Top 5 Acts on the Lockn’ Undercard
The lineup at Lockn’ is incredibly mind-blowing. With all the major headliners and the special collaborations, your schedule can fill up very quickly. But if you focus your attention there, you’ll be missing out on some really great music from the lesser-known bands. Given the star power of the lineup, defining the “undercard” can be a struggle, but catch these five acts and you’ll be able to say “I knew them when…”
5. Deer Tick
These alt/indie rockers formed in Providence, RI in 2004. Their sound is influenced by folk, blues and, some say, country. While those country influences are clear, there’s no twang that you’d normally associate with the genre. It’s hard to deny when they break out a John Prine or Hank Williams cover during their live performances. Their last album, Negativity, was released in 2013 and has sold very well. A song that didn’t make that album, “Grandfather Song,” was released as a single August 7 on the Amazon Acoustics playlist. You can check it out at this link http://amzn.to/1eyhEG7 Make sure you catch their set on Thursday!
4. The Oh Hellos
Siblings Tyler and Maggie Heath from San Marcos, TX have been performing as The Oh Hellos since 2011. They are a fiercely independent duo, having shunned pursuit of a recording contract, instead writing, recording and producing their own albums. Their eclectic brand of folk rock is heavily influenced by Americana, Celtic, and Southern gospel, drawing inspiration from the likes of The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, and Sufjan Stevens. With two full-length albums and an EP under their belts, they’re just getting started. They’ll hit the Lockn’ stage on Sunday.
3. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave
To folks in the know it probably seems silly to list Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. in an “undercard” article, but such is the star power of the Lockn’ lineup. Troy Andrews, aka Trombone Shorty, has been playing brass since the age of six while growing up in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. The band you’ll see on Sunday has been together since 2009, bringing that funky, brass-based sound from the deep South to audiences all around the world. You won’t be able to stay seated once they hit the stage.
2. Soulive
Another fixture on the festival scene since 1999, the trio of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums), and brother Neal Evans (Hammond B3, bass keys, clavinet) bring some of the best funk/jazz sounds on the planet to every stage. While they do still play as a trio, more often than not they’re joined by a rotating array of horn players. The Shady Horns are the most consistent supporting cast, made up of Ryan Zoidis on sax and Eric Bloom on trumpet. Since 2010, they’ve held an annual two-week residency at the Brooklyn Bowl, known as Bowlive, with an all-star cast of opening acts and artists at large. Their set on Thursday is not to be missed.
1. St. Paul & The Broken Bones
It’s so appropriate that this blue-eyed soul outfit from Birmingham, AL is playing on Sunday, because they will definitely take you to church! This seven-piece band, fronted by Paul Janeway on vocals, has been wowing audiences internationally since 2012. Their February 2014 release, Half the City, received widespread critical acclaim, and for good reason. Their sound is their own, but it fits squarely into the classic soul and R&B vibe of the ’60s. If you can only catch one of these five bands during Lockn’ 2015, make sure it’s this one.
So there you have it. Five bands that you certainly don’t want to overlook at Lockn’ this year. They’re more than worthy of rolling out of your tent early. Here’s a little playlist to pique your interest.