2009 Forecastle Festival

The 8th Annual Forecastle Festival will be taking place at Louisville’s Riverfront Belvedere on the weekend of July 10, 11 and 12. Named “One of the Top 33 Festivals in the Country” by Paste Magazine and “One of the Top 101 things to do in America” by Spin Magazine, the festival is “equal parts music, art and activism.” This year’s keynote speaker is Christopher Childs of Greenpeace International.

Widespread Panic and the Black Crowes top the lineup, while over fifty other bands and DJ’s will perform on four stages over the three-day period. Other big names on that lineup include the Black Keys, the Avett Brothers, Zappa Plays Zappa, Umphrey’s McGee and Yonder Mountain String Band, as well as several bands from here in Cincinnati/tri-state area like the Lion’s Rampant, Bad Veins, Seabird, Paper Airplane and You, You’re Awesome.

For all the information you need regarding the schedule, tickets, directions and lodging, click here.

Daily Top 10 Picks:

Friday, July 10
The Black Keys
In music, it would appear that the duo has made a great comeback in the 21st Century. Bands like the White Stripes, the Dresdon Dolls, the Fiery Furnaces, Mates of State, the Ting Tings, Two Gallants and even She & Him, it’s no longer that rare to look up onstage and see only two people completely rocking out.

In a world where Jack and Meg once played King and Queen, the White’s have now left their thrones, making those seats available for the next two greats who would be deemed worthy. Enter the Black Keys. There will be no Queen of Great Music Duo’s this time around, however, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys should, and will soon enough, play the roles of King and King. The Black Keys are often compared to the White Stripes, most likely because they too have created a new kind of blues sound for a younger generation. 

Coming out of Akron, Ohio in 2001, it was only two years later when they were named one of the “Ten Best Acts of 2003″ by Time Magazine, falling right behind OutKast and the White Stripes. They’ve been a part of nearly all the major music festivals in the world, have toured with Radiohead, Beck and Sleater-Kinney, and have fans in Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Kirk Hammet (Metallica) and Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys).

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
I find it very hard to believe that Jason Isbell just recently turned thirty years old. Listen to his music and you will hear in his words and see in his playing, that he is a man well beyond his years. Coming from a musical family, it was obvious that he was always destined for great things in music.

Once a former co-songwriter alongside Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers from 2001-2007, Isbell left the DBT’s possibly due to his divorce with bassist Shonna Tucker. Just months after leaving the Truckers, Isbell released his debut album, Sirens fo the Ditch, which featured musician Spooner Oldham (Aretha Franklin, Neil Young). He would later assemble a backing band called the 400 Unit, who released their first album as a band earlier this year, properly entitled, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

Pretty Lights
This electronic, dance duo consisting of producer Derek Vincent Smith and drummer Cory Eberhard achieves “a raw energy rarely reached in the realm of electronic music. At a time when music lovers from almost all subcultures and genres are finding common ground in the basic form of bangin’ beats, Pretty Lights is giving the people what they want; electro organic, cutting-edge party rocking beats, that fill venues with energy and emotion and send dance floors into frenzies…” – Jambase

Zappa Plays Zappa
Just as it sounds, this is Dweezil’s tribute to his father, Frank. The band made their debut in 2006, presenting a collection of Frank’s rock-oriented material between the ’60s and ’80s. They also carried out the tradition by playing Halloween shows in New York in 2006 and 2007. Special guests have joined the tour over the years, including two musical prodigy’s that used to play with Frank, Steve Vai and Ray White. In 2009, Zappa Plays Zappa won a Grammy for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance” for the song “Peaches en Regalia.” Also this year, they are on tour in support on Dream Theater’s Progressive Nation Tour.

Hackensaw Boys
The six-piece Americana act from Charlottesville, Virginia, inspired by bluegrass, old-time music and even punk, celebrates ten years this year. Their name derives from the “hacking” motion used when playing the mandolin and the “sawing” motion as the bow strikes across the fiddle. 

“They approach bluegrass with punk rock-like energy to create a vibe that is popular among fans of all ages and styles of music.” – The Hank in Chains Review, Look Out

The Whigs
Coming from the great music city of Athens, Georgia, the Whigs are a southern, indie, garage rock trio that formed in 2002. They have toured with Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon and the Kooks to name just a few, and are signed to Dave Matthews’ ATO Records label. Before signing to ATO, Rolling Stone called them “the best unsigned band in America.” They’ve put out two albums, Give Em All A Big Fat Lip and Mission Control, and are slated to release their third either late this year or early next year. They’ve appeared at a number of festivals over the past several years, and according to Esquire Magazine circa 2007, they have the “Best Drummer” in Julian Dorio.

Cage the Elephant
“Gettin’ lucky in Kentucky.” That should be the motto of Cage the Elephant. Okay maybe not, that sounds kind of stupid. But for a band of their style, coming from Kentucky and being lucky hasn’t always gone together. Afterall, this is the “Bluegrass State.” Coming from the town of Bowling Green, where they are known simply as “Perfect Confusion”, the band is actually quite successful overseas. Their self-titled debut album came out just a little over a year ago, although the punk, blues and hip-hop inspired group has been around since ‘05.

Bad Veins
Speaking of self-titled debut albums, in just a couple of weeks, local indie rock sensation Bad Veins will be releasing theirs on Dangerbird Records. After years of building up their fanbase and milking them, the wait is nearly over.
 
The Lions Rampant
Let’s continue this debut album thing. Lions Rampant are finishing up the work on theirs, which should be released in about a month or two. Their sound is bluesy and psychedelic, while their live show is chaotic, intense and insane.
 
Erin Hill and her Psychedelic Harp with the Space Rats

“Lead by Erin Hill on the electric harp, the backing band consists of bass, drums and pedal steel, for a lush, psychedelic pop sound with lyrics of science and scientific fiction.” – from her website

Saturday, July 11
Widespread Panic
The Black Crowes
Man Man
Annuals
Dead Confederate
Royal Bangs
Trevor Hall
The New Mastersounds
The Afromotive
Madi Diaz

Sunday, July 12
Widespread Panic
Umphrey’s McGee
The Avett Brothers
Yonder Mountain String Band
Backyard Tire Fire
Gringo Star
You, You’re Awesome
Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights
Outformation
Seabird

Tags: Forecastle, Louisville, music festivals

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