Festival Spotlight ::: Bonnaroo & Party in the Park Additions

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 13-16
Great Stage Park ::: Manchester, TN

Namely the additions of The Mowgli's, ON AN ON, Wake Owl, Capital Cities and He's My Brother, She's My Sister are amazing additions toward the bottom of the lineup.
Also, this will mark the first year of an exclusive EDM tent. One of the three (This, That, or Other tent will now be an EDM tent.

Updated Bonnaroo Playlist

Party in the Park

May 19
Centennial Olympic Park ::: Atlanta, GA

Yeasayer is a great addition, on par with the level of act anticipated, but a better choice than I expected.

Festival Spotlight ::: TomorrowWorld, Music Midtown, and Updates

TomorrowWorld 

September 27-29

Bouckaert Farm ::: Chattahoochee Hills, GA

For those who haven't heard TomorrowLand, the world's largest and greatest EDM festival, is expanding from it's current location in Belgium with its second home in Atlanta, GA! The festival site will be on the same property that hosted last year's Counterpoint Festival (rumored to be returning in the spring of 2014) and past Echo Projects. They've begun releasing artists already and will continue to do so here and there. Be sure to follow them on twitter & here and facebook. Artists released so far include; Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike, Alesso, Porter Robinson, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell both of which are members of Swedish House Mafia. Take the time to watch the videos below and be ready to be blown away!

To be eligible to buy tickets when they go on sale you MUST preregister here. Tickets to US residents go on sale Saturday, April 27th at 11:00AM and they will go FAST! You must also be 21 years old. 

2012 After Festival Video

TomorrowLand introduces TomorrowWorld

DreamVille, US

Music Midtown

September 20-21

Piedmont Park ::: Atlanta, GA

Though nothing has been set about the 2013 edition of Music Midtown if the past is any indicator then we should be closing in on the initial lineup this week or next. Last year no real mention of the lineup was made until the day it was released, so it wouldn't surprise us if that was the case this year as well. 

These are only guesses based on tour dates, previous scheduling, and fitting past Music Midtown lineups, but my guesses for acts would include Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Foster the People, Big Boi, Imagine Dragons, Childish Gambino, and The Head and the Heart. Obviously they won't get all of the first four, but I could see two out of that four playing Piedmont with Mumford being the most unlikely. Hopefully we won't have to wait long to find out.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 13-16

Great Stage Park ::: Manchester, TN

Tomorrow Bonnaroo will likely release their first additions to an already stellar lineup since releasing the comedy lineup a few weeks ago. 

Bonnaroo Comedy Lineup ::: Daniel Tosh, Bob Saget, David Cross, Maria Bamford, Ed Helms’ Whisky Sour Radio Hour, Mike Birbiglia, Comedy Bang! Bang! with Scott Aukerman and Reggie Watts, Eric Andre, Nikki Glaser, Improvised Shakespeare Company, Chris Gethard, Michael Che, Kyle Dunnigan, James Adomian, Jared Logan, Jerrod Carmichael and Cristela Alonzo

Forecastle Festival

July 12-14

Waterfront Park ::: Louisville, KY

Forecastle Fest has announce their artists by dates below.

Hangout Festival

May 17-19

Gulf Shores, AL

Hangout has released their lineup here. We will be having our first lineup debate soon.

Southeast Music Festival Roundup

Today is Valentines Day so it is only appropriate to do a roundup of one of my biggest loves, music festivals. Below is an overview of some of the great music fests hitting the southeast over the next few months. Music fests are a great way to enjoy a years worth of music in a 1-4 day span, see big name bands while discovering the lesser known groups.

Savannah Stopover Music Festival 

March 7-9

Savannah, GA

A collaborative effort of MusicFile Productions and countless volunteers, partners, vendors, and media sponsors, the Savannah Stopover will showcase more than 100 bands in multiple venues across Savannah’s walkable Historic District. Bands will enjoy the quirky, shamelessly social elements of Georgia’s Hostess City while festival goers will be exposed to up-and-coming bands in closer, more personal environs. The full schedule is available on their website. 

BUKU Music + Arts Project
March 8 & 9
Mardi Gras World ::: New Orleans, LA

Premiered in 2012 by Winter Circle Productions, the Buku Music + Art Project has established itself as the premier progressive music and arts festival in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. For those tired of the mega-festival and wanting an intimate setting with close stage views and clear/loud audio, BUKU fills that void. The location's post-industrial vibe fits perfectly with BUKU's fusion of EDM, hip-hop and various sub-genres of indie rock. Paying homage to the NOLA setting, BUKU features local food vendors, indigenous art exhibits and dozens of regional support acts playing stage changeover sets.

Tickets  General Admission passes start at $149.50 

Through FanFueledEngaged you can WIN tickets through completing easy social media actions like posting the lineup to facebook via HERE!!!

SweetWater 420 Fest

April 19-21

Candler Park ::: Atlanta, GA

Nestled in Candler Park the SweetWater 420 Festival has become the unofficial start to spring in Atlanta. What better way to bloom into spring than with a solid musical lineup and over 20 craft beers brewed just a few miles away. In its 9th year 420 takes a more funk flavor compared to previous lineups. Seeing Robert Randolph & The Family Band put on a show that is hard for anyone to beat. George Clinton was right along side Randolph in showmanship, but has taken a more subdued approach in recent years as the Paliament Funkadelic has taken a large portion of their shows. Ivan Neville has a storied musical career being a part of great acts. His latest venture, Dumpstaphunk, started in 2003 will bring a house down with their energy leading them to be one of Flea's favorite acts.

For $5 its hard to beat good weather, delicious craft beer, and quality music.   

Magnetic Music Festival
April 20
Kennesaw State University Athletic Complex ::: Kennesaw, GA

This first time festival, brought to you by Liquefied, brings a mix of dubstep and EDM music to the athletic fields of Kennesaw State Festival. Liquefied is known for putting on great dance music shows across Atlanta and having a part in the inaugural Counterpoint Festival (that is expanding to multiple cities). The festival hit a minor PR snafu in December when they announced they would be releasing phase one of their lineup and ultimately delaying it over a month. The wait looks to be worth it after releasing phase one of the lineup including Flux Pavillion, Zeds Dead, and Flosstradamus.
Tickets range from $65 for one-day general admission ($25 payment plan available) to $165 for VIP.
We'll wait until phase two is announced to level our final verdict on this one-day festival, but after working out some kinks MMF seems to be working towards a good future where it could grow.


Shaky Knees Music Festival
May 4 & 5
Old Forth Ward Park, Masquerade Music Park::: Atlanta, GA

Atlanta will welcome a brand new music event, Shaky Knees Music Festival, to the Historic Fourth Ward Park and the Masquerade Music Park on May 4 and 5th. The two-day festival will feature 28 bands across three outdoor stages as well as local food trucks, artisans and vendors. Two-day general admission tickets as well as VIP passes go on sale on February 7 at Ticketmaster.

The creators of this american folk festival has the Atlanta music scene cornered. Seemingly going right after the 18-35 range this is right in their wheelhouse. Shaky Knees has put together a great 2-day lineup that is deep enough to bring people from outside Atlanta to enjoy the inaugural festival. Headlined by The Lumineers and Band of Horses and followed up with quality acts including Gary Clark Jr, Jim James (whose new album is very good), Dr. Dog, Delta Spirits, and the Joy Formidable. 

Tickets start at $99 for both days and are moving quickly. VIP Packages ($265) including free Fox Bros. BBQ (WOAH!), beer, and water among other amenities are already sold out. Single day passes are available for $61 and there are still single day VIP Package available. 

Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival
May 17-19
Gulf Shores, AL

The Hangout Festival is the first music festival of it's kind in North America. Since it's beginning in 2010 the beach music festival has grow including Duluna Fest in Florida. Located directly on the white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, AL. The festival treats guests to a unique festival experience and consistently features a diverse selection of top touring artists. In its 4rd year the festival continues to grow. In 2010 the festival welcomed around 14,000 festival goers per day. The beach fest more than doubled that up to 35,000 per day in 2011. Last year Hangout sold out rather quickly after adding Red Hot Chili Peppers as their third headliner alongside Jack White and Dave Matthews Band. With the insane depth music has these days the 2013 lineup is an initial disappointment to the YOTHT crew. There is still one headliners still to be announced and other possible additions to help the cause. 

Like other festivals in the city limits of larger cities Hangout has a curfew for the acts which puts a slight damper on the weekend. Highlights of the festival include the return of Kings of Leon after a drunken sabbatical, Kendrick Lamar, Bassnectar, Bloc Party, Passion Pit, and Best Coast. Hangout did a good job of securing a large amount of acts that will be more prominent on the European music festival circuit than in America over the summer including Bloc Party, Ellie Goulding, Grouplove, the Breeders and Kings of Leon.

Wakarusa Festival
May 30-June 2
Mulberry Mountain ::: Ozark, AR

For those who find themselves wanting to be taken back to Bonnaroo's original roots when it started in 2002, Wakarusa is the spot for you. Located in the between Little Rock and Fayetteville Arkansas, in the heart of the Ozark Mountains provides great views for a music fest. A mix between Bonnaroo and Wannee festivals Wakarusa has put together a nice mixture of genres with something for everyone.

Headlined by jamband forefathers Widespread Panic and genre defeating Dispatch the undercard is made up of everything from Snoop Dog's reggae persona Snoop Lion, The Black Crowes, Of Monsters and Men, Allen Stone, and endurance champions Umphrey's McGee. Wakarusa is a camping festival so be sure to prepare adequately.

Tickets  come in a variety of packages.


FloydFest~12
July 25-28
Floyd, VA

A 4-day celebration of music and art nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia! Bridging the gap between genres, generations and cultures, the festival features over 100 performers on 10 stages! Americana, folk, and string bands your cup of tea? This festival was made for you. One of the more family friendly festivals Floyfest invited you to enjoy great music, art, and fun in the tiny town of Floyd, Virginia located near Blacksburg and Roanoke. 

Tickets  are available in a range of different packages including 1, 2, 3, or all 4 days with camping, VIP, and even a kids option. If this is your preferred genre this is a very good and deep lineup for this level of festival. 

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 13-16
Great Stage Park ::: Manchester, TN
Lineup Announcement ::: February 19 on YouTube at Noon (lineup at 1pm EST)
(note the below lineup is a mock lineup created by me)

The 12th version of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival proves to be one of the best. We will have a full breakdown of the lineup when it is announced next Tuesday, but until then below is my mock lineup created from scratch using/recreating this year's theme.

Please leave feedback on the mock lineup, your favorite festival, or festival experiences!

YOTHT Best Shows of 2012

#40: Anamanaguchi @ Lollapalooza/Grant Park (Chicago, IL)

8-bit video game sound from guitars? Yes please

#39: Foo Fighters @ Music Midtown/Piedmont Park (Atlanta, GA)

This concert deserves to be much higher but for certain reasons I only was able to see three songs. This disappointment makes it so low on the list.

#38: LP @ Music Midtown/Piedmont Park

Solid show from LP highlighted by her single "Into the Wild" and a great cover of Beyonce's "Halo"

#37: AWOLNation @ The Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA)

 

AWOL put on a solid concert, but were way overshadowed by their opener Imagine Dragons.

#36:  Joy Formindable @ The Masquerade-Heaven (Atlanta, GA)

Low ranking has nothing to do with the crowd energy or the stage presence of JF. Put on a great show with tons of energy.

#35:  Tune-Yards @ Bonnaroo/This Tent (Manchester, TN)

Merrill Garbus is something else. Still fascinated by what she can do and her voice.

#34: Phish @ Bonnaroo/What Stage

Absolutely great show with fireworks, rain, and Kenny Rogers. It's hard to explain why this isn't higher on the list, but last show of a festival mixed with rain and the four hour set. The gap between set one and two was just too long.

#33: Beach Boys @ Bonnaroo/What Stage

Watching the Beach Boys perform made me all nostalgic about something my parents lived through and I never even experienced. To see the show they put on at their age I can only imagine what it was like in the 60's.

#32: First Aid Kit @ Buckhead Theater (Atlanta, GA)

This Swedish sister act put on a great performance. Playing hits Lion's Roar, Emmy Lou, while sharing stories and covering Paul Simon's America. The one sour note was when a random attendee yelled "F*ck America" as they announce the cover...

#31: Ludacris @ Music Midtown/Piedmont Park

Just when I was a little dissapointed I wasn't going to venture over to see GirlTalk again to get closer for Florence + the Machince, Luda busts out all his hits in a very GirlTalkesqe fashion. So much high school nostalgia.

#30: Skrem & Benga @ Lollapapalooza/Perry's Stage

Didn't even see this duo, only heard 2-3 songs waiting for the grossest portipotti ever to see this earth after reentering Grant Park post-storm of the decade. That being said they were soooooooo high powered I forgot about the 3 hours of the festival that didn't happen and running through the streets of Chicago in the worst storm I've seen. 

#29: fun. @ Bonnaroo/ That Tent

fun. lived up to their promise to make their Bonnaroo show something to be seen. Probably could have been higher on the list, but I left midset to catch Young the Giant.

#28: Bon Iver @ Bonnaroo/What Stage

Forced the Roo Crew to go see Bon Iver. Preshow they were nicknamed 'audible ambian', but they're a totally different story live. They come hard live and put on a memorable show.

#27: Lonely Forest @ Bonnaroo/This Tent

Wasn't too familiar with this band pre-Bonnaroo, but left with a new up and coming band to listen to. This young group acted like veterans controlling the crowd and bringing the energy.

#26: Silversun Pickups @ The Tabernacle

I had been waiting to see Silversun Pickups for a few years and it was well worth the wait. They mixed up their set between their first two albums and their latest, 'Neck of the Woods'.

#25: Family of the Year @ Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA)

Hadn't heard of this band prior to seeing them live, but I came away a big fan. They put on a great show and were some of the nicest people to talk to after the show.

#24: Florence + the Machine @ Music Midtown

With a memorable start where she completely redid the first 5 minutes of their show coupled with her amazing voice it was such an enjoyable show having only caught 15 minutes of her Bonnaroo '11 set.

#23: Imagine Dragons @ The Tabernacle

Opening for AWOLNation, Imagine Dragons stole the show with great emotion, energy, and overall excitement to be playing live.

#22: Miike Snow @ Lollapalooza/Sony Stage

At this point at Lolla I was in a tailspin of health due to hand, foot, and mouth I picked up somewhere, but that didn't damper this show. Can't wait to see them in a better state.

#21: Avett Brothers @ Music Midtown*

The Avett Brothers have such great control of their instruments including their voices. They seem to love waking up everyday and playing together.

#20: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis @ Lollapalooza/Google Play Stage

I'm still kicking myself for not making a bigger push with our Lolla crew to see this entire set. Such an amazing turn out and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and the crowd both brought a furious energy.

#19: M83 @ Lollapalooza/Sony Stage

Just an all around great performance.

#18: Pearl Jam @ Music Midtown

Season veterans that make every performance could. Setlist could have been a little better, but not by much.

#17: Matt & Kim @ Variety Playhouse (Atlanta, GA)

So. Much. Energy! Both Matt and Kim were both sick, but absolutley brought it.

#16: Phantogram @ Bonnaroo/Other Tent

Phantogram just put on a fun, awesome show.

#15: Young the Giant @ Bonnaroo

YTG wouldn't have let the crowd get out of it even if they wanted to. Playing their whole LP and R. Kelly's Remix to Ignition blew me away.

#14: Skrillex @ Bonnaroo/Which Stage

Seeing Red Hot Chili Peppers in the pit was too much for one of our crew, but even hearing Skrillex from campsite was enough to land him at 14. Can't even describe it.

#13: Givers @ Lollapalooza/Google Play Stage

This band should be bigger than they currently are....

#12: Passion Pit @ The Masquerade

Great setlist and energy.

#11: Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Lollapalooza/Red Bull Sound Stage *

Was disappointed in how much better this performance was than their Bonnaroo showing two months prior.

#10: Milo Greene @ Drunken Unicorn *

The first show in their first nationwide tour and you would have never guessed.

# 9: Of Monsters and Men @ House of Blues/Lollapalooza After Show (Chicago, IL) *

It was really a toss-up between their show at the House of Blues or their performance the next day at Lolla. Both were great but first times the charm. Only problem with OM&M is their album is so well produced their is not much of a difference between them live.

# 8: Electric Guest @ Bonnaroo/This Tent

# 7: The Head and the Heart @ Lollapalooza/ Sony Stage*

The Head and the Heart gets better and better everytime I see them. This trend continued the forth and most recent time. The entire band just works so incredibly well together.

# 6: Two Door Cinema Club @ Bonnaroo/This Tent

Landing at number six is a combination of being close, time I've waited to see them, and just overall fabulous performance.

# 5: Bloc Party @ Lollapalooza/Sony Stage

So much energy from Bloc Party it was amazing. I can't even explain how great they were.

# 4: Foster the People @ Bonnaroo/Which Stage

FTP sounds great on the record, but it's another level live and this may have been the best show they've ever put on. The combination of vocal and instrumental aspects coupled with the confetti, inflatables, and other aspects of their show you could tell they did not want to disappoint the massive crowd that showed up to see them.

# 3: Black Keys @ Lollapalooza/Red Bull Sound Stage

One of the farthest spots I've started a show off at and it still felt like I was right there. It continuously shocks me how much this duo is able to do live.

# 2: Radiohead @ Bonnaroo/What Stage

Based on what they play live, I couldn't have asked for a better setlist or a better showing from their second time on the Farm.

# 1: Childish Gambino @ Bonnaroo/Which Stage*

Just an insane performance. Computer malfunction and he goes off on a 4 minute unscripted freestyle (somewhat oxymoronic) that blew everyone away.


*Better of one or more performances
Honorable Mention
Bonnaroo
Flogging Molly
The Word
Umphree's McGee
Needtobreath
Black Lips
Ben Folds Five
Roots

Lollapolooza
Jeff the Brotherhood
White Rabbits
Polica
Bombay Bicycle Club
Gas Light Anthem
Jack White

Music Midtown
T.I.
Garbage

Other Shows
Further