North Coast Music Festival Is A Walloping End To Summer
By Jake Guidry in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 1, 2011 7:00PM
Photo by Clayton Hauck
North Coast will lay stake to Union Park over the weekend, featuring the likes of David Guetta, Bassnectar, Wiz Khalifa, Common, Thievery Corporation, Fatboy Slim, Major Lazer, of Montreal, Gogol Bordello, Carl Cox and more. And while the lineup does not live up to the expectations set by last year’s inaugural showing, this year will certainly deliver the goods to its core audience. For its second year, North Coast has made it clear the type of festival it wants to be: high octane (though, at times heddy), electronically bent music for raver types. Dubstep and electro are the prevailing themes this time around, and if the city’s continued penchant for these sounds is any indication, the festival will enjoy considerable success.
But it’s not all about dubstep and electro. There is a lot to enjoy for all types at North Coast Music Festival. Below are our picks to help you decide.
SBTRKT - North Coast Stage, 6:30p.m.
SBTRKT is one of our top picks for NCMF. The London-based producer offers a blend of IDM, techno, and dubstep, all which combine for some of the best electronic music around right now. He also employs a variety of vocalists for his productions, and while the idea itself isn’t original, the execution is usually quite flawless. We wish he had a later timeslot, but this will have to do.
Wolfgang Gartner - North Coast Stage, 7:30p.m.
We admit we’ve sort of fell out of love with Wolfgang Gartner since he burst onto the electro scene some two years ago. Electro has persisted for quite a while, and though our ears might be exhausted, Wolfgang Gartner is still a high-quality producer with the ability to command a crowd. He’s been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with the likes of Deadmau5. We think that, once it comes time for him to take the stage, our aforementioned ear fatigue will take a back seat.
Wiz Khalifa - Red Bull Grove Stage, 9:00p.m.
We know. Wiz Khalifa? His latest album, Rolling Papers, is pretty much over-produced fodder. It’s the stuff made for John Barleycorn and Big City Tap DJs. But consider his Cabin Fever mixtape, one of the best collections of beats for a rap mixtape in a long while. We know it’s a long shot, but we’re holding out for a couple of performances from said mixtape, especially “Cabin Fever” and “Taylor Gang”. Those alone will make it worth skipping glorified pop producer David Guetta.
Major Lazer - Red Bull Grove Stage, 6:00p.m.
We’ve managed to catch Major Lazer a couple times and can personally attest to the positive energy their show exudes. Comprised of producers Diplo and Switch, Major Lazer is club-centric dancehall, and it’s a real fun time to see it live. We’re talking daggering off of ladders. Plus they will likely play some new music from their upcoming album.
Common - Groupon Stage, 7:30p.m.
The Chicago-born rapper has been relatively quiet as of late, but that’s not to say that he’s not one of the best in the business. Common has built a healthy career off conscious lyrics and stellar production, and his set Saturday night should offer a healthy reprieve from the overall fast paced energy of the festival.
Fatboy Slim - Red Bull Grove Stage, 8:45p.m.
This is one of those gimme picks. Fatboy Slim may have long since faded from whatever spotlight he once had, but the sentiment for “Praise You” still rings true. We look forward to what he will bring.
Paper Diamond - Red Bull Grove Stage, 3:35p.m.
Paper Diamond is essentially a more focused version of Pretty Lights, which makes sense considering producer Alex B produces for both. Paper Diamond is much in the same vain as Glitch Mob, but there tends to be more subtlety in the music, with aggressive synthesizers substituted with softer, smoother ones. We also catch a hint of juke melodies in there, which has become a popular tool as of late.
Little Dragon - Groupon Stage, 5:30p.m.
Little Dragon is a top pick for us at NCMF. Their latest LP, Ritual Union, is a fantastic album that takes electropop and re-energizes it with complexity and beautiful sonic textures. Lead singer Yukimi Nagano’s voice is sultry and commanding and a perfect forefront of Little Dragon’s productions.
Thievery Corporation - Red Bull Grove Stage, 8:30p.m.
Thievery Corporation has been around for a while and have amassed quite a catalog of music. They rest firmly in the canon of electronic “jam” music, and as such have quite a cult following. We enjoy the laid back vibes Thievery Corporation can produce in a multitude of ways, so we look forward to this festival-closing set.