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NexCyx Join Sting, Tom Jones, and Hugh Laurie in Cognac

By Doug Levy on

This Spring, Hennessy held an international competition to offer one band the chance to travel to France and perform at the Cognac Blues Passions festival. After extensive judging and voting, the winners of the competition were NexCyx, a five-piece group from Barbados that mixes together hip-hop, pop, rock, and reggae with excellent results. (We’re especially fond of their party-starting track “On the Floor.”) Jetting off to Cognac last week, the band joined a bill that also included Tom Jones, Sting, Hugh Laurie, and other heavy hitters from the worlds of blues and roots music in its six-day lineup. Take a look at some of the highlights from the fest — which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year — in our exclusive photo gallery. … Read More

Music

Photo Highlights from NYC’s Governors Ball Festival

By Doug Levy on

NYC has struggled for years to develop a music festival it can call its own. And while it may not rival mega-fests like Coachella or Lollapalooza, Governors Ball came back kicking for its second year with a weekend-long lineup that included such heavy hitters as Beck, Fiona Apple, Kid Cudi, and Modest Mouse. Taking its name from its original home on Governors Island, the event was somewhat confusingly moved to Randall’s Island for 2012, but that didn’t stop revelers from pouring in by the thousands to enjoy near-perfect weather, food from local vendors, and two days’ worth of live music. Click through to check out our exclusive photo gallery from the event. … Read More

Music

5 New Icelandic Bands You Need to Hear

By Doug Levy on

Last week saw the kickoff of the 2011 Iceland Airwaves festival, Reykjavík’s answer to SXSW. Each year, the event draws thousands of attendees from around the world, who come for its unique combination of cutting-edge music and exotic environs. Highlights this time around included performances from SUBTRKT, Tune-Yards, Beach House, Sinead O’Connor, Yoko Ono, and our favorite new Swedes, Niki & The Dove. James Murphy did a DJ set, Jónsi bounced from show to show, and Björk premiered her stunning Biophilia spectacle/concert at equally stunning new concert hall and conference center Harpa. However, beyond all the superstars and international acts, there was something else exciting to discover: Iceland’s own wealth of homegrown talent, which makes up a major percentage of the five-day, citywide festival’s lineup. Here are five of our local favorites. … Read More

Music

Flavorpill's Essential Guide to Fall Music Festivals

By Tom Hawking on

The constant onslaught of music festivals these days makes it nigh on impossible to keep track of who’s playing where and when. Happily, the fall brings something of a respite — with clouds gathering and temperatures dropping, the number of festivals on any given weekend also starts to decline, leading to a more sensible distribution of acts across line-ups, and a selection of excellent (and reasonably priced) festivals to choose from. If you’re thinking of getting in a sneaky festival trip before winter takes hold, then look no further — here’s our essential guide to the best US-based music festivals this fall. … Read More

Partner Buzz

Celebrate 20 Years of Lollapalooza with a VIP Trip

By Doug Levy on

What started out two decades ago as a makeshift traveling musical circus has now become one of Chicago’s biggest annual events. This year’s Lollapalooza includes performances from Muse, Foo Fighters, Kid Cudi, Cee-Lo Green, Bright Eyes, Lykke Li, Crystal Castles, and dozens more — and it also marks your chance to win a VIP trip for two to attend the fest.

We’ve partnered with GUESS to send one winner and a guest out to Chicago’s Grant Park to spend three days basking in music and sunshine, with airfare, accommodation, and VIP festival passes all included. The winners will also attend an exclusive afterparty presented by Flavorpill and GUESS, featuring Tinie Tempah and Young the Giant. … Read More

Music

Photo Highlights from NYC’s Governors Ball Music Festival

By Doug Levy on

This Saturday saw the launch of a new summer festival for NYC, with the inaugural Governors Ball bringing a lineup that included Big Boi, Girl Talk, Empire of the Sun, Neon Indian, and Pretty Lights to the increasingly popular offshore destination of Governors Island. With perfect weather blessing the festival grounds, spirits were high for the event, which had revelers dancing, soaking in the sunshine, and moving from stage to stage for continuous sets of fest-friendly hip-hop, indie pop, and electronic music. As many area festival attempts often fall flat due to poor execution, the Governors Ball was a pleasant exception to the rule, leaving us looking forward to its return next year. Check out our collection of photos from the event, revealing the sights and spectacles of the Ball, both onstage and off. … Read More

Music

Lollapalooza: 10 Non-Headliners You Should See

By Doug Levy on

It’s been 20 years since Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell started Lollapalooza as a traveling musical circus, featuring some of the brightest names in alternative music, and two decades later, he’s still steering the ship. Since 2005, the fest has settled down in its permanent home at Chicago’s Grant Park, where it continues to present some of the biggest acts in modern music alongside the rising stars of tomorrow. This year’s event takes place from August 5-7, with marquee bands including Muse, Foo Fighters, and Coldplay; but there are dozens of lesser-known artists worth catching, too. In the spirit of looking ahead, we’ve selected ten non-headliners from the 2011 lineup that you should check out, whether you make it to Chicago or not. … Read More

Music

We Go Hard: A Photo Roundup of M.I.A.’s HARD NYC

By Leah Taylor on

M.I.A. had a lot riding on Saturday’s HARD NYC festival on Governors Island. Following disappointing reviews of her latest album and the cancellation of the LA incarnation of the event, this was a chance for her to soar back, phoenix-like, and reclaim her crown. Unfortunately, a poor sound mix and a thunderstorm that cut her set short saw to it that that didn’t happen. Fortunately, however, for the thousands of fans in attendance, the day offered plenty of other highlights to make the excursion more than worthwhile. … Read More

Music

Licensed to Ill: Beastie Boys Cancel Tour, Push Back Album Due to Tumor

By Heather Schwedel on

The Beastie Boys are canceling their tour and postponing their album in response to Adam “MCA” Yauch’s cancer diagnosis, according to the announcement video they posted on their site and a press release that went out a few minutes ago. That includes their performance at All Points West, a publicist just confirmed to us meaning that the festival is currently without a first-day headliner. In true Beastie fashion Yauch apologized to fans, ending with a straightforward “So that’s what’s… Read More