AltWeeklies Wire
Pop Montreal Does Festival Revelry Rightnew
The still-growing music fest thrives with booking policy that favors artistic quality over quantity.
NOW Magazine |
Jordan Bimm |
10-14-2008 |
Music
Frisco Freakout Makes a California Scenenew
Our state may be flush with wild guitar tamers, but the factors cementing a true sonic landmark -- connections among bands, clubs, and labels defining a specific sound -- are lacking in the Bay Area.
All Tomorrow's Parties Was a Bloody Good Timenew
Touch and Go's 20-year anniversary festival in 2006 in Chicago was fantastic and Pitchfork this year was a giddy marathon, but simply no one throws down quite like All Tomorrow's Parties.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
09-29-2008 |
Music
Monotonix: Too Hot for Bumbershootnew

After just four songs, the fire marshal deemed the Tel Aviv–based band too dangerous, and had Exhibition Hall staff cut their power.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
09-08-2008 |
Concerts
OMFG It's MusicFest NorthWest!new

Consider this the liner notes from behind the scenes of this festival, detailing the 1,000 little decisions made over the past 360 days that culminate in MFNW's music-packed, sweat-soaked, four-day run.
Willamette Week |
Staff |
09-03-2008 |
Concerts
Inaugural Outside Lands Festival Lives up to Its Potentialnew
For the most part, the first-ever Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival did live up to expectations; at times there were simply stunning moments and the venue itself was quite a scene to behold.
East Bay Express |
Nate Seltenrich, Rachel Swan and Kathleen Richards |
08-27-2008 |
Music
Philadelphia Folk Fest Tests Its Traditionally Traditional Audiencenew
Two sides are struggling: One wants traditional folk. The other wants to dilute the tradition percentage with something maybe sorta, kinda ... hip?
Philadelphia City Paper |
Mary Armstrong |
08-19-2008 |
Concerts
Gregg Perloff Is the New Bill Grahamnew
How his Another Planet Entertainment beat the competition to host the epic Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival.
East Bay Express |
David Downs |
08-14-2008 |
Music
Rules for Surviving All Points Westnew
After years of hauling to California, the U.K., Austin, Tex., and everyplace in between, a music festival with real teeth is finally coming to New York.
New York Press |
Crispin Kott |
08-07-2008 |
Concerts
How Does Wham City Get Away with Whartscape?new
Now in its third year, the anti-festival turned oddball indie magnet covers four nights, two full days, and four venues, is backed by a list of sponsors, and brings in headliners whose individual payment guarantees could probably cover a month's rent for everyone involved in organizing the fest combined.
Baltimore City Paper |
Michael Byrne |
07-29-2008 |
Concerts
RockyGrass Festival Breaks Free from Tradition While Staying True to its Rootsnew

Compared to its relative Telluride Bluegrass Festival, RockyGrass is a slightly smaller, more traditional affair. Traditional, that is, in a vague sense. In its 36th year, RockyGrass has grown to a three-day festival that spans more than a century of American roots music, from the banjo and mandolin songs with which we're most familiar to 21st century acoustic songwriting.
Boulder Weekly |
Margaret Hair |
07-28-2008 |
Music
Roy Head Brings His Raunchy Soul to the Memphis Pops Festivalnew
In 1965, Head was a spastic, seething force of nature whose frenetic, hip-hunching dance moves made Elvis look like an arthritic altar boy.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Davis |
07-25-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
A Handful of PDX Pop Now!'s Founders Reminisce, Persevere and Conquer Genrenew
The annual PDX Pop Now! festival, which celebrates its fifth birthday this Friday through Sunday at Rotture, shows no signs of aging--even if it has caused a few gray hairs among the heads of four of its founders.
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
07-23-2008 |
Concerts
The Man Who Makes the Pitchfork Music Festival Happennew

Mike Reed's best known as the guy who assembles indie rock's favorite festival, but in his spare time he performs miracles for the local jazz scene.
Chicago Reader |
Peter Margasak |
07-21-2008 |
Music
Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival Shrinks But May Still Delivernew
The arena-sized festival isn't the only music event feeling a crunch in these difficult economic times. San Francisco's Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival, the 12-year-old multimedia happening, is markedly smaller in 2008.