Every year it is the same old routine all around the nation. Kids who are already jacked-up on the prospect of getting candy, go out and eat 1 metric ton worth of it and vandalize any house that handed out Christianity literature, warning about the evils of All Hallows' Eve.
However for some folk who like to break out of that routine do the next best thing: Go see live music. Bands all across the country relish the opportunity to let loose and have fun with their audience on Halloween, and possibly pull out a rarely played song or two from their back catalogue.
This year is looking to be another fantastic year to go see a show or two. Also this year has a fantastic line-up of festivals right near the state of Georgia. To start off this update, we're going to take a look at three festivals happening in Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana this upcoming weekend.
Festivals
The Voodoo Experience
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| October 29-31, 2010 |
The Voodoo Experience is held in The Big Easy, New Orleans, every year around Halloween. Luckily for some, last year and this year, it is being held on Halloween Weekend. The Voodoo Experience in the past has showcased world-renowned popular acts such as R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails, The Flaming Lips, 50 Cent, 311, Duran Duran, and various jazz and funk greats including The Original Meters, Trombone Shorty, Galactic, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
This year, the 11th edition of the festival, has Muse, Ozzy Osbourne, and My Morning Jacket as the headliners. Oddly enough, it is My Morning Jacket, and not Ozzy Osbourne that will be closing out the festival on Halloween. Other performers include, Weezer, MGMT, Paul Van Dyk, Galactic, Jonsi of Sigur Ros, and roughly around 100 other artists from around the world.
The October 30th headlining show for Ozzy Osbourne will be the start of his North American tour, which will end in late February in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ozzy Osbourne's appearance at the Voodoo Experience will be his first in New Orleans since 2001.
The Voodoo Experience takes place at City Park behind the New Orleans Museum of Art.
The Fest
October 29-31, 2010
Thats right, just, The Fest. But The Fest, is not some ordinary fest. No, no, sir or madam. The Fest is one of the premier punk festivals in the nation. Held in Gainesville, Florida, The Fest takes place each year on the weekend of 'The Worlds Largest Cocktail Party', or more commonly known as the Georgia-Florida game.
The Fest is in it's 9th incarnation and has showcased bands like, The Bouncing Souls, The Lawrence Arms, Dillinger Four, and Gainesville natives, Less Than Jake. The Fest has been sponsored by local independent label No Idea Records for the past few years along with the Tampa music magazine REAX.
This year The Fest, which is being called 'Ye Olde Fest 9' has some of the best bands in metal and punk today including, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, High On Fire, Suicide Machines, Valient Thorr, Kylesa, and Torche.
Also on the line-up is the new music project by ex-Bear Vs. Shark members Mark Paffi and Brandon Moss, Bars of Gold. Local Valdosta, Ga band Ninja Gun will also be performing on Saturday. Some of The Fest veterans for this year include, A Wilhelm Scream, Algernon Cadwallader, Local Athens, Ga band American Cheeseburger, and Bomb The Music Industry.
The Fest takes place at various venues in the city of Gainesville including, The Venue, Common Grounds, The Atlantic, 8 Seconds, and the Holiday Inn.
Moogfest
October 29-31, 2010
For years and years the South has been neglected when it comes to a premier electronic festival. (Miami does not constitute as 'The South') Detroit has the legendary Detroit Electronic Music Festival, California has the Nocturnal Music Festival and the Electric Daisy Festival, New York City has the Electric Zoo, and Miami (like I said, not the 'The South' when it comes to a lot of people) has the Winter Music Conference and the Ultra Music Festival.
With the help of AC Entertainment and the city of Asheville, North Carolina, Moogfest looks to become the festival to go to for electronic music for the South.
Headlining this year is new wave/post-punk legends DEVO, indie-electronic darlings MGMT, trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack, and Pretty Lights. Also performing at the festival are Jonsi of Sigur Ros, Outkast rapper Big Boi, English electropop band Hot Chip, and D.C. music legends Thievery Corporation.
Moogfest will take place at various music venues in the city of Asheville. Venues include the Asheville Civic Center, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, The Orange Peel, and Stella Blue
For those who don't know, AC Entertainment is also responsible for the summer music festival, Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN and the Big Ears Festival, an avant-garde festival held each March in Knoxville, TN.
Concerts
For those who cannot dole out the hundreds of dollars to attend these fine festivals, not to worry. There are plenty of shows around Georgia to fill your live music needs.
For those who like to go see live music know when a big festival comes near a major metropolitan area, will be rest assured that some of the artists will get in the groove with a show right before or after the festival, and Atlanta and Athens benefit from that this year.
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| Massive Attack |
Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation will perform two full sets at the majestic and legendary Fox Theatre on Friday. Starting at 8pm, where the Fabulous Fox is more known for the home of the Atlanta Ballet and numerous Broadway shows, will host venue to 4-5 hours of non-stop trip-hop.
Other artists getting their Moogfest and The Fest pre-game and post-game on in Atlanta are Pretty Lights and Mimosa at The Tabernacle on Friday. Jonsi from Sigur Ros and Mountain Man will also be there on Sunday and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes will be playing at the Loft on Friday.
In Athens, stoner metal trio High On Fire will be performing at the 40 Watt Club on Saturday.
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| Weezer |
Other shows of interest during the weekend include Weezer at Chastain Park, Band of Horses at The Fox Theatre, and Dawes at Smith's Olde Bar on Saturday. On Sunday, 311 will close out a jam-packed weekend at the Fox Theatre by performing their album, 'Music', in its entirety. Also closing out the weekend will be Bad Relgion with The Aggrolites and Off With Their Heads at the Masquerade.
UPDATE:
DEVO has apparently cancelled their U.S. tour due to guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh requiring surgery on his cut right thumb. However the promoters of Moogfest posted this on their Facebook page concerning the matter:
"We were on the phone yesterday with Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale from Devo. In spite of Bob's horrible accident, both of them are still coming to Moogfest and they are working on a couple of performance ideas, including a possible collaboration with another band/artist. We're all still discussing the possibilities but both Mark and Gerald have promised something immensely entertaining, at the very least."
I wanna see massive attack...would make me quite happy, not to mention Thievery Corporation is ballin too!
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