British jazz musician Nubya Garcia released Odyssey, her second studio album, last year and she’s hit the road for some USA tourdates. She recently performed live at The Birchmere, and Chris Castillo was there to photograph the show.
I was lucky enough to see Portishead once, at one of their most famous gigs. It’s a concert I think about often and am lucky enough to be able to relive any time I put the recording on. So, of course, I was beyond excited when the news that Beth Gibbons, the haunting voice behind the iconic trip-hop sound, was touring the States behind her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown, and that she would perform at The Anthem.
For 35-plus years, Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear have been making music together. But as founding members of Donna The Buffalo, they’ve done more than just perform on stage — they’ve built an expansive and engaged community that celebrates different music styles and traditions.
While Donna The Buffalo has amassed a following of its own over the years — a devoted pack called “The Herd” — the band’s been remarkably influential as the team behind the successful Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival, which will celebrate its 33rd go in 2025.
The band members have helped foster a scene that extends from their homebase of Trumansburg, New York, to like-minded music festivals all over the world. And Donna The Buffalo itself has headlined many a gathering over the course of time, recording almost a dozen studio albums along the way.
You may ask, “Who the fuck is Johnny Blue Skies?” Well, friends, he is Mr. Sturgill Simpson! And Johnny Blue Skies is his nom de guerre for Passage Du Desir, Sturgill’s 2024 studio album. The Who the Fuck Is Johnny Blue Skies Tour reaches Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday, May 24.
You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Lollapalooza 2019: I stood in Grant Park Chicago waiting to see Bishop Briggs — my second-to-last set of an action-packed day. I was a fan of the singles “River” and “Wild Horses,” so I knew her set was not one to be missed. She was full of energy, sporting a pink track suit and a freshly shaved head, and she belted out notes effortlessly while sprinting around the stage. It was one of the most memorable sets I experienced at Lollapalooza that year, and have been following her ever since.
Neville Keighley, better known as Belouis Some, recorded three potent new wave albums from 1985-1993, creating memorable dancefloor classics like “Imagination” and “Some People.” He also recorded the hit song “Round, Round” for the Pretty in Pink soundtrack!
Belouis Some last toured the United States in 1988, but the British singer-songwriter hits the roads in America once again starting at City Winery Philadelphia on April 8, opening dates for Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel throughout the month. He then returns for more tourdates with Lost ’80s Live for a lot of shows in July and August!
Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter chatted with Belouis Some about recording albums in the USA, some stories behind songs like “Imagination” and “Round, Round,” and his touring plans!
Pop often gets maligned as being shallow, both musically and lyrically. And while that’s certainly true of some of it, there’s plenty of dumb music in other genres, too. Pop at its best can be sophisticated and intelligent music, and Manhattan native Cassandra Jenkins is making some of the best pop music today. In her recent performance at the Songbyrd Music House, Cassandra Jenkins enchanted the sold-out audience with her gorgeous songs.
Sunflower Bean — Julia Cumming (vocals, bass), Nick Kivlen (vocals, guitar), and Olive Faber (drums) — release their transformative new album Mortal Primetime, on April 25 via Lucky Number. Soon after, they embark on a tour that includes a date at The Atlantis in DC on Friday, May 23.
You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Rebecca Black’s “Friday” is a household tune for most people with access to the internet in the early 2010s. The catchy tune uploaded to YouTube in 2011 went on to receive 174 million views, remixes, countless memes, and, of course, loads of hate. Rebecca Black used her viral moment as a springboard to build a legitimate music career today.
Besides growing up, Rebecca also turned to DJing, electric pop, hip-hop choreography, and crafting her queer anthems to sold-out venues, such as her recent turn at 9:30 Club. She’s embraced her identity as a queer artist and continues to explore her creative voice.
“We’re going to be late” I intoned to Virgil as he fondled one of the cherry blossoms while lollygagging at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
“Don’t you understand? We’re going to see masters of folk metal this evening in Baltimore! It is essential we attune ourselves to nature before we expose ourselves to that kind of ancient magic lest we be turned into newts or worse things.”
“The Baltimore-Washington Parkway takes no prisoners and it’s rush hour,” I retorted.
The doors at the Baltimore Soundstage were set to open for Korpiklaani and Ensiferum at 5:30pm, and I was eager to depart. Virgil whispered sweet nothings at one of the resplendent specimens of Sakura and then hastily retreated to the car. We were finally on the road after 4pm.
