Pickathon 2014 Preview

Portland became hipster-central long before Portlandia started airing, but even before that Oregon had its own great country-folk tradition. Merging the two is Pickathon, just south of Portland in Happy Valley, which welcomes artists from alt-hipster to backwoods-folk, Friday to Sunday, August 1st to 3rd:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st

Mountain View Stage Pickathon Squaredance with Old Buck and caller Caroline Oakley, 10:20 PM – 11:30 PM Get your squaredance on!
Blind Pilot, 8:50 PM – 10:00 PM Eco-friendly Portland has given the eco-friendly indie-folk of Blind Pilot (QRO photos), who did a whole tour in 2008 on bicycle, and the group (QRO photos) is currently touring still behind 2011’s We Are the Tide – and being labeled one of Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite bands last year. Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM
Jolie Holland, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM One of the founding members of The Be Good Tanyas, alt-songstress Jolie Holland has since broken out on her own. Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM
Robbie Fulks, 4:10 PM – 5:10 PM Robbie Folks has had an indie-country career that’s span over a quarter century, most recently with last year’s Gone Away Backward. Also Saturday at TBD, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Also: Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco RoadRunners, 1:50 PM – 2:50 PM Also Saturday at TBD, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM
Fir Meadows Stage Shakey Graves, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM Shakey Graves (QRO photos at a festival) is the post-folk alter ego of Austin’s Alejandro Rose-Garcia. Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM
Also: Ural Thomas & The Pain, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM Hiss Golden Messenger, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Also Sunday at Workshop Barn, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Love As Laughter, 12:40 PM – 1:40 PM – QRO photos Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Galaxy Barn Diarrhea Planet, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM Bringing the rock ‘n’ roll to Pickathon is the awfully-named but great-sounding Diarrhea Planet (QRO mp3 review). Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM
Foxygen, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM While they formed back in 2005, Westlake Village duo Foxygen (QRO photos at a festival) only put out their first full-length in 2012, Take the Kids Off Broadway – but had their second, We Are the Twenty-First Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, last year. However, they are best known for the wild, unhinged live shows, with lead singer Sam France climbing stage equipment and more (QRO photos outdoors). Also Sunday at Mountain View Stage, 6:20 PM – 7:30 PM
The Barr Brothers, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM Brothers Andrew & Brad Barr have been performing in a variety of bands, including The Slip (QRO live review), Surprise Me Mr. Davis (QRO photos), and Land of Talk (QRO spotlight on), but they’ve since been breaking out all on their own as The Barr Brothers (QRO photos at a festival). Also Sunday at Mountain View Stage, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Bobby Patterson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Catch current Dallas musician, Bobby Patterson, at Pickathon ’14. Also Saturday at Fir Meadows Stage, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM
The Black Lillies, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM From the heart of Appalachia in Knoxville, The Black Lillies bring progressive bluegrass to Pickathon. Also Saturday at Fir Meadows Stage, 11:10 AM – 12:10 PM
Those Darlins, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Tennessee Appalachian trio Those Darlins (QRO photos at a festival) have managed to get serious attention in the indiesphere, thanks to connections like producer Jeff Curtin (QRO interview – of Small Black, and also producer of Vampire Weekend – QRO live review), or ukulele-ist Nikki Darlin (QRO interview) failed engagement to Deer Tick singer/guitarist John McCauley (he even popped the question while Darlin was guest-spotting on stage with Deer Tick – QRO photos). But the lovely ladies’ (QRO photos) backwoods sound can more than hold its own (QRO spotlight on), like on last year’s Blur the Line. Also Saturday at TBD, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Also: Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Also Sunday at TBD, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Woods Stage The War On Drugs, 9:20 PM – 10:20 PM Claimed to be “Best New Music” by Pitchfork for their 2011 album, Slave Ambient, The War On Drugs are often known for the jauntily confections of atmospheric guitars and rolling drums (QRO live review). The Philly outfit (QRO photos) later saw member Kurt Vile spin-off for his own successful career (QRO live review), and followed up Slave with March’s Lost In the Dream (QRO mp3 review). Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM
The Donkeys, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM Somewhere between sixties jam and nineties alternative is The Donkeys – who song “Excelsior Lady” was used as a song by the Other great band on Lost, Geronimo Jackson! Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM
Gregory Alan Isakov, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Mixing indie and folk is the well-traveled festival mainstay Gregory Alan Isakov. Also Saturday at Fir Meadows Stage, 6:10 PM – 7:10 PM
Destroyer, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM In the western Canadian super-group The New Pornographers (QRO live review), Dan Bejar (QRO photos at a festival) has been called ‘the George Harrison’, thanks to his stripped, skilled alt-folk work in his own outfit, Destroyer (QRO photos in Europe), most recently with 2011 full-length Kaputt (QRO review). Also Friday at TBD, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, and Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM
Also: Lonnie Holley, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM – QRO photos at a festival Also Sunday at Workshop Barn, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Starlight Stage Ages and Ages, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM Portland’s own Ages and Ages (QRO photos at a festival) are kind of a hipster big tent revival band for the twenty-first century. Also Sunday at Mountain View Stage, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Valerie June, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM From the hills of Tennessee, Valerie June was first exposed to music in the church, and expanded her sound into roots-folk and blues while in Memphis, where she was featured on MTV’s $5 Cover, which explored struggling artists in Memphis. That led to the self-releasing artist finally getting a record deal for last year’s Pushin’ Against the Stone, which featured several songs co-written with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys (QRO album review). Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM
Workshop Barn Possessed by Paul James, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM Steve Gunn, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Also Saturday at Starlight Stage, 12:30 AM – 1:30 AM The Crow Quill Night Owls, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Also Sunday at TBD, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM Kids Open Mic & Showcase, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
TBD Destroyer, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM In the western Canadian super-group The New Pornographers (QRO live review), Dan Bejar (QRO photos at a festival) has been called ‘the George Harrison’, thanks to his stripped, skilled alt-folk work in his own outfit, Destroyer (QRO photos in Europe), most recently with 2011 full-length Kaputt (QRO review). Also Friday at Woods Stage, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM, and Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM
EDJ, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Eric D. Johnson, leader of indie-pop acts The Fruit Bats (QRO photos at a festival), comes to Pickathon in his new solo act, EDJ. Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM, and Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Also: Houndstooth, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Old Buck, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Also Sunday at Workshop Barn, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2nd

Mountain View Stage Nickel Creek, 9:50 PM – 11:00 PM The progressive folk trio of Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins broke through as Nickel Creek (QRO photos) in 2000 with Alison Krauss-produced, Grammy-nominated Nickel Creek, and then won Best Contemporary Folk Album three years later with This Side – only to go on an indefinite hiatus following the follow-up, Why Should the Fire Die?. But the fire has been reborn and the Creek runs again with this year’s reunion and new album, A Dotted Line. Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Warpaint, 7:20 PM – 8:30 PM The experimental, even psychedelic rock of the four ladies that make up Warpaint (QRO photos) has taken a while to take hold, but is really starting to by now (QRO photos), and they come to Pickathon (QRO photos) behind this year’s self-titled full-length. Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 9:20 PM – 10:30 PM
Operators, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Dan Boeckner came to fame in Toronto indie-collective hit Wolf Parade (QRO live review), but since they’ve gone on seemingly permanent hiatus, he’s brought his indie sound to the (now-defunct) husband-and-wife duo Handsome Furs (QRO photos), alt-supergroup Divine Fits (QRO album review), and now Operators (QRO photos at a festival), who debuted just last May at Canadian Music Week (QRO photos of debut). Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 2:40 PM – 3:40 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), which managed to be avant while also still rockin’ (QRO photos at a festival). Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM
Jonathan Richman, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM From his days fronting influential proto-punk pop bad The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman has long been a favorite of that girl you like. Also Sunday at Starlight Stage, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Fir Meadows Stage Brownout!, 8:40 PM – 9:40 PM The alter ego of Austin legends Grupo Fantasma (QRO photos at an Austin festival), Brownout! (QRO photos at same festival) play a spicier side of Latino orchestra. Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM as Black Sabbath Latin tribute act, Brown Sabbath
Gregory Alan Isakov, 6:10 PM – 7:10 PM Mixing indie and folk is the well-traveled festival mainstay Gregory Alan Isakov. Also Friday at Woods Stage, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Bobby Patterson, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM Catch current Dallas musician, Bobby Patterson, at Pickathon ’14. Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Mikal Cronin, 1:30 PM – 2:30 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 year’s solo sophomore effort, MCII. Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Black Lillies, 11:10 AM – 12:10 PM From the heart of Appalachia in Knoxville, The Black Lillies bring progressive bluegrass to Pickathon. Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM
Galaxy Barn Marco Benevento, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM New York experimental rock & jazz artist Marco Benevento (QRO photos) has found a second home on the West Coast jam band circuit. Also Sunday at Fir Meadows Stage, 5:10 PM – 6:10 PM
The Sadies, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM Canadian country-rock comes down from the north in the form of The Sadies, who recently collaborated with fellow countryman Gordon Downie (QRO photos with Gordon Downie at a festival). Also Sunday at Fir Meadows Stage, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
The War On Drugs, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM Claimed to be “Best New Music” by Pitchfork for their 2011 album, Slave Ambient, The War On Drugs are often known for the jauntily confections of atmospheric guitars and rolling drums (QRO live review). The Philly outfit (QRO photos) later saw member Kurt Vile spin-off for his own successful career (QRO live review), and followed up Slave with March’s Lost In the Dream (QRO mp3 review). Also Friday at Woods Stage, 9:20 PM – 10:20 PM
The Men, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Harder-hitting pop-rock outfit The Men (QRO photos at a festival) cross boundaries from pop to metal to experimental (QRO photos at a festival). Also Sunday at Fir Meadows Stage, 2:50 PM – 3:50 PM
The Donkeys, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM Somewhere between sixties jam and nineties alternative is The Donkeys – who song “Excelsior Lady” was used as a song by the Other great band on Lost, Geronimo Jackson! Also Friday at Woods Stage, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM
Spanish Gold, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM Catch the genre-bending Spanish Gold (QRO photos), who come to Pickathon (QRO photos in Portland) off of last May’s debut full-length, South of Nowhere. Also Sunday at Mountain View Stage, 1:40 PM – 2:40 PM
Destroyer, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM In the western Canadian super-group The New Pornographers (QRO live review), Dan Bejar (QRO photos at a festival) has been called ‘the George Harrison’, thanks to his stripped, skilled alt-folk work in his own outfit, Destroyer (QRO photos in Europe), most recently with 2011 full-length Kaputt (QRO review). Also Friday at Woods Stage, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM, and at TBD, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Woods, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Like their name implies, Brooklyn’s Woods traffic in outdoor, ‘woods-y’ sounds, but add some freak to that folk with electronica (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with With Light and With Love. Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Also: Love As Laughter, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – QRO photos Also Friday at Fir Meadows Stage, 12:40 PM – 1:40 PM Possessed by Paul James, 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM Also Friday at Workshop Barn, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Ural Thomas & The Pain, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM Also Friday at Fir Meadows Stage, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Family Squaredance, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Woods Stage X, 9:20 PM – 10:30 PM A hugely influential punk band playing Pickathon is X (QRO photos). Begun back when punk begun in 1977, fronted by the likes of Exene Cervenka & John Doe, they achieved only limited mainstream success, but have since been hailed as possibly the best live band ever (QRO live review). They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles (QRO photos at a festival in Los Angeles) – and have been playing their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety (QRO photos of X playing Los Angeles at a festival). Also Sunday at Mountain View Stage, 8:50 PM – 10:00 PM
Mac DeMarco, 7:40 PM – 8:40 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). Also Sunday at Starlight Stage, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM
People Under the Stairs, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Los Angeles underground hip-hop group People Under the Stairs (QRO photos at a festival), or P.U.T.S., a celebrated outfit compared to the pioneering likes of A Tribe Called Quest and Jurassic 5. Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
EDJ, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Eric D. Johnson, leader of indie-pop acts The Fruit Bats (QRO photos at a festival), comes to Pickathon in his new solo act, EDJ. Also Friday at TBD, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM, and Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM
Diarrhea Planet, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM Bringing the rock ‘n’ roll to Pickathon is the awfully-named but great-sounding Diarrhea Planet (QRO mp3 review). Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Valerie June, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM From the hills of Tennessee, Valerie June was first exposed to music in the church, and expanded her sound into roots-folk and blues while in Memphis, where she was featured on MTV’s $5 Cover, which explored struggling artists in Memphis. That led to the self-releasing artist finally getting a record deal for last year’s Pushin’ Against the Stone, which featured several songs co-written with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys (QRO album review). Also Friday at Starlight Stage, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM
Nickel Creek, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The progressive folk trio of Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins broke through as Nickel Creek (QRO photos) in 2000 with Alison Krauss-produced, Grammy-nominated Nickel Creek, and then won Best Contemporary Folk Album three years later with This Side – only to go on an indefinite hiatus following the follow-up, Why Should the Fire Die?. But the fire has been reborn and the Creek runs again with this year’s reunion and new album, A Dotted Line. Also Saturday at Mountain View Stage, 9:50 PM – 11:00 PM Also: Cardboard Songsters, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Starlight Stage Steve Gunn, 12:30 AM – 1:30 AM Also Friday at Workshop Barn, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Della Mae, 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM Also Sunday at Workshop Barn, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Workshop Barn Angel Olsen, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Angel Olsen began her career singing back up for Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang (QRO live review), but has since found her own beautiful voice. Also Sunday at Woods Stage, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM
Willie Watson, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Willie Watson (QRO photos at a festival) of Old Crow Medicine Show comes to Pickathon solo. Also Sunday at Starlight Stage, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Also: Julianna Barwick, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival Also Sunday at TBD, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Mandolin Orange, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Also Sunday at TBD, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Charlie Parr, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Also Sunday at TBD, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Yoga, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Music Together, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Yoga, 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
TBD Robbie Fulks, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Robbie Folks has had an indie-country career that’s span over a quarter century, most recently with last year’s Gone Away Backward. Also Friday at Mountain View Stage, 4:10 PM – 5:10 PM
Son Little, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM Catch the angular blues of Son Little. Also Sunday at Workshop Barn, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Those Darlins, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Tennessee Appalachian trio Those Darlins (QRO photos at a festival) have managed to get serious attention in the indiesphere, thanks to connections like producer Jeff Curtin (QRO interview – of Small Black, and also producer of Vampire Weekend – QRO live review), or ukulele-ist Nikki Darlin (QRO interview) failed engagement to Deer Tick singer/guitarist John McCauley (he even popped the question while Darlin was guest-spotting on stage with Deer Tick – QRO photos). But the lovely ladies’ (QRO photos) backwoods sound can more than hold its own (QRO spotlight on), like on last year’s Blur the Line. Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Also: Quilt, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco RoadRunners, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM Also Friday at Mountain View Stage, 1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3rd

Mountain View Stage X, 8:50 PM – 10:00 PM A hugely influential punk band playing Pickathon is X (QRO photos). Begun back when punk begun in 1977, fronted by the likes of Exene Cervenka & John Doe, they achieved only limited mainstream success, but have since been hailed as possibly the best live band ever (QRO live review). They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles (QRO photos at a festival in Los Angeles) – and have been playing their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety (QRO photos of X playing Los Angeles at a festival). Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 9:20 PM – 10:30 PM
Foxygen, 6:20 PM – 7:30 PM While they formed back in 2005, Westlake Village duo Foxygen (QRO photos at a festival) only put out their first full-length in 2012, Take the Kids Off Broadway – but had their second, We Are the Twenty-First Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, last year. However, they are best known for the wild, unhinged live shows, with lead singer Sam France climbing stage equipment and more (QRO photos outdoors). Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM
The Barr Brothers, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Brothers Andrew & Brad Barr have been performing in a variety of bands, including The Slip (QRO live review), Surprise Me Mr. Davis (QRO photos), and Land of Talk (QRO spotlight on), but they’ve since been breaking out all on their own as The Barr Brothers (QRO photos at a festival). Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM
Spanish Gold, 1:40 PM – 2:40 PM Catch the genre-bending Spanish Gold (QRO photos), who come to Pickathon (QRO photos in Portland) off of last May’s debut full-length, South of Nowhere. Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM
Ages and Ages, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM Portland’s own Ages and Ages (QRO photos at a festival) are kind of a hipster big tent revival band for the twenty-first century. Also Friday at Starlight Stage, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Fir Meadows Stage Courtney Barnett, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett won fans like Rolling Stone and The New York Times after her CMJ 2013 performance (QRO festival recap), with funny, rambling lyrics and a deadpan delivery. Also Sunday at Galaxy Barn, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM
Marco Benevento, 5:10 PM – 6:10 PM New York experimental rock & jazz artist Marco Benevento (QRO photos) has found a second home on the West Coast jam band circuit. Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM
The Men, 2:50 PM – 3:50 PM Harder-hitting pop-rock outfit The Men (QRO photos at a festival) cross boundaries from pop to metal to experimental (QRO photos at a festival). Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Sadies, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Canadian country-rock comes down from the north in the form of The Sadies, who recently collaborated with fellow countryman Gordon Downie (QRO photos with Gordon Downie at a festival). Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM
Galaxy Barn Brown Sabbath, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM Brownout! (see above) bring their Latin Black Sabbath tribute act, Brown Sabbath. Also Saturday at Fir Meadows Stage, 8:40 PM – 9:40 PM as Brownout!
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 11:20 PM – 12:20 AM 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), which managed to be avant while also still rockin’ (QRO photos at a festival). Also Saturday at Mountain View Stage, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM
Courtney Barnett, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett won fans like Rolling Stone and The New York Times after her CMJ 2013 performance (QRO festival recap), with funny, rambling lyrics and a deadpan delivery. Also Sunday at Fir Meadows Stage, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM
People Under the Stairs, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Los Angeles underground hip-hop group People Under the Stairs (QRO photos at a festival), or P.U.T.S., a celebrated outfit compared to the pioneering likes of A Tribe Called Quest and Jurassic 5. Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Operators, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Dan Boeckner came to fame in Toronto indie-collective hit Wolf Parade (QRO live review), but since they’ve gone on seemingly permanent hiatus, he’s brought his indie sound to the (now-defunct) husband-and-wife duo Handsome Furs (QRO photos), alt-supergroup Divine Fits (QRO album review), and now Operators (QRO photos at a festival), who debuted just last May at Canadian Music Week (QRO photos of debut). Also Saturday at Mountain View Stage, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
EDJ, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Eric D. Johnson, leader of indie-pop acts The Fruit Bats (QRO photos at a festival), comes to Pickathon in his new solo act, EDJ. Also Friday at TBD, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM, and Saturday at Woods Stage, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM
Mikal Cronin, 3:00 PM – 4:00 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 year’s solo sophomore effort, MCII.
Jolie Holland, 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM One of the founding members of The Be Good Tanyas, alt-songstress Jolie Holland has since broken out on her own. Also Friday at Mountain View Stage, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Also: Quilt, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM Also Saturday at TBD, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Woods Stage Warpaint, 9:20 PM – 10:30 PM The experimental, even psychedelic rock of the four ladies that make up Warpaint (QRO photos) has taken a while to take hold, but is really starting to by now (QRO photos), and they come to Pickathon (QRO photos) behind this year’s self-titled full-length. Also Saturday at Mountain View Stage, 7:20 PM – 8:30 PM
Blind Pilot, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM Eco-friendly Portland has given the eco-friendly indie-folk of Blind Pilot (QRO photos), who did a whole tour in 2008 on bicycle, and the group (QRO photos) is currently touring still behind 2011’s We Are the Tide – and being labeled one of Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite bands last year. Also Friday at Mountain View Stage, 8:50 PM – 10:00 PM
Parquet Courts, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Bringing grunge back has been the active Parquet Courts (QRO photos at a festival), who come to Pickathon off of this year’s critical & commercial hit, Sunbathing Animal.
Shakey Graves, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM Shakey Graves (QRO photos at a festival) is the post-folk alter ego of Austin’s Alejandro Rose-Garcia. Also Friday at Fir Meadows Stage, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM
Angel Olsen, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM Angel Olsen began her career singing back up for Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang (QRO live review), but has since found her own beautiful voice. Also Saturday at Workshop Barn, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Woods, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Like their name implies, Brooklyn’s Woods traffic in outdoor, ‘woods-y’ sounds, but add some freak to that folk with electronica (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with With Light and With Love. Also Saturday at Galaxy Barn, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Also: Cardboard Songsters, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Starlight Stage Willie Watson, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM Willie Watson of Old Crow Medicine Show comes to Pickathon solo. Also Saturday at Workshop Barn, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Mac DeMarco, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM 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). Also Saturday at Woods Stage, 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM
Jonathan Richman, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM From his days fronting influential proto-punk pop bad The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman has long been a favorite of that girl you like. Also Saturday at Mountain View Stage, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM
Workshop Barn Son Little, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Catch the angular blues of Son Little. Also Sunday at TBD, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM
Also: Old Buck, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Also Friday at TBD, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Hiss Golden Messenger, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Also Friday at Fir Meadows Stage, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lonnie Holley, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – QRO photos at a festival Also Friday at Workshop Barn, 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM Della Mae, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Also Saturday at Starlight Stage, 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM Yoga, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Music Together, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Yoga, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
TBD Mandolin Orange, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Also Saturday at Workshop Barn, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Julianna Barwick, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival Also Saturday at Workshop Barn, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Charlie Parr, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Also Saturday at Workshop Barn, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Also Friday at Galaxy Barn, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM The Crow Quill Night Owls, 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM Also Friday at Workshop Barn, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Also Sunday at Starlight Stage, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM

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