5 New Bands At Treasure Island – Day 1

Treasure Island Music Festival

San Francisco – Ah, Treasure Island Music Festival.  It’s such a glorious event: beautiful weather, no overlapping sets, minimal panic-inducing crowd swarms.  The annual two-day event is a great festival for locals, due to its conveniently close-to-everything location smack dab in the middle of the bay between San Francisco and Oakland, and the price is

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4 New Bands at Riot Fest 2015: Day 3

Kongos by Sarah Hess

Chicago – The final day of Riot Fest was a beaut! The sun was shining, the mud was drying, the temps were rising, and the legendary Jimmy Cliff graced Douglas Park with his presence. (I know, right, Jimmy effin-cliff! His set was fantastic, by the way.) More importantly, Sunday proved to be one lucky band’s day, earning them my

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3 New Bands at Riot Fest 2015: Day 2

Riot Fest by Sarah Hess

Chicago – M.U.D. That’s what day two of Riot Fest was all about. Lots and lots and lots ‘o mud! Another morning of pouring rain left Douglas Park even squishier and dirtier than before. Everywhere you turned people could be seen slipping and sliding from stage to stage, to see and hear a myriad of

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4 New Bands at Riot Fest: Day 1

Riot Fest by Sarah Hess

Chicago – As per tradition, it rained on the first day of Riot Fest.  We’re talking pour down, smack you dead in the face, rain, which of course left Douglas Park nice and muddy – day two will be no exception. As I write this, cats and dogs are falling – but the mud just

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5 New Bands To See At Riot Fest 2015

Riot Fest 2014 - Chicago: Photo by Jake

Chicago – After months of speculation of whether or not Riot Fest would bring music to the punk rock, emo loving, not your cookie-cutter masses, thanks to a move from Humboldt Park to Douglas Park on the city’s South Side and a last-minute lawsuit, it seems we finally have the last festival of the summer on our hands. Although, September

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5 New Bands Wrap Up Bumbershoot – Day 3

Hozier live by Caitlin Peterkin

Seattle – The final day of Bumbershoot had a lot to live up to after the outstanding performances Best New Bands saw on Saturday and Sunday. But thanks to the appearances of talented local artists, up-and-coming national acts, and globally celebrated musicians, Monday closed out the renowned arts and music festival with a bang.  

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