Oxegen –Ireland

Known for pulling in the biggest names, this festival doesn’t disappoint. It’s on a huge scale, and the big names are almost as big as the festival itself. The awesome Irish location means you’re bound to meet some friendly folk along your way too, and don’t leave without trying a Guinness!

Benicassim – Spain

Don’t fancy the rain and the cold nights at your festival experience? Then opt for Benicassim – Spain’s biggest outdoor music festival, set in the beautiful town by the same name. The site is right by a beach (perfect for a BBQ in the afternoon) but don’t set your sights too much on a relaxing time – because there are DJ’s playing until early hours of the morning. The festival always attracts the big stars too, so you get a tan and a great line-up! Win!

The Burning Man – USA

Set in the desert of Nevada, be prepared to experience something truly unique if you’re heading here! This festival is not for the faint hearted; it lasts for an entire week and is held in a remote part of the state. During your stay on the site – using cash is banned, but that’s just about the only rule. So go wild!

Glastonbury – UK

One of the UK’s leading music festivals, this certainly won’t disappoint if you choose to spend your summer money on tickets. Glastonbury (although known for it’s rain and muddy fields) is one of the best music festival experiences around. If you don’t mind getting dirty – this could be the perfect choice for you. Big names and big crowds!

Lollapalooza – Chicago, USA

Lollapalooza (besides having the best name I’ve ever heard) is one of the best music and arts festivals around. Go for the culture and the people, stay for the awesome performers. Set alongside Lake Michigan – this is one of the State’s biggest events and promises nothing but the best.

Snowbombing – Austria

Known for being a hybrid of music and skiing – this event is truly brilliant. If you’re a skier already you’re going to love it with a doubt, but if you’re not the festival offers learning courses as part of their ticket scheme. You get a bit of everything here, it’s the ultimate après ski experience.

About the Author: Ellie-Rose Williams writes for goseethem.com, a UK ticketing site for events, festivals and gigs including Ed Sheeran and the Stone Roses.

This just in from our Facebook page – it appears that local folktronic favorites Ishi have a shot at getting into the yearly music discovery engine known as SXSW. Taking place over a week in March, SXSW is arguably one the biggest and most important music festival / conference of the entire year, and is where many bands can make or break their career.

If you, like us, would like to see more of our favorite Dallas bands get more national attention, here’s your chance.

From Ishi’s website:

Ishi has entered a contest to win a slot on Jansport Official SXSW Showcase this year. Jansport will pick from the top 10 bands with the most votes. The band is in the top 20 when this was posted. So let’s make it happen for them! Voting ends Thursday, 1/19 @ 12am & you can vote once a day. Spread the Word!

There’s really no excuse for you not to vote. It’s easy, takes about a minute, and it’s for a great cause. Vote for Ishi now.

Are there any other local bands you’d like to see play the Austin showcase?

Remember Taylor Rea? You know, the former trippy but captivating singer for popular Dallas folktronic act Ishi?

Well, back in early 2011 her and guitarist Rob Bastien left Ishi to start their own project. That project became ZHORA, of which we were teased with an early single in July.

Now, we’re excited to report that ZHORA has released their first 4 song EP, and best of all – it’s FREE!

You can download the new tracks on ZHORA’s Bandcamp page, or just listen to the stream below.

Early returns on the album are promising. The sound keeps a similar profile to some of the work Taylor and Bastien did with Ishi, though it slants a bit further into the territory of futuristic electro glassed over with a coating of 80s pop.

In fact, in describing the album’s first single, Sunset to the folks at the Dallas Observer, Bastien said, “Sonically, there’s an early Madonna influence on this song”, and you can definitely hear that in Taylor’s voice, particularly on the album’s opening track, The Hold.

The clear standout tracks on this album are the opener, The Hold and its closer Sunset with the middle tracks kind of blending together a bit. I’m looking forward to seeing this group live in 2012!

Download the ZHORA EP for free here.

Photo Credit

Christmas came a little late for the team here at BIJLM, but it was worth the wait. Santa got us a perfect gift – a brand new(ish) Dallas band that freaking. rocks.

We caught Mystery Skulls’ performance to open the night at Club Dada’s NYE bash, headlined by Astronautalis. While the crowd was pretty sparse, the personality and musical talents shown by the band more than filled the empty space. Lead singer Luis Dubuc took over the stage, cajoling the crowd into moving closer and singing with enough passion to merit at least one Future Islands comparison.

According to Dubuc, this show was Mystery Skulls’ sixth. Now, this may be the vodka talking, but there’s just no way. Their sound is too cohesive, their performance is solid, and they are just too damn good to be that new. But somehow, they are. Don’t believe me? You can score their 5-track EP on Bandcamp now for whatever the hell you feel like paying. Download it and report back. You won’t regret it.

And Mystery Skulls? Your New Year’s resolution should be to keep rockin’ on. Love, your friends at BIJLM.

Photo Credit

It’s the weekend after New Year’s Eve, and there’s really not a ton going on, unless you happen to live near Denton. In fact, we’re near shocked that most of our favorite booking agents and venues have zilch in play for the weekend. Epic New Years hangover, perhaps?

Anyway – if you absolutely must get your live music fix this weekend, here are three picks that may not totally suck.

RTB & Last Joke at Dan’s Silverleaf

Support: El Cento and Leatherbag
Doors: 9:00pm
Tickets: TBD
Why: Everything that Ryan Thomas Becker touches turns to gold, and we’ve been meaning to check out his latest musical creation. Plus, the boys from Austin (Leatherbag) are pretty darn good too.

More Info

The Molly Ringwalds at House of Blues

Support: N/A
Doors:8:00pm
Tickets: $11.25 – 4-Pack General Admission / $15.00 – GA / $19.50 – Balcony
Why: Ok this one might be a bit of a stretch, but, let’s just say you’ve had a long week at work and you just gotta go dance. An 80s tribute band might just hit the spot.

Buy Tickets to The Molly Ringwalds at House of Blues

Willie Nelson at Billy Bob’s

Support: N/A
Doors: 10:00pm
Tickets: $20 – $60
Why: We told you it was a slow weekend. In any case, good ol’ Willie is a legend and he ain’t getting any younger. Plus if the music doesn’t move you in those special ways, you’ve got the “world’s largest honky tonk” to fall back on.

Buy Tickets to Willie Nelson at Billy Bob’s

Recently we got the chance to sit down with the up-and-coming Seattle hip-hop duo, Grieves and Budo. Having spent time this past summer on the Warped Tour, Grieves and Budo are currently touring in support of their new release, Together/Apart.

Grieves and Budo have ties to two of the biggest regions for underground hip-hop in the United States – Seattle and Minneapolis, and are signed to the sizzling Rhymesayers label, which includes artists like Atmosphere, P.O.S., MF DOOM and a whole host of others.

Scrappy: Tell us a little about your most recent album, Together/Apart. What are you hoping listeners will take away from their first listen? Should that takeaway change or adapt on the second or third listen?

Grieves: Music open for interpretation. That’s the Beauty of a record.. You can find something new in it every time you listen to it depending where you are in your life. As far as your first listen.. I hope it opens you up enough to get more from it the further you dig in.

strong>Scrappy: You have ties to two of my favorite regions in the country for underground / indie hip-hop – Minneapolis and Seattle. Can you provide any insight into why these communities are so good at turning out top notch artists?

Grieves: I don’t know.. I think there are talented people everywhere you go. But it seems there is a lack of organization in some scenes. Seattle I kind of new on the front for me. It took a while for people to come together and build as a community. But when they did… A lot of noise got made. I love that.

Scrappy: Listening to Together/Apart, I can’t help but instantly think about the work of Blue Scholars / Common Market – do you ever cross paths with Geologic or Sabzi in Seattle?

Grieves: Of course. Those are the homies! Shouts to both those handsome devils!

Scrappy: In other interviews, you’ve been sort of unfairly lumped into this category of “Emo Rap”, but frankly, I don’t see it. How do you feel about this category and do you think it’s an accurate description of your music?

Grieves: I think emo is a word used by people who are afraid of someone confronting subjects that make them uncomfortable. Would you call al Green emo? I bet you wouldn’t. But that dude pours his guts out on record! Don’t be scared.

Scrappy: What are some of your biggest influences and how have those evolved over time?

Grieves: I have always been moved by melody, rhythm and harmony. So.. The Motown era has always been my holy grail when it comes to motivation. The textures, the truth, the emotion… Nothing compares to it.

Scrappy: Your tour bus broke down and you’ve got an extra day to hang out in whatever city you’re in. What do you do?

Grieves: New Orleans!! And what happens between me and that city stays between me and that city!

Scrappy: How much time would you say it took you to sync up musically with Budo – or did you two sort of hit it off instantly?

Grieves: We hit it off pretty solid. But we never stop challenging/ pushin each other to open new doors. I think that’s what make us such a perfect duo. I live that dude.. And I trust his music.

Scrappy: You spent some time on this year’s Warped Tour. What was that experience like? Did the fans take to your music or was it a bit of a tougher sell?

Grieves: It was cool. At first.. It was a bit foreign to us.. But we caught on real fast! Turned out gettin a lot of new kids on board that would have never listened to us or hip hop if they didn’t stumble on us the warped tour. I’m super grateful or that experience. Huge shouts to Kevin for hookin it up!

Scrappy: What do you do when you’re not making music or touring?

Grieves: Cook, make out with my girlfriend, watch movies, I’m starting boxing… I don’t know. Anything!

Scrappy: I’ve heard you’re a bit of a foodie – which cities are your favorite for grabbing a bite to eat on the road? Any regional foods that you find yourself craving?

Grieves: New Orleans is my jump off. But cities like San Fran, chicago, and new York are always a great place to get an amazing/ original meal.

Scrappy: Any parting words?

Grieves: Rhymesayers!!!!!!

Sure, the indie rocker lifestyle is great. But you have to get practical at some point.

For a musician, no matter what kind of music you play or even what instrument you play, your instruments are your tools of the trade—like a basketball player with a ball, a doctor with a stethoscope and a carpenter with a hammer. While on tour you and your instruments will go through many experiences and without a huge budget you may not experience the best traveling conditions. If you want to keep your instruments safe you need to take the precautions necessary to protect them like you would protect your home with an adt security system.

Get cases just in case

Soft cases are a good option for musicians who are traveling to gigs in a car or on tour in a bus. They are normally made of nylon and they can keep your instrument from getting scraped and damaged en route to a show. There should be good padding on the inside to keep your instrument safe.

Hard cases are solid options also. There are many different types but a solid plastic one with good cushioning will usually do the trick. Sometimes they can begin to crack and breakdown with use but if you are not doing too much traveling and putting it on planes and things like that you should be good with it.

For the musicians who are hitting the tour circuit hard and making some decent cash from shows you may look to step it up a bit. Your instrument is helping you make bank so you should protect it the best you can. Mark Leaf cases are known to be top-notch quality and there are others that are built to protect your instrument on flights when you check your luggage. The stainless steel and aluminum casing is designed to take a beating while keeping the contents—your tools—safe.

Keeping sheet music safe is important too. You don’t what your next smash hit to get covered in ketchup from your burger or drenched in coke. Technology is your friend and there are apps available to write sheet music on your phone. I would be sure to have a written copy as well in a composition notebook or someplace safe. I have lost a phone or two at shows and on the road.

For the beginning musician with no money you can build your own traveling case but I would recommend buying one as soon as possible.

Whether you’re a complete novice or a hardened veteran of umpteen outdoor music events, there are always ways to improve the festival going experience. With an explosion of multi-stage, multi-band, pitching and camping mega-gigs in recent years, it’s hard to avoid attending at least one festival every summer. But your fun-filled weekend can turn into a holiday from hell if you’re not prepared for certain eventualities. Here’s are a few handy tips…

Before You Go

The first important thing to do is find the right festival for you. There are a gazillion advertised every summer for all tastes. Everything from Death Metal to World Music is catered for. Some are family friendly and some are formidably hardcore. Whether you’re planning on going alone, with a couple of mates or with the whole family, do your research and make sure it’s the perfect event for your tastes.

Once you’ve picked your festival – make a plan. Figure out the best (and cheapest) way to get there. Sometimes taking the car is much more of a headache than taking public transport. If your event is in a remote area, see if the organisers provide some kind of transportation option. Then, take a look at the line-up and prioritise what you want to see. If you’re attending a vast festival like Glastonbury, then this is essential. You don’t want to be four miles away from the stage as your favourite band starts to play. And have an escape plan. If the weekend turns into a rain-soaked quagmire, you might want to run away. Make sure you have some idea of how to achieve this.

What To Take

You’ll most likely be camping, so beg, buy or borrow a decent tent that will survive any weather conditions. If you hate the idea of life under canvas, look into RV or campervan rental, especially if you’re travelling with a family. Some festivals provide accommodation on-site, so for a little extra cash you can remove camping woes from the equation. Or, for the truly wussy, you can look into local hotels or B&Bs, see if there’s anything within walking range of the site. If you love your luxuries (like a bed and a shower) this might be for you.

Other than something to sleep under, you’ll want to make sure you’re carrying all the essentials. Water and sunblock should be top of your list. Anything you’ll purchase at the festival will almost certainly be marked-up price wise, so take along some easily transportable snacks so you don’t blow your whole budget on meals. Plastic bags are great for a whole host of purposes, especially if the weather is bad. Wet wipes will become you best friend on that grubby third day and toilet paper is a given.

Plan on layering your clothes, so you’re prepared for all weathers. Some kind of waterproof footwear is a good idea, as are plenty of socks. Take shorts to wear under your waterproofs, they always get hot no matter how damp it is. Earplugs are good to ensure you get a couple of hours sleep and if you take a cigarette lighter and a bottle opener, the people around you will soon become your best friend.

When You Arrive

Picking a camping spot is a difficult, essential skill. The further away from the stage you are, the quieter your pitch will be. Avoid an obvious pathway, especially if it leads to the bathrooms. That will be a busy, noisy route. Hedges, walls and fences tend to be utilised as urinals by lazy, drunken types, so best to avoid setting up home near these. And the higher you can camp, the less likely you will be to end up underwater.

If you are with a bunch of people, plan to arrive at the same time and set up camp together, ideally in a circle with the entrances pointing towards each other. Try to claim a bit of space around your tent by having objects outside, just so you don’t have fellow campers right on top of you. Try to locate landmarks or customise the exterior of your tent, so you can find it. And don’t secure your tent with a padlock; it just makes it look like there’s something inside to steal.

When You’re There

Best not to take anything to the festival that you can’t live without, but if you do have valuables, keep them with you. A small bag or backpack is handy to carry your water, sun-cream, housekeys, snacks and camera. Don’t keep too much stuff in your pockets, you don’t want it plunging into a festival loo! Don’t splurge on the first food stand you see. Try and locate something, good, cheap and unique (veggie is often the best way to go). Follow usual concert going etiquette. Just because you’re in a field doesn’t mean you can push, shove or be generally obnoxious. Have a good time, but try to be responsible with drink and drugs. And make friends! You’ll never know when you might need a helping hand.

About the Author:

Dale shaw currently writes for Wish.co.uk. If you’re looking for something exciting to do such as driving experiences, skydiving or bungee jumping; check out their site to see what activities are going on in your area.

Some of our favorite photos from Day Three of Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 in Austin. If you missed it, check out our photo recap of Fun Fun Fun Fest Day Two and Fun Fun Fun Fest Day One.

Be sure to check out our Fun Fun Fun Fest Day Three Facebook album for a more complete set and click on the images below for full versions!

Asobi Seksu

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Grimes

Mates of State

The Budos Band

Ryan Gosling

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Del the Funky Homosapien

Black Lips

Blonde Redhead

Today 35 Denton announced the addition of long time indie rockers Built to Spill to their official lineup. This is quite the coup for the quickly growing festival and combined with the already confirmed Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice, officially moves the festival beyond the regional stage.

The announcement was so big, in fact, that 35 Denton even created this ultra strange promotional video featuring the most epic food / fireworks / sprite fight that Denton has ever seen.

35 Denton’s confirmed lineup includes: Built to Spill, Bun B, Mountain Goats, The Raincoats, John Vanderslice, Designer Drugs, Wooden Wand, Thee Oh Sees, Light Asylum, Gardens & Villa, Milo Greene, The Pass, High Places, Bare Wires, Cities Aviv, Julianna Barwick, R. Stevie Moore, Psychic Ills, Sun Araw, True Widow, Evangelicals, Wet Hair, Mikal Cronin, Prussia, XRay Eyeballs, Natural Child, Mannequin Men, Psychedelic Horseshit & Tropical Ooze.

To listen to the full lineup, check out this handy 35 Denton Spotify playlist by the festival’s social media director, Andy Odom.

The festival organizers plan to release the names of more headlining acts in the coming weeks.

Oh – and if you happen to catch this post in time, you have less than 3 hours to buy tickets to 35 Denton a the special sale price of $45. This price will go up starting on Wednesday. Get moving!