Auto repair, brake & suspension repair bridgeview & oak lawn wilrae inc.
MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2010 … · CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL June 26, Bridgeview, Ill....
-
Upload
nguyenngoc -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
0
Transcript of MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2010 … · CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL June 26, Bridgeview, Ill....
MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM
New sensations, returning favorites and
hot tickets await live music fans this season
By Katie Dodd
Bonnaroo 2009
M3_v10.indd 26 5/14/10 4:30 AM
T here’s no doubt the last decade has been rough for the
record industry, as fans fi nd ever more innovative ways
to avoid purchasing music in the mass quantities they did
in the past. But there’s one area of music business that’s
booming: live performance.
“You can’t bootleg the live experience,” says Gary Bongiovanni,
editor-in-chief of Pollstar. “If you like it, you have to go do it.”
While record sales have steadily declined in the ’00s, the
live music industry has seen record revenues, culminating in $4.6
million in major concert ticket sales just last year—despite a national
recession.
In fact, the live music experience is so popular that enthusiasts
are building vacations around it, making destination festivals a fast-
growing subsection of the industry. Once the domain of jam bands,
festivals now attract top talent and a diverse audience, and frequently
serve as the backdrop for reunions, collaborations and other once-
in-a-lifetime sets. They’re also a good deal.
“Festivals are by far the best value for the dollar, in terms of the
volume of music you get and the variety of artists,” says Bongiovanni.
Already, the 2010 festival season has started with a bang.
Coachella, a California festival that draws hipsters and Hollywood
types alike every April, sold out in advance and boasted an average
of 15,000 more attendees per day than last year. March’s Ultra Music
Festival in Miami, which celebrates electronic music, also sold out.
But they’re more than just cost-effi cient entertainment, offering
the chance to catch old favorites and discover the next big thing. Music
lovers also fl ock to festivals for the sense of community—something
else a record can’t promise. “The experience of live music is very
social,” says Ashley Capps, co-founder of Bonnaroo Music & Arts
Festival. “That connection with others, that shared experience, is
something we really need.” Check out our guide to the top destinations
to commune with your fellow music fans this summer.
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVALJuly 16-18, Chicago, Ill.
Top acts: Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene,
LCD Soundsystem, Pavement, Big Boi
Tickets: $40 per day
2009 attendance: 49,000
PITCHFORKMUSICFESTIVAL.COM
Founded in 1996, Pitchfork Media quickly became a leading voice
in online music criticism, and its accompanying festival is poised for
the same brand of success. Just fi ve years old, it drew an impressive
crowd last year, and three-day passes have already sold out for the
2010 event. More than 40 acts are on the 2010 roster, from Swedish
pop star Robyn to art rockers Liars.
CMA MUSIC FESTIVALJune 10-13, Nashville, Tenn.
Top acts: Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood,
Zac Brown Band
Tickets: $30+ per day, $110-300 plus fees for a 4-day pass
2009 attendance: 56,000 per day average
CMAFEST.COM
If you’re in the mood for country music this summer, there’s no
shortage of options. But not only does this reasonably priced four-day
festival boast more than 150 hours of music, it offers the increasingly
rare opportunity for fans to come face-to-face with their favorite
stars via autograph signings and special fan club sets. It may no
longer be called “Fan Fair” but this long-loved event hasn’t lost its
personal touch.
VANS WARPED TOURJune 25-Aug. 15, kick-off in Carson, Calif.
Tickets: around $30, varies by city
Top acts: The All-American Rejects, Andrew WK,
Bring Me the Horizon, We the Kings
Stages: 5+, depending on venue
VANSWARPEDTOUR.COM
The line-up for the 2010 Warped Tour was announced via YouTube
by Tiffany Mink, a 23-year-old music blogger sporting a nose ring,
which offers a general idea of the event’s demographic. But the tour
is a bargain. High-profi le sponsorships keep ticket prices for this
skate punk extravaganza shockingly low, even as other tour prices
have skyrocketed.
LOLLAPALOOZA
Aug. 6-8, Chicago, Ill.
Top acts: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Soundgarden, Arcade Fire,
The Strokes, Cypress Hill, MGMT, Erykah Badu
Tickets: $215
2009 attendance: 225,000+
Artists: 150+
LOLLAPALOOZA.COM
In the ’90s, Lollapalooza criss-crossed the country as the premier
alt-rock summer tour, after getting its start as an extended farewell
for Jane’s Addiction organized by lead singer Perry Farrell. Slow
ticket sales eventually forced it off the road, but the once-essential
event has experienced a dramatic reinvention as a destination
festival held in the heart of downtown Chicago. “It’s found its
niche,” says Pollstar’s Bongiovanni. “It’s one of the major festivals
in North America, and it has a totally different vibe than Bonnaroo.”
A mix of big-name pop stars and underground favorites
will convene in Grant Park for the uber-urban event. In its new
incarnation, Lollapalooza has strived to become more family-
friendly, but the crowd can still get pretty rowdy.
Bruce Springsteen joined Phish on stage at Bonnaroo last year.
Jeff K
ravitz
27MAY 2010
M3_v10.indd 27 5/14/10 4:30 AM
MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM
WATERFRONT BLUES FESTIVALJuly 2-5, Portland, Ore.
Top acts: Taj Mahal, Little Feat, John Mayall, Booker T.
Tickets: $10 plus two cans of food, per day
2009 donations: 87,577 pounds of food
WATERFRONTBLUESFEST.COM
You can’t beat the admission price for the country’s second-largest
blues festival. The fundraiser for a local food bank asks for a minimal
donation each day in exchange for more than eight hours of music
on four stages overlooking the Willamette River. Plus, nightly “blues
cruises” take to the water for $20-35 per person, and you can catch
late-night jam sessions across the street for $15.
LEVITT PAVILIONSMay - Sept., Los Angeles; Pasadena, Calif.; Westport, Conn.;
Memphis, Tenn.; Arlington, Texas
Top Acts: Todd Snider, Cowboy Junkies, Dionne Warwick,
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Tickets: Free
LEVITTPAVILIONS.ORG
A nationwide nonprofi t committed to promoting arts in the community,
Levitt Pavilions offers free concerts at fi ve locations throughout the
summer months. Relax on the lawn and soak up the sounds of
blues, zydeco, rock, reggae, jazz and more. To view the line-up at
the pavilion closest to you, visit the website and click on your city.
Three Dog Night will also perform a special benefi t concert at the
Arlington pavilion for $25 a ticket.
KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVALMay 27-June 13, Kerrville, Texas
Top acts: Indigo Girls, Slaid Cleaves, Sara Hickman,
Randy Rogers, Porterdavis
Tickets: $25-40 per day
Site space: 50 acres
KERRVILLE-MUSIC.COM
One of the longest summer music festivals, Kerrville runs for 18 days
and features more than 60 folk acts, as well as songwriting seminars,
guitar workshops and open mic nights. Attendees can camp out on
the Quiet Valley Ranch for an extended stay or purchase tickets for
individual nights. Since 1972, Kerrville has introduced up-and-coming
artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffi th and Robert
Earl Keen, so you never know what you might discover on the bill.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOLKS FESTIVALAug. 13-15, Lyons, Colo.
Top acts: John Prine, Ani DiFranco,
The Swell Season, Richard Thompson
Tickets: $110 for a 3-day pass
2009 attendance: 3,500 per day
BLUEGRASS.COM/FOLKS
For a selection of the best in song
craftsmanship, look no further than this
Colorado festival nestled in the mountains,
a sister event to the well-known Telluride
Bluegrass Festival. Now in its 20th year,
the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival attracts
singer-songwriters from all over the
globe. A smaller Wildfl ower Pavilion also
showcases newer indie artists and hosts
in-the-round shows throughout the festival.
Early-bird passes have already sold out,
so snap up your tickets sooner than later.
CAREFUSION NEWPORTJAZZ FESTIVALAug. 6-8, Newport, R.I.
Top acts: Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis,
Chick Corea Freedom Band, Jamie Cullum
Tickets: $69-100 per day
Performers: 30+
NEWPORTJAZZFEST.NET
BONNAROO
June 10-13, Manchester, Tenn.
Top acts: Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon,
Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Weezer
Tickets: $249
2009 attendance: 75,000
Site space: 700 acres
BONNAROO.COM
It’s safe to say the majority of outdoor music events these days
have taken their cues from Bonnaroo. “It’s America’s best-
known camping festival,” says Bongiovanni. Since 2002, the
event has grown from a laidback jam to a 24-hour carnival of
activities—with movies, comedy, yoga classes, disco dancing,
a retro arcade and more.
“I go out there every year, walk around the corner and say, ‘Gee,
I didn’t know we were doing that,’” says co-founder Capps
with a laugh. But music still takes center stage at the four-day
festival, as evidenced by the popular late-night concerts that
often stretch into the early morning. This year one of those slots
belongs to the much-anticipated performance of The Dark Side
of the Moon by the Flaming Lips.
CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL
June 26, Bridgeview, Ill.
Top acts: Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy,
Steve Winwood, John Mayer, Vince Gill
Tickets: $100
2007 attendance: 28,000
CROSSROADSGUITARFESTIVAL.COM
When the legendary Eric Clapton assembled a group of guitar
virtuosos for an all-day show in 2004, it was billed as a once-
in-a-lifetime line-up. But he organized a repeat performance
in 2007 and again this summer. More than 25 guitarists will
gather for the event, performing both solo and in the kind of
collaborations you can only see in the festival setting. (2007
featured a rare appearance by former Band guitarist Robbie
Robertson.) Clapton will play his own set and pop in on others
when the mood strikes. This year is rumored to be the last—
though that’s been said before—so tickets will likely go fast.
Proceeds benefi t an addiction treatment center in Antigua.
Cam
bria H
ark
ey
28 MAY 2010
M3_v10.indd 28 5/14/10 4:31 AM
Some of America’s most famous jazz recordings were made at
this legendary festival, which since 1954 has brought together the
greats for three days of nonstop music. The
fi rst outdoor jazz festival has served as an
introduction to luminaries such as Wynton
Marsalis and Diana Krall, as well as the backdrop
to the famous documentary Jazz on a Summer’s Day.
After a long absence, founder George Wein returned
to take the helm last year, and this year presides over a
diverse and prestigious line-up.
IOWA STATE FAIRAug. 12-22, Des Moines, Iowa
Top acts: Keith Urban, REO Speedwagon,
Pat Benatar, Sugarland, Colbie Caillat
Tickets: $25-47
2009 attendance: 1 million+
IOWASTATEFAIR.ORG
Looking for the king of state fairs? Head to Des Moines.
Founded in 1854, the 11-day fair saw a record-setting
1.1 million visitors in 2008. This must-see slice of
Americana offers nightly concerts over a range of
genres, though country and nostalgia-type fare feature
prominently. Free music plays throughout the day for the
price of general admission.
FORECASTLE FESTIVALJuly 9-11, Louisville, Ky.
Top acts: The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Drive-By
Truckers, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Tickets: $60 per day, $150 for the weekend
2009 attendance: 23,000+
FORECASTLEFEST.COM
So over the big-name festivals everyone’s
heard of? Get in on the next big summer thing by checking out
Forecastle. Founded in 2002 as a free event spotlighting local
bands, it has since outgrown three subsequent venues, attracted the
attention of major sponsors and evolved into a festival celebrating
art and extreme sports as well as music. More than 75 artists will
perform this year on four stages.
THERE’S MORECheck out other must-see music events.
HARMONY FESTIVAL, (hip hop, R&B)
June 11-13, Santa Rosa, Calif.
MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVALJune 25-July 6, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
HIGH SIERRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (rock)
July 1-4, Quincy, Calif.
MOONDANCE JAM (classic rock)
July 15-17, Walker, Minn.
GATHERING OF THE VIBES (jam bands)
July 29-Aug. 1, Bridgeport, Conn.
ROCK ON THE RANGE (hard rock)
Aug. 7, Winnipeg, Canada
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL (rock)
Oct. 8-10, Austin, Texas
VOODOO EXPERIENCE (rock/rap)
Oct. 29-31, New Orleans, La.
CAYAMO CRUISE (folk)
Feb. 13-20, Miami, Fla., to Bahamas
INTERNATIONAL FOLK ALLIANCEFeb. 16-20, Memphis, Tenn.
HOUSTON RODEO (country)
March 1-20, Houston, Texas
SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL (jazz)
March 24-April 9, Savannah, Ga.
Jay-Z (at Coachella earlier this year) will headline
2010’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.
Martina McBride will appear at Nashville’s CMA Music Festival.
Perry Farrell at Lollapalooza, 2006
Jeff K
ravitz
Fro
ntP
ag
e P
ub
licity
Kent
Kallb
erg
29MAY 2010
M3_v10.indd 29 5/14/10 5:30 AM
MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVALJuly 2-4, New Orleans, La.
Top acts: Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys,
Earth Wind & Fire, De La Soul
Tickets: $159-636
2009 attendance: 270,000+
ESSENCE.COM/FESTIVAL
The Essence Music Festival was created 15 years ago by the lifestyle
magazine for black women. Artists you’ll fi nd headlining the event
embody the messages found in its pages: women whose music
preaches empowerment and independence. Educational seminars
on love and relationships, parenting and cultural issues are offered
by leading sociologists and psychiatrists, but host Steve Harvey will
be on hand to keep things light.
TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVALJune 17-20, Telluride, Colo.
Top acts: Alison Krauss & Union Station, Del McCoury Band,
Lyle Lovett
Tickets: $60 per day, $185 for the weekend
2009 attendance: 10,000
BLUEGRASS.COM/TELLURIDE
Now in its 37th year, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival has grown to
10 times its original size—and would likely continue if venue capacity
weren’t capped at 10,000. Telluride is a family-friendly summer
festival with a wealth of outdoor activities available, including hiking
and horseback riding, as well as a kids’ parade, talent show, crafts
and clowns. Held over summer solstice, marking the longest day of
the year, attendees can spend hours enjoying old-fashioned ’grass
in the summer sun.
LILITH FAIR
June 27-Aug. 16, kick-off in Alberta, Canada
Top acts: Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Clarkson, Queen Latifah,
Metric, Emmylou Harris
Tickets: Most start around $40 and go up to a $750
Diamond package
1997 gross: $16 million
LILITHFAIR.COM
In 1997, Sarah McLachlan set out to prove that an all-female show
could be a hot summer draw. For the next three summers, Lilith
Fair did just that, raising more than $10 million for women-focused
charities. Returning after a decade, McLachlan has enticed major
stars from Rihanna to The Bangles to Loretta Lynn to join Lilith
Fair on its journey from Canada down to Texas. Each show will
open with the winner from a local talent search, close with a full
set by McLachlan, and feature nine acts in between. Most acts
will play only a handful of shows, so the line-up will vary wildly
from city to city, but none should disappoint. M
Bonnaroo founder Ashley Capps
offers a view from behind the stage
When Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival began in 2002,
American rock festivals were “on-again, off-again,” says co-
founder Ashley Capps. But in the wake of the Manchester,
Tenn. event’s extraordinary success, they’ve become a
crucial part of the music scene. We chatted with Capps
about building Bonnaroo from the ground up, and what’s
new at this year’s fest.
How did Bonnaroo come about?
The idea emerged during the 1990s. We were looking as we
always are for new ways to present live music. There were
so many great festivals in Europe, and Phish had launched
theirs, which was very successful.
How do you stay true to Bonnaroo’s roots and still
appeal to an ever-expanding audience?
If you repeat yourself year after year, you become stale.
We had a reputation for being a jam-band festival at the
beginning, but we didn’t see it that way. We reached out
to that audience because we knew they loved music, they
would travel to see it, and embrace the camping experience.
And the music they love touches on so many other kinds of
music—bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock, ethnic. We’re music fans
ourselves, and we just try to keep our fi nger on the pulse of
what’s new and exciting.
Bringing in Conan O’Brien after his NBC battle is a
good example. How did that happen?
The comedy element of the festival is something we’ve
always worked to develop. When the possibility of Conan
going out and doing his tour became known, we approached
him. It was a no-brainer! He’s going to be emceeing the
stage for a couple of days, as well as performing in the tent.
What else is exciting you about this year’s line-up?
The Latin tent. We have all of these alternative acts coming
from Mexico and Central and South America. I’m really
excited about that concept this year.
Name your favorite Bonnaroo performance so far.
Impossible to say! Bonnaroo is full of surprises—that’s one
of the things that makes it so exciting. And it’s not always
the headline acts. There’s a real bond between the artist
and the audience that inspires extraordinary performances.
ROCK AND ’ROO
Chris Thile and Sam Bush at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, 2006
Bonnaroo 2009
Benko P
hoto
gra
phic
s
Kent
Kallb
erg
30 MAY 2010
M3_v10.indd 30 5/14/10 5:31 AM
MAY 2010
VOLU M E 01, I SS U E 03
PE R IODICAL $6.99 U.S. / $7.99 CANADIAN
THE BLACK KEYS DEFTONES NEW PORNOGRAPHERS THE HOLD STEADY
MELISSA ETHERIDGE Returning to rock
MERLE HAGGARDShoots from the hip
NAS & DAMIAN MARLEYRap meets reggae
STONE TEMPLE PILOTSOnce grounded, they’re ready to soar again
VINYL’S REVENGE
SUMMER FESTIVALS
THE ART OF MASTERING
+
M3-COVER_FINAL.indd 1 5/14/10 4:44 AM