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.
Over the past week, it’s been really hot and then really wet and unseasonably cold in New York. The weather can’t make up its mind, but luckily we’ve already decided on the week’s ten best new jams, all oven fresh. We’ve got The Shins covering Squeeze, Wavves moving beyond acid, and fantastic releases from brand new acts like Everything Everything and Graffiti6. Whether you want to listen to them one at a time or all at once is up to you. Be sure to Right Click + Save As after the jump, or scroll to the bottom to download the entire mix.
This week’s mix features some names we’ve mentioned before, including Mystery Jets and Alex Winston. But the purpose of these revisits is not just to listen to these reliably brilliant acts, but to showcase their dizzying range. Also look out for new tracks by the Arcade Fire and Au Revoir Simone, as well as a promising solo debut by New Pornographers’ singer-pianist Kathryn Calder. Don’t forget to Right Click + Save As the next ten at your own pace or scroll to the bottom to download the entire mixtape after the jump.
This, the 20th(!) mixtape in the Flavorpill series, is an homage to bands nicely pulling off the art of the Revival. Embrace the familiarity, and right click + Save As the 10 tracks after the jump — or cut a corner and download the mix in its entirety. And as always, let us know what you think.
London-based Mumford & Sons breathe new life into folk rock with powerful four-part harmonies, lightning-fast banjo picking, and pint-hoisting emotion.
Led by frontman Marcus Mumford, the band rocketed out of the UK indie-folk scene that also birthed Noah and the Whale and frequent collaborator Laura Marling. Although they formed less than two years ago, Mumford & Sons have found fast success, with their debut LP, Sigh No More, cementing their place as one of 2009′s most exciting acts.
