Björk at Bonnaroo

Björk Guðmundsdóttir

Adding to the list of new and profound acts to make an appearance at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2013 is the Norwegian sensation from Reykjavik, Iceland, Björk Guðmundsdóttir.  Björk’s music is wildly exotic and has covered all genres of music from folk and acappella to electronic dance music and punk in her thirty or so years being a solo artist. The common factor between all of her styles is the overlaying of her amazing voice that resonates over whatever beat is being played with it.  The most striking of Bjork’s set at Bonnaroo Music Festival was her on stage attire.  She was dressed in a very odd dress and her entire head was surrounded on all sides by thousands of six inch long needles.  Musically, Bjork’s set at Bonnaroo contained a wide variety of styles of music, and was accompanied by a group of twelve background singers/performers.  Her choice of songs came from throughout her career, and included “Hyperballad,” “Crystalline,” and “Pagan Poetry.”  Appearances in the US are quite rare for a European sensation such as Björk Guðmundsdóttir, so she was sure to satisfy her army of fans present to watch her show.  

David Byrne with St. Vincent

David Byrne and St. Vincent are currently on tour in the United States and are making their way around the festival tour and intimate venues such as the Taft Theater. The band played most of their new album and several classic Talking Heads songs on this particular evening. This has been one of my favorite performances of a summer that has been filled with music and festivals.

Images by Doug Siegel

Looking Forward to the 2013 All Good Festival

Furthur at All Good Festival

All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 returns to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio July 28-22 for another four days of love, harmony, and musicianship. This year’s festival follows in the tradition of honoring the Grateful Dead culture with the foremost headliner being Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The rest of the lineup contains lots for anyone to enjoy no matter what kind of music they are into. Notable performances will include Pretty Lights, Primus, and Dark Star Orchestra. Bluegrass fans will take delight in seeing Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams with The Travelin’ McCourys, and The Infamous Stringdusters.

http://www.allgoodfestival.com

The Common Ground Music Festival

The Common Ground Music Festival
Adado Riverfront Park
Lansing, Michigan


The Common Ground Music Festival located at Adado Riverfront Park, Lansing Michigan was the perfect location for a festival.  The weather on July tenth was roughly eighty five degrees with a breeze blowing.  This seemed like a perfect summer day with no worries of rain.

As we worked our way into the festival you notice the fencing closing off Adado Riverfront Park.   The festival design was a well planned out for keeping people safe and for everyone to have a good time.  There was plenty of parking located nearby for easy and safe access.

The Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration, Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC 6/20/2013

By Joe Carney

An evening of Jerry’s music celebrated through a mixture of Warren Haynes magical guitar work and The North Carolina Symphony’s classical interpretation of some of America’s most Iconic music.  The evening started with a lovely pre equinox day of sunshine and cool breezes, the Red Hat Amphitheater filled steadily in anticipation of the evenings mysterious pairing, with a crowd that ran the gamut of Jerry Garcia followers, Warren Haynes fans and Symphony regulars, all mixed together in an evening gown, tie-dyed swirl of joy. Magic was in the air as the house music quieted down and led by Albert-George Schram, conductor for the North Carolina Symphony, the sounds of symphonic tunings poured into the excited crowd, paired with the all-star bands instrument adjustments.

Of Monsters and Men at Bonnaroo Music Festival

Of Monsters and Men

Lighting up the Which Stage on Friday afternoon for an hour was Of Monsters and Men, an Icelandic pop and folk band with their own very unique sound.  While their 2011 album launched them into stardom in Europe and Australia, this five piece group is in the midst of gaining popularity in the United States.  Of Monsters and Men is led by Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson on acoustic guitar and vocals.  They are backed by Brynjar Leifsson on lead guitar, Kristján Páll Kristjánsson on bass, and Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson on drums. 

Of Monsters and Men is one of those bands that is fits only a very specific niche at a large scale music festival such as Bonnaroo, but the crowd full of American youths signify the demand for such odd Nordic music. 

Bob Weir solo in Nashville

By Butch Worrell

 Bob Weir solo opened for the Bob Dylan’s “Americanarama” festival of music in Nashville June 30th.