July 17, 2018
Two years ago, Goldenvoice, the folks behind a little ol’ festival known as Coachella, came to the Big Apple with Panorama, and this big fest returns for a third time, Friday-Sunday, July 27th-29th, on Randall’s Island:
FRIDAY, JULY 27th
| Panorama Stage The Weeknd, 9:40 PM Headlining Friday at Panorama is Toronto’s hip-hop phenom The Weekend (QRO photos at a festival). He comes down to Chicago (QRO photos at a festival) after 2016’s year’s Starboy, and after winning Grammys and even appearing on Saturday Night Live (where yes, they did ‘The Weeknd Update’…). |
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| Migos, 8:00 PM – 8:50 PM Quarvo, Takeoff and Offset together form hip-hop supergroup Migos. Last year they dropped Culture and chart-topping hit “Bad and Boujee” – following that up earlier this year with another chart-topper, Culture II, and single with none other than Drake, “Walk It Talk It”. |
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| The War On Drugs, 6:30 PM – 7:20 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 Kurt Vile 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. |
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| Dua Lipa, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM English singer Dua Lipa (QRO photos at a festival) started out by covering other people on YouTube, but was quickly snapped up by Warner Brothers for last year’s self-titled debut album and #1 single “New Rules”. |
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| Daniel Caesar, 3:50 PM – 4:35 PM Canadian R&B/soul singer Daniel Caesar heads to Panorama after last year’s debut full-length, Freudian. |
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The Pavilion Father John Misty, 8:50 PM – 9:40 PM While a member of overrated Panorama ‘18 folk outfit Fleet Foxes (see below), 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 Panorama (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!” |
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| Jhené Aiko, 7:10 PM – 8:00 PM Long ago, at the start of this century/millennium, Jhené Aiko (QRO photos) was coming up thanks to appearances with B2K, but then she took a step back to continue her education. However, Aiko returned in this decade, with 2011 mixtape Sailing Soul(s), 2014 major label debut Souled Out, and last year’s Trip. |
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| Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM Daughter of acclaimed musicians Jane Birkin & the late Serge Gainsbourg (QRO photos of Birkin playing Serge Gainsbourg tribute), Charlotte Gainsbourg has fashioned her own name (QRO photos), not just in music (QRO album review) but also film, often working with Lars von Trier. She comes to Panorama behind last year’s Rest. |
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| Also: Sabrina Claudio, 4:25 PM – 5:05 PM Soulection, 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM Supa Bwe, 1:55 PM – 2:35 PM |
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The Point Yaeji, 10:00 PM The Black Madonna, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM – QRO photos in New York Mike Servito, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Mall Grab, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Bearcat, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Turtle Bugg, 1:45 PM – 3:30 PM |
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SATURDAY, JULY 28th
| Panorama Stage Janet Jackson, 9:25 PM Don’t act like you don’t know who Janet Jackson is, and that you aren’t psyched to see her headline Panorama ’18. The youngest of the Jackson family, she became perhaps the most successful female artist of the eighties and nineties, with classics like “Nasty”, “Rhythm Nation”, and more. And you know she’s gonna bring a hell of a light and dance show for Saturday night in New York City. Put some Janet Jackson on! |
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| SZA, 7:45 PM – 8:35 PM Solana Rowe, a.k.a. SZA (QRO photos at a festival), had people talking from the get-go, but that’s only been more so since last year’s debut full-length, Ctrl, regarded as one of the albums of the year (QRO Top Albums of 2017), including playing Saturday Night Live and a slew of Grammy nominations (but no wins – #JusticeForSZA). She returns for her second Panorama in three years. |
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| Lil Wayne, 6:05 PM – 6:55 PM New Orleans’ Lil Wayne (QRO photos at his own festival) joined Cash Money Records at the age of nine, and has never looked back. First as part of the southern hip-hop group Hot Boys, and later solo, Wayne has made a massive impact on music & the charts. In 2010 he released I Am Not a Human Being while serving time in jail, and in 2012 he passed Elvis Presley as the male with most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (QRO photos at a Billboard festival). While we wait & wait for the long-delayed Tha Carter V, he comes to Panorama. |
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| Also: PVRIS, 4:35 PM – 5:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival Cloves, 3:25 PM – 4:10 PM |
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The Pavilion Gucci Mane, 8:35 PM – 9:25 PM Along with the likes of T.I. & Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane (QRO photos at a festival) pioneered the trap music style of hip-hop. Of course, he’s had his problems with the law, as well as fellow trap rappers like Young Jeezy and Waka Flocka Flame. He comes to Panorama behind 2016’s The Return of East Atlanta Santa album, last year’s collaboration with Metro Boomin, DropTopWop, and his Billboard Hot 100 #1 single “Black Beatles”, with Rae Sremmurd. |
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| St. Vincent, 6:55 PM – 7:45 PM After the one-and-only Annie Clark (QRO interview) made 2007 her break-out year, both as part of The Polyphonic Spree on The Fragile Army (QRO review) and with her own debut as St. Vincent (QRO photos), Marry Me (QRO review), she followed that up with even-better years (QRO spotlight on), gracing festivals (QRO photos at a festival), charming and surprising crowds with winning humor live (QRO live review), and bringing a stable of new songs (QRO live review). Those new songs, like “Laughing With a Mouth of Blood” (QRO video) and “Actor Out of Work” (QRO video) formed into 2009’s Actor (QRO review), which vaunted her into the even bigger time (QRO photos at a festival), including playing Lincoln Center (QRO live review) and other storied concert halls (QRO photos at a festival) & venues (QRO photos at Royal Albert Hall). Admittedly, 2011’s Strange Mercy (QRO review) wasn’t quite as good, but then she teamed up with the one-and-only Panorama ’18 performer David Byrne (QRO photos at a festival together) for 2012′s Love This Giant (QRO review) – hopefully there will be a reunion – and the holy St. Vincent (QRO photos) came back with a vengeance in 2014 on St. Vincent (QRO review), including an absolutely stellar live show (QRO photos), with her platinum grey hair and mannequin moves shining outdoors (QRO live review outdoors), at festivals (QRO photos at a festival) and in the Old World (QRO live review in Europe). A must-see at Newport Folk (QRO photos at a festival), she comes behind last year’s massively seductive MASSEDUCTION (QRO review) and seductive stage show (QRO photos at a 2018 festival). |
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| Japanese Breakfast, 5:20 PM – 6:05 PM The solo project of Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast brings Soft Sounds from Another Planet (QRO review). |
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| Sigrid, 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM Barely old enough to drink in the States, Norway’s Sigrid (QRO photos at a festival) found international success last year with single “Don’t Kill My Vibe”. |
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| Jay Som, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Panorama also includes buzzed-about alt acts like Jay Som (QRO photos at a festival), who have all sorts of indie-buzz (QRO live review). |
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| Also: Lo Moon, 1:40 PM – 2:20 PM – QRO photos in New York Kalin White, 12:45 PM – 1:20 PM |
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The Point Bicep, 10:00 PM Avalon Emerson, 8:25 PM – 9:55 PM Floating Points, 6:25 PM – 8:25 PM Kyle Hall, 4:55 PM – 6:25 PM DJ Python, 3:25 PM – 4:55 PM Riobamba, 1:25 PM – 3:25 PM |
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SUNDAY, JULY 29th
| Panorama Stage The Killers, 9:30 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). |
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| The xx, 7:50 PM – 8:40 PM Almost overnight, south London’s The xx (QRO photos) went from little known to massive acclaim. Even before debut record xx (QRO review) actually came out, the dark, post-punk revival act was garnering lots of attention (QRO photos at a festival). They quickly jumped from opening (QRO live review) to headlining, as they were overshadowing the headliners. They also saw Baria Qureshi depart (QRO photos with her), leaving them a three-piece (QRO photos at a festival): Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith (who’s become famed DJ in his own right as Jamie xx – QRO photos at a festival). Certainly subdued, they are much better suited for nighttime (QRO photos at a festival) than at chattering rock clubs (QRO video), but have found a way to make it work outdoors (QRO live review outdoors) and at festivals far and wide (QRO photos at a festival). The group (QRO photos) comes to Panorama (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s I See You (QRO review) and big tour (QRO live review of U.K. tour kick-off), following 2012’s Coexist (QRO review). |
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| David Byrne, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM If you like music, you like David Byrne. The lead Talking Head became the art-rock icon in the eighties behind amazing songs like “Psycho Killer”, “Once In a Lifetime”, “Burning Down the House”, “And She Was”, and so much more, like the classic live full concert movie/album, Stop Making Sense. Since The Heads, he’s become the most recognized & influential art-rock artist since David Bowie, teaming up with everyone from Brian Eno to Panorama’ ’18 performer (see above) St. Vincent (QRO photos at a festival with St. Vincent), with 2012’s Love This Ghost (QRO review) – hopefully they’ll be a reunion – but this year has come out solo on American Utopia (QRO review). And his live show features a massive, all-dancing (including drummers) ensemble. |
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| Greta Van Fleet, 4:35 PM – 5:25 PM New Michigan rock comes to Panorama in the form of the next generation of classic rock, Greta Van Fleet (QRO spotlight on), one of Robert Plant’s favorite young bands, touring behind last year’s EPs Black Smoke Rising & From the Fires (QRO reviews). |
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| Robert DeLong, 3:30 PM – 4:10 PM Nicely mixing between his indie-rock background and his moombahton love, Robert DeLong (QRO photos at a festival) will have all the kids dancing early at Panorama (QRO photos at a festival). |
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The Pavilion Nora En Pure, 10:05 PM The South African-Swiss DJ and deep house producer Daniela Niederer, a.k.a. Nora en Pure, closes out The Pavilion at Panorama ’18. |
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| ODESZA, 8:40 PM – 9:40 PM Harrison Mills & Clayton Knight managed to put out their debut as electronic duo ODESZA (QRO photos) while still in their senior year back in ’12 with Summer’s Gone, and come to Panorama (QRO photos at a festival) off of 2014’s follow-up full-length, In Return. |
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| Fleet Foxes, 7:00 PM – 7:55 PM After the decent Sun Giant EP (QRO review), maybe no band broke out in as big a way in 2008 as Fleet Foxes with their self-titled debut full-length (QRO review) – a breakthrough that earned them (QRO photos at a festival) a fair share of hype-backlash. The Seattle band’s folk hymnals garnered huge popularity (some of which was due to their more engaging live shows – QRO photos). After the whirlwind, the Foxes took some time off, but came back in 2011 Helplessness Blues (QRO review), disappeared again, and last year come back (QRO live review last year, playing for television) behind Crack-Up (QRO review). Whether or not you think they’re overrated, they come to Panorama (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Mount Kimbie, 5:10 PM – 6:00 PM Close friends to post-dubstep big-name James Blake, Mount Kimbie (QRO photos at a festival), bring a lighter electronica, and come to Panorama behind last year’s Love What Survives. |
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| Rex Orange County, 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM England’s Alexander O’Connor, a.k.a. Rex Orange County (QRO photos), brings his buoyant keyboards & hypnotic vocals to Panorama. |
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| Chicano Batman, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Los Angeles’ Chicano Batman (QRO photos at a festival) first got notice in 2014/5 with Cycles of Existential Rhyme, but last year went full-on Gil Scott-Heron with Freedom Is Free. |
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| Also: Shannon & The Clams, 1:35 PM – 2:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival Downtown Boys, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM – QRO photos at a festival |
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The Point Helena Hauff, 9:30 PM Moodymann, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Jlin, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Laurel Halo, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Shanti Celeste, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM DJ Haram, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
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For festival website, go here: http://www.panorama.nyc/
