BottleRock Napa Valley 2018 Preview

In 2013, Napa Valley welcomed a great new, big, music festival, BottleRock, and bring rock & more to California wine country, and it returns Memorial Day Weekend, Friday-Sunday, May 25th-27th:

FRIDAY, MAY 25th

Jam Cellars Stage Muse, 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM Devon’s Muse (QRO photos at a festival) is now established as full-fledged mega-stars. The trio reached for true stadium glory with 2009’s The Resistance (QRO review), as their electric bombast, which had already conquered Europe, set its sights on the States, playing Saturday Night Live and headlining Madison Square Garden (QRO photos). Yet 2012 was in even bigger, with the gigantic (in every sense of the word) The 2nd Law (QRO review) – not to mention making the official song for the London Olympics, “Survival”. 2015 saw Drones top charts in U.K. & America, and win the Grammy for Best Rock Album, and are currently at work on the follow-up, so look for brand-new material in Napa. They’re completely suitable to headline BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos headlining a festival).
Incubus, 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM A band that’s been more successful than you realize, for longer than you realize, is Incubus (QRO live review). Deftly balancing between styles and scenes, acceptable to the mainstream and the indiesphere, Incubus (QRO photos) headline the Flora Stage behind last year’s eighth studio album 8. So catch Incubus (QRO photos) at In Bloom (QRO photos in Texas) – If Not Now, When? (QRO review).
Earth, Wind & Fire, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM You already know Earth, Wind & Fire. One of the most successful bands of the seventies, they brought R&B, soul, and funk to the masses without diluting it. They were the first African-American act to sell out Madison Square Garden. They played Obama’s White House. And now the living legends come to BottleRock Napa Valley.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM From New Orleans, Trombone Shorty (QRO photos) doesn’t just toot his horn but also integrates more modern funk and rap into his jazz.
The Struts, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Everything old is new again, so embrace the unabashed glam classic-rock revival of The Struts (QRO photos at a festival), who return to BottleRock Napa Valley for their second time in three years.
Also: Billy Raffoul, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM RIVVRS, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Midway Stage The Chainsmokers, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM New York electro-house duo The Chainsmokers (QRO photos at a festival) road high with 2014 hit, “#Selfie”. They’ve since become a huge crossover hit with last year’s debut full-length, Memories…Do Not Open, loved by the EDM bangers & the mainstream. Their 2016 hit “Closer” featured Sunday’s Halsey (see below) – could there be an on-stage reunion?
Phantogram, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Saratoga Springs’ dancetronica act Phantogram (QRO photos at a festival) got notice less for their debut full-length Eyelid Movies (QRO review) than their enchanting live show (QRO photos at a festival) – which works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), at least when in the evening (QRO photos at a festival). 2014’s Voices (QRO review) upped their game (QRO photos at a festival), after which they teamed up with Big Boi as ‘Big Grams’ (QRO photos at a festival). But now the Phanto is back (QRO photos), with 2016’s strong Three (QRO review), coming to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival).
Mike D, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM If you’re gonna watch a DJ set, who better to watch spin records than the one-and-only Mike D? Yes, that Mike D, one-third of the ultra-important Beastie Boys. Fellow Boy MCA’s lamented death in 2012 saw D & Ad-Rock put their iconic group to rest, but they have not been, and Mike D comes to spin at BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos DJing at a festival).
Shakey Graves, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Shakey Graves (QRO photos at a festival) is the post-folk alter ego of Austin’s Alejandro Rose-Garcia (QRO photos), who comes to BottleRock Napa Valley with an extra ‘e’.
LANY, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM L.A. electro-pop outfit LANY (QRO spotlight on) were already getting big (QRO interview) before last year’s self-titled debut full-length, and bring it all to Northern California for BottleRock Napa Valley.
Also: Flor, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Hundred Handed, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Miner Family Winery Stage St. Paul & The Broken Bones, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM From Birmingham, Alabama, St. Paul & The Broken Bones (QRO photos at a festival) bring the true southern soul. They come to BottleRock Napa Valley after 2016’s Sea of Noise.
Bomba Estéreo, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Bogota’s Bomba Estéreo (QRO photos at a festival) come from outside the continent as they come to BottleRock Napa with their electro-tropical sound.
Nahko & Medicine for the People, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM “They embrace Bob Marley’s idea of world-­‐ bridging, bringing people together to resolve differences. For us, music is a tool to create healing and activate people to change things.” Nahko & Medicine for the People (QRO photos at a festival) expands this sensibility onstage. The band has toured with SOJA, and internationally with Xavier Rudd, and performed at festivals across the globe (QRO photos at a festival).
NoMBe, 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM German-born, Los Angeles-based (and Chaka Khan godson) NoMBe brings his soul to BottleRock Napa Valley.
Jukebox the Ghost, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Catch the power-pop of Jukebox the Ghost (QRO photos), who come to BottleRock Napa Valley behind this year’s Off to the Races.
Also: Caitlyn Smith, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM David Luning, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Lagunitas Stage Moonalice, 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM Independent jam-rock artists Moonalice return to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival) – they’ve played every year but last.
Tank & The Bangas, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM Winner of last year’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest, Tank & The Bangas (QRO photos at a festival) have bounded onto the scene (QRO photos at a festival) with a lively mix of funk, soul, hip-hop, rock and spoken word (QRO photos).
COIN, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Nashville indie-pop outfit COIN comes to BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s sophomore LP, How Will You Know If You Never Try.
Welshly Arms, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Cleveland’s blues-rock outfit Welshly Arms come to BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s hit song “Legendary” (which has been used in promos of everything from WWE to Cleveland Indians to Sense8).
Alex Lahey, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Be sure to catch catchy Melbourne native Alex Lahey, who plays this side of the Pacific behind last year’s excellent Love You Like a Brother (QRO review).
Also: Pony Bradshaw, 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM The Knitts, 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM Sanho the Indian, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
VIP Acoustic Stage Shakey Graves, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM Michael Franti, 5:45 PM – 6:05 PM Tank & The Bangas, 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM Nahko & Medicine for the People, 2:45 PM – 3:05 PM COIN, 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Jampad The Struts, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM Alex Lahey, 5:45 PM – 6:05 PM Jukebox the Ghost, 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM Welshly Arms, 2:45 PM – 3:05 PM
Jam Cellars Ballroom Bleachers, 9:00 PM
Silo’s The Districts, 9:00 PM

SATURDAY, MAY 26th

Jam Cellars Stage The Killers, 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM The Killers (QRO photos) broke out of their Las Vegas home in 2004 with debut Hot Fuss and great singles “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside” – and have failed to match that since. 2006’s attempt at greatness Sam’s Town didn’t make it, and after 2008’s middling Day & Age (QRO review) singer Brandon Flowers went solo for his own middling work. But the group has since come back (QRO photos) with 2012’s Battle Born (QRO review) and last year’s Wonderful Wonderful (QRO review) – and they still play Hot Fuss live (QRO live review).
The Head and The Heart, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Things have been seriously booming for The Head and The Heart (QRO live review). The Seattle alt-folk/pop band (QRO photos outdoors) was signed by Sub Pop (QRO photos outdoors), named their city’s best new band by Seattle Weekly, opened for everybody from Dave Matthews to Death Cab for Cutie. They since graduated to headlining status (QRO live review) behind 2013’s sweet Let’s Be Still (QRO review) – though their crowds never were (QRO photos at a festival). They come to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2016’s Signs of Light (QRO review).
Billy Idol, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Saturday will be a nice day for Billy Idol (QRO photos at a festival). Possessing maybe the definite punk look (QRO photos), Idol (QRO photos at a festival) was one of the first stars for MTV (back when it played music outside of beef-generating VMA Awards…), thanks to his “Rebel Yell”.
Michael Franti & Spearhead, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM The Bay Area’s own multi-ethnic Michael Franti is a mixture, as he fuses hip-hop & jam-band with Spearhead (QRO photos at a festival). Also noted for his peace and social activism (including going barefoot since 2000), it won’t fly over the heads of BottleRock Napa Valley, which he has played almost every year (QRO photos at BottleRock ’13).
Bleachers, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Jack Antonoff of fun. (QRO live review) launched his own indie-pop side-project, Bleachers (QRO photos at a festival) only a few years ago, but it has quickly become as well known as his ‘main’ gig. He plays behind last year’s Gone Now (QRO review).
Also: The Aces, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM The Alive, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Midway Stage Snoop Dogg, 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM Do you really need to be introduced to Snoop Dogg (QRO photos at a festival)? Unless your flight from Sydney crashed on that island from Lost with The Others for the past near thirty years, you’ve seen Snoop (QRO photos) from his part in Death Row Records’ West Coast rap ascendance (QRO photos on the West Coast) with “Gin and Juice” through his legal troubles and ‘less-than-amicable’ split from Death Row to today’s chart-topping success in hip-hop, mainstream, and more. His high profile and relatively laid-back but charming persona these days have also made him ubiquitous on screen, whether cameoing as himself in everything from Showtime’s Weeds to T-Mobile Sidekick ads, or filling the quintessential pimp role as Huggy Bear in the big screen remake of Starsky & Hutch, to hosting such television shows at Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (with that felon Martha Stewart) and the reboot of The Joker’s Wild. He even curated a Game of Thrones official mixtape (QRO photos from release party with Snoop). More recently, he adopted the name ‘Snoop Lion’ for a more reggae personality (QRO photos at a festival as Snoop Lion), and gospel this year with Bible of Love, but has been mixing and matching both canine & feline Snoops on last year’s Neva Left and live. He’s also an expert at wooing the lily-white indie-crowd (QRO photos at a festival), and doesn’t forget his classics like Doggy Style (QRO photos performing Doggy Style at a festival), as he mixes weed with his wine in his return to BottleRock Napa Valley.
E-40, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM Bay Area’s own rapper E-40 has been making more music for longer than you know. He’s got so many records, not to mention collaborations & film & television work, one can’t even keep track.
Oh Wonder, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM London alt-pop duo Oh Wonder (QRO photos) is a true Wonder, as they come to BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s full-length, Ultralife.
The Record Company, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM There aren’t many acts that can pull off having a frontman playing seated slide guitar, but Los Angeles power trio The Record Company (QRO photos at a festival) manage it, as they return to BottleRock Napa Valley.
MISSIO, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Austin electronic duo MISSIO come to BottleRock Napa Valley off of last year’s debut full-length, Loner.
The Night Game, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Martin Johnson’s neo-new wave The Night Game (QRO live review) comes to BottleRock Napa Valley on his ‘American Nights’ tour.
Also: Hamish Anderson, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Miner Family Winery Stage Natalia Lafourcade, 8:15 PM – 9:30 PM One of the most successful pop/rock singers in Latin America (and well known north of the border as well), lyric soprano Natalia Lafourcade comes to BottleRock Napa Valley, behind her recently released second volume of Musas: Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos.
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Rivaling Sean Lennon and Jakob Dylan (and BottleRock Napa Valley’s Dhani Harrison – see below) in fatherly shadows to get out of, Willie Nelson’s own son Lukas (QRO photos of them together at the elder Wilson’s 80th birthday celebration) has established his own country name with his band, Promise of the Real (QRO live review).
Jacob Banks, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM The first ever unsigned act to appear on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, singer Jacob Banks (QRO photos) has won big-name music competitions – and last year came out with his major label debut, The Boy Who Cried Freedom.
The Ghost of Paul Revere, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM From Portland (Maine, not Oregon, for all you non-Yankees) comes the Americana of The Ghost of Paul Revere, who ride into BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s Monarch.
Dhani Harrison, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM If you’re gonna be the son of a famous musician, it’s pretty tough to beat being the son of George Harrison. Dhani Harrison debuted as a professional musician on his father’s final album, Brainwashed. Since then he has had his own band, thenewno2, worked with Joseph Arthur & Ben Harper as Fistful of Mercy (QRO photos), and even score music for TV shows. But last fall he released his first solo record, In Parallel, a rather disappointing and unexceptional piece.
Also: Tommy Odetto, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Napa Valley Youth Symphony, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lagunitas Stage Ayokay, 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM Quinn XCII producer Ayokay takes his own spot on stage.
Pokey LaFarge, 7:15 PM – 7:50 PM Catch the country-swing of Pokey LaFarge (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s Manic Revelations.
The Districts, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM A high school band made good, Pennsylvania boys The Districts (QRO photos at a festival) bring their alt-roots to BottleRock Napa Valley.
Low Cut Connie, 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM Catch the high-energy rock of Low Cut Connie (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to BottleRock Napa Valley behind last year’s Dirty Pictures (Part 1).
Also: Dan Luke & The Raid, 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM Matt Maeson, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Anchor + Bell, 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM Dani Bell & The Tarantist, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
VIP Acoustic Stage The Record Company, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM E-40, 6:00 PM – 6:20 PM The Head and The Heart, 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM Oh Wonder, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM Low Cut Connie, 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM The Ghost of Paul Revere, 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
Jampad Michael Franti, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM Pokey LaFarge, 6:00 PM – 6:20 PM Bleachers, 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Jam Cellars Ballroom Thievery Corporation, 9:00 PM
Silo’s Magic Giant, 9:00 PM

SUNDAY, MAY 27th

Jam Cellars Stage Bruno Mars, 8:00 PM – 9:45 PM There may not be a bigger musician right now than Bruno Mars. The Hawaiian R&B singer has had hit after lovely hit, from “Just the Way You Are” to “Locked Out of Heaven” to “24K Magic”. “24K Magic” & the album of the same name swept the Grammys earlier this year, proving that the appeal of Mars, one of the best-selling artists of all time, is wide and vast.
Halsey, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM Killer pop singer Halsey (QRO photos) could probably headline BottleRock herself, if she weren’t on tour with Bruno Mars. She’s got hits like last year’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom and “Bad at Love”, not to mention her 2016 “Closer” with Friday’s Chainsmokers (see above) – who knows if there’ll be an on-stage reunion, but it can’t match her teaming up with Charli X to cover The Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” (QRO photos of that at a festival).
The Revivalists, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM New Orleans seven-piece Americana rock band The Revivalists (QRO photos at a festival) were in 2016 named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Bands You Need To Know.”
Lake Street Dive, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM After meeting at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music (QRO photos at a Boston festival), jazz-soul outfit Lake Street Dive (QRO photos outdoors) became, “Two girls, two guys, and a whole lotta feelings.”
Also: Alice Merton, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Magic Giant, 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM – QRO photos Liz Huett, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Midway Stage Thievery Corporation, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM D.C.’s multi-cultural electronic all-star duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton (QRO live review) bring not just their expansive, chill, globe-trotting signature sound (and some revolutionary ideals often missing in the ‘party time’, apolitical attitude of electronica), like with 2011’s Culture of Fear (QRO review), 2014’s Saudade and last year’s The Temple of I & I, but also an eye-opening live performance with a fifteen-person band and grand light show (QRO photos) – they’re not like other computerized acts that just press ‘Play’ and collect their check, which is why they headline the Midway Stage at BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival).
SOJA, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM SOJA (QRO photos at a festival), formerly known as Soldiers of Jah Army, is an American Grammy-nominated reggae band based in Arlington, Virginia. They mix reggae with more modern sounds on such records as Soldiers of the Jah Army, Peace In a Time of War, and its remix version, Dub In a Time of War.
Manchester Orchestra, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM From Atlanta, not New or Old England, Manchester Orchestra (QRO live review) were more rock than alt- on debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child (QRO review), and moved firmly into the rock camp with 2009’s Mean Everything To Nothing (QRO review), 2011’s Simple Math (QRO review), 2014’s Cope (QRO review), and last year’s A Black Mile To the Surface (QRO review). However, the outfit does it well (QRO live review) and big (QRO photos) as they come to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival) to rock (QRO live review).
New Politics, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Copenhagen’s New Politics (QRO photos at a festival) first got wider notice opening for Fall Out Boy on their Save Rock and Roll (QRO review) tour, and the pop/punk/dance outfit (QRO photos at a festival) comes to BottleRock Napa Valley after last year’s release of Lost In Translation.
Mondo Cozmo, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Last festival season, one of the most ubiquitous performers has been Josh Ostrander, a.k.a. Mondo Cozmo (QRO photos at a 2017 festival). He’d previously run in acts Laguardia and Eastern Conference Champions, but now is operating solo (QRO photos).
Also: The Wrecks, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM The Brevet, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Miner Family Winery Stage The Motet, 8:15 PM – 9:45 PM The sprawling Motet (QRO photos at a festival) crisscrosses genres as they crisscross the country.
Allen Stone, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Allen Stone (QRO photos) began his singing in a church right in Seattle, and his soulful sound has kept that connection. He returns to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at BottleRock ‘13).
Watsky, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM Mixing rhymes in a whole new way is the slam poetry of Watsky, who comes to BottleRock Napa Valley (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: Allan Rayman, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Mt. Joy, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM The Silverado Pickups, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Ethan Tucker, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Lagunitas Stage The White Panda, 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM Remix & mash-up Chicago DJ duo The White Panda return to BottleRock Napa Valley for the second time in three years.
J. Roddy Walston & The Business, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM Roddy Walston brings the rock to BottleRock as frontman for J. Roddy Walston & The Business (QRO photos outdoors). He comes behind last year’s great Destroyers of the Soft Life (QRO review), with his big piano in tow (“I don’t play keyboards – I play piano. It’s not like you’ll tell a guitar player to play keytar.”).
Also: Durand Jones & The Indications, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival Amy Shark, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Jon and Roy, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Dean Lewis, 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
VIP Acoustic Stage Warren G, 7:15 PM – 7:35 PM New Politics, 5:45 PM – 6:05 PM SOJA, 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM Allen Stone, 2:45 PM – 3:05 PM Durand Jones & The Indications, 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Jampad Mondo Cozmo, 7:15 PM – 7:35 PM Magic Giant, 5:45 PM – 6:05 PM Alice Merton, 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM Liz Huett, 2:45 PM – 3:05 PM

For festival website, go here: http://www.bottlerocknapavalley.com/