Reader writers round up the locals on the bill, guide fans of hip-hop and R&B into the rest of the roster, and discuss the fest’s softening antipathy to emo, the gender balance of its bookings, and Brian Wilson’s white privilege.
Beach House, Savages, FKA Twigs, and Carly Rae Jepsen are all great—but don’t let them distract you from the lopsided maleness of the festival’s bookings.
Five Reader writers take in a range of sounds that includes Ola Belle Reed's rural roots music, Ahab's "nautik funeral doom," and Beach House's newly modest dream pop.
A dozen far-flung Reader writers cover Future's conscience-stricken coke rap, Todd Terje's playfully colorful nu-disco, Triptykon's lightless armor-plated epics, and points further afield.
By Luca Cimarusti, Leor Galil, Kim Kelly, Monica Kendrick, Peter Margasak, Bill Meyer, Philip Montoro, Erin Osmon, Miles Raymer, Tal Rosenberg, and Kevin Warwick
Early Warnings this week include Beach House, the Black Lips, Lila Downs, Robyn Hitchcock, Mission of Burma, John Oates, Passion Pit, Quasi, and Xiu Xiu.