Andrew Bird, Low, and dozens more set for Forward Music Festival
Last year's inaugural Forward Music Festival boasted several headlining acts that prompted folks to say, "People running a music festival for the first time got them to town?" The Forward folks have finally announced an impressive headliner for their second year (Sept. 17-19): Andrew Bird will play Overture Hall on Saturday, Sept. 19, on a bill that will also include Madison's own Pale Young Gentlemen. [UPDATE: Overture has begun a pre-sale for the Bird show right here, the password being "BIRD." Tickets run $25 or $35 depending on seats.] Perhaps it's just us, but we think it's equally big news, if not bigger, that the festival's featured acts this time around will include Low. Much as we admire Andrew Bird's elaborate songwriting, whistling, and violin playing, it's been far too long since Low brought its mighty, bleak wonders to Madison. At any rate, knowing these two acts are due back in town puts us in a dandy mood, not unlike Low's song "California":
Forward Fest organizers Bessie Cherry and Wyndham Manning have announced that the festival is set to include at least 50 bands and 11 local venues. But here are some acts that popped out on the list so far: Richard Buckner, Japanther, Garaj Mahal, Milwaukee's Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, former Madisonians Solid Gold, unwieldy noise collective Excepter, Rock Plaza Central, Wavves, Punchline, and Yacht. The fest will once again try to emphasize Madison and other Wisconsin and Midwestern bands, including local ambient-pop duo Peaking Lights and Eau Claire bands like Meridene and The Daredevil Christopher Wright—though it sounds like a lot of the local and regional stuff has yet to be filled in. We're only scratching the surface here—for a bigger list of what's confirmed so far, just scroll down and read the fest's new poster below. Also, contrary to the poster, $35 "early bird" tickets will go onsale July 10.
The fest is also branching out into showcases curated by Kyle Pfister (who runs an interesting music-and-art blog and has brought such bands as Phosphorescent and Frog Eyes to town as an independent promoter); Matt Fanale (who represents Madison's industrial and "hard-electronic" musicians as the organizer of the annual Reverence Festival, which effectively will become part of Forward this time around); and Wongz Walk (an upstart group of local musicians/promoters who've been putting on eclectic shows that mix such experimental acts as AIDS Wolf and These Are Powers with rappers, DJs, and other artists who wouldn't normally end up on such bills).
As previously reported, Ra Ra Riot and Madison's own Cougar will be playing Forward as well. We'll keep you posted as we hear more about bands, schedule details, and ticket prices.
