FYF Fest 2015 Preview

Nearing the end of August sees one of North America’s strongest festivals right smack in one of the continent’s biggest cities, FYF Fest, Saturday & Sunday, August 22nd &...
FYF Fest 2015 Preview

FYF Fest 2015 Preview

Nearing the end of August sees one of North America’s strongest festivals right smack in one of the continent’s biggest cities, FYF Fest, Saturday & Sunday, August 22nd & 23rd:

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd

Main Stage

Kanye West, 10:45 PM – 12:00 AM

I’mma gonna let you finish, but there is no bigger music star in the world than Kanye West (QRO photos at a festival). No one is more talked about, no one is more known, no one can get the kind of attention as Kanye West. He’s one of the best-selling artists today, as well as being one of the most critically acclaimed, a particularly rare feat. He’s also notorious for such unscripted moments as taking the mike from Taylor Swift at MTV Video Music Awards, and saying that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” during a live Katrina benefit show held immediately after the hurricane (note that he apologized to Swift, on the first episode of Jay Leno’s short-lived primetime talk show, as well as later admitting he was wrong to say that about Bush, when the former President called it one of the worst moments of his Presidency). Plus he’s married to Kim Kardashian. Oh, and he’s a major producer (Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, even Justin Bieber remixes), and his GOOD Music label is home to the likes of John Legend, Common, and Kid Cudi.

You know that the consummate showman will be in full force at FYF Fest, where he last-minute fills in for Frank Ocean, on the back of his 2011 collaboration with the also-huge Jay-Z, Watch the Throne (QRO review) and latest Yeezus.
Kanye West
Chet Faker, 9:00 PM – 9:55 PM

Melbourne electronic musician Chet Faker (QRO live review) comes back to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival) for a second year in a row, after winning a slew of awards Down Under.
Chet Faker
Run the Jewels, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with 2013’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection (QRO photos at a festival), working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival) for two critically acclaimed records, most recently last year’s Run the Jewels 2, with word of 3 already in the works. They play FYF Fest for a second year in a row.
Run the Jewels
Dinosaur Jr., 6:15 PM – 7:05 PM

Back & better than ever is Dinosaur Jr. (QRO photos at a festival)! In the late eighties and early nineties, one of the biggest & best bands in the punk-grunge revolution was Dinosaur Jr. (QRO live review), combining a hippie-punk ethos (and artwork) with feedback-driven guitar from the legendary J Mascis (QRO solo album review). The trio (QRO live review) was also characterized by Mascis’ controlling tendencies, leading to the departure first of bassist Lou Barlow (QRO solo album review) for his Sebadoh (QRO live review) and eventually even beloved drummer Murph (QRO photos at a festival without Murph), with Mascis retiring the ‘Dinosaur Jr.’ moniker in 1997.

But then the band reunited (QRO live review outdoors) – with original line-up! – to tour their re-release of old, Barlow-era records (QRO photos at a festival in St. LOUis). And they kept going (QRO photos at a festival), putting out three new records that are some of their best yet, Beyond (QRO review), Farm (QRO review), and I Bet On Sky (QRO review) – with more to come (QRO live review playing new material). So revel in the glory (QRO photos at a festival) that is Dinosaur Jr. (QRO photos), who know how to play festivals (QRO photos at a festival) – but bring your earplugs, because J’s ‘circle of amps’ is a force to be reckoned with (QRO photos at a festival).
Dinosaur Jr.
Joyce Manor, 5:05 PM – 5:45 PM

Punks Joyce Manor (QRO photos) play FYF Fest for the fourth year in a row!
Joyce Manor
Alvvays, 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM

New U.K. indie hit Alvvays (QRO live review in the U.K.) comes to America (QRO photos at a festival) to play at FYF Fest (QRO photos outdoors).

Alvvays

The Lawn Stage

Purity Ring, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM

From north of that ‘other’ border, Montreal’s Purity Ring (QRO photos) bring some of the new indie-electronic (QRO live review). They play FYF Fest for their third time.
Purity Ring
Bloc Party, 9:50 PM – 10:50 PM

Known for their ubiquitous single, “Banquet”, Bloc Party (QRO photos) is one of the few gems to come out of the post-punk revival in the early 2000’s. The four-piece band (QRO photos) has become a household name within the U.K. region, and gaining fans in America (QRO photos), as well as Canada (QRO photos in Canada). They come to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival) behind word of a new album. That would be their first since 2012’s Four (QRO review), which was their follow-up to the so-so Intimacy (QRO review) & A Weekend In the City (QRO review), and the band’s first since singer Kele Okereke’s lame solo record, The Boxer (QRO review).
Bloc Party
!!!, 8:25 PM – 9:20 PM

Sacramento dance-punk act !!! (QRO photos) – pronounced “chk chk chk” – were seriously blowing people away a handful of years ago (QRO live review) with Myth Takes (QRO review), then seemingly disappeared, only to come back (QRO live review) in 2010 with the somewhat derivative Strange Weather, Isn’t It (QRO review). But the now-New York outfit (QRO live review in New York) came back in force with 2013’s great TH!!!ER (QRO review), and the band still knows how to liven it up live & outdoors (QRO live review outdoors), even at festivals (QRO photos at a festival), or even overseas (QRO photos at an overseas festival). They come back to FYF Fest for a third time, in the run-up to the October release of As If.
!!!
The Drums, 7:05 PM – 7:55 PM

The indie-pop of Brooklyn’s The Drums (QRO photos) mixes new wave, girl-group, Sweden, electro, and, above all, reverb, for something unique (QRO photos at a festival). The group (QRO photos at a festival) comes to FYF Fest behind last year’s Encyclopedia, their follow-up to 2012’s Portamento (QRO review), and bring their killer live show (QRO live review) as well.
The Drums
Melody’s Echo Chamber, 5:55 PM – 6:40 PM

France’s Melody Prochet teams up with Australia’s Kevin Parker (frontman for Tame Impala – QRO live review) as the dream-psych Melody’s Echo Chamber (QRO photos at a festival).
Melody's Echo Chamber
Tennis, 4:40 PM – 5:25 PM

The indie-pop of Denver’s Tennis (QRO photos at a festival) is as cute as the husband-and-wife duo, though a little lightweight for FYF (QRO photos at a festival).
Tennis
Mikal Cronin, 3:35 PM – 4:15 PM

Alt-garage utility player Mikal Cronin (QRO photos at a festival) has emerged as a force in his own right (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with last spring’s MCIII. He comes to FYF Fest for the second time in three years.
Mikal Cronin
Also:

Kevin Morby, 2:35 PM – 3:10 PM

Kevin Morby

The Trees Stage

The Jesus & Mary Chain, 11:35 PM – 1:00 AM

After gaining notoriety for their short and violent sets, The Jesus and Mary Chain (QRO photos at a festival) split in 1999 only to be reunited back in 2007. The band (QRO photos at a festival) has released a slew of power punk albums in the ‘80s and ‘90s but have yet to release anything new.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Cold Cave, 10:45 PM – 11:30 PM

Philadelphia synth-pop outfit Cold Cave (QRO live review) have the wind at their backs, coming to FYF Fest after the release last year of Sunflower.
Cold Cave
Savages, 9:20 PM – 10:15 PM

2013 saw London quartet Savages break out in a major way with Silence Yourself (QRO review). They come to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival) ready to deliver their thrilling live experience of post-punk and noise.
Savages
Shlohmo, 8:00 PM – 8:50 PM

Los Angeles’ own electronic musician Shlohmo (QRO photos at a festival) returns to FYF Fest for the second time in three years (QRO photos at FYF ’13).
Shlohmo
Goldroom, 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM

Electronic musician Josh Legg, a.k.a. Goldroom (QRO photos), comes to Los Angeles behind this year’s It’s Like You Never Went Away.
Goldroom
METZ, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM

Both loud and skilled, Toronto’s METZ (QRO live review) come ready to rock and impress at FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival), which they play for the second time in three years.
METZ
Also:

La Femme, 4:20 PM – 5:05 PM

Broncho, 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM

Junk, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Broncho

The Arena Stage

Simian Mobile Disco, 12:45 AM – 2:00 AM

The Disco gets very Mobile when ‘The James’ – Ford & Shaw – bring the light & sound show that is Simian Mobile Disco (QRO live review) to FYF Fest (QRO photos), where their lights can really shine (QRO photos). They play the festival for the fourth time in five years!
Simian Mobile Disco
Jon Hopkins, 11:10 PM – 12:25 AM

Jon Hopkins began his musical career playing keyboards for Imogen Heap (QRO live review), went on to produce records for the big-name likes of Brian Eno & Coldplay, and has now made his own name in electronic music with Mercury Prize-nominated records Diamond Mine and 2013’s Immunity.
Jon Hopkins
Joy Orbison, 9:20 PM – 10:40 PM

London garage/dubstep DJ/producer Joy Orbison comes to FYF Fest.
Joy Orbison
Ben UFO, 9:00 PM – 9:20 PM

Worldwide spinner Ben UFO touches down in Los Angeles.
Ben UFO
Kaytranada, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM

Haitian by way of Montreal, Francophile DJ/producer Kaytranada comes to the other side of North America.
Kaytranada
BADBADNOTGOOD, 5:15 PM – 6:05 PM

The Toronto trio BADBADNOTGOOD (QRO photos at a Toronto festival) are known for incorporating hip-hop into their music, and have collaborated with the Odd Future (QRO live review) likes of Tyler, the Creator (QRO album review) and Frank Ocean (see above), and most recently the one-and-only Ghostface Killah (QRO photos together at a festival) with Sour Soul.



Also:

DJ Dodger Stadium, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM

BADBADNOTGOOD

The Woods Stage

Horse Meat Disco, 2:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Horse Meat Disco

 

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd

Main Stage

Morrissey, 10:30 PM – 11:50 PM

Headlining the second day of FYF Fest is the one, the only, the Morrissey (QRO live review). The iconic singer (QRO photos) first came to prominence fronting the band of the alt-eighties, The Smiths, before they broke up and he headed out on a storied solo career, most recently with last year’s World Peace Is None of Your Business (QRO review), his first since 2009’s Years of Refusal (QRO review) and b-sides album Swords (QRO review), not to mention an autobiography.

In addition to a penchant for awesome album & song titles, Moz (QRO photos) has kept up his tart tongue and animal rights advocacy, so make sure you’re eating vegan. And hopefully the capable FYF Fest security staff can keep away his too numerous stage-crashers hoping to hug Morrissey (QRO photos).
Morrissey
Belle & Sebastian, 9:00 PM – 9:55 PM

While everyone raves about all the nineties acts reuniting, such as Superchunk (QRO live review) & Teenage Fanclub (QRO live review), pause for a moment to praise great bands from the last century/millennium who didn’t break up, such as Belle & Sebastian (QRO photos outdoors). The Glaswegian outfit’s ‘wistful pop’ has captured hearts for years & years now, with their latest, this year’s Girls In Peacetime Wanna Dance (QRO review), pretty much saying it all.
Belle & Sebastian
Flume, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Bringing electronics from halfway around the world is Sydney’s Harley Streten – a.k.a. Flume (QRO photos at a festival), who plays FYF Fest for the second time in three years.
Flume
Toro y Moi, 6:05 PM – 6:55 PM

One of the ‘big names’ in ‘chillwave’, Chazwick Bundick – a.k.a. Toro y Moi (QRO photos) – had one of the new genre’s touchstone records in 2011 in Causers of This (QRO review), but has since moved to a more rock-oriented sound, especially live (QRO photos). He comes back to FYF Fest (QRO photos) for his second time in three years, now behind this year’s What For?, following 2013’s Anything In Return (QRO review).
Toro Y Moi
Neon Indian, 4:45 PM – 5:35 PM

Alan Palomo worked solo as VEGA (QRO photos at a festival) and recruited a live band as Neon Indian (QRO photos at the same festival), where he’s far stronger (QRO photos with his band), especially outdoors (QRO photos outdoors with band) & at a festival (QRO photos at a festival with band). He comes to FYF Fest (QRO photos) in the run-up to the October release of VEGA INTL. Night School, his latest since 2011’s Era Extraña, and after touring colleges (QRO live review), museums (QRO photos), Down Under (QRO live review), and more (QRO photos).

Neon Indian

The Lawn Stage

FKA Twigs, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM

Tahliah Barnett (QRO photos) has pulled off the rare feat of moving from dancer to musician, as in-demand FKA Twigs (QRO photos at a festival), with a killer live show (QRO live review).
FKA Twigs
D’Angelo & The Vanguard, 9:40 PM – 10:55 PM

In the nineties D’Angelo was a major R&B artist and sex symbol, before growing uncomfortable in the role and taking a major break. He only returned last year, with his Vanguard, behind his long-awaited Black Messiah.
D’Angelo
Solange, 8:10 PM – 9:05 PM

While still best known as being little sister to Beyoncé (and her fight with her brother-in-law Jay-Z, captured on an elevator camera), Solange Knowles (QRO photos outdoors at a festival) has pipes (QRO photos headlining a festival) and stage presence all her own. She plays FYF Fest for her second time in three years (QRO photos FYF ’13).
Solange
Mac DeMarco, 6:50 PM – 7:40 PM

Some artists toil in obscurity for years, even decades, but Mac DeMarco (QRO photos at a festival) is only just old enough to drink, and already has his debut full-length, Mac DeMarco 2, and reputation for wild live shows (QRO photos at a festival) that appropriately brings him back to FYF (QRO photos at a festival), which he’s playing for his third year in a row.
Mac DeMarco
Laura Marling, 5:40 PM – 6:25 PM

Laura Marling (QRO live review) didn’t attend King’s College or St. Paul’s School like Noah & The Whale (QRO live review) and Mumford & Sons (QRO live review), as the two London institutions are both boys’ schools (though St. Paul’s has recently begun admitting girls). But she’s (QRO photos in native U.K.) performed with both, as well made an impressive career (QRO photos) all her own (QRO photos at a festival), most recently (QRO photos at a festival) with this year’s more rockin’ Short Movie.
Laura Marling
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM

From Portland (QRO photos in Portland), but also New Zealand, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (QRO live review) impressed a lot of ears with their self-titled debut (QRO review) and this year’s Multi Love, both of which managed to be avant while also still rockin’ (QRO photos at a festival).
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Also:

Tobias Jesso Jr., 3:25 PM – 4:05 PM

Girlpool, 2:40 PM – 3:10 PMQRO photos at a festival

Girlpool

The Trees Stage

Thee Oh Sees, 10:20 PM – 11:10 PM

Hailing from The O.C. (the name was original ‘Orange County Sound’, then ‘OCS’, then – well, you get the idea…), John Dwyer formed Thee Oh Sees (QRO photos at a festival) to put out his experimental, instrumental home recordings, but over seven records has morphed into a full band and a wild live show (QRO photos at a festival). Thee Oh Sees come back to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival) for a third time, now behind the new Mutilator Defeated At Last.
Thee Oh Sees
Death Grips, 9:05 PM – 9:55 PM

Alt-hip-hop has grown into experimental hip-hop, the next big thing in outfits like Sacramento’s Death Grips (QRO photos at a festival) – who also have a wild stage show more akin to Odd Future (QRO live review). But the big question is whether they’ll even show, as they’re notorious for canceling shows (sometimes without notice), like in 2013 at Lollapalooza (including an after-party, which caused a riot), Osheaga (QRO recap), and FYF Fest itself – but since breaking up and reuniting, they’ve actually been playing shows…
Death Grips
HEALTH, 7:50 PM – 8:35 PM

Los Angeles’ own HEALTH (QRO photos) not only bring the noise-rock back to FYF, but are also known for their mash-ups, most notably with electronic dance duo Crystal Castles (QRO live review), though outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), they’re more ‘noise’ than ‘rock’.
HEALTH
Battles, 6:35 PM – 7:20 PM

Most instrumental-only acts are, frankly, boring to watch live. But there are a few exceptions to the rule, such as Explosions In the Sky (QRO live review) and New York’s own Battles (QRO live review). Though they lost Tyondai Braxton (QRO photos with him), the band is still ultra-exciting to see on stage (QRO photos outdoors), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival), as they come to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival).
Battles
Also:

Title Fight, 5:25 PM – 6:10 PMQRO photos

Andrew Jackson Jihad, 4:20 PM – 5:05 PM QRO album review

Hop Along, 3:20 PM – 3:55 PM QRO photos

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM QRO photos at a festival

Title Fight

The Arena Stage

Evian Christ, 10:45 PM – 11:30 PM

Producer Evian Christ comes to Los Angeles after working on Kanye West’s Yeezus – and in the midst of work on Sir West’s upcoming album.
Evian Christ
Nicolas Jaar, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM

American-Chilean Nicolas Jaar brings his ruminative & emotional “blue wave” back to FYF Fest for a second time.
Nicolas Jaar
Dixon, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Berlin’s Dixon comes to FYF Fest.
Dixon
Spiritualized, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

After the demise of the space-rock Spaceman 3, Jason Pierce stayed in the stratosphere (thanks to an inanimate carbon rod) as Spiritualized (QRO live review). He had been performing 1997’s Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (NME’s Album of the Year) in full, but Spiritualized (QRO photos) comes to FYF Fest (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2012’s Sweet Heart Sweet Light.
Spiritualized
Lower Dens, 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

Slowly but surely little ol’ Baltimore is getting a rep in indie-circles – and alt-rockers Lower Dens (QRO photos at a festival) is one of the reasons why (QRO live review). They play FYF Fest for a second time.
Lower Dens
The Woods Stage

DJ Harvey, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Cambridge, England’s DJ Harvey has brought America’s disco/garage/house sound back to FYF Fest for the third time in four years.



Also:

Leon Vynehall, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

DJ Harvey

 

 

For festival website, go here: http://fyffest.com/

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