June is full of festivals, some marred by weather, some patrolled by buzz kill cops, and some featuring scary Disney fans. Here’s the lowdown:
The four-day 2007 Bonnaroo Festival wrapped on Sunday. When The White Stripes left the stage after a raucous performance (read about it on Spinner), hipsters got a head start out of the parking lot on jam band fans while Widespread Panic closed the final day. That kind of dichotomy has characterized this festival, which until a few years ago was more hippy than hip — where else can you choose between Gov’t Mule and Girl Talk? Despite one unfortunate tragedy, the festival made positive headlines on the blogs:
Across the pond, as they say, the Meltdown Festival, curated this year by Jarvis Cocker, kicked off with Motörhead on Satuday. While the acts differ significantly from the Bonnaroo lineup (Saint Eteinne, Cornershop, Iggy & The Stooges), they too are a disparate bunch. According to Cocker, the idea was that “by combining things that shouldn’t be combined, by looking at things from a different angle, by the use of extreme volume and frequencies… we shall rouse you from your slumber.”
Roky Erickson – You Don’t Love Me Yet (MP3)
Unfortunately, the Heineken Jammin’ Festival in Venice was cancelled due to stormy weather. The BBC reports that 20 fans were injured and vehicles were overturned at the site, where bands including Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, and Aerosmith were set to perform. Pearl Jam, who had seen a fan tragedy before and who were about to perform soon after the cancellation was announced, said in an official statement, “We’re told that there are no critical injuries and for that we are grateful. Our hearts and thoughts are with all of you in Venice.”
Rain, but not stormy weather, is in the forecast for this weekend’s monster Glastonbury Festival. NME thinks it wise to stow your bumbershoot when you go out to see Arctic Monkeys, Bjork, Editors, The Chemical Brothers, The New Pornographers, Pigeon Detectives, Mark Ronson, Spiritualized, M.I.A., Trentemoller, Coldcut, and the list goes on and on and on. A lot of flooding could happen while you’re waiting! Here are a few tracks to keep you dry:
Arctic Monkeys – You Know I’m No Good [Amy Winehouse cover] (MP3)
Modest Mouse – Invisible (MP3)
Cold War Kids – Heavy Boots (MP3)
The Little Ones – Lovers Who Uncover (MP3)
The Young Republic – She’s Not Waiting Here This Time (MP3)Â
