SCÈNE DE LA RIVIÈRE
Flaming Lips, 9:25 PM – 10:55 PM
There’s a good reason The Flaming Lips (QRO photos at a festival) have been so popular for so long on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), as there is no live show out there like a Flaming Lips live show (QRO live review). Confetti cannons, costumes, video screens, balloons from the sky, puppets, singer/guitarist Wayne Coyne surfing the crowd in a giant plastic bubble – The Lips have it all (QRO photos), and expect them to take it even higher (QRO photos at a festival). Oh, and they’ve got some great music, too, from early nineties hit “She Don’t Use Jelly” to 2006’s Grammy Award-winning At War With the Mystics (even put out a movie, Christmas On Mars – QRO review), and 2009’s Embryonic (QRO review).
Oh, and the Lips will be playing a special full-album performance of their seminal The Soft Bulletin at Osheaga – and will be coming off two special dual shows in the NYC area with Osheaga 2010 headliner, Weezer (QRO live review).
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The Tragically Hip, 7:25 PM – 8:25 PM
Iconic rockers The Tragically Hip have long been a mighty force on the Canadian Music Scene. Albums Up To Here, Fully Completely and Phantom Power were three of the ‘90s greatest, while singles “Bobcaygeon”, “Ahead By a Century”, and “New Orleans Is Sinking” mark some of the best known singles in the history of the great white north. They’ve played Saturday Night Live (QRO Indie on Late Night TV), toured with The Who, and racked up an astounding 14 Juno awards, in addition to being inducted into very Walk or Hall of fame that their country has to offer. Backed by iconic front man, and equally well-known poet Gord Downie, the band has been on an eighteen-year long run that, thankfully for Osheaga goers, has yet to slow.
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Beirut, 5:50 PM – 6:35 PM
While Zach Condon began his instrumental outfit Beirut (QRO photos at a festival) as a solo project, he’s since developed it into a full band, featuring just about every instrument you’ve ever heard of (QRO photos at a festival).
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Cypress Hill, 4:20 PM – 5:05 PM
Having sold eighteen million albums worldwide, Cypress Hill may seem like an unusual programming pick for the Osheaga organizers. To the contrary, the band’s unorthodox style and good-natured air of ‘reclaiming the glory days’ fits perfectly alongside fan favorites past and present, including Weezer (QRO live review) and The Flaming Lips (see above). They were the first Latino outfit to achieve platinum success in hip-hop – all they have left to cross off the list is to shake off the dust and deliver at Osheaga.
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Eels, 2:50 PM – 3:30 PM
Mark Oliver Everett – also known as Eels, or The Man Called E – has had a prolific & varied career over fifteen-plus years now (QRO live review). Prolific enough that he’s put out greatest hits & b-sides compilations – Meet the Eels (QRO review) and Useless Trinkets (QRO review), respectively – to go with acclaimed studio album, most recently Tomorrow Morning (QRO review), End Times (QRO review), and Hombre Lobo (QRO review). And his output has not only varied from stripped & intimate to grand & orchestra, blues to electronic, but has also included the likes of an autobiography (Things the Grandchildren Should Know) and a documentary about his father, Hugh Everett III, originator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory.
Also:
Typhoon, 1:30 PM – 2:10 PM
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SCÈNE DE LA MONTAGNE
Death Cab for Cutie, 8:25 PM – 9:25 PM
When Pacific Northwest alternative favorite Death Cab for Cutie (QRO photos at a festival) left long-time indie imprint Barsuk for major Label Atlantic in 2005 with Plans, fans thought the sky might be falling. But instead, Death Cab has released not one, but two of their best records to-date, following up Plans last year with the excellent Narrow Stairs (QRO review) – and their latest, Codes and Keys (QRO review), is just out.
Singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard may have gone from dork to looking like a Cascadian beefcake – he is married to Zooey Deschanel of She & Him (QRO album review)/Yes Man (meanwhile, his side project, The Postal Service, may never release a follow-up to the much beloved Give Up), but guitarist Chris Walla is still an indie producer extraordinaire (and kept his alt-cred with his own solo record last year on Barsuk, Field Manual – QRO review). And with over a decade’s worth of strong material, their well is deep for a wide performance.
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City and Colour, 6:35 PM – 7:25 PM
Dallas Green, singer/guitarist of emo-punk band Alexisonfire, embraces his sad, acoustic side as City and Colour (he’s Canadian, thus the extra ‘u’ – 2005’s Sometimes only came out in America in 2009 – QRO review).
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Malajube, 5:05 PM – 5:50 PM
The prominent schedule placement of this twice Polaris-shortlisted quartet signals a very interesting change at Osheaga 2011. With Karkwa (see above) and Galaxie (see below) also high up on the weekend’s agenda, francophone bands look poised for a breakthrough for the first time in the festival’s history. The difference between Malajube (QRO album review) and these two others, however, is mainstream success and experience, respectively. The band’s ‘90s alt-rock sounds dressed up in ultra-modern effects have already earned them well placed critical praise, commercial spots, a gig at the Olympics and the opportunity to score recent film The Trotsky – who knows what’s next? Oh right, Osheaga-goers…
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The Sounds, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Of the ‘The Bands’ in garage revival of earlier this century/millennium, while Sweden’s The Sounds (QRO photos) may not have the most inventive sound, the band (QRO photos) – fronted by frontwoman extraordinaire Maja Ivarsson – is electric live (QRO live review).
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Frightened Rabbit, 2:10 PM – 2:50 PM
Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit (QRO live review) are at the forefront of the tragic, heartfelt wave coming from England’s own neighbor to the north, most recently with last year’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks (QRO review). They also really put themselves out there on record, but their live show also sees them joking, in their Scottish brogue, capture on 2009’s live album, Liver! Lung! FR! (QRO review). Also a strong festival band (QRO photos at a festival), they can even take requests (QRO live review all-request show).
Also:
The Sheepdogs, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
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SCÈNE DES ARBRES
Galaxie, 10:20 PM – 11:00 PM
On the heels of francophone five-piece Karkwa (see above) taking home the prestigious Polaris prize, Quebec, Canada’s Galaxie is looking to keep the award in the province. The band recently scored a (largely) unexpected berth on the award’s 2011 short list, and as music journalists everywhere scour to find information on the mysterious quintet, Galaxie is preparing to explode onto the Osheaga stage (indeed, the Scène des Arbres Stage is also called the ‘Galaxie Stage’), and perhaps even further depending on the September P.P. announcement.
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Baths, 9:10 PM – 9:50 PM
Young Will Wiesenfeld (QRO photos at a festival) was able to record & release debut Cerulean in only two months, after adopting the moniker of Baths (QRO photos) – and came back this year for extra Pop Music/False B-sides.
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Shad, 8:00 PM – 8:40 PM
The flowing rhythms and educated delivery of Kenyan-born, Ontario-bred rapper Shad have long drawn comparisons to k-os and Common… the difference between them being that the former’s style is even further evolved to feature self deprecating lyrics while still exploring troubling issues. After winning a hometown radio contest, Shad was able to self-finance his debut disc, the success of which led him to record two subsequent albums, tour worldwide, and collect multiple Juno and Polaris nominations. When last we checked, Shad was busy recording with City & Colour (see above). Could this signal an onstage collaboration at Osheaga? See Keane & K’naan together in 2010 (QRO recap) if you want to tickle your taste buds…
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The Low Anthem, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Hailing from the same small state as the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island’s The Low Anthem (QRO spotlight on) have grown from working the festival by picking up trash afterwards to playing it, along with many others (QRO interview at a festival). One the bands at the vanguard of today’s alt-folk collective/Americana explosion, The Low Anthem (QRO interview) deliver a heartfelt, intricate mix of wide range of instruments (QRO live review), most recently on this year’s Smart Flesh (QRO review), with band members trading places and more (QRO photos outdoors).
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The Joy Formidable, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
London, England powerhouse The Joy Formidable (QRO live review) has already taken Europe, Australia and even The States by storm with expertly played opening slots alongside Passion Pit (QRO album review), Temper Trap (QRO live review) and Editors (QRO album review). This slot at Osheaga, hot on the heels of 2011’s The Big Roar (QRO album review), marks the beginning of the band’s Canadian invasion – if kind words from Dave Grohl and fellow festival performer Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & The Imposters – see below) are any indication, no one is safe… from a jolly good time (QRO live review).
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Viva Brother, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
The home of the original Office, Slough, England, is also that of Viva Brother, who have been getting a lot of attention back home for their self-described ‘Grit-Pop’, even before the release next month of their debut LP, Famous First Words.
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The Luyas, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Another hometown favourite, Montreal’s The Luyas (QRO photos) is relatively recent mash-up of members from some of the city’s best-known bands. Featuring past and present players from Arcade Fire (QRO live review), Miracle Fortress (QRO photos), Belle Orchestre (QRO album review), SS Cardiacs, the four-piece explores a unique sound made up of steady percussion, hazy keyboards, a French horn, and a twelve-string zither. Long story short, they’re a bit out there… a perfect soundscape for the Scène des Arbres stage.
Also:
Freedom or Death, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Jimmy Hunt, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Elephant Stone, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO album review
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SCÈNE VERTE
MSTRKRFT, 9:50 PM – 10:50 PM
While Sebastien Grainger took the punk side of acclaimed Toronto act Death From Above 1979 (see above) in solo career (QRO album review), the other half of DFA1979, Jesse F. Keeler, went electro-house with new partner Al-P. He’s also doing the rare double-duty at Osheaga.
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Crystal Castles, 8:15 PM – 9:05 PM
Most electronic acts are restrained on stage, even when their crowd is going nuts, but the duo of Ethan Kath & Alice Glass (QRO live review) match their audience’s fervor – which has gotten them booted from more than one stage, especially at festivals (though played Osheaga only two years ago). So even if you fall on the ‘hate’ side of this love-them-or-hate-them act (from Canada, surprisingly…), show up for the spectacle… (QRO live review)
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White Lies, 6:55 PM – 7:35 PM
After abandoning their early adolescent incarnation as Fear of Flying, west London’s White Lies (QRO spotlight on) exploded onto the U.K. scene with their tragic, neo-New Wave Death EP (QRO review) and chart-topping debut full-length, To Lose My Life (QRO review). Fronted by the Anglo-handsome Harry McVeigh (QRO interview), White Lies also have an impressive live show (QRO live review), including killer lighting (QRO live review). So catch the English favourites as their tour sophomore release Ritual (QRO review), and such epic pieces as not just “Death” (QRO video), but also “Farewell To the Fairground” (QRO video), “Bigger Than Us” (QRO video), and more.
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Ellie Goulding, 5:35 PM – 6:15 PM
One of the hottest recent breakthroughs has been London’s Ellie Goulding (QRO photos), who went from being unknown to playing the likes of Saturday Night Live and even the royal wedding! She’s already movin’ one up in terms of venue size, so catch her while you can!
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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, 4:15 PM – 4:55 PM
One of the many Brooklyn neo-garage acts to break out, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (QRO live review) hewed more towards the brighter, twee side of things on their self-titled debut LP (QRO review), but veered into neo-John Hughes territory with this year’s great Belong (QRO review). A band (QRO photos) that deserved to break out of the Brooklyn garage (QRO photos outside of NYC), live & outdoors (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), they really kick it up a notch (QRO live review outdoors).
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Smith Westerns, 3:00 PM – 3:40 PM
Chicago’s Smith Westerns (QRO photos outdoors) have been getting some definite attention (QRO photos at a festival), but is that for their rock (QRO photos at a festival), or is it for their persona – none old enough to drink yet, and notorious for getting kicked out of clubs for breaking that rule…
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An Horse, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
After touring the US with Tegan & Sara (QRO spotlight on), and acting as Australia’s go-to “tour buddy,” An Horse (QRO album review) looks to break into Canada with this slot at Osheaga. The band was originally cooked up as an after hours hobby for two record store employees down under, but dates with Death Cab (see above), Cage The Elephant (QRO photos) and Silversun Pickups (QRO album review) as well as an iTunes Free Single of the Week quickly paved the Brisbane pair’s way to North America. Here, they’ll offer another break from the overwhelming Canadiana that Osheaga 2011 has to offer.
Also:
Sherlock, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
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