Maybe it’s due to the end of summer, but there were as many stories about tension and bad blood this week as there were about sunshine and good times. And yes, I’m sure it also had a lot to do with Axl Rose getting into the mi x(evidence here and here). But lets focus on happier thoughts; a new Chicago festival will be born this week, and so far CMJ Music Marathon has put together a pretty nifty lineup. Reason to celebrate indeed!
Below, you’ll find a compilation of this week’s festival headlines and lineup updates in our resurrected Festivals in Brief section. And if all this Axl Rose bashing has soured your day, first- my apologies, and second — here’s a laugh to cheer you up.
Editors note: This marks the last posting from our intern Mike. Round of applause for a job well done!
News
— Philip Cosores found it hard to enjoy himself at this year’s Sunset Strip Music Festival.
— Festival organizers announced a partial lineup for this year’s CMJ Music Marathon that includes Surfer Blood, Ghostface Killah, Salem, and many more.
— This week we spoke with the founder of Chicago’s newest festival, North Coast Music Festival, about his hopes, dreams, and expectations for the freshman fest.
— After a dispute about set times, Guns N’ Roses gave the Reading and Leeds Festival a few choice words via Twitter. Note: the words chosen were mostly obscenities.
— Think you know who’s gunna play Coachella 2011? Share your guesses for next year’s lineup here.
Lineup Additions
— ATP New York: Stage times released
— CMJ Music Marathon: Initial lineup released including The Drums, Helmet, Four Tet, and many more
— Virgin Mobile FreeFest: Maximum Balloon, Sharam, Wolfgang Gartner
— Voodoo Experience: Blackberry Smoke (expected), Kaskade, Kelis, River City Extension, The Whigs, White Rabbits
— Next BIG Nashville: Dylan Leblanc, Washed Out
— Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: MC Hammer, Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs, Poor Man’s Whiskey, and more
— Pyramid Rock Festival: Official lineup released including Built to Spill, Neon Indian, Temper Trap and many more
— GhoulsFest: Fischerspooner (DJ set), Macy Gray
— Nocturnal Festival: Pretty Lights
— Monster Massive: Official lineup released including Moby, The Glitch Mob, Carl Cox and many more
— HARD Haunted Mansion: Proxy