Forecastle 2018 Preview

Head to Louisville’s big Waterfront Park, Friday-Sunday, July 13th-15th, for the excellent Forecastle Festival:

FRIDAY, JULY 13th

Mast Stage Modest Mouse, 10:15 PM – 11:30 PM Washington State’s Modest Mouse (QRO photos) broke through to mainstream success in 2004 with Good News For People Who Like Bad News, and followed that up by adding Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr for 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (QRO review) – unfortunately, Marr left to join the even younger Cribs and then solo. But they’re still big enough to even headline (QRO photos headlining a festival), are great outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), and in 2015 finally put out their first new record since Sank, Strangers To Ourselves (QRO review). They return to Forecastle (QRO photos at a more recent festival) for a second time.

Father John Misty, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes, guitarist Joshua Tillman found time to do his own solo stuff (QRO album review), but in 2012 he moved to solo full-time as Father John Misty (QRO photos) with Fear Fun, and he comes to Forecastle (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s Pure Comedy (QRO review). As Aziz Ansari said in Master of None (before his more recent issues), “That’s a hot ticket!”

Boom Stage Vance Joy, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM From the other side of the world, Melbourne’s Vance Joy (QRO photos) is the rare footballer (that’s soccer to you yanks) turned singer (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to Forecastle (QRO photos at a recent festival) behind this year’s sophomore release, Nation of Two.

Kurt Vile & The Violators, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM Even amongst all the lo-fi guitar-punks out there, Kurt Vile (QRO photos at a festival) has made a name for himself. The former member of fellow Forecastle ’18 performer The War On Drugs (see below), Kurt Vile has since formed his own ensemble with his Violators, and contributed to/opened for alt-punk guitar god J Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr.) on his solo record, Several Shades of Why (QRO review), and subsequent tour. However, he’s since evolved into a big frontman of his own (QRO live review) with 2013’s Wakin On a Pretty Daze and 2014’s b’lieve I’m goin down…, not to mention last year’s team-up with fellow Forecastle ’18 performer Courtney Barnett (see below), Lotta Sea Lice, including doing festivals (QRO photos at a festival).

Lucero, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM These cowpunkers (QRO photos) arrive at today’s workingman’s punk from the southern, country/punk end of things. Singer/guitarist Ben Nichols did his own thing with a solo record and ‘Revival Tour’ (QRO photos at a festival) with Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music) and Tim Barry (Avail), but the band has since gone big-time, including 2009’s 1372 Overtone Park (QRO review), 2012’s Women & Work (QRO review), 2013’s Texas & Tennessee, and 2015’s All a Man Should Do. But live & outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), they stay true to their roots (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: I’m With Her, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Arlie, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Ocean Stage Louis the Child, 9:15 PM – 10:15 PM While their name & electronica might make you think of France (or Louisville itself), duo Louis the Child (QRO photos at a festival) actually hails from a high school in suburban Chicago.

Also: Jai Wolf, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Berhana, 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM Flagship, 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

WFPK Port Stage The Thrills with Teddy Abrams featuring Carly Johnson, 8:30 PM – 9:30 Pm Wax Fang, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Louisville Leopard Percussionists, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Party Cove Private Garden, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM OK Deejays, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Ghouligan, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM Cave Dwlr, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM DJ Alli, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 14th

Mast Stage Chris Stapleton, 10:00 PM – 11:30 PM There’s a big place for country at Forecastle, and it welcomes Chris Stapleton (QRO photos from the day before), Grammy winner for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance off of both 2015’s Traveller and last year’s From a Room: Volume 1, along with a slew of other awards. He’s also written for the likes of Tim McGraw, Adele, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, and even three songs on Justin Timberlake’s recent Man of the Woods.

Houndmouth, 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM From somewhere others consider nowhere, New Albany, Indiana, Houndmouth (QRO photos in Middle America) have managed to make it by working the Americana rock road, as they return to Forecastle.

Jimmy Eat World, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Jimmy Eat World (QRO photos) set the standard for emo-rock in 2001 with Bleed American and “The Middle” (QRO video). Though have never lived up to that (but did play it & prior Clarity in full – QRO live review), 2010’s Invented (QRO review) and songs like “Movielike” (QRO video) and “Coffee and Cigarettes” (QRO video) still kept the band in the top tier of emo – though they’ve kept repeating themselves with 2013’s Damage (QRO review) and the subsequent tour (QRO live review). They come to Forecastle (QRO photos at a festival) after the 2016 release of Integrity Blues (QRO review).

Also: PVRIS, 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM – QRO photos Spencer Lee Band, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Boom Stage The War On Drugs, 9:15 PM – 10:30 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 with fellow Forecastle ’18 performer Kurt Vile (see above) spin-off for his own successful career, and followed up Slave with 2014’s Lost In the Dream (QRO mp3 review), and last year’s acclaimed A Deeper Understanding (One of QRO’s Top Albums of 2017), which won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.

Jenny Lewis, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM If you like alternative music in the twenty-first century, chances are you already know Jenny Lewis (QRO photos). The former child star came to the music scene co-fronting Los Angeles’ Rilo Kiley (QRO album review) in the prior decade (QRO photos), before going solo with Rabbit Fur Coat and 2008’s Acid Tongue (QRO review). In 2010 she teamed up with boyfriend Jonathan Rice as Jenny & Johnny (QRO photos at a festival) for I’m Having Fun Now (QRO review). For 2013, she reprised one of her many guest vocalist roles (others have included with Elvis Costello & Conor Oberst – QRO live review together) on the reunion tour of indietronica all-stars Postal Service (QRO photos) behind the tenth anniversary edition of the ultra-acclaimed Give Up (QRO review). For her own appearance at Forecastle (QRO photos at a festival), however, she comes to shine all on her own (QRO photos solo at a festival), with 2014’s The Voyager (QRO review).

Margo Price, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM The Fader once called Margo Price (QRO photos at a festival) “country’s next star,” and she’s increasingly becoming it. There’s not a better place to find that out than at Forecastle, which she comes to after last year’s big and power All American Made.

Hiss Golden Messenger, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Hiss Golden Messenger (QRO photos at a festival) has had a few lineup changes – it’s now a full group (QRO photos at a festival) led by M.C. Taylor and Scott Hirsch with a rotating band featuring members of Bon Iver, Megafaun and Mountain Man. The lush sound and introspective lyrics never feel overwrought and it’s in a live setting where the band really shines (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: Brent Cobb, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Ocean Stage T-Pain, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM Maybe no one is as ubiquitous as T-Pain (QRO photos at a festival), who’s been featured on over 50 chart-topping singles, and has ranged from Flo Rida’s “Low” to Lonely Island’s “I’m On a Boat”. He’s also something of a master of Auto-Tune, with extreme parameters to create distinctive vocals sound.

Also: Hippie Sabotage, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Westside Gunn & Conway, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM Morgan Saint, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM Biyo, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

WFPK Port Stage Forecastle Symphony, 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM The Forecastle Symphony performs Terry Riley’s In C for Global Unity.

Also: West Louisville Showcase, 6:25 PM – 7:25 PM Elliot Root, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Daphne Willis, 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM The Josephines, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Party Cove Sam Sneed, 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM James Lindsey & Vane, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Glittertitz, 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM DJ Bombshell, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM DJ Samosa, 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM Ghouligan, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM OK Deejays, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

SUNDAY, JULY 15th

Mast Stage Arcade Fire, 9:10 PM – 11:00 PM After making the biggest indie-smash since The Strokes with the already-seminal Funeral back in 2004/2005, and leading the charge of the ‘Canadian Invasion’, Montreal’s own Arcade Fire (QRO live review) followed that up in 2007 with the excellent-even-if-it-couldn’t-be-Funeral Neon Bible (QRO review). But after playing to bigger-and-bigger-and-bigger venues (QRO live review outdoors), the massive ensemble took a much-needed break, yet they returned in 2010 (QRO photos of first U.S. show in three years), and as one of the biggest bands in indie-rock (QRO photos at a festival), with The Suburbs (QRO review), which managed to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Of course, that meant hipsters were obligated to hate the band (QRO photos headlining Madison Square Garden), and unfortunately some of that came true in 2014 with Reflektor (QRO review). A double-album where the band now follows the trend of indie going disco-dance, it divided critics, and coupled with a massive promotional push that included not only the season premiere of Saturday Night Live but a special afterwards, not to mention Kimmel on top of the Capitol Records building and similarly divisive intimate shows (where they required the crowd to dress up, fooled on where the stage was, and did no encores) grabbing attention during the new music fest CMJ (QRO recap), it all almost seemed designed to jump the shark. However, not only is the music still great, but also so is the live show (QRO photos at a festival), and they come to Forecastle after the release of last year’s disappointing even-bigger Everything Now (QRO review), so catch them headlining Forecastle (QRO photos at a festival).

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM Maybe still best known for his work in Drive-By Truckers (QRO album review, post-Isbell), since driving off in 2008 Isbell (QRO photos at a festival) has been focused on his solo work (QRO photos solo at a festival) with his own 400 Unit, behind last year’s The Nashville Sound, as he returns to Forecastle.

Trampled by Turtles, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM From frigid Duluth comes the warm jam-folk of Trampled by Turtles (QRO photos), who are heading onto the open road (QRO photos outdoors) behind this year’s great Life Is Good On the Open Road (QRO review).

White Reaper, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Giving Forecastle a kick in the ass is White Reaper (QRO photos at a festival), coming off of last year’s oh-so-humble The World’s Best American Band (QRO review).

Also: Colony House, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Boom Stage Courtney Barnett, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett (QRO photos at a festival) won fans like Rolling Stone and New York Times after her CMJ 2013 performance (QRO festival recap), with funny, rambling lyrics and a deadpan delivery (QRO photos). Since then she’s just gone and won fans outside of just critics with 2015 debut full-length, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, last year’s team up with fellow Forecastle ’18 performer Kurt Vile (see above), Lotta Sea Live, and this year’s Tell Me How You Really Feel.

Punch Brothers, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers (QRO photos) have been hitting it big in today’s bluegrass revival, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to performing on Austin City Limits (QRO photos).

Oh Wonder, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM London alt-pop duo Oh Wonder (QRO photos) is a true Wonder, as they come to Forecastle behind last year’s full-length, Ultralife.

Also: Tyminski, 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM Ron Gallo, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Ocean Stage Vic Mensa, 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM Chicago’s Vic Mensa (QRO photos at a festival) comes to Forecastle, throwing down rhymes to headline the Ocean Stage.

Quinn XCII, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM Detroit’s Mikael Temrowski mixes a slew of genres as Quinn XCII.

Khruangbin, 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM Houston’s Khruangbin (QRO photos) draw from all over the world, Spain to the Middle East to Thailand.

Also: Saint Jhn, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Matt Maeson, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

WFPK Port Stage Teddy Abrams Showcase, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Mainden Radio Hour, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Party Cove Glittertitz, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM Sam Sneed, 8:15 PM – 9:00 PM Hi Def, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM OK Deejays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM DJ Alli, 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM Cave Dwlr, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM DJ Samosa, 2:00 PM