There’s no other way to put it other than there’s a shitload of good music going on from now until the end of Musikfest. Today we’ve got eight – EIGHT – picks for you. Put on your Partici-Pants kids because it’s time to rally all the way until the end.
South Side
Hurray for the Riff Raff – performing from 4pm to 5pm at the TD Bank Community Stage at the Air Products Town Square
A girl, 17 and of Puerto Rican descent, runs away from home and spends her time hopping freight trains. Fast forward a few years and she’s leading an Americana band and singing with such gusto you might mistake her band for a country take on Alabama Shakes. Check this out.
Ball in the House – performing from 5pm to 6:30pm at Americaplatz
Well here’s something that you don’t see at Musikfest too often: a capella. This fairly unassuming group of guys from Boston belt out a huge variety of covers and originals.
Frenchy and the Punk – performing from 8pm to 10pm at the National Penn Bank Jazz Cabaret Stage at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
Probably one of the weirdest bands playing this year, the band mixes themes of cabaret, gypsy music, steampunk, and quirk. Or you have things like “Rock Paper Scissors”, a percussion-only track that verges on marching band territory with the video coming off as an avant garde film project conceived and filmed in the desert during a bad acip trip at Burning Man. This show should be…interesting.
McClain Sullivan – performing from 8pm to 8:40pm at the Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
This Brooklyn singer-songwriter’s deeply soulful voice comes through in her bluesy songs with great emotion. It was no surprise to see an Amy Winehouse cover in her Youtube uploads. If you can’t catch her here she’ll be playing at Stroudfest at the end of the month.
Slicked Up Nines – performing from 8pm to 9:30pm at the Musikfest Café
Classic swing, big band, jump, jazz, and all of the above. With a bevy of bands like this at Musikfest this year, these old favorites will surely deliver a good time.
Julian Fulton and the Zombie Gospel – performing from 11pm to 12am at the TD Bank Community Stage at the Air Products Town Square
Fresh off of releasing their first music in a year in the form of the single “Two Little Thieves”, this indie rock band’s polished music intertwines gorgeously with back-and-forth vocals from Julian Fulton and Kristine Donovan.
South Side
Emily’s Toybox – performing from 8pm to 11pm at Festplatz
The premiere party band in the area. They play covers, yes, and they’re played well and with a lot of energy. But oh, where Emily’s Toybox really succeeds is with their originals. Unfortunately most venues don’t allow them to play them, but since they’re playing late enough maybe an exception will be made. I mean seriously, how can you go wrong with lyrics like, “Out of my way you geriatric fuck/I got the road rage/Gas motherfucker”?
Ganstagrass – performing from 9:30pm to 11pm at Liederplatz
In case you missed these guys last night, they’re performing once again at Liederplatz. Although a bit of an odd venue for them compared to say, last year’s Main Street or last night’s Volksplatz, it will still be a solid show. They infuse bluegrass into hip hop and rap, something that’s quite refreshing and unique.