07 May On Your Radar: Sunday
And just like that, there are only 15 performances left before SunFest 2017 is over.
Like any other day, there are a lot of acts to choose from — some that may be familiar and others complete strangers.
That happened to me yesterday with the Magic City Hippies on the Ford stage. I didn’t know much about the band other than what Cassie wrote.
Turns out, the indie group had amazing musicianship, a lot of charm and its singer, Robby Hunter’s voice totally reminded me of John Mayer. I ended up happily buying the band’s CD.
Long story short, there’s a lot of talent performing across those three stages today. And sometimes, you have to take a shot based on a recommendation. So here are mine.
Roanoke
Roanoke
With some of the sweetest harmonies you’ll hear all weekend, Roanoke is a folk group you need to catch today.
Led by lead vocalists Joey Beesley and Taylor Dupuis, this six-piece from Nashville has been placed on Spotify playlists like My Folksy Love and Southern Gothic, just to give you an idea.
The group’s self titled album came out last year and features the single, “Jordan.” Between Dupuis’ swelling melodies over Beesley’s Jack-White-vibes, the pair remind me a lot of this generation’s version of The Civil Wars.
Roanoke have this honest, auto tune-less, pure sound that you don’t find every day. So make the time to catch the group’s set.
Roanoke perform at 4:45 on the Tire Kingdom stage.
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
I never thought I’d see the day where Widespread Panic and Blink-182 had two things in common:
- Both are performing on the Ford stage today.
- Each group has a song called “Up All Night.”
But that’s where the comparison stops.
Jam band, Widespread Panic, have been around for 30 years and have been called one of the remaining “road warriors,” compared to the likes of Phish and the Grateful Dead.
Its song, “Up All Night,” is off the group’s tenth studio album, Free Somehow. The group’s most recent studio album, “Street Dogs” released in 2015 and since, the band’s been doing what it does best — performing at festivals like SunFest.
Widespread Panic are a southern rock group by trade, and the studio albums are great. But on stage is where you’ll really see this group shine and be able to hear the influence constantly touring has had on it — like blues, jazz and New Orleans second line.
This is a bucket list kind of band. Go give it a check mark today.
Widespread Panic performs at 2 p.m. on the Ford stage.
Blink-182
Let’s be honest, do I even have to tell you why you should see Blink-182?
Because it’s Blink-182. That’s why.
Blink-182
Like so many of you, I grew up listening to this band as an introductory course to punk. A way to get a little sample spoonful of it before going into the deep end. “Em’s first punk band,” if you will.
Blink-182 has been has been convincing kids to be rebellious since the 90s. Its glossy, pop-punk California sound is as good now as it was then, if not better since adding Matt Skiba into the mix on vocals and guitar.
Skiba is also a member of Alkaline Trio (one of my favorites).
Blink’s impact wasn’t just on today’s 20-30 somethings, though. Groups like All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, Good Charlotte, Panic! At The Disco, Mumford & Sons and The Chainsmokers have all cited the group as an influence.
Now, it’s your turn to be influenced.
Blink-182 performs at 7:45 p.m. on the Ford stage.