By now the crappy, rainy weather of last weekend is a distant memory—but it was very, very real indeed for anyone who went to the 10th annual Shamrock Fest near RFK Stadium. Although it was a sideshow to the excessive drinking that is the real reason folks go to this thing, some music did happen, [...]
The former East Coast Jazz Festival returns this weekend as the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, under the stewardship of DC saxophonist, educator, and mentor Paul Carr. Held at the Hilton Rockville — the ECJF's longtime home base — the festival features a gallimaufry of performances, master classes, and live interviews, with a couple of film screenings [...]
SXSW Music 2010: We here at Festival Watch have, from time to time, strapped on the ole press badge in order to piece together a reported effort. We were serving in that capacity this past Thursday when we found ourselves stumbling onto a bit of SXSW-related news.
Each week, the Austin City Council offers its citizens [...]
It's hard to deny that Sean Gray and Christopher Berry have some bragging rights. In the last year their label, Fan Death, has put out a number of noisy 7-inches, 12-inches, and cassettes, including music by Drunkdriver, FNU Ronnies, and Ringo Deathstarr. In terms of productivity, they've outpaced just about every other D.C.-based label. More [...]
Bloc Festival 2010: Your pals at Festival Watch like to keep you informed about things that don’t happen in this country. Maybe it’s 'cause we’re jealous that we can’t really afford to go to them—and are hoping that we can live vicariously through those of you who can.
Anyway. If there’s ever been a festival that [...]
Neon Hates You/Smell Anniversary Fest: The Smell is the sort of DIY space that makes a scene. All ages, with a bent toward the experimental and interesting, this L.A. spot is about to mark its 12th anniversary with a weekend festival (Jan. 22 and 23) that seems heavy on the stuff [...]
2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival: Holy Keith Urban do Australians love them some country music! Don’t believe us? Check out the Web site for this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival. According to these folks, their event is “[p]ossibly the biggest party in the whole of Australia…a mighty, large beast” which “almost [...]
Arts Desk contributor Brandon Wu photographs a lot of shows, but for our Music in Review issue, he did a 180 and pointed his camera at the crowds. His photo essay includes fans of Metallica, Lady Gaga (above), Britney Spears, Mates of State, Mudvayne, Yo La Tengo, and more. Check it out here.
AFI's 22nd annual European Union Film Showcase opens tonight with Mammoth, Swedish writer-director Lukas Moodysson's first English-language feature starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams.
The festival runs through Nov. 24 with centerpiece screenings including The Young Victoria, a period romance from Gosford Park writer Julian Fellowes with Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend as Queen Victoria [...]
A semi-regular look at music festival news, rumors, and gossip
2009 Umbrella Music Festival: Our pals over at the Chicago Reader noted in their ’09 Fall Arts Guide that the Umbrella Music Festival “is eclipsed only by the Chicago Jazz Festival as the most impressive and adventurous jazz event of the year.” Since those guys seem [...]
