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.

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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


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


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.

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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


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

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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


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


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

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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

may 2010 issue mmusicmag.com may 2010 … · crossroads guitar festival june 26, bridgeview, ill....

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