NYC’s own Theophilus London has been announced as the headliner for the festival’s opening party, which will be held at the Music Hall of Williamsburg for Thursday, June 16th. As for the rest — Northside also managed to add Florida rockers Surfer Blood, the U.S. debut of Danish ruffians Iceage, and the Worcester, MA-based audio soundscape painters known as Dom. Other additions include: The Strange Boys, Frankie Rose & the Outs, Cult of Youth, and White Fence (they’re from somewhere on Planet Earth).

The Brooklyn-based fest had already announced 80′s indie faves Guided by Voices as Saturday’s headliners along with weed-grinding enthusiasts, Wavves, and previously mentioned Surfer Blood. Indie-mainstays Beirut headlines Friday, with Sharon Van Etten as direct support. In a special appearance Deer Tick will be performing as “Deervana” — a set of Nirvana covers seems imminent — along with Javelin, Twin Sister, and  Ava Luna among others.

The four day fest goes down June 16th-19th across various venues through Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn with the main action happening at McCarren Park. Four-day, all-ages badges are currently on-sale for a limited-time price of $60. Individual tickets to the all-ages Beirut and Sharon Van Etten show at McCarren Park on June 17th are available for $25 advance / $30 day of the show. You can purchase tickets here.

Today brings a whole slew of lineup news, from North American heavyweights like Lollapalooza and Ottawa Bluesfest to such foreign favorites as Splendour in the Grass and Rock Werchter. Below, you can find all the pertinent information.

And while we have your attention, please be sure to bookmark Festival Outlook and follow us on Twitter. That way, you’ll get more timely updates! And if you see something missing from one of the thousand pages listed on Festival Outlook, please drop us a line and we’ll fix it asap. Of course, tips are also welcome!

80/35

When/Where: July 2-3 at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, IA

Who’s Playing: Girl Talk, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Titus Andronicus, Galactic, Bear Hands, and Jessica Lea Mayfield

Tickets: 2-day passes are priced at $45.00 and are on sale via MidwestTIX.

ATP’s I’ll Be Your Mirror UK

When/Where: July 23-24 at Alexandra Palace in London, UK

What’s New: Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Alan Moore & Stephen O’Malley

Who Else is Playing: Portishead, PJ Harvey, Grinderman, Swans Beach House, Caribou, and The Books

Tickets: 2-day passes are priced at £107.00 and are on sale via Seetickets.

Hove Festival

When/Where: June 29 – July 1 at Tromøy in Arendal, Norway

What’s New: Deadmau5, Big Boi, The Mars Volta, Odd Future, and Toro Y Moi

Who Else is Playing: Linkin Park, Kasabian, Bright Eyes, Brandon Flowers, Robyn, Magnetic Man, and Jenny & Johnny.

Tickets: GA passes are priced at 2250.00 NOK and are on sale via the festival’s website.

Lollapalooza

When/Where: August 5-7 at Grant Park in Chicago, IL

Expected Acts: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Muse, Girl Talk, Cee-Lo, Lykke Li, Crystal Castles, Best Coast, Titus Andronicus, Tennis, G. Love, Fences, Wax, Electric Touch, Crash Kings, Civil Twilight, and Anberlin

Rumored: Jane’s Addiction, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, A Perfect Circle, Sleigh Bells, Eels, 30 Seconds to Mars, Portugal. the Man, Fitz & the Tantrums, Phantogram, and The Glitch Mob

Tickets: 3-day passes are priced at $215.00 and are available via the festival’s website.

Northside Festival

When/Where: June 16-19 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

What’s New: Guided By Voices and Wavves

Who Else is Playing: Beirut, Twin Sister, Deer Tick, Javelin, Sharon Van Etten, Javelin, and Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!, with 250+ acts still to be announced

Tickets: Advanced GA passes are priced at $70.00 and are available via Ticketfly.

Ottawa Bluesfest

When/Where: July 5-17 at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa, Ontario

Expected Acts: The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Cage the Elephant, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Downhere, John Butler Trio, and Honey Island Swamp Band

Rumored: My Morning Jacket, Mumford & Sons, Steve Miller Band, and Skrillex,

Tickets: TBA

Oya Festival

When/Where: August 9-13 at Medieval Park in Oslo, Norway

What’s New: Kanye West, Janelle Monae, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and James Blake

Who Else is Playing: Pulp, Fleet Foxes, Explosions in the Sky, The Avett Brothers, Lykke Li, OFF!, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Warpaint

Tickets: 4-day passes are priced at 1995.00 NOK and are on sale via Billettservice.no.

Rock Werchter

When/Where: July 30 – July 3 in Werchter, Belgium

What’s New: The Hives, Odd Future, and James Blake

Who Else is Playing: Coldplay, Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey, Portishead, Arctic Monkeys, Brandon Flowers, The National, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, Grinderman, and Underworld

Tickets: GA passes are priced at €195 and are on sale via the festival’s website.

Splendour in the Grass

When/Where: July 29-31 in Woodford, Australia

Expected Acts: The Kills, The Vaccines, and Cornershop

Rumored: Coldplay, Kanye West, Pulp, Elbow, and Noah and the Whale

Tickets: TBA

With two years under their belt of bringing top-notch and everyone-will-know-them-in-a-year bands to the Greenpoint and Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, The L magazine has announced the return of their Northside Festival. The third edition will be held over four days from June 16th to the 19th, and is set to be the biggest year to date.

As per usual, The L will curate a few big name acts, while most of the showcases will be left for indie labels, radio stations, record stores, and bloggers (like us!). Some names that have played in previous years include Wavves, Titus Andronicus, Sunset Rubdown, The Hold Steady, Les Savy Fav, Free Energy, and just about everyone else you think is cool.

In addition to the 100+ shows filling most of the area’s venue space, screenings of independent films will be curated by some of film’s most recognizable and esteemed names. Art galleries in the neighborhoods will also be opening their doors free of charge thanks to Greenpoint Open Studios. According to the press release, they “have plenty of new things in the works too, including benefit shows for the Open Space Alliance at a new 5,000-capacity outdoor space at McCarren Park in the heart of Williamsburg, a DIY film competition, and panel discussions exploring the ways business innovators intersect with creative inventors.” Some festival, huh?

For now, mark March 10th in your planners, calenders, or iCal, as that’s when the first group of artists and showcase presenters will be announced and four-day, all-age badges will go on sale. For later, keep it tuned to CoS and northsidefestival.com for the lineup and further information.

This is the point of the year when you don’t even need an excuse to venture away from home or the workplace. It seems like there’s always something going on somewhere. And, yes, most of these things aren’t exactly free. This is especially true of music. Summer is, after all, the time of extensive tours, unbelievable festival lineups, and a list of must-buy albums that never seems to end. Here at CoS, we’ve got plenty of ways to for you to drain your funds.

Oh, we’ve also got a steady supply of entertaining tidbits for you each week, ranging from links to goofy viral videos to breaking news.

Well, at least that’s free.

– As if Lollapalooza attendees don’t already have enough tough decisions to make, the festival’s official aftershows were announced this week.

– Also, Lollapalooza promoter C3 Presents’ radius clause is under fire.

– The second installment of the Epicenter music festival dropped its lineup. Among the artists playing this year are Eminem, Blink-182, and a recently reunited Bush.

– Super-fans, let the salivating commence: there might be a new Radiohead LP later this year, according to guitarist Ed O’Brien.

– Remember the last time D’Angelo, Leonard Cohen, and Swans released albums? You don’t? Well, look for them in the future.

– Pearl Jam and Interpol have new songs available for listening.

– It turns out Brian Wilson will NOT be reuniting with The Beach Boys.

–Kinks bassist Pete Quaife passed away. He was 66 years old.

– NME Radio unexpectedly came to an end.

–  More details revealed about Google Music.

–LimeWire will relaunch as a legal, subscription-based service.

–Legal issues may postpone the release of The Game‘s highly anticipated new album.

– Dirty Projectors and Bjork announced a collaborative EP and it’s be available in just four days.

– Rice University students are in for something special next semester.

– A slew of Cocteau Twins reissues will soon be available.

– Public Enemy‘s Chuck D never holds anything back. This week was no exception.

– And speaking of people who never hold anything back… But seriously, just watch this.

– Watch this, too.

– Michael Roffman shared his thoughts on Lewis Black‘s latest effort.

– Winston Robbins reviewed Eminem‘s Recovery.

– Mates of State brought their magical US tour to Chicago. Read Meghan Brosnan’s report here.

– Philip Cosores covered Make Music Pasadena.

– Don’t forget. We’ll be hosting two showcases at this weekend’s Northside Festival. Be there or be square. (Wow. I can’t believe I just wrote that.)

So, ideally, this is how your day should go: Wake up in morning, grab a vegan omelet (it’s Brooklyn after all!), and then, around 1:00pm, get on the G Train and make your way to up to Newton Barge Park. (Note: as per the Google map below, it’s just north of McCarren Park. You’ll exit at the Greenpoint Ave. stop). Better yet, take the free Northside Festival Trolley! It will take you for Bedford Ave. & 7th to the Green Point Ave. stop and vice versa.

After walking over to the MetroPCS stage (centrally located in Newton Barge Park), you’ll be greeted by the pleasant sounds of an alt-folk afternoon, featuring ARMS, A.A. Bondy, and the one and only Elvis Perkins In Dearland. Around five, you’ll have time to go grab a slice of vegan pizza (it’s Brooklyn after all!), but be sure to hurry back soon, because around 6:00pm, our second show starts. This one will be equally awesome, but a bit louder, as the likes of Grails, Polvo, and Les Savy Fav (who will be debuting their brand new album!) are all set to perform. Plus, if that weren’t enough, you’ll be home in time to catch the second running of Next Food Network Star.

Seriously, what better thing could you possibly find to do on a Sunday?

Still, because we love you, we wanted to add more incentive to go. So, right now, we’re going to start giving away a whole slew of FREE TICKETS. Just send us an email with your name, address, which of the two shows you want to attend, and then one of the following:

– A one paragraph essay on why you want to attend.

– A picture of a Northside flyer that is currently hanging near where you live.

– A picture of a Northside flyer you have printed out and hung around near where you live.

– Anything else that gives a good enough reason to give you free tickets.

Plus, if you do an extra awesome job, we might just give you tickets to both shows. So get writin’/picture takin’/printin’/etc.

In the meantime, find Sunday’s complete schedule, the aforementioned map of the venue, and ticket links to both shows below.

Four day badges, priced at only $50, are still available. Plus, because we love you even more than before, we are currently offering all CoS readers a 20% discount on badges. Just click here and enter code NORTHSIDE.

Show #1:
01:00 pm – Doors
01:30 pm – ARMS
02:30 pm – A.A. Bondy
03:30 pm – Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Tixs: $15/$17 day of; Buy here.

Show #2:
06:00 pm – Doors
06:30 pm – Grails
07:30 pm – Polvo
08:30 pm – Les Savy Fav
Tixs: $15/$18 day of; Buy here.

As part of this year’s Brooklyn-based Northside Music Festival, Consequence of Sound will not host just one thrilling concert, but two. And ready for the best part? They take place on the same day (Sunday, June 27th), at the same location (Newtown Barge Park), and on the same exact stage (MetroPCS stage).

So, right after ARMS (recently added!), Elvis Perkins In Dearland, and A.A. Bondy provide a care-free, relax-your-ass-off Sunday afternoon performance, you’ll also be able to watch New York’s own indie-punk band Les Savy Fav, North Carolina noise outfit Polvo, and Portland instrumental rockers Grails cap off the night with one ferocious and seriously awesome bang.

Both shows will be presented by yours truly and, as mentioned, are part of the 2010 edition of the Northside Music Festival. If you aren’t aware, the event will bring all the aforementioned as well as the likes of Fucked Up, Liars, Titus Andronicus, ?uestlove, Wavves, Thao and Mirah with the Most of All, and plenty more to venues across Brooklyn between June 24th and 27th.

Find set times and specific ticket information for both shows below. In regards to the latter, however, we do encourage you to buy a four-day badge to the festival, because a.) it’s only $50 and b.) you’ll be able to get into everything and anything. Plus, because we love you, we are currently offering all CoS readers a 20% discount on badges. Just click here and enter code NORTHSIDE.

See you there!

Here are the specifics for both:

Show #1:
01:00 pm – Doors
01:30 pm – ARMS
02:30 pm – A.A. Bondy
03:30 pm – Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Tixs: $15/$17 day of; Buy here.

Show #2:
06:00 pm – Doors
06:30 pm – Grails
07:30 pm – Polvo
08:30 pm – Les Savy Fav
Tixs: $15/$18 day of; Buy here.

Check Out:
Elvis Perkins In Dearland – “Shampoo”
A.A. Bondy – “When the Devil’s Loose”
ARMS – “Heat & Hot Water”
Les Savy Fav – “Sweet Descends” (Live)
Polvo – “Beggar’s Bowl”
Grails – “Up All Night”

You’ll also find lots of other things, some intriguing and others just plain ridiculous.

Need I say more?

– Let’s begin with the obligatory festival updates: Bumbershoot, Musicfest NW, Outside Lands , and Capitol Hill Block Party unveiled their lineups this week. The North Coast Music Festival debuts in Chicago this September. The economy put an end to the 2010 Canadian Virgin Festivals.

– And now the obligatory Arcade Fire news item: the group will play the first non-festival show of its upcoming tour in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Sorry, Toronto.

– Finally, the obligatory tour announcements: Paul McCartney, Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, Pixies, The National, Smashing Pumpkins, Aerosmith, Robyn, Dirty Projectors, Yeasayer will all be hitting the road in the weeks and months ahead.

Moving on…

– M.I.A. blasted New York Times writer Lynn Hirschberg with a single entitled “Haters”.

– Ali-Ollie Woodson of the quintessential Motown group The Temptations passed away at the age of 58.

– Antoine Fuqua (of Training Day fame) is set to direct the Tupac Shakur biopic.

– Wilco and Coldplay are supporting youth sports teams.

– They might be on hiatus, but look for new material from Stereolab this fall.

– Radiohead‘s Phil Selway will make his  solo debut in late August.

– Nick Freed reviewed Expo 86, the hotly anticipated new album by Wolf Parade.

– Much has been made of the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. reissue. Here’s what Stephen Foster had to say.

– Elias Newman chatted up Chad Elliot of Funeral Party.

– For those of you who missed LCD Soundsystem at Chicago’s Metro last Friday, Meghan Brosnan was there.

– On that note, Ted Maider, Winston Robbins, Kacie McKinney provided an extensive recap of Sasquatch! 2010.

– Oh, and we’re continuing our plot to take over the world.

To help cap off the festival, we’ll be hosting a Sunday afternoon showcase at the outdoor MetroPCS stage (Newtown Barge Park) featuring two of folk music’s best acts: Elvis Perkins in Dearland and A.A. Bondy. So, grab a beer/soda (it’s an all all-age event!) and come chill under the sun/begin to recover from the mayhem of the previous three days. This is one of those deals where you just let it all soak in. No real energy required.

Doors open at 1:00pm and you’ll need either tickets, priced at $15, or a Northside badge to get in. Said badges are currently available for only $50 and will not only grant you access on a first-come, first-served basis to every Northside music, art, and film event but also a ton of drink specials and discounts at local restaurants and bars.

For additional information about the festival itself, click here. Also enjoy a mp3 from both our scheduled acts below.

Check Out:
Elvis Perkins In Dearland – “Shampoo”
A.A. Bondy – “When the Devil’s Loose”

O’Death:
June 13th: Music Hall of Williamsburg

Even without the “O” at the start of their band moniker — or the very fact that said moniker was borrowed from a song on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack — O’Death‘s lyrically violent sound seems bespoke to score a Coen Brothers film. In fact, if the Brooklyn-based quintet had been around at the time of that movie’s shooting, they would’ve been perfect for a cameo appearance, all torn-up-and-sweaty dungaree shorts, weirdly engaging stage presence, and thrilling, thrash-hick vibe.

Another way to put it: Appalachian death punk. Throughout their nice, long, afternoon set at Music Hall of Williamsburg, O’Death’s signature sound — not just foreboding, but downright threatening, like an approaching tornado — practically peeled the paint off the walls. In their opening number, the grave-tempoed “Nathaniel”, shirtless drummer David Rogers-Berry banged on his kit not with sticks but with a set of thick metal chains in his hands, which he slapped against his skins and shook in the air with evil glee (all while standing on the kit itself). Fiddler Bob Pycior kicked off another song  by insidiously scrawling his bow across Gabe Darling’s banjo frets. Lead singer Greg Jamie, serving as the eye of this storm which also includes bassist Jesse Newman, exuded calm confidence throughout, particularly on “Only Daughter”, in which his soft vocals more than held their own against the number’s harsh staccatos. During their second encore, the electrifying “Rise Up”, it felt as if band and fans alike were so spasmodically charged they might just commit spontaneous hari kari — yet another way O’Death lives up to its name.

Emanuel & the Fear:
June 13th: Spike Hill

As Emanuel and the Fear — all ten or eleven of them; it’s a big outfit — warmed up for their set at Spike Hill, the sight of all those orchestral instruments (cello, trombone, flute, violin…), plus the fact that they were actually employing music stands, made it look more like Emanuel and the B’nai B’rith Youth Chamber Group of South Williamsburg. And like such a gaggle of nerdy, young prodigies-in-the-making, the band sounded promising but could’ve used some tightening up.

Jewfro’d, Andy Samberg lookalike Emanuel Ayvas proved to be a pleasant frontman, with his easygoing vocals and quick-witted crowd rapport. What felt off about the performance was the group’s choices of tempo. It occasionally used 7/8 time, which imbued the music with an ill-suited, slightly Rush-like, prog-rock vibe. Once or twice elsewhere, the music (which generally carries more than a whiff of Vampire Weekend’s style) seemed to wander in a pulseless free time, refusing to put down roots. Ayvas doesn’t shy away from lyrical cliches — he’ll even sing about how he only wants to sing in a rock and roll band — which doesn’t help in making something more memorable. But it seems that Emanuel and the Fear just need some more time to grow as a band — by bar mitzvah time, I’m sure they’ll graduate to musical manhood.

Savoir Adore:
June 13th: Spike Hill

If you like Stars — and if you don’t yet, you really should and will — you would’ve loved Savoir Adore‘s evening-time set at Spike Hill. Lead singers/group founders Deidre Muro and Paul Hammer produce lovely homophonic harmonies together, sung above sweet-and-simple beats and hooks. And though their Europop vibe may be off-putting to some (I understand if you feel you’ve just had enough of that stuff for a while), their modestly funny demenaor could make a fan out of most. (“Welcome to our 80s synth pop song, we hope you like it!” Hammer announced cheekily at one point.) But they’re also not shy about rocking out when rocking out is required, such as on the irresistibly catchy and somewhat grindy “MERP”. Poppy yet mature, tight yet freeing, their sound’s one to keep listening to as the band gets bigger still.

The Dodos:
June 14th: Studio B

Who thought it’d be a good idea to book The Dodos — whose wondrous Afro-world-folk-pop aesthetic ranks them as one of indie music’s most inexplicably unsung singer-songwriter outfits  — into a pitch-black club with shitty sightlines and the garish feel of a gold-platd, Eurotrash pick-up joint? That was the first thing, and really the main thing wrong with the band’s Sunday matinee. The place was packed to the gills with youthful hipsters just dying to hear “Fools”, The Dodos’ best-known single (I believe it’s currently being used in ads for Miller Chill), half of whom then left when the band finally played it a little more than halfway through their set. Singer Meric Long exhibited a little more than just a passing interest in the crowd who’d turned out; the powerful playing and evident enthusiasm of drummer Logan Kroeber easily outmatched him. All in all, they played their songs off Visiter competently, but to the hardcore Dodos fan, the show ranked as a letdown.

Teddy Blank
June 14th: Public Assembly

I caught Teddy Blanks at Public Assembly on Sunday night by accident (I got the time wrong on another act), and ironically, I wasn’t quite sure if what I was watching was, in and of itself, an intentional piece of performance-art pop or just some wackily self-confident guy with a not-bad set of pipes who decided to jump on stage and kill time before the real musical act showed up.

So who or what exactly is Teddy Blanks? He’s a singer-songwriter (and former frontman of a band called The Gaskets) who performs, to quote another critic, “lo-fi laptop electro.” There are no instruments or other people performing them onstage with him; the synthpop sound seems to emerge out of nowhere, accompanied by Blanks’ quite capable vocals and, standing on one corner of the stage, a simple TV screen on which various complementary images shuffle past. (Most memorably Sunday night, the movie Eyes Wide Shut was shown in perpetual fast-forward as Blanks sang.) He writes original songs and does covers. On the former, he’s got an EP full of medical issues called Complications; he describes it on his website as “six upbeat pop songs about strange diseases and medical trauma.” This includes “She’s Got the Itch”, a great pop song. As for covers, in a similarly health-concerned vein, he does “Girlfriend in a Coma”. And he’s definitely an act worth seeking out.

Thursday, June 11: Day One

What felt like a world away from Manhattan began with a little swarm of clouds hanging in the sky, intermittently drizzling some rain on the sidewalks of Williamsburg. Nevertheless, across two towns, revelers descended upon the north side of Brooklyn to attend the manifold shows that stretched from Williamsburg to Greenpoint. On these sidewalks, stray musicians grabbed guitars and played for an audience who wandered around from venue to venue for what was to be the revelation of the first L Magazine’s Northside Festival.

Marie Sioux:
Studio B

Studio B is a large building, most likely converted from a warehouse in the industrial section of Greenpoint on Banker Street. Once inside the large club, a serene sound whispered from the halls that came from Marie Sioux, who was sitting on a stool on the center of the stage. This dark-haired folk singer sang softly and strummed an acoustic guitar, while her guitarist stood offstage amongst the audience.

Sioux’s songs had a tinge of aching in them, which was accented by her guitarist’s slow and rhythmic strumming. The sound of the guitar warbled throughout the room, issuing a calm vibe that sank the audience into her lyrics. But then came along the last song. After a lengthy applause, Sioux mentioned that she had just written a new song but it seemed as if her guitarist wasn’t notified. She began to sing off key a bit and the error leaked into rhythm guitarist’s playing. It must also be suggested that the sound issues she had experienced throughout the set finally took affect, and unfortunately the gaffe was jarring.

Brightblack Morning Light:
Studio B

The headliner of the night was Brightblack Morning Light, a band from New Mexico with a mystical, freak folk sound that bled heavily into the realm of psychedelia. Strangely, their brew of sonic mysticism fit into this hole of Brooklyn. The crowd, which had dispersed immediately after Marie Sioux, had returned to watch one of Matador’s finest offerings. The five-piece band wrought a hefty amount of hypnotic peace that was built from rich instrumentation with singer, Naybob Shineywater breathing words into the mic.
Just because they’re psychedelic, doesn’t mean that they can’t funk either. The loping beats from the drummer added to the intensity of Brightblack’s performance, revealing a depth to their music that most bands in this genre miss. A very passionate keyboardist, Rachel Hughes, worked her keyboard, swaying and pounding her feet onto the stage. When they finished, the whole room was ready to discuss transcendentalism. Good times.

Friday, June 12: Day Two

Well, it was back to Brooklyn…and back to Studio B for Ghostly International’s Ten Year Anniversary Bash. A little splatter of rain didn’t take away from the draw of this night’s evening of musical performances.

Deastro:
Studio B

Ranolph Chabot, the 22-year-old behind Deastro, was back on stage in New York for the second time in a week (the first was at Mercury Lounge on 6/10). Having just released his latest album, Moondagger, he was ready to throw down a fresh set of tunes and deliver what many had been waiting to hear as a live performance. And guess what? He threw down hard.

Deastro’s set was draped with a sheet festooned with little cartoon images of Batman but once it was removed, Chabot walked onto stage wearing a Daisy Duck hat. At first, he was focused on a laptop, singing into the mic as if his hands were unoccupied by his stabs at the keyboard or clicks on a mouse. Electronic-pop music swirled through the room and the band played a flawless set that consisted mostly of songs from the new album, like “Vermillion Plaza” and “Biophelia”. There was one exception, however – an ambitious effort of covering “I Would Die For You” by Prince. But he can be forgiven. It’s Prince, you know?

Michna:
Studio B

A common occurrence during Northside Festival was the appearance of genre-busting artists and Michna was evidence of this trend. So, what do you get when a saxophone and a trumpet is introduced to bass-driven electro beats? A rich and heavy sound exuding a slight touch of jazz and a lot of dance generating music. Michna walked that fine line, pumping the room with energy; however it still was a difficult task following up Deastro’s near perfect performance.

The mostly electronic set was backed by a hard-hitting drummer who often sped up the tempo, blasting drum and bass beats. The camaraderie of the band was apparent as they often smiled at one another and breaking out into short bursts of laughter. After a while, the music gained a hypnotic momentum, so much that by the end, its effect was awash. Unfortunately, the tweaky sounds and rumbling bass lines eventually left the audience kinda sleepy.

Lusine:
Studio B

Those who stuck around for Lusine’s set were treated to some fantastic techno. This was one of the few instances in which the live performance sounded better than the original recordings. Geared with nothing but a laptop, Lusine, tweaked his grooves and beats with knobs and clicks. The crowd gathered onto the dance floor, looking for action and were swept up in the techno vet’s minimal bass lines. It was the style of music that has burrowed under the streets of Brooklyn and it was all familiar ground for Lusine’s music.

Saturday, June 13: Day Three

So, not only was everyone celebrating music inside these venues but they were also out in the street, drunkenly passing each other high fives and smiles. Book sellers, designers, food vendors parked out in a closed section of Bedford Avenue and suddenly we had Shakedown Street right in the middle of Williamsburg’s bloodline.  And all of this would be fine and good except for the goddamn rain, again. Nevertheless, the people were out, even if they had to duck under awnings to enjoy their “coffee” and “smoothies.”

Dave Paisley:
Union Pool

Ernest Jenning Record Company presented an event at Union Pool that was abundant with folk artists but unfortunately for this writer, due to a previously scheduled event, only Dave Paisley’s performance was attended – but what a performance. It’s not often that you get to see a large crowd of people in a tiny room, ecstatic about traditional American folk music but there they were, rocking their bodies along Paisley’s pained rhythm and heartbreak lyrics.

The man stood alone, framed by a string of yellow lights to illustrate pictures of his life in the words of a talented songwriter. Paisley weaved stories about isolation and despair into his handy guitar craftwork, singing about all those sad, terrible things you expect out of a folk song. Folk music has that timelessness to it and it was interesting to note that all of the music heard at Northside Festival had its beginnings rooted in this genre. Bob Dylan said, in response to accusations about copying much of Woody Guthrie’s style, that folk music is storytelling. You continue telling it. So, Dave Paisley told his version of the human experience.

Katie Eastburn:
Glasslands Gallery

Walking into Glasslands Gallery was like walking into an artists loft, complete with a homemade looking bar, large planks of different colored wood assembled in an abstract pattern on the wall, and a second floor balcony built into the wall – and at times the PA sounded like something from an artist loft too. It’s difficult to say how much of Katie Eastburn’s electronic performance was affected by this. The bass clipped above a level of comfort, often shooting out static instead of a clear sound. Her vocals were rendered indecipherable at times but the effect of an electro lounge singer was still realized. Sitting coolly at her keyboard, she chanted words and sang.

The presence of a live drummer may have enhanced her otherwise monotonous set; however she still produced some interesting sounds. The highlight of her playlist was a Kris Kristofferson cover that goes without a title since the lyrics could hardly be identified. Perhaps a better mix on the soundboard would have changed the whole sound as it seemed to be geared for an analog set rather than an electronic one.

Tune-Yards
Glasslands Gallery

If you’ve ever come across an astounding surprise then you’ll relate with the image of a lone woman on a stage with a tom drum, a snare on either of her side, while holding a ukulele. This is Merril Garbus, the woman behind the Tune-Yards, and the performance she gave was not only riveting but downright dancing madness. Yes. Tune-Yards was out of control in a very good way.

The audience gathered close to the stage, as Garbus delivered a yodeling intro, and then the beats began. Here’s what she does: She beats the drums, cycles them through the mic and into a pedal to loop the sound, then she sings, or hums, or chants, into the mic and loops that as well. When that’s ready to go, she gives a good, harsh strum on her ukulele and away she goes.

After the first song, Garbus enticed the crowd to dance by saying, “I heard that Brooklyn doesn’t like to dance anymore.” Of course, she was totally wrong and this was evident by a girl who danced around her boyfriend in child-like enthusiasm. Her performance was often greeted with, “Yeahs,” and “Ohs” all around. By the time she finished, she had many new fans and diehards buying her latest album, Bird Brains.

Dragons of Zynth:
Glasslands Gallery

Dragons of Zynth came out swinging something nasty at the beginning of this quintet’s set. The drummer had machine gun staccato, flavoring the beat with powerful energy. The keyboardist/vocalist, Aku Orraca-Teteh’s charisma was exhibited with colorful attire and an ability to engage the audience in a personal way – including grabbing a drunken guy’s shirt and singing into his face.

The band often switched instruments and roles. The guitarist/vocalist Akwetey Orraca-Teteh played keyboards while his brother, Aku jumped into the audience and ran back onto the stage like a madman. The biggest issue for the band was the exchange of instruments, which eventually became distracting, leaving one to wonder what the purpose was. All-in-all, the audience gave Dragons of Zynth a warm reception, applauding the band with zeal.

Sunday, June 14: Day 4

Those who managed to jump back on their hungover feet, returned to the streets of Brooklyn/Williamsburg to catch the last day of Northside Festival. They waited in parks, drank more “coffee” and “smoothies” and listened to meringue from leftover attendees of the Puerto Rican Day festivities. The momentum was clear – time for more so let’s move on to day four .

Bamboo Shoots:
Public Assembly (back room)

Bamboo Shoots approached the stage with a handicap – the lead singer was off somewhere in Turkey, while his band managed without him. This quirky quintet played their asses off and at times, the whole missing lead singer thing was forgotten. Although similarities can be drawn to Radio 4, the band has its own pop-indie sound that put the audience in a good mood.

During one song, the synth player grabbed up a drum and banged on it furtively to pick up a tribal element for an already energetic tune. The force of Bamboo Shoots’ music was received with dance and smiles but this is nothing new to them. The word on the streets about this band is getting around, which is what got them signed to Epic Records in the first place.

Wakey Wakey:
Public Assembly (back room)

Before Wakey Wakey’s set, the keyboardist/vocalist had to deal with a flopping mic stand so after he was handed some duct tape and a can of beer, the band was ready to roll out their playlist, including “War Sweater”, which was featured on the show, One Tree Hill.

The band’s sound was bold and beautiful, and at times, inspiring. The two vocalists, Mike Grubbs (also on keyboards) and Tanya Buziak harmonized like two opposite Gemini twins, contrasting the masculine and feminine sound of their voices to entwine soulful harmonies. Now throw in the violinist, Patrick Doane and you’ve got some serious orchestration.

La Strada:
Public Assembly (front room)

Then came the surprises – one was La Strada and the other will be soon mentioned. La Strada was an army of musicians, who trotted onto stage with a brass section, a string section, and of course, the rhythm section. The singer toted an accordion and then they began to play. It was a mix of old world sound and good ol’ fashion Americana. The large crowd was captivated by the band’s music and all of the warm, fuzzy feelings were enhanced by the red and yellow hue of the stage lights that shone on La Strada.

Singer/accordionist, James Craft, was a charismatic host, happily singing to his audience as if he was telling a good story from the past. They cleared through their set in what felt like minutes, with a head full of tales swirling in their fans’ heads.

Wild Yaks:
Public Assembly (front room)

…Then, there are those WTF moments, like when you just finished hearing La Strada’s sets, then someone yells for you to turn around and there’s a circle surrounding a man with a guitar who could have passed for a younger Slash. Wild Yaks didn’t just play, they exploded. Seriously…they did. It was the most stumbling, crazy, loud rock n’ roll heard during the entire festival – and it was so good to change it up finally, just in time for the closing of Public Assembly.

Wild Yaks have this thing about them…the guitarist is there amongst a bevy with you and then he’s back on the stage. The singer wildly sings into the mic and they have such a, “I don’t give a fuck” sound that it’s intoxicating. There is perhaps no other band that has a name that more appropriately suits them than this one.

So, instead of Public Assembly slowly prodding the folks who attended out of the venue, they gave them something to think about for a few hours after and you have to appreciate that kind of gesture.

Coachella Music Festival:
Could Coachella be up to something? We won’t speculate other than say rumors of a big last second addition have been a float over the last week. Then, there’s this thing and that thing.

Northside Festival:
Brooklynites will get a small taste of what it’s like to attend South by Southwest later this summer when the first annual Northside Festival brings hundreds of independent artists to over fifty of the boroughs venues between June 11 and 14. Sunset Rubdown, Bishop Allen, The Dodos, Bill Callahan, Vivian Girls, The Van Pelt, Brightblack Morning Light, O’Death, Asobi Seksu, and John Vanderslice highlight the recently unveiled initial lineup with even more names yet to be announced. Badges – just $45.00 – are currently available via northsidefestival.com.

Summerfest:
And the adds keep on coming for Summerfest’s 2009 lineup. Included in the latest batch of artists scheduled to perform at Milwaukee, Wisconsin festival from June 25-July 5 are STS9, Talib Kweli, Guster, Femi Kuti, Gavin DeGraw, Asher Roth, and Shiny Toy Guns. Both general admission passes and Marcus Amphitheater tickets are currently available via Ticketmaster.com.

80/35:
After bringing the likes of The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Jakob Dylan, Andrew Bird, and Drive-By Truckers to downtown Des Moines, Iowa for its inaugural edition, 80/35 will look to follow things up with another Fourth of July extravaganza – this time around, however, in a brand new location. Ben Haper & Relentless7, Public Enemy, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Matisyahu, and G. Love & Special Sauce head the list of acts set to perform in the eastern section of Western Gateway Park from July 3-4. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Two-day passes can be had via 80/35.com.

All Good Music Festival:
The All Good Music Festival finalized its 2009 lineup today with the additions of Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Galactic, Assembly of Dust, and BK3, and Bill Kreutzmann’s BK3. All in all, some 30 artists will take the stage at Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, West Virginia from July 9-12. Tickets are still available via allgoodfestival.com.

10,000 Lakes Music Festival
As if Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, two nights of Widespread Panic, and Umphrey’s McGee wasn’t enough to get you to this year’s 10,000 Lakes Music Festival, the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota based festival has added a few more names to its 2009 bill. Atmosphere, Ozomatli, and The Parlor Mob highlight the newest names set to perform at 10KLF from July 22-25.

Street Scene:
San Diego’s Street Scene will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer, from August 28-29 to be exact. No additional details just yet, but based on last year’s lineup and the fact the festival does take place in San Diego, it probably once again will be a must attend event.

As always, be sure to check out CoS’ FestivalOutlook.com for all your latest festival news and rumors. And if you’ve got a friend overseas, be sure to let them know that the Outlook just ain’t for Americans – we are constantly updating the European section. Oh, and got a tip? Drop us a line…