Latest Event Preview Posts

[Festival Preview] Noise Pop Anniversary “25 To 25” Event Series

Posted by Dominic Powell - July 14, 2016

The 2017 Noise Pop Festival – a personal favorite of TMN – will return with ten consecutive days of music, film, and art in San Francisco for their 25th anniversary: February 17-26, 2017. Leading up to this quarter-century milestone, Noise Pop is proud to present the 25 To 25 series. Featuring 25 curated music, film, and art events ending with a blowout Noise Pop Festival lineup announcement party in November 2016.

The entire 25 To 25 series will be selectively announced over the next couple of months, with the first batch of music artists arriving today. Series performers include Canadian punk four-piece TOPS; Owen, the solo project of Mike Kinsella of American Football; Philadelphia rock group Sheer Mag; electronic musician Juan MacLean (DJ Set); Norwegian indie electronic duo Lemaitre, and more to come!

Local Bay Area talent will also have the chance to join many of the upcoming music performances, and they are encouraged to apply via Sonicbids.

Filmmakers who wish to feature one of their productions in one of the film events, can visit Film Freeway to submit.

Music lovers can enjoy the 25 To 25 series and Noise Pop Festival 2017 by purchasing single tickets to each of the events or a Super Fan Badge, which go on sale noon (PDT) Friday, July 15 and can be purchased through the website. Super Fan Badges will not only grant access to all of the events in the 25 To 25 series, but all of the shows, events, and pass perks during the Noise Pop Festival February 17-26 as well, clocking in at more than 60 events.

In honor of 25 years of Noise Pop, the producers will be making the 2017 festival a particularly spectacular and memorable year. Crowds can expect a genre-blurring mix of indie, hip hop, electronic, pop and beyond, plus intimate performances set at the Festival HQ, Swedish American Hall. The 2016 Festival, which saw some of the highest attendance numbers for the Festival to date, included amazing sets by Kamasi Washington, Bill Callahan, The Mountain Goats, American Football, Vince Stables, DIIV, Metric, Neon Indian, and many more. Since the Noise Pop debut in 1993, the Festival has featured many emerging performers who have gone on to wide acclaim, including The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, The Shins, Fleet Foxes, and Bright Eyes.

Follow along with the Noise Pop Festival news, including the upcoming lineup this fall, at www.noisepop.com/2017, as well as on Facebook and on Twitter.

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[Event Preview] Global Dance Festival – Red Rocks Amphitheater – July 8-10

Posted by Clayton Warwick - June 27, 2016

A festival season rumbles its way through the summer months, we’re, once again, looking ahead to one of our perennial favorites. Global Dance Festival is back for another three-night soiree at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. The lineup, as expected, is stacked with some of the most legendary names in dance music, and plenty of budding young talent, as well.

To get you ramped up for this upcoming, sure-to-be-legendary, weekend, we’ve put together a tasty little playlist featuring who you’ll be dancing to come July 8th, 9th, and 10th.

Before you check that out, though, make sure to head over to our friends at Cadence & Cause and take a look at the incredible experiences they’re offering up. You could win three-day passes or artist experiences with W&W or Tritonal, just by contributing a few bucks to our favorite charity–Youth on Record.

’Stone Cold (Hermitude Remix)’
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’MALAA – Notorious’
Buy
’Jauz & Ephwurd – Rock The Party (Original Mix)’
Buy
’Jackal X Dr. Fresch – NETFLIX N’ KILL’
Buy
’W&W – Rave After Rave (Original Mix)’
Buy
’Jack Novak – If It Kills Me (feat. blackbear)’
Buy
’Aryay – Overwhelmed (Unlike Pluto Remix)’
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’TroyBoi feat Sam Sure – Wasted Love’
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’DJ Scene & Four Color Zack – Stomp feat. Mad Lion’
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’Slumberjack – Enigma ft. GRRL PAL’
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’NGHTMRE & Boombox Cartel – Aftershock’
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’Brillz Feat. Drones – We Bring The Fire’
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’Cuboid & Fransis Derelle – Set Me Free’
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’DJ SNAKE & LIL JON – TURN DOWN FOR WHAT’
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’Terravita & Riot Ten – I’m On It’
Buy
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[Festival Preview] HARD Summer 2016 – July 30/31 @ Auto Club Speedway, Fontana

Posted by Ivan Chung - June 20, 2016

Our favorite festival in Southern California is around the corner once again. We were absolutely blown away by last year’s HARD Summer, but 2016’s event is only going to be bigger and better! There is a couple of major changes in the festival this year, including the switch of venue and its addition as a two-day camping festival. That’s right – there’s camping available and it’s definitely going to fuel the festival vibe and spirit. In terms of location, HARD 2016 is taking place in the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, just east of the Pomona Fairplex (last year’s venue). Its move to the new location helps cope with the camping option and allows even more guests inside the festival. It’s definitely a giant step-up from the last HARD Summer.

Now moving on to the lineup. It’s everything we desire and more. It is a great mix between electronic and hip-hop acts, with a stacked roster of up and coming artists. Huge names like Flosstradamus, Medeon and Travis Scott would headline Saturday’s festival, together with talents like Rezz, Louis The Child, Jerry Folk, Slushii and many others who are shaping the current dance scene. Founder of Hard, Gary Richards a.k.a Destructo would also participate as the tradition continues. Following an epic performance from this year’s Coachella, Ice Cube would be closing out the night and would sure to turn up the heat in Fontana by a few more notches.

Sunday’s lineup is equally as awesome as Saturday’s. Electronic powerhouses like Dillon Francis and Zeds Dead will be returning to Hard Summer for the second straight year. Also, genius producer Porter Robinson is moved from Saturday to the Sunday lineup due to a scheduling conflict. Other popular electronic acts like Jai Wolf, Kaytranada and Mura Masa would also be participating in this giant dance galore. AC Slater, Boys Noize and Kill The Noise are some of the veterans in their respective genre that will be attending the festival. To top it all off, Major Lazer will be sure to conclude the night with an electrifying performance.

It’s safe to say that Hard Summer is an event you can’t miss. To get you pumped up when July 30 comes, we’ve prepared a playlist featuring some of the acts in the lineup. Peep it below and we’ll see you all there!

’Pretty Lights – Only Yesterday’
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’Mr. Carmack & Promnite – FDT’
Download
’MALAA – Notorious’
Buy
’Jerry Folk – To My Soul’
Buy
’Keith Ape – IT G MA Remix (josh pan Opus) w/ sakuraburst, MISOGI, X&G, MEDASIN., oshi’
Buy
’REZZ – Edge’
Buy
’Kiiara – Feels (Jai Wolf Remix)’
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’Zeds Dead – Back Home (feat. Freddie Gibbs)’
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’Point Point – doubleOreo (San Holo Remix)’
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’Ty Dolla $ign – Blasé (Louis The Child Remix)’
Buy
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40 Songs to Prepare for Sasquatch! 2016 [Festival Preview + Playlist]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - May 24, 2016

Over the last few years, Memorial Day Weekend for us has become synonymous with Washington’s Sasquatch! Music Festival–you can take a look back at our review from last year to get a sense of just how much we love it. The 4-day event separates itself from other major festivals by offering a one-of-a-kind backdrop overlooking the Columbia River Gorge and being just far enough in the boonies that all attendees camp together. That combination makes for a more communal experience while offering some relief from common festival-goer complaints.

In its second year back to a 4-day bill, Sasquatch! presents one of its most unique lineups to date shedding light on local Seattle musicians early in the day while bringing the headliners everyone has come to expect (aside from The Cure!) to take on the evening performances. While late sets from the likes of Jamie xx, Disclosure and Major Lazer jump out as major electronic acts, the daytime seems more focused on indie rock / pop and hip-hop, which should fit a sunny day in the Gorge perfectly.

To help all our Sasquatch Ninjas prepare, we’ve put together a 40-song playlist highlighting 10 acts for each day of the festival. Whether or not you’ll be at the Gorge this year, we hope you discover some new artists in here–we certainly did in putting it together. If you do make it out, look for the dude with the most colorful shorts and come say what’s up!

Day 1

Lion Babe – Treat Me Like Fire (feat. Snakehips Remix)
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Oh Wonder – Body Gold
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Can’t Keep Checking My Phone
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Marcus Marr – Peacemakers
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Flume – Smoke and Retribution (feat. Vince Staples)
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Alina Baraz & Galimatias – Pretty Thoughts
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Yeasayer – Silly Me
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Todd Terje – Strandbar (disko)
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Disclosure – Jaded
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Chet Faker & Marcus Marr – The Trouble With Us
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[Denver Event Preview] Project Pabst – RiNo Arts District – 5/21

Posted by Matthew Bloss - May 20, 2016

Already an established and highly praised festival in Portland, Project Pabst is set to touch down for its first ever stop in Denver, and we’re chomping at the bit for their all-day lineup featuring the likes of TMN Favorites Best Coast, Small Black (who headlined one of our TMN Showcase parties back on Halloween), K. Flay, and local Denverites turned national darlings Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; along with classic staples including the Violent Femmes, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires and loads more across seven stages on Saturday, May 21st in Denver’s booming and eclectic RiNo Arts District. We’ve been watching Project Pabst pick up steam as it nears closer and closer, and with the announcement yesterday that all tickets have now been sold out, it’s shaping up to be a beast of a day for music in the Mile High City.

In anticipation of this weekend’s Denver debut of Project Pabst, check out our playlist below featuring some of our favorite tunes from each headliner, start hydrating, and put aside your beer snobbery before loading your system with cheap domestic beer in the greatest craft-brew city in the U.S. We’ll be out in full force all day tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for our post-event review, and get in the spirit a little early with our official Project Pabst Preview Playlist (say that five times fast) below.

’Best Coast – The Only Place’
Download
’Small Black – No Stranger’
Buy
’Best Coast – Do You Love Me Like You Used To’
Buy
’Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
S.O.B.’
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’Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun’
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’FIDLAR – No Waves’
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’Big KRIT ft Trinidad James – My Trunk’
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’Lights – Same Sea (K.Flay Remix)’
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’Metz – Can’t Understand’
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’Baroness – Shock Me’
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[TMN Exclusive Interview] TMN Talks ‘Life of Pause’, Time Traveling & More with Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum

Posted by Matthew Bloss - April 29, 2016
Wild Nothing
TMN Exclusive Interview + A Woman's WIsdom (Official SIngle)
Soundcloud

Few people are able to conjure up such a visceral response through their artistic medium as multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and chief architect behind one of the most lauded music projects over the last decade as has the L.A. via Blacksburg, VA (and a few cities in between) Wild Nothing frontman Jack Tatum. Clearly a pensive and grounded artiste, Tatum’s abundant knowledge of music pours throug Wild Nothing’s pop-structured, but genre-eschewing catalog. Tatum and Wild Nothing’s sound has always toyed between abstract and direct, which has resulted in some of the most velvety, lush indie-pop tunes we’ve ever exposed our cochlear cavities to.

Last week, jut ahead of the start of Wild Nothing’s current international tour, we had the chance to catch up with Jack and see what’s been going on since the release of Life of Pause and ahead of yet another hefty jaunt across the world. Check out our show preview for Wild Nothing’s upcoming Red Bull Sound Select Showcase in Denver this Saturday with Inner Oceans & Flaural at the Bluebird Theater, and be sure to read our entire transcript below.

The Music Ninja (TMN): First off, let’s just take a second to thank you for taking the time to let us pick your brain and answer a couple of questions.

JT: Absolutely.

TMN: I’ve been a very vocal Wild Nothing consumer since your excellent 2010 debut, Gemini, and this past February you added another worthy addition to the Wild Nothing long-player catalog with Life of Pause which was the follow-up to perhaps my favorite album in the last 5 years, Nocturne. So, another thanks is in order for consistently creating some of the most tasteful sounds we’ve consumed in the past decade. So let’s get into it.

Jack Tatum (JT): Wow, yeah, thank you, for those very kind words.

TMN: Obviously an artist can undergo quite a sea-change as far as personal tastes and aesthetic go in a 7-year period; and with every passing release it seems like another piece of your psyche gets revealed both aurally and stylistically. We know you’ve probably answered this more than a few times on this latest round of press obligations, but were there any significant events going on in your life that sparked this burst of creativity and some of the material on Life of Pause, or was the writing and recording process pretty similar compared to your other EP’s & LP’s?

JT: Ummm… I don’t know. Not necessarily. I don’t know, for the sake of not making myself sound too boring…

TMN: Hahaha not at all.

JT: I’ve never really been someone that wrote kind of in response to any one sort of scenario or event in my life. I guess you could kind of say with the first record (Gemini) it definitely was very much a response to the relationship I was in at the time. And it’s, you know, a very mood based record… A very sort… of I don’t know how exactly I would describe it. But, as I’ve continued to write, I’ve found that I don’t necessarily need a spark to start writing. I think especially as I’ve gotten older I have been equally writing from experience as I am just to write and out of interest, or just purely composition, or trying to achieve a certain kind of sound, or something like that. But, yeah, I put out Nocturne in 2012 and then had the Empty Estate EP in 2013. And that EP in a way was kind of a response to Nocturne, just because we had been touring on Nocturne for so long…

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[Denver Giveaway/Event Preview] The Music Ninja Presents: Day Wave @ Lost Lake – 5/3

Posted by Matthew Bloss - April 20, 2016

Few acts burst out of the gates with such a far-reaching resonance like what we’ve been witness to with Oakland based troupe Day Wave, and for good reason. Cohesive and developed ensembles like Day Wave come along but once in a while in today’s highly saturated musical climate, so it’s with great excitement that we announce our next ‘The Music Ninja Presents’ concert in Denver, CO, headlined by one of the most exciting bands in any corner of the music industry. Most recently, the Jackson Philips led four-piece released their second EP Hard to Read, and after their earliest singles including “Total Zombie” and “Nothing At All”and of course the Mark Hoppus championed “Drag”, its only solidified their place near the top of countless critics’ ‘Breakout Acts of 2016’ list. On Tuesday, May 3rd at our favorite intimate venue, the Lost Lake Lounge, Day Wave bring their hazy brand of pop structured indie-rock to the Mile High City for the first time, and we’re beyond delighted to help ring them in properly with what will no doubt be a completely packed house. It seems like just yesterday we caught and interviewed Philips & Kevin Friedman’s (who is also an integral part of Day Wave’s touring band), first project Carousel, perform to about 20 people at the Walnut in Denver; so May 3rd also marks something of a sentimental show and reunion of sorts for a few of our TMN mainstays, but let’s save the nostalgia for a few weeks down the line…

Of course, it wouldn’t be a ‘TMN Presents’ night without letting our savvy readers in on the fun, so we’ll be giving away TWO pairs of tickets to this one. Entering our contest is as always, beyond easy. Just “like” The Music Ninja on FB, click on this post header if you’re still on the TMN front page, then comment below with your favorite Day Wave song, and boom, that’s it! (We even provided five below if you need!) And of course, we want as many people as possible to come dance with us, so for our friends looking to secure their spot, advance tickets are only $12.50 and can be purchased using the ticket link here.

There are a few rules, of course:
– The event is 16+ Be sure to tell all of your friends to increase chance of winning!
– You are responsible for your own transportation.
– You must bring a valid form of ID to pick up your tickets at the Lost Lake door.

Check out our preview mini-playlist, start commenting below and best of luck ninjas!

’Day Wave – Stuck’
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’Day Wave – Gone’
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’Day Wave – Drag’
Buy
’Day Wave – Come Home Now’
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’Day Wave – We Try But We Don’t Fit In’
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