Over the past week, we’ve showcased the best new bands to check out at Coachella. Like last week, we’ve dedicated our Artist of the Week feature will again take a look at some of our favorite new bands to play at the festival that we didn’t have a chance to cover last week. Without rambling anymore, here are some more highlights from our Coachella series.

Neon Indian: Much has been said about Alan Palomo. Since rising from obscurity to bandblog sensation, his group, Neon Indian has become one of the de facto emissaries/new bands for a movement popularly known as “chillwave”—I’m guessing you’re familiar. To be sure, there are plenty of bands out there that draw parallels to Neon Indian, with woozy electronic sounds that melt through vintage synthesizers and echoing vocals taking the form of aural acid hits. What sets Neon Indian apart, however, isn’t the perpetuation of stereotypes, but the quality of their music. Their brand of electro-synth music combined with murky guitar fuzz, is sure to keep the bodies moving on Frida – Zach Klassen

Gary Clark Jr.:  Gary Clark Jr. hates the term bluesman. Judging from his brand of music, you would expect this new artist to embrace the label, but being a nasty guitar player is only the tip of the iceberg to this man’s talents.  Sort of like a latter day John Mayer, Clark can play many different types of guitar: jazz, blues to straight up balls-to-the wall rock, making it all sound delightfully good in the process. Though he has one of the earliest timeslots on his Friday performance, he may not get the crowds that he deserves. However, the one thing that is certain is that whoever catches this up-and-comer, won’t be disappoint with the music they hear emanating from the stage and who knows, this could be one of those “I remember where I was when” or “I saw Gary Clark Jr. when he was the first act at Coachella” moments that could go down in music folklore. –Daniel Kohn

Grouplove: As our official Best New Band Of 2011, Grouplove are one of the most promising voices to emerge in indie pop. Grouplove produces poppy, twangy, indie rock, which is nothing new in the world of music. What really makes the quintet stand out in a plethora of similar acts is its sincerity. Blaming the band’s chance meeting on fate, each member plays from the heart, creating large, swelling tracks that hit its listeners directly in the soul.

This passion and devotion translates into the five-piece’s live show. Every band member drips with enthusiasm and genuine love for what he or she is playing. This warm energy floats into the crowd, making a Grouplove show feel like a party hosted by familiar friends. It’s amazing how bands can be playing to crowds of 100 people (if they’re lucky) one day and massive theaters the next. This is the exact case with Grouplove. I remember writing a show preview back in January for the band’s free, month-long residency at Bootleg Theater. I had never even heard the music, so I listened to the self-titled EP, and it was pretty good, but I never got the chance to see the indie troupe during that residency…and I am kicking myself for that right now. - Katrina Nattress

The Vaccines: West London’s The Vaccines are one of the hardest new bands to peg at times.  On first listen, they’ve totally got one of those late ‘50s, early ‘60s pop revivalist things going, except with a little more reverb and maybe a pinch more aggression.  But if you listen a bit more closely, the lines begin to blur.  They’re clearly on their way to becoming (or maybe they’ve already become) something far more interesting than just another pop band. The Vaccines music has all the makings of great pop music; simple, catchy, easy to clap along with, but there’s a little something more that’s enough to send a shrill shiver down your spine. It’s 21st century guitar pop for the kids who like to stay out late and wake up to a few bad decisions. –Chris Castro

Sleeper Agent: You might've heard of Sleeper Agent from their recent hits, "Get It Daddy" and "Get Burned."  "Get It Daddy," an upbeat, dance-around-in-your-room kind of track, was an iTunes free single of the week and was #14 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Singles of 2011.  Furthermore, they were featured on Rolling Stone last summer as a Band to Watch. The band hails from Bowling Green, Kentucky and made their way up through the rankings by playing loud, noticeable sets at SXSW.  They eventually caught the attention of Matt & Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and ended up touring the US with the band (not to mention making some hilarious videos). So, with that kind of publicity, it's safe to say that these Kentucky-bred kids are on their way to rock stardom. And the next stop on that road? Playing Coachella, obviously. Lead singer Alex "Kidd" Kandel is a monster on stage, and her vocals fit the music's youthful grunge perfectly.  The album as a whole and the band's presence are so much fun, and I can just imagine how incredible it al will be beneath the daze of the Coachella sun, dancing your ass off before some seriously talented kids. – Claire Gallagher

It’s amazing how bands can be playing to crowds of 100 people (if they’re lucky) one month and massive theaters the next. This is exactly what happened with our best new band of 2011: Grouplove. I remember writing a show preview in January for the band’s free, month-long residency at Bootleg Theater. I had never even heard the music, so I listened to the self-titled EP, and it was pretty good, but I never got the chance to see the indie troupe during that residency…and I am kicking myself for that right now.

The story of the group’s formation is an atypical one. Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi met while living in New York and decided to attend an art residency on the Greek island of Crete. While abroad, the two artists met Sean Gadd, a songwriter and guitarist from London, and Ryan Rabin and Andrew Wessen, both musicians from Los Angeles. The five clicked instantly and began making music together in the small remote mountain village that hosted the residency.

Once the summer fling came to an end, the newfound friends scattered back to their respective spots on the globe, but the passion behind the music the quintet created in Greece could not be extinguished. Eventually, the distance became overwhelming, and every member scrounged up enough change to visit L.A. and record an album in Ryan Rabin’s studio. While recording, the band agreed that the City of Angels was the best place to call home, and the three non-Los Angeles natives packed up their bags and moved out West.

In 2010, Grouplove played its first ever live show in Los Angeles’ small Silverlake club, El Cid. Since then, the five-piece has toured the U.S. with Two Door Cinema Club and Young the Giant, as well as played shows with Florence and the Machine in San Francisco and L.A. before embarking on a UK tour in February of 2011. The indie pop project released its debut full-length, Never Trust a Happy Song, in September of the same year to much praise. The record’s two singles, “Colours,” a twangy, catchy folk-tinged track, and “Tongue Tied,” a pop gem, have garnered the band a healthy fan base and landed it performances on Conan, Late Night with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Every member of Grouplove is spilling with talent, but it’s the creative kinship and overwhelming genuineness that magnetizes its fans. You can connect with this band. It is spilling its guts to you, and that’s a special feeling. Not to mention, the group puts on a killer live show.

What Bonnaroo does better than any other North American festival is purvey that communal atmosphere of Woodstock. As great as the festival's atmosphere is, let’s talk about some of the bands we’re most excited to see.

They’re not exactly a new band, in fact, they’re the complete antithesis of that, but we’d be remiss if we didn't at least give a passing mention to the Beach Boys in their 50th anniversary.  Bonnaroo could be an amazing place to see the rock legends perform live. Imagine the rain sweeps through Tennessee, Mike Love starts into “I Get Around” as the puddles accumulate and you, a rugged individual concertgoer starts sliding through the mud. That would be the experience of a lifetime.

You want newer bands? We got Grouplove, who as you aware of, are one of the best new bands to hit the scene in years. What they’re doing is almost criminally good. Sure, they’re a bit weird and a bit disjointed, but don’t we seek a bit of chaos in our musical joy? Having never seen them live I can only imagine the amount of energy that it takes to play at such a high level.

The Avett Brothers are a band I have had the pleasure of seeing in person. They’re so good live that they’ve made it onto my top five concerts list. They drip sweat the way Bruce Springsteen does after a show. You would half expect a digit to fly with the sheer speed that they play their respective instruments. With a new album coming out sometime this year, they’re sure to play some songs you’ve never heard and perhaps, if you’re lucky, a cover or two like the backyard YouTube video they did of the aforementioned Springsteen’s“Glory Days.”

Who is Bon Iver? Or for those unadoring haters, Bonny Bear. He’s the Grammy winning Best New Artist, but that doesn't mean shit. I didn't love his last album, but mostly because it wasn’t particularly my style. The album so many people that considered it one of the best albums last year that I felt like I was in the minority of those that didn't have it in the top five. Even if you don’t like Bon Iver what you can’t deny is that Justin Vernon is funny, engaging and a wonderful talent in a scene that seems thoroughly bereft of much of it these days.

If you thought I was going to leave out hip-hop, you thought wrong. Childish Gambino is gonna get on that as tags and destroy all the preconceived notions you had of a rapper, actor and a celebrity all in one fell swoop. I already thought he had one of the best albums last year and knowing that he’s about to blow the tarp off the Bonnaroo stage makes me shaky with anticipation.

If you’ve budgeted for one festival this summer, for one trip, make this the one. Get on a plane, take a train, find a bus, gas up the Prius and get your ass to Tennessee in June. Kudos to the organizers of this amazing festival, you’ve done it once again.

When my friends and I wax sentimental, it’s become common—even expected—to hear at least one anecdote from a bygone Sasquatch weekend. Hosted at the Gorge Amphitheater in central Washington, the festival promises jaw-dropping musical talent and one of most visually stunning venues in all the land. This year suggests no different, with performances from musical goliaths Bon Iver, Beck, Jack White, Girl Talk and BestNewBands.com favorites such as Childish Gambino, The Civil Wars, Gary Clark Jr. and our Best New Band of 2011, Grouplove.  Also, there is a bundle of new and up-and-coming bands sure to secure a spot in the memory banks of this year’s attendees. For example:

Shabazz Palaces—

With the release of their debut album last year, Seattle’s Palaceer Lazaro—aka Ishmael Butler—and multi-instrumentalist Tendai Maraire (Shown Above) have proven to be two of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop.  Black Up is an impressive mix of Butler’s cosmic rhymes set to swirling psychedelic beats and haunting, reverb-drenched effects.

Lord Huron—

There’s a lot of folk-pop to be had in this world, but it’s rare to find some as carefully crafted and emotive as Lord Huron. With ethereal vocals that drift over Afro-Caribbean percussion and acoustic guitar narratives, Ben Schneider and crew are able to separate themselves from the pack while making it sound effortless.

Star Slinger—

It was two years ago that Darren Williams started making music under the name Star Slinger.  Since then he’s put out a number of unofficial remixes, collaborations with other artists and original material. Volume 1, his 11-track 2010 release, finds the 25-year-old producer making upbeat sample-heavy sonic collages that follow in the footsteps of artists like J-Dilla, Kanye West and Madlib.

For more information see: http://sasquatchfestival.com/

Top Photo: Deerhunter by Christopher Nels

So you're going to Coachella! If you're anything like me, you're probably stoked as a surfer staring at the perfect swell about seeing Radiohead live, but you're praying they don't imitate their latest release, The King of Limbs and leave the entire audience aurally blue-balled.

You're searching through your Gmail contacts for that one chick who worked at the Fader or Puma or Skullcandy to try to get a +1 for that party at La Quinta where you get free flip flops, tequila shots and there's a bounce-house-dolphin-water-slide. Seriously, those things rule.

You're also probably scouring the fine print of the sunset-colored digital flyer looking for diamonds in the undercard rough. Well, allow me to help you there my friend.

This year's lineup packs some serious firepower.  I'm not talking about the second or even third biggest typeface bands that everybody knows. I'm not telling you to see the incomparable Jimmy Cliff. I mean you absolutely should, seriously he's a living legend! I'm talking about the names so small even habitual carrot eaters struggle to make them out. I'm talking about the bands; even some of your hippest hipster pals aren't hip to.

I won't tell you to check out Band of Skulls or Fitz & the Tantrums because you should already know that they are absolutely must-sees. Band of Skulls was there in 2010 and absolutely KILLED it. And Fitz will always make an audience thank their lucky stars they're not deaf. Sorry Marlee Matlin and Cole from Mr. Holland’s Opus.

These five bands that are lower on the lineup card will have you thoroughly entertained by their shows and you'll look like an absolute festival guru when you navigate your tribe to their smaller and far less hectic stages.

GIVERS

See this band even if it means you have to break off from your posse because they want to sleep in, or listen to drum & bass while looking at passed out Wookies. GIVERS will absolutely delight you. They rocked The Troubadour last year and their shiny, polished, zydeco electronic-y vibes will cure your hangover, heatstroke, headache, or whatever may be ailing you when you stumble to their stage. This quintet has so much fun in every song and their energy is contagious. Some bands are record bands and some bands are live bands, Givers are certainly the latter. You will probably sweat though, so maybe just for this weekend forego the Tom's of Maine and use some actual aluminum-y deodorant, because unless you're lame you'll be dancing your freckles off. Stream Up Up Up. I double dare you to not smile. Oooooh, you're totally smirking! I win…Again.

Destroyer

This band is great and will soothe even the most downtrodden and exhausted Coachella-ite. If you're with a high maintenance gal (or guy) bring them to Destroyer and get them some wine. Their kvetching should subside faster than they can say, "I need central air." I saw these guys at last summer's Pitchfork Music Festival and their show had me mesmerized. Dan Bejar's strong stage presence in the absence of charisma is simultaneously befuddling and entertaining. His vocals understandably draw Bowie comparisons and, like so many bands these days, he has no qualms with overtly flaunting his synthy, 80s influences. Their dreamy, ultra-mellow sounds will have a savvy mini throng of hipsters unknowingly undulating to the saxophone solos until they forget they can't afford their ticket and can't remember where they parked.

The Growlers

Take off your shoes and look for the smelliest guy around, because he probably has drugs. You may want some. Because there's nothing quite like losing your mind while clapping your hands and muddying your bare feet to the psychedelic sounds of this SoCal band that sounds like they drunk drove their XKE straight out of the 60s. With so many bands borrowing sounds from the 80s it's nice to change up the decade and the pace a bit. Ever wonder what would happen if Brian Wilson and Jim Morrison had a baby? Well, then you're dumb. They're both boys and you need a lady for a baby. Anyway, check this band out. Their songs don't do much in the way of progressing, but they're all about 2 minutes long, so cut them some slack. They growl. That's why they're called The Growlers, or maybe they like the fat craft beer jugs, either way, Growl with 'em. You'll be glad you did and you may just confuse the Polo Fields of Indio for Max Yasgur's 600 acre Catskill Dairy Farm. (That's where Woodstock took place) If only for a song or two, definitely stream "Something Someone Jr," and feel free to air surf and then do that one dance move where you plug your nose and wave your other hand. That dance move is seriously terrible. It's like "The Stanky Leg" of yesteryear.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Despite their name you really ought to give these guys a chance. Maybe just call them WWJP, but then someone may think they're like a "What Would Jesus Do" band. Hmmph. This is quite the Vlasic dill. Oh, I got it, just call them Jetpacks. Jetpacks are fly and so are these guys. Boom, there you go. Jetpacks are label mates of fellow Scotts Frightened Rabbit, and the second you hear the vocals you'll understand why they're mates. Their music however is more modern sounding and certainly riskier. Where Frightened Rabbit consistently relies on classic sounding guitar chords and noisy rock riffs, Jetpacks often use a more varied, and sometimes muted, cinematic sound. This juxtaposition of the traditional with the new creates incredibly unique songs. They sometimes fall back on the very sounds you'd expect from a Scottish rock band, but they mix it up enough to keep the listener engaged and excited for what's next. Download or stream the epic Keeping Warm and while "The chances of being born are so slim" you'll be glad you were.

And the final band you should check out at Coachella…

Grouplove

To no surprise, it’s our best new band of 2011 that rounds out the coverage. As you know these guys formed a few years ago the way most bands form, "while on an artists residency on the Island of Crete." Seriously Wikipedia? Weird. Anyway, you've heard their pandemically contagious Tongue Tied in the new iPod Touch commercial with the floppy-headed skinny kids dancing and disappearing behind white blocks. Unlike some bands that have been featured in iAds, these guys are not one trick pony. Their sound varies wildly on their ironically titled first LP, Never Trust a Happy Song. They bounce, they wail, they croon and they keep the listener on their tapping toes. Also bands like this are notorious for attracting beautiful women. So if you're a single guy looking for the type of beautiful festival girl with face lots of paint and very few inhibitions, this may be your spot. Stream Slow.

Crowd Photo by Monica Christoffels

The lineup for this years Coachella Festival is out and, as you would expect, it's a great one. Headlined by The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog. The lineup includes also includes a lot of our favorites here at BestNewBands.com including: M83, Florence + the Machine, Neon Indian, Dawes, WU LYF, tUnE yArDs, Childish Gambino, Gary Clark Jr.,  and our Best New Band of 2011 Grouplove.

The recession's over, so get your tickets now before they sell out.

M83

Thursday January 12th and Friday 13th at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA - 8pm - $25/$30 - All Ages

GROUPLOVE

W/ Hospitality, 123 and Kid Color

Saturday  January 14th - Lincoln Hall in Chicago, ILL - 9pm - $15 - 18+

THE STEPKIDS

w/ Cuckoo Chaos and Lushlife

Saturday, January 14th - The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY -  8pm - $10adv/$12dos - All Ages

It’s summertime in Australia and The Falls Music and Arts Festival ending the year with a few days of fun in the sun with warm weather and hot new bands. Making the trek are BestNewBands.com favorites Grouplove (shown above, Photo by Dan Cordie), Metronomy and The Jezabels.

Besides the music, one of the things that make The Falls a really special festival is its locations. There are two sites actually, Lorne,  a seaside with a Mediterranean feel and amazing scenery and Marion Bay, a small town on the 'foot' of the Yorke Peninsula and the gateway to Innes National Park that offers surf and swimming beaches and fishing available.

Metronomy

The Jezabels