldplay rocked the stage last year. This year’s headliners – already announced to the public – include Nine Inch Nails, one of the headliners of the first festival. Add The Killers, The Cure, Mumford & Sons and Coachella stars Phoenix to the list, and you’re already in rock heaven. What makes Lolla so special is the fact it’s one of the final festivals of the summer and it usually sells out before the line-up is announced. Festival goers clearly have a “fuck who they book” attitude. They are going regardless.
8
BONNAROO ESTABLISHED: 2002
Hot, humid, sweaty and druggy. That’s usually the best way of describing the atmosphere around the 700-acre Mahchester, Tennessee farm during this mad cow of an August music festival. But the music and good times that comes with it outweighs the bad. It usually tops most of the “best of” lists for festival goers, even getting a holy shoutout by
Rolling Stone on their list of 50 Moments That Changed Rock & Roll. It’s been hailed as the American destination for music by SPIN, USA Today,
LARGEST ATTENDANCE:
New York Times and Pollstar. With every passing year, the lineup is usu-
90,000
ally hard to beat. And just about every music genre known to man is represented there: rock, hip-hop, Americana, gospel, even electronica.
ARRIVAL MONTH:
This year’s line up is sure to catch the attention of those who were
JUNE
drained by Coachella’s double-duty performers; Sir Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Icelandic singersongwriter Björk currently headline the fest so far with many more additions to be expected.
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10 FESTIVALS Another unique experience for music lovers, the traveling V Festival is divided by two parks (Hylands Park, Weston Park) which share the same lineup. One lineup performs on Saturday, then it switches up on Sunday,
7V FESTIVAL
giving both parks the same dose of entertainment. The festival, which
ESTABLISHED:
has been in existence since 1996, has had its share of criticisms, particu-
1996
larly for being too commercial when compared with most of the British music festivals. But the Virgin Media-hosted festival sports a hefty line-up that’s usually tough to pass up. This year’s event leans more on the pop side with a strong slate of American acts (Beyonce, Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar) and a credible list of UK stars (Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Olly Murs, Jessie Ware).
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LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 60,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: AUGUST
IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL
ESTABLISHED: 2011
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 15,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: SEPT The Clear Channel conglomerate of iHeartRadio is best known for being the largest Internet radio programmer in the States. Capitalizing on its popularity, iHeartRadio Music Festival was organized. There’s a lot of detail about the Las Vegas hosted showcase that sets it apart from mainstream festivals. First, it’s hosted indoors at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a 16,000-seater. Secondly, it’s just one of the star amenities attached to the MGM Grand, which also boasts seventeen restaurants, shopping conveniences and a gaming level stretching across 171 thousand square feet. The fest is also very bulky with Top 40 superstars, thanks to its massive network of 800 local Clear Channel radio stations. Syndicated radio giant and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest handles hosting duties. Last year, the festival made major news when Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong exploded into a rant about Justin Bieber. It led to the cancellation of their album promotion tour for the trilogy of albums Uno, Tre and Dos. This year’s lineup hasn’t been revealed yet.
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The maze that is SXSW can be chaotic and a bit troublesome for someone wanting to be in six places at one time. But that’s probably the most appealing aspect of the festival. Years before it exploded into a mammoth-size money-making juggernaut, the search for the next breakout band used to be its calling card. Now you can see major acts pouring into the streets of Austin, performing in standing room only theaters with security-stricken presence. Of course the high profiled acts are dulling the luster of the indie acts performing at the 100+ venues involved, but it remains
5SXSW ESTABLISHED: 1987
the biggest and brightest festival of its kind. Copycat versions have
LARGEST ATTENDANCE:
popped up in years in various cities, but it’s hard to rival SXSW – which also
20,000
shoulders film and interactive divisions. According to organizer Louis Black, SXSW Interactive “has probably been the biggest of its kind in the world.”
ARRIVAL MONTH:
Unlike major music festivals, SXSW works like a conference with participants
MARCH
being called registrants.
Festive patron at New Orleans Jazz festival
4
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
It’s not the longest festival out there (Summerfest’s got them beat) and it’s not the oldest either. And it’s far from a jazz fest, much like Montreux. But it’s a glorious celebration of New Orleans culture; the food, the art and a transparent adoration for New Orleans music heroes in a post-Katrina reality makes it all more special. You’ll almost always see the musicians of the region on stage, which include the Preservation Jazz Band, Dr. John, Harry Connick, Jr., Irma Thomas and the big families of jazz (the Marsalises and the Nevilles). But after Katrina, a devout love for New Orleans has inspired festival organizers to beef up the acts. There’s a heavier presence of rock gods present. Hip-hop and soul is also heavily showcased, a pre-
ESTABLISHED:
cursor to what’s going to unfold at the Essence fest in July. And for those
1970
leery of the voodoo dolls in camouflage, the gospel acts are there to scare off the demons. This year’s lineup is one for the books: Maroon 5 will
LARGEST ATTENDANCE:
bring their pop/rock/R&B sounds, Daryl Hall & John Oates will go “one on
618,000
one” with the crowd, John Mayer will show off his new voice since his
ARRIVAL MONTH: APRIL
highly publicized throat surgery and the Dave Matthews Band – who are enjoying their own 2013 tour – will certainly give their legion of followers something to shout about.
Two weekends of the same entertainment? Today that sounds like a scheme conjured up by Vegas show promoters. But the new Coachella is doing something quite innovative to set them apart from their competition. So far, it’s working. For the second year in a row, the new model is still doing a great job in selling tickets. The first weekend for 2013 sold out in hours, with the last remaining weekend not too far behind. What makes Coachella works is its reputation. It is one of the earliest major festivals in the States, and it is hosted in a very different environment. This year’s fest was plagued with dust storms. In previous years, the scorching 100-degree temperatures and never-ending rain has been a headache for attendees. This year was a bit more modest. You also never know who to expect at a Coachella experience. Surprise celebs can be seen congregating with the rest of the crowd (this year, Danny Devito, Bono, Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton and Joe Jonas were in the mix), while R. Kelly and John Legend - unannounced to ticket holders – take the stage for some very uncanny and very cool collabs with
3COACHELLA ESTABLISHED: 1996
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 60,000
Phoenix and Benny Benassi respectively. It’s those moments that makes
ARRIVAL MONTH:
Coachella so magical.
AUGUST
2 MONTREUX ESTABLISHED: 1967
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 200,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: JULY Hosted in Switzerland, Montreux also has a bit of rock history attached to it. The festival was organized in 1967 with the help of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegün and brother Nesuhi Ertegün. It was purely designed as a jazz festival but has broadly opened up its platform to cover blues, soul and rock genres. After the Montreux Casino caught on fire during a Frank Zappa concert, the building was rebuilt and served as the festival’s venue until it outgrew the facility. Pretty much every genre known to man is represented at Montreux, which gives the festival an international glow. Some of rock’s finest have played the fest, including Deep Purple six times (“Smoke on the Water” was inspired by the 1971 casino fire), Eric Clapton three times, Pink Floyd twice, Led Zeppelin twice. But jazz and its funky kin still finds a home here. The late Miles Davis has performed on the stage eight times; Prince twice. Other funky bands like Jamiroquai, Earth, Wind & Fire and George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic are also regulars. Today, the festival lasts about two weeks and attracts an audience of more than 200,000 people.
10 FESTIVALS
1 ROCK IN RIO ESTABLISHED: 1985
LARGEST ATTENDANCE: 1,500,000
ARRIVAL MONTH: SEPT Seven days of music showers down on the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil festival, which still bears the distinction of being the largest music festival in the world, with 1.5 million in attendance documented at the first edition in 1985. The lineup is usually the best of the best. This year’s line up even fancied the cast at Consequence of Sound, coining it “absurd.” Of course they were playing with the Randy Jackson thesaurus. Beyoncé, Muse, Florence and the Machine, Justin Timberlake, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, David Guetta, Ivete Sangalo, Florence + the Machine, Nickleback, Matchbox Twenty and Iron Maiden are slated to appear. On the first day of ticket sales (April 4), they sold out before the end of the afternoon. “Around noon a spokesperson for the festival released a statement saying; “the site became overloaded due to 400,000 people simultaneously trying to buy tickets. Right now, the sales are stabilized with approximately 1,200 tickets sold per minute.” First to sell out was the tickets for September 20, featuring Bon Jovi, Nickeback and Matchbox Twenty. Next was the opening day of the festival, selling out in a hour later. “After four hours and four minutes on April 4th, [Brazil] bought all the Rock in Rio tickets. Thanks, guys! The City of Rock is yours,” announced the Rock in Rio Facebook page at around 1PM on Thursday afternoon.
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Check out our A-Z Directory p. 28
OTHER FESTIVALS TO FEAST ON BOTTLETREE
NAPA VALLEY, CALI. Add another hit festival to California’s tight lineup. This year’s marks the very first one for the Napa Valley fest. The kickoff celebration features massive headliners (Kings of Leon, the Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, the Flaming Lips) and will showcase over 80 bands on 4 stages. Part music showcase, part wine and food fest, it’s a major feat for a newbie festival, but already becoming the talk of the town on the festival circuit.
HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL GULF SHORES, ALA.
It claims to be the first of its kind - surrounding by white sand and palm trees. Festivals on the beach isn’t entirely a new thing, but the very young Gulf Shores, Ala. fest has matured a good bit in the last few years. Recovering after the tragic BP oil spill of 2010, organizers are beefing up their lineups and are doing all they can to accomodate the capped crowd of 35,000 in attendance. This year’s lineup will include music greats (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon, Public Enemy), breakout acts (the Shins, Jim James, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and a healthy dose of talented newcomers (the Shins, Kendrick Lamar, Baauer, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Passion Pit).
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COMING ATTRA CTIONS BEYONCE ’
BON JOVI
DETAILS:
DETAILS:
The Mrs Carter Show World Tour through September 2013
Because We Can Tour through October 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY:
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY:
$45-$250
$19-$600
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Her all-female band, Luke James as opening act
J. Geils Band as the opening act on select dates; Phil X in Richie Sambora’s place. They also plan to make trips to Wales, South Africa and Brazil’s Rock in Rio, before capping off in Uncasville, CT.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Professional photographers. After a startling number of unflattering pictures surfaced on the Net after Bey’s Super Bowl halftime performance, she decided to ban the pros from her shows. That means that newspapers and magazines will have to rely on amateurs for stock photos, since cellphones cannot be confiscated by promoters.
ONE DIRECTION DETAILS: Take Me Home Tour through November 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY:
$25-$90
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Screaming tweens and girl fans; 5 Seconds of Summer, a boy band from Australia, will make landfall in the US and in Europe.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Exciting openers. And them playing small arenas or open-air festivals.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Apparently longtime Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora; he’s decided to withdraw from the tour for undisclosed reasons.
ALICIA KEYS DETAILS: Set the World on Fire Tour through September 15 WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $25-$90 WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Miguel and his 45-minute “Adorn” set as her opening act; an intimate Alicia sitting at her piano most of the time.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
Jay-Z jumping in on her New York-worshipping “Empire State of Mind.” He hasn’t joined with her on the rap/sung collaborative effort since their appearance at Madison Square Garden in 2010.
Can’t make it to a major or local music festival? No need to fear. The stars are bringing their darling roadshow to your hometown. And we’ve got the skinny on the details.
MUMFORD & SONS DETAILS: Mumford & Sons Tour through August 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $35-$50
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Michael Kiwanuka and Mystery Jets as opening acts.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: A Lollapalooza appearance. Instead they’ll be at the neighboring Osheaga Festival in Montreal.
ROLLING STONES DETAILS: 50 and Counting Tour through July 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $166-$600
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Lots and lots of blues covers, even some superstar cameos (like Lady Gaga).
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Cheap ticket prices, that’s for sure. And you won’t be seeing them doing any more of those 700+ capacity roomed clubs like the L.A.’s Echoplex, where the band performed before kicking of their world tour. "[This is] the first show of the tour, probably the best one," Mick Jagger said at the end of the 90-minute set.
BRUNO MARS DETAILS: The Moonshine Jungle Tour through November 15, 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $40-$164
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Some Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and James Brown inspired dance moves, neatly dressed band and dancers and a sing-a-long from beginning to end; Fitz & the Tantrums, Ellie Goulding and Miguel (Australia only) will serve as opening acts
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
MJ, Elvis or James Brown holograms.
Carrie Underwood is blown away by sold-out concerts on tour.
TAYLOR SWIFT DETAILS: The Red Tour through September 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $24-$384
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Ed Sheeran as her opening act; Swift walking out on stage with Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman” and a whole lot of red, even down to the red guitar.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
A very long set from UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Only his 2012 breakout song “The A Team” has crossed into the Top 40 on the Hot 100.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD DETAILS: The Blown Away Tour through June 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: Sold out.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Upcoming country cutie Hunter Hayes as her opening act; $1 of ticket sales going to the American Red Cross.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: With 22 dates set up for her “Blown Away” tour, fans will be surprised to learn that the whole affair is sold out. Available tickets will be very hard to come by, unless you’re searching StubHub or know a damn good scalper.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS DETAILS: Sports 30th Anniversary Tour through October 2013 WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $45-$100 WHAT YOU WILL SEE: The landmark album, ‘Sports,’ played in its entirety.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Some of the songs being performed in the original key. Gotta spare those vocal chords.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK DETAILS: The Package Tour through July 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $27-$90
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Lots of semi-screaming thirty-somethings living in nostalgia. Some of NKOTB’s new music. 98 Degrees will show off a few new songs from upcoming album, 2.0, including “Girls Night Out.” A bittersweet Boyz II Men as the opening act, since they clearly have outperformed 98 Degrees and New Kids in terms of world records. They remain the top selling group of the ‘90’s.
98 Degrees’s Drew Lachey won’t be showing off his DWTS footsteps. He’ll have to dance with the rest of the group. Don’t expect any of the solo stuff from NKOTB’s Jordan Knight or Nick Lachey to cram up their exhaustive sets.
FLEETWOOD MAC DETAILS: Fleetwood Mac Live through October 25, 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY:
$55-$170
WHAT YOU WILL SEE:
Lots of throwbacks. Lindsey Buckingham as the core of the group. Some new music for the band’s forthcoming EP. You might see a little awkwardness – Stevie Nicks usually walks away from the microphone and occasionally gets close enough to Buckingham.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Christine McVie. Even though the rumor has it that she might make a cameo appearance during their UK leg. "If they wanted me to, I might pop back onstage when they're in London just to do a little duet or something like that,” she says.
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STEELY DAN DETAILS: Mood Swings: 8 Miles to Pancake Day through September 28, 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $39-$150
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Guitarist Jon Herington, keyboardist Jim Beard, drummer Keith Carlock and bassist Freddie Washington as Dan’s backup band. Donald Fagen at piano most of the time with his iconic shades on and a dapper Walter Becker staring down the crowd and playing his ass off.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
The great stuff off of Fagen’s recentlyreleased solo album, Sunken Condos. But who knows. The band might twerk some of into their encore.
P!NK DETAILS: The Truth About Love Tour through December 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $37-$125
FREAKING PERFECT: P!nk is wowing crowds with her Cirque du Soleil mid-air performances while singing in full force.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: Aerial acrobatics and stunts. A little bit of Cirque du Soleil, with Pink’s power singing.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
Even with all the stunts in place, Pink doesn’t rely on lip-synching. You won’t find it here.
RIHANNA DETAILS: Diamonds World Tour through October 16, 2013
WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY:
$32-$148
WHAT YOU WILL SEE: A$AP Rocky as her opening act. Lots of flashy background dancers and costume changes. A rotating centerstage. “Stay” and “Diamonds” as encores. A clip of her Rihanna “777” documentary. A less stiffer Rihanna than usual. Lots of 4crotch grabbing. Maybe a few more concert cancellations along the way.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
Rihanna singing everything. She’s leaning a little more on tracks.
MAROON 5/ KELLY CLARKSON DETAILS: Honda Civic Tour through October 2013 WHAT YOU MIGHT PAY: $29-$100 WHAT YOU WILL SEE: NBC’s The Voice contestants Tony Lucca and Rozzi Crane. Who’s that black kid on the keys behind Maroon 5? Oh, that’s PJ Morton. He’ll also be performing as an opening act. And don’t you dare call Kelly Clarkson an opening act. She shares equal billing with Maroon 5. Expect a complete sing-a-long set from Clarkson’s Top 40 hit list.
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE:
In case you didn’t know, original band member Jesse Carmichael took a temporary reprieve from the band. He recently announced that he will return with the band after the tour is over to work on the group’s next album.
HANGIN ’ OUT The pain and glory of Hangout Music Festival by
J MATTHEW COBB
E
VERY TIME A NEW HEADLINE IS MADE, OLD ONES BECOME LESS SIGNIFICANT. THE NEW STORY CLOUDS UP THE OLD AND SHROUDS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR MEMORY BANKS.
We learned that mistake after the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting last December. Just months prior to that incident, we were just recovering from the fresh wounds of the Aurora, Colorado shooting. The polls after the Newtown massacre seem to suggest that our internal hard drives aren’t exactly the most dependable resources. Three years ago in April 2010, an oil rig in Deepwater Horizon exploded, dumping over two-hundred million gallons of crude into the waters. Fixing the problem took months, while cleanup efforts, particularly with effected wildlife, seemed to be painstaking. On top of the setbacks within the Gulf’s ecosystem, the oil spill created major problems for local businesses on the shores: a season’s worth of fishing was completely wiped out; tourism during the summer dried up; cleanup efforts became a daily chore. Today, we hardly reflect on the oil spill disaster and what it means to us
now. For the people who organize the shore’s newest and biggest music festival, the Hangout Music Festival, the oil spill became a living nightmare. After kicking off their inaugural celebration in 2010, they were forced to deal with safety concerns for the upcoming year. They didn’t cancel, realizing that such a consequence would mean a $30 million loss to the Gulf Shores economy. The festival, capping off with 35,000 in attendance per day, proved to be successful and almost went without a hitch despite facing the gloomy news of the oil spill. Ticket sales slumped a little. Area hotel occupancies also fell, but festival organizer Shaul Zislin remained optimistic and vigilant in the festival’s future by looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. "We had people come from Oregon, Vermont, Maine -- people who typically would not choose this area," he said.
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HANGOUT Mike Foster, the tourism bureau’s vice president of marketing, proclaimed that "there's no question about its impact. We would have been much worse without those people coming to town." The bands are also in awe of Hangout’s persistence, especially when they hit the stage for their first time. "I was blown away," Grace Potter, frontlady of the Nocturnals, said. "I didn't know what to expect. I got on stage and I said, 'My God, it's Coachella on the beach.'" Warren Haynes, frontman for Gov’t Mule, shared Potter’s sentiments: "This is the first time I can think of playing a festival on the ocean. I'm hoping this will continue for years to come.” Critics seem to feel just as inspired over the mighty wonders of Hangout. SPIN called it the “beachiest fest in the U.S.,” while Rolling Stone asserted that promoter Zislin may be on to something special, since the market of music festivals seems to be quite overcrowded. “In May, between sets by My Morning Jacket, the Foo Fighters, and Paul Simon, many of the 35,000 Hangout attendees (up from 15,000 in 2010) bunked in swanky condos and did morning yoga on the beach,” the magazine wrote. Today, reports are emerging that the effects of the BP oil spill catastrophe are still being felt. With every new riptide, small oil balls, although very few and far in between, still show up on the beaches. That’s according to a new report made in The Atlantic. But there’s a bit of good news to shout about. Scientists are claiming that they cannot find traces of oil in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Now the bad news: residual toxins still remain in the sediment along the coastal marshes. On top of matters, the chemical “dispersants” – namely Corexit 9500 and 9527 – used to prevent toxic gunk from reaching the coast lines is now being blamed for harming the microscopic organisms in the ocean’s marine life. Executives at BP claim the dispersants are not harmful, comparing it to dish soap. The argument continues on, while most of us have unfairly moved past those worries of three years ago. No one really knows what the real lifespan of Hangout is. Zislin, who also owns the popular Hangout restaurant on the Gulf Coast, asked city officials for permits that will last up to five years. The request was declined because of the future of elected officials who believe that today’s decisions shouldn’t be the outstanding problems for the next administration. Still, Zislin is in for the long haul. “When we reach out to
FUN IN THE SUN: Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Cee Lo Green jamming and chilling together
some of the top operators...in the entertainment business, it's, 'If we do something for you, are you going to be able to do something for us next year? If we give you this artist today, will you be able to push this artist next year?'" he said. "There's a lot of moving parts to this, and having some longevity helps build a better event." In 2012, he smiled to local reporters before the kick-off celebration of the festival, which takes place on Thursday night. The kickoff was added into the event’s itinerary when hotel guests demanded for some form of activity on the eve of the fest due to their early arrivals. In his reply to their request, Zislin replied, "Whatever it takes.” This year, the fest welcomes music legend Stevie Wonder and a newly invigorated Kings of Leon to Alabama’s gulf coast. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, a prominent fixture on the festival circuit this year, will headline Saturday night. Gov’t Mule returns, so does the Roots. My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit and the Shins will also bring their critically-acclaimed sounds to the fest. Hip-hop is also heavily present with West Coast rap sensation Kendrick Lamar, 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Public Enemy and 2013’s rap favorites Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on board. And if you’re into EDM, international DJ Afrojack and kickoff party headliner Benny Benassi will be doing “whatever it takes” to get the party started.
“I was blown away. I didn't know what to expect. I got on stage and I said, 'My God, it's Coachella on the beach.”
Grace Potter
a-z
DIRECTORY
You’ve discovered the Yellow Pages for music festivals. Not listed? Email us at info@hifimagazine.net
ALABAMA BAAM! BIRMINGHAM ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Birmingham AL August 17-19 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: TBA Camping: No Web: www.baamfest.com
BAMAJAM Enterprise, AL June 13-15, 2013 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: TBA Camping: Yes Web: www.bamajam2012.com
BAYFEST Mobile, AL October 4-6 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: TBA Camping: No Web: www.bayfest.com
HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL Gulf Shores, AL May 17-19 2013 Headliners: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder, Kings
of Leon, Trey Anastasio Band, The Shins, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, the Roots, Afrojack, Passion Pit, Jim James, Public Enemy, Ra Ra Riot, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Gov’t Mule Tickets: $229 (3-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.hangoutmusicfest.com
SCHAEFFER CRAWFISH BOIL Birmingham, AL May 4, 2013 2013 Headliners: Train, Flo Rida, Gary Allan, Robert Randolph and the Family Band Tickets: $10-$75 Camping: No Web: www.schaeffercrawfishboi.com
ARKANSAS THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN Okark, AR June 6-8 2013 Headliners: Toby Keith, Luke Bryan Tickets: TBA
Camping: Yes Web: www.thunderonthemountain.com
WAKARUSA FESTIVAL Ozark, AR May 30-June 2 2013 Headliners: Dispatch, STS9, Galactic, Grouplove, The Black Crowes, Snoop Lion, Of Monsters and Men, EOTO, Widespread Panic Tickets: $119-$184 Camping: Yes Web: www.wakarusa.com
CALIFORNIA BOTTLEROCK Napa Valley, CA May 9-12 2013 Headliners: Kings of Leon, the Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Furthur, Jane’s Addiction, the Avett Brothers, The Shins, Train, the Flaming Lips, The Black Crowes, Alabama Shakes, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite Tickets: $329-$599
Camping: Yes Web: www.bottlerocknapavalley.com
COACHELLA Indio, CA April 12-14, April 19-21 2013 Headliners: Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, Jessie Ware, the Lumineers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the xx, Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Major Lazer, Blur, Beach House, Band of Horses, Benny Benassi, Tegan and Sara, Social Distortion, Franz Ferdinand Tickets: $349 (3-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.coachella.com
OUTSIDE LANDS San Francisco, CA August 9-11 2013 Headliners: Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix, Matt & Kim, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, Willie Nelson, Band of Horses, Yeasayer, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Jessie Ware, Gary Clark, Jr., Emeli Sande’ , D’Angelo, the National Tickets: $249.50 (3-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.sfoutsidelands.com
SAN DIEGO JAZZ FESTIVAL Carlsbad, CA May 24-26 2013 Headliners: Charlie Wilson, Kem, Brian Culbertson, Ledisi, Jeffrey Osborne, Eige Groove, Brian McKnight Tickets: $35-$350 Camping: No Web: www.sandiegojazzfest.com
STAGECOACH Indio, CA April 26-28
Gathering of the Vibes, 2010 2013 Headliners: Toby Keith, Hank Williams, Jr., Lady Antebellum , Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, Trace Atkins, Tickets: $239 (3-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.stagecoachfestival.com
COLORADO COUNTRY JAM Grand Junction, CO June 20-23 2013 Headliners: Kid Rock, Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan, Pistol Annies Tickets: $89-$135 Camping: Yes Web: www.co.countryjam.com
SNOWBALL Winter Park, CO March 8-10 2013 Headliners: Big Gigantic, Kendrick Lamar, Portugal. The Man, Pretty Lights Tickets: $149-$164 Camping: No Web: www.snowballmusicfestival.com
GATHERING OF THE VIBES Bridgeport, CT July 25-28 2013 Headliners: Phil Lesh & Friends, the Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals , the Roots, John Butler Trio, Galactic Tickets: $195 Camping: Yes Web: www.gatheringofthevibes.com
DELEWARE FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL Dover, DE June 21-23 2013 Headliners: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Vampire Weekend, Foster the People, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Avett Brothers, Calvin Harris, Passion Pit, MGMT, Ellie Goulding, Dispatch, the Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Alabama Shakes, Jim James, Matt & Kim, Public Enemy Tickets: $258 (3-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.fireflyfestival.com
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ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL
www.bearcreekmusicfestival.com
March 15-17, March 22-24 Miami, FL 2013 Headliners: Swedish House Mafia, Azealia Banks, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Tiesto, Afrojack, Calvin Harris, Cazette, Benny Benassi, The Weeknd, Snoop Dogg, Major Lazer, Armin van Burren, Tickets: $299-$749 Camping: No Web: www.ultramusicfestival.com
GULF COAST JAM
WANEE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Panama City Beach, FL September 26-28 2013 Headliners: Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, Brantley Gilbert, Charlie Daniels Band, Kip Moore Tickets: $99-$189 Camping: No Web: www.gulfcoastjam.com
ORANGE BLOSSOM JAMBOREE
Live Oak, FL April 18-20 Tickets: N/A Camping: Yes 2013 Headliners: Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Robert Randolph& the Family Band, Leon Russell, Tower of Power Web: www.wanneefestival.com
Brooksville, FL May 16-19 2013 Headliners: The Heavy Pets, CopE, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio Tickets: $75 (4-day pass) Camping: Yes Web:
Jacksonville, FL April 27-28 2013 Headliners: Alice in Chains, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Halestorm, Skillet
FLORIDA BEAR CREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL Live Oak, FL November 14-17 2013 Headliners: The Roots, Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band Tickets: $135-$195 Camping: Yes Web:
WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE
www.orangeblossomjamboree.com
SUNFEST 2013 West Palm Beach, FL May 1-5, 2013 2013 Headliners: Train, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ed Sheeran, The Black Crowes, Kendrick Lamar, Gavin DeGraw, Cheap Trick, Phillip Phillips, Boz Scaggs, Big Sean, Gary Clark, Jr., Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Mac Miller, Barenaked Ladies Tickets: $69 (5-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.sunfest.com
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2013’s Ultra Music Festival, the ultimate destination for EMD
Tickets: $99.50 (2-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.welcometorockvillefestival.com
GEORGIA SHAKY KNEES MUSIC FESTIVAL Atlanta, GA May 4-5 2013 Headliners: Lumineers, Jim Jaimes, Gary Clark, Jr., Band of Horses, Drive By Truckers, Band of Horses, The Joy Formidable Tickets: $99 Camping: No Web: www.shakykneesfestival.com
ILLINOIS LOLLAPALOOZA Chicago, IL August 2-4 2013 Headliners: The Cure, Mumford & Sons, the Killers, Nice Inch Nails, Phoenix, The Postal Service, Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age, the National, the Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Eric Church, Ellie Goulding, Two Day Cinema Club, Band of Horses, Major Lazer,
Imagine Dragons, Matt & Kim, Lama Del Rey, Alt-J, Beach House Tickets: $75-$235 Camping: No Web: www.lollapalooza.com
Aretha Franklin headlining Essence Festival, 2012
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL Chicago, IL July 19-21 2013 Headliners: Björk, Belle & Sebastian, R. Kelly, Joanna Newsom, Solange, MIA, Wire, The Breeders, Yo La Tengo Tickets: $50-$120 Camping: No Web: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com
WAVEFRONT MUSIC FESTIVAL Chicago, IL July 5-7 2013 Headliners: Diplo, Visionquest, Scuba, Jamie Jones, Magda, dOP, DJ 3Lau, Audiofly Tickets: $75 Camping: No Web: www.wavefrontmusicfestival.com
LOUISIANA ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL New Orleans, LA July 4-7 2013 Headliners: Beyoncé, New Edition, Maxwell, Charlie Wilson, Jill Scott, Maya Azucena, LL Cool J, Trey Songz, Anthony David, Avery*Sunshine, Janelle Monae, Brandy, Emeli Sande’ Tickets: $130 (4-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.essence.com/festival
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL New Orleans, LA April 26-May 5
2013 Headliners: Band of Horses, Dave Matthews Band, Gary Clark, Jr., Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Daryl Hall and John Oates, B.B. King, Earth, Wind & Fire, Phoenix, The Black Keys, Frank Ocean, Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, Little Big Town, George Benson, Jill Scott, Jimmy Cliff Tickets: $65 (1-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.nojazzfest.com
CAPITAL CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL Columbia, MD June 7-9 2013 Headliners: Chaka Khan, Will Downing, Dave Koz, Lalah Hathaway, the Whispers, Eric Benet, Angie Stone, Babyface, Ledisi, Robert Glasper Experiement Tickets: $42.50-$175 Camping: No Web: www.capitaljazz.com
M3 ROCK FESTIVAL VOODOO EXPERIENCE New Orleans, LA November 1-3 2013 Headliners: Pearl Jam, Paramore, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Calvin Harris, Nine Inch Nails, Afrojack Tickets: $175
Columbia, MD May 3-4 2013 Headliners: Bret Michaels Band, Twisted Sister, Jackyl, W.A.S.P. Tickets: $25-$60 Camping: No Web: www.m3rockfest.com
Camping: Yes Web: www.thevoodooexperience.com
MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL
Baltimore, MD July 6-7 2013 Headliners: Patti LaBelle Tickets: Free Camping: No Web: www.africanamericanfestival.com
SWEETLIFE FESTIVAL Columbia, MD May 11 2013 Headliners: Phoenix, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange Tickets: $75-$150 Camping: No Web: www.sweetlifefestival.com
VIRGIN MOBILE FREEFEST Columbia , MD October 5 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: Free Camping: No Web: www.virginmobilelive.com/freefest
MICHIGAN MOVEMENT ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL Detroit, MI May 25-27 2013 Headliners: Masters at Work, Moby, Andy C, Big Gigantic, Brodinski, Dubfire, Terrence Parker Tickets: $39-$89 Camping: No Web: www.movement.us
ORION MUSIC + MORE Detroit, MI June 8-9 2013 Headliners: Bassnectar, Death Grips, Gogol Bordello, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Joy Formidable, Rise Against, Deftones Tickets: $150 (2-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.orionmusicandmore.com
Camping: No Web: www.rockfestkc.com
Zoo
NEVADA iHEARTRADIO FESTIVAL Las Vegas, NV Date TBA 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: N/A Camping: No Web: www.festival.iheart.com
NEW YORK CROSSING BROOKLYN FERRY Brooklyn, NY April 25-27 2013 Headliners: The Roots, TV on the Radio Tickets: $50 (single day) Camping: No Web: www.crossingbrooklynferry.com
ELECTRIC ZOO New York City, NY August 30-September 1 2013 Headliners: Tiësto, David Guetta, Benny Benassi, Cazzette, Diplo, Armin Van Bururen Tickets: $329 (3-day pass)
MISSOURI LOUFEST St. Louis, MO September 7-8 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: $95 (2-day pass) Camping: No Website: www.loufest.com
ROCKFEST Kansas City , MO May 11 2013 Headliners: Alice in Chains, Papa Roach, Volbeat Tickets: $30-$40
Camping: No Web: www.madeevent.com/Electric-
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule performing at Mountain Jam, 2011
GOVERNOR’S BALL MUSIC FESTIVAL New York City, NY June 7-9 2013 Headliners: Kings of Leon, Guns ‘n Roses, Nas, Kanye West, the xx, Kendrick Lamar, the Avett Brothers, Pretty Lights, Beach House, Feist, the Lumineers, Yeasayer, Gary Clark, Jr., Icona Pop, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Erykah Badu & the Cannabinoids Tickets: $160-$190 Camping: No Web: www.governorsballmusicfestival.com
MOUNTAIN JAM Hunter Mountain, NY June 6-9, 2013 2013 Headliners: Primus, Widespread Panic, the Avett Brothers, Lumineers, Gov’t Mule, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dispatch Tickets: $215 (4-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.mountainjam.com
Jay-Z makes surprise visit on Pearl Jam’s set at Philadelphia’s ‘Made in America’ festival, 2012
NEW JERSEY XPONENTIAL MUSIC FESTIVAL Camden, NJ July 26-28 Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Bingham, the Lumineers, Dr. Dog, Dr. John, Wake Owl, Dawes, John Butler Trio, José James Tickets: $24 Camping: No Web: www.xpn.org/xponential-music-festival
N. CAROLINA CAROLINA REBELLION Charlotte, NC May 4-5 2013 Headliners: Alice in Chains, Bush, Deftones, Soundgarden, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against Tickets: $99 (2-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.carolinarebellion.com
HOPSCOTCH MUSIC FESTIVAL Raleigh, NC September 5-7 2013 Headliners: Big Boi, Spiritualized, The Breeders feat. Last Splash, Local Natives, John Cale, Sleep Tickets: $125-$180 Camping: No Web: www.hopscotchmusicfest.com
Camping: No Website: www.merelefest.org
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
BUNBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL
NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Cincinnati, OH July 12-14 2013 Headliners: Cake, fun. Tegan &Sara, MGMT, the National, Yo La Tengo Tickets: $93 (3-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.bunburyfestival.com
Norman, OK April 26-29 2013 Headliners: Portgual the Man, Other Lives, Hayes Carll Tickets: Free Camping: No Web: www.normanmusicfestival.com
NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL
ROCKLAHOMA
Nelsonville, OH May 30-June 2 2013 Headliners: Gogol Bordello, Wilco, John Prine, Mavis Staples, Sharon Van Etten Tickets: $90-$130 Camping: Yes Web: www.nelsonvillefest.org
MERLEFEST Wilkesboro, NC April 25-28 2013 Headliners: Avett Brothers, Sam Bush, John Cowan, The Charlie Daniels Band, Delta Rae, Leon Russell, Gov’t Mule Tickets: $150 (4-day pass)
Camping: Yes Web: www.rockontherange.com
ROCK ON THE RANGE Columbus, OH May 17-19 2013 Headliners: Korn, Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Bush Tickets: $89
Pryor, OK May 24-26 2013 Headliners: Alice in Chains, Bush, Guns ‘n Roses, Korn, Papa Roach Tickets: $99 Camping: Yes Web: www.rocklahoma.com
PENNSYLVANIA MADE IN AMERICA Philadelphia, PA August 31-September 1 2013 Headliners: Beyoncé, Phoenix, Queens of the Stone Age, Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis,
Wiz Khalifa, Calvin Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Imagine Dragons, Public Enemy, Nine Inch Nails Tickets: $99.50-$499.00 Camping: No Web: www.madeinamericafest.com
MIXTAPE FESTIVAL Hershey, PA July 26-27 2013 Headliners: New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, Train, Hanson, Jonas Brothers, The Script, OneRepublic, TLC Tickets: $35-$1200 Camping: No Web: www.mixtapefestival.com
MUSIKFEST Bethlehem, PA Aug 2-11 2013 Headliners: OneRepublic, Styx, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, B.B. King, Sonny Landreth, Ke$ha, Carly Rae Jepsen, Darius Rucker, Avenged Sevenfold Tickets: $29-$150 Camping: No Web: www.musikfest.org
the Lumineers Tickets: $49 (1-day pass) Camping: Yes Web: www.newportfolkfest.net
RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL Charlestown, RI August 30-September 1 2013 Headliners: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Jim Kweskin, Marcia Ball, Carolina Chocolate Drops Tickets: $35-$170 Camping: Yes Web: www.rhythmandroots.com
TENNESSEE BEALE STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL
Memphis, TN May 3-5 2013 Headliners: Black Keys, Alice in Chains, Daryl Hall & John Oates, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix, the Roots, Smashing Pumpkins, Gary Clark, Jr. ZZ Top, the Black Crowes Tickets: $85 (3-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.memphisinmay.org/musicfestival
ROOTS PICNIC Philadelphia, PA June 1 2013 Headliners: The Roots, Gary Clark, Jr., Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Grimes, Naughty By Nature, Solange Tickets: $39.50 Camping: No Web: www.facebook.com/RootsPicnic
RHODE ISLAND NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL Newport, RI July 26-28 2013 Headliners: Beck, Feist, Avett Brothers, Jim James,
Jim James of My Morning Jacket performing at Newport Folk Festival, 2012
BONNAROO Manchester, TN June 13-16 2013 Headliners: Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bjork, Wilco, R. Kelly, Wu-Tang Clan, The National, the Limineers, Passion Pit, the xx, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Daniel Tosh, Rock n’ Soul Dance Party Super Jam feat. Jim James with John Oates, Zigaboo, Modeliste and Perservation Hall Jazz Band, Billy Idol, Jim James, Gov’t Mule, A$ap Rocky, Matt & Kim Tickets: $235-$270 Camping: Yes Website: www.bonnaroo.com
TEXAS AUSTIN CITY LIMITS Austin, TX October 4-6, October 11-13 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: $200-$225 (3-day pass) Camping: No Web: www.aclfestival.com
AUSTIN PSYCH FEST Austin, TX April 26-28 2013 Headliners: The Moving Side-
walks, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Deerhunter Tickets: $150 (3 day pass) Camping: No Web: www.austinpsychfest.com
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST (SXSW) Austin, TX March 12-17 2013 Headliners: Prince, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Dave Grohl & Sound City Players, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flaming Lips, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Alt-J, Icnoa Pop, Vampire Weekend, Major Lazer Tickets: TBA Camping: No Web: www.sxsw.com/music
WASHINGTON BUMBERSHOOT Seattle, WA August 31-September 2 2013 Headliners: TBA Tickets: TBA Camping: No Web: www.bumbershoot.org
SASQUATCH! Quincy, WA May 24-27 2013 Headliners: Alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Cake, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Japandroids, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mumford & Sons, Primus, Vampire Weekend, the xx, the Lumineers Tickets: $337 Camping: Yes Web: www.sasquatchfestival.com
WATERSHED FESTIVAL George, WA August 2-4 2013 Headliners: Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Thompson
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HIFI |
SUMMER 2013
Billy Idol (t) and Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl (b) wowing crowds at Summerfest Square, Chris Young, Kip Moore Tickets: $149 Camping: Yes Web: www.watershedfest.com
WISCONSIN ROCKFEST Cadott, WI July 18-21 2013 Headliners: Motley Crue, KISS, Korn, Three Days Grace, Whitesnake, Megadeth, The Offspring, Seether, Halestorm Tickets: $82-$500 Camping: Yes Web: www.rock-fest.com
SUMMERFEST Milwaukee, WI June 26-July 7 2013 Headliners: fun., Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Pitbull, Luke Bryan, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, Rush, Tim McGraw, the Avett Brothers, John Mayer, Phillip Phillips, Eagles, Jason Aldean, Alice Cooper, Dispatch, Billy Idol, Imagine Dragons, Dr. John & the Nite Trippers, Styx, Cake, Neon Trees, the Spinners, Morris Day and the Time, Matt & Kim, Go-Gos, Barenaked Ladies, REO Speedwagon, Social Distortion Tickets: $15-$283.50 Camping: No Web: www.summerfest.com