Forecastle Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, but the party is far from over. The 11th incarnation of one of the nation’s premier music festival features a star studded line up playing with a backdrop of Waterfront Park scenery. With headlining acts like Big Boi, The Black Keys and Robert Plant,The String Cheese Incident and the Flaming Lips, not much can go wrong. Big Boi won’t even let an emergency knee surgery get in the way. The headliners in this year’s lineup are exciting, but the schedule is filled with gems of every genre from funk to ethereal electronic music. Such diverse musical offerings mean there is a little something for everyone to partake in this weekend atLouisville’s waterfront.
Big Boi
Big Boi shows are a necessary experience. His past two albums (Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors) pack as much firepower as Stankonia and Speakerboxxx. Fans of the classics don’t fret: you will finally be able to sing along to So Fresh, So Clean. Antwan “Big Boi” Patton’s recent knee injury has cleared out most of his summer dates, but Forecastle is an exception. I am sure that no physical injury can hold this man’s groove level back from its full potential.
Even George Clinton rolls with Big Boi
Boys Noize
German producer Alex Ridha isn’t joking around when he brings the sick beats to the dancefloor. Not only is he a master of the remix (check out what he did for the TRON: Legacy remix soundtrack) but he is also a guru of composition.
Straight out of the birth place of electronic music.
Pimps of Joytime
Keepers of the funk helping to keep the funk alive. Pimps of Joytime put a new spin on a solid tradition by injecting throwback vintage swagger with contemporary spin. They keep it on the one like the funkmasters of yesteryear, but aren’t afraid to flaunt their innovation. You have to get there early on Friday to see them, so plan ahead.
Funky goodness.
Moon Taxi
Fresh moonriders that will take you out of your mind. Moon Taxi have made quite a name for themselves inside and outside the festival circuit and have secured a position in the hearts of many Kentucky music fans. (Ace interview with Trevor Turndrup of Moon Taxi)
Moon Taxi bringing down the house at Bonnaroo.
Alabama Shakes
The first time I listened to the Alabama Shakes I thought the White Stripes had come out with new folky material. Brittany Howard’s voice sounds like James Brown playing rock music.
Purity ring
Purity Ring is a Canadian trip-hop duo that has been hitting the festivals hard since their debut at last year’s Pitchfork Festival. Their trip hop lullabies with beautifully crafted lyrics are enough to make this group high on the priority list, but their live production makes them a must see. Their drummer plays an instrument made of glowing orbs that control both the music and the stage lights. It looks like something straight out of Avatar or a Sun Ra film.
Purity ring explains the secrets of their performance aesthetics.
The Flaming Lips
Psych rock champions coming straight from outer space. Wayne Coyne’s super group of psychedelia never skimps out on the theatrics. Get a spot close by if you want to help Coyne walk over the crowd in his giant hamster ball.
This could be you this weekend.
Forecastle Music Festival will be taking place July 12-14 in Louisville’s Waterfront Park. Schedule here. Ace will have live coverage all weekend.
