Stopover is also in need of volunteers at the festival–you can sign up to volunteer here. You can purchase tickets here. You can also follow the Stopover festival on Instagram for updates.

Check out interviews that we’ve done with previous Stopover artists Honey Cutt and Tristen.

The post Savannah Stopover is Back this Year with Amazing Lineup appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Savannah started the five day party with Blues Night, starring Savannah native Willie Jackson and the Tybee Blues Band. Most notable is Jackson’s knack for on-the-spot song improvising and carrying on the music of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. That night, the harmonica’s bellows blended beautifully with the rhythmic drums and guitar in a cover of B.B. King’s, “I Been Downhearted”. Ending Thursday’s performance was another Savannah native, Eric Culberson, with special guest Dolette McDonald who gave a spectacular, goosebump inducing rendition of “Fever” by Peggy Lee and Bob Dylan’s, “Gotta Serve Somebody”. Despite a somber blues night, these moody songs lead into a wonderful next three days of ballads and music that made you want to break dance. 

Friday’s Latin and Classical Night starred notable singers and instrumental musicians, particularly the Latin Caravan from South Carolina band in that performs Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, and even a little R&B. Lead by singer David Rodriguez, the trumpet and saxophone became the beat for the dancefloor’s masked dancers, staying six feet apart. The music was like comfort food and bound to put a little light into the viewer’s evening dinners. The Latin Caravan’s performance was notable in its inclusiveness of the many faces of jazz among international cultures which has not been previously seen at the Savannah Jazz Festival. In celebration of Savannah’s classical jazz history, Cynthia Utterbach lead a special performance with the help of the Savannah Jazz Orchestra. Utterbach is a great conversationalist with her witty storytelling of her travel to Savannah and even a greater singer with her range of strong, warm notes. Remarkable renditions of “Early Autumn” written by Johnny Mercer and “Hey John” written by Blossom Dearie and Jim Council created an intimate, normal evening for unusual times.

Spicy Jazz Saturday saw 6 invigorating mostly instrumental performances. Streamers got to enjoy a noon session of instrumental jazz that was perfect for relaxing outside or finishing up the week’s work on a desktop. A young saxist, Jazmin Ghent, stole the spotlight with her covers of Adele’s “Hello” and songs pulled from Ghent’s newest singles, “Heat” and “Amends”. Ghent’s performance was striking in the sense of seeing a younger generation successfully and seriously carrying on the legacy of Jazz. Seeing her performance at the Savannah Jazz Festival is important for the attending youth. Kids develop a sense of connection through representation in musical literacy for the jazz genre that Ghent proudly presents. Emmett Cohen Trio is child prodigy and part of the next generation of jazz performers, a pianist who has won the 2019 American Pianists Awards. Cohen’s nimble, flowing notes offer a glimpse of his ideology on jazz, to him, “performing jazz is about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it’s essentially about connections”.

Speaking of legacies, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and the Ils Sont Partis Band were the liveliest, undeniably rejuvenating get-on-your-feet performance thus far. Representing the zydeco genre, Buckwheat’s band were one of the only to retain successful recognition by mainstream media. Though this is their first time at the Savannah Jazz Fest, they are Grammy award winners and perform at many other large music festivals. With this unique performance, streamers enjoyed a rowdy accordion complimenting a sassy sax and Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr.’s uplifting voice in a rendition of “Good Rockin’ Tonight”. The last performer of the night, Wycliff Gordan, is a legendary trombone player that uplifts and encourages you to move your body. Gordan cools down in the last half with a tribute to Louis Armstrong’s vocal styling by performing, “[What Did I Do to Be So] Black and Blue”.  

Sunday was a celebratory finale with Dave Potter Quartet, Brian Miller, Ike Stubblefield, Stephanie Nakasian and the Savannah Jazz Orchestra All-Stars, David Sanchez, and Pat Bianchi. Stephanie Nakasian gave an astounding performance with her guttural, trumpet vocals and dramatic range in covering Etta James, “A Sunday Kind of Love” and Sarah Vaughan’s, “Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)”. Some instrumental musicians, such as David Sanchez, gave a lovely end to an energetic event. Sanchez smooth sax teleports listeners to Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Brazil with influence of his Latin and Afro-Caribbean tastes. Pat Bianchi kept the electric energy through the end with new techniques of his own on classic jazz organ trio sound. 

This year’s performance once again elevates the spectacular opportunity and support to the many cultures in which jazz saturates. The festival offers a week of good music and company in the comfort of our homes rejuvenated spirits, love, and grace to let loose and have fun without caution of crowds, transportation, and sickness. The enrichment of the jazz community within Savannah will only grow with the announcement of the coming Savannah Jazz History and Hall of Fame Exhibit, set to open 2021. 

The post This Year’s Online Savannah Jazz Festival Is Triumphant Success appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Between discussions of how to pronounce Bon Iver and a lengthy process of trying to figure out some Canadian geography (that was only ended by googling the answers), we here at SCAD Radio got a wonderful glimpse into the life and friendship of Peach Pit, as well as my very own flower crown hand-made by Mikey.

Icebreaker! What’s your favorite kind of bear?

Peter: Kind of bear… Chris.

Neil: Chris is a bear. He’s pretty hairy. He’s like a little bear.

What inspired your latest album, Being So Normal?

Neil: Being really covered in pimples in high school and no girls liked me, probably.

Chris: Yeah, that’s kind of the general idea, for sure.

Neil: He’s so sad, what’s wrong with him?

Chris: Acne.

Neil: His life was great, he just had some pimples.

Which one of you would you say is the most normal?

Neil: Probably me?

Chris: Probably Neil, yeah. I think so.

Neil: I golf… I like to watch Netflix.

Well, the follow-up question was who’s the least normal.

Chris: Mikey…?

Peter: Mikey? Mikey’s just funny.

Neil: Yeah, that’s true. Probably Pete.

Peter: I’m not the most not normal?

Neil: I would say.

Peter: Yeah, you’re right, I’m pretty progressive.

Neil: Actually, maybe Chris.

Peter: One time he put dish soap in the dishwasher thinking it did the same thing as detergent.

Do you have a favorite song from your album?

Neil: My favorite is “Tommy’s Party”. It’s the last one on the album. I wanted it to be the first song because I thought it was the best.

Peter: I like “Private Presley”. It’s fun to play, and also it took us so long to write and finish it.

Chris: I really like the song “Techno Show”. It’s about Neil going to a techno show and not wanting to be there. It’s kinda like an anti-techno music song.

Neil: Anti-house music song.

Peter: Anti-dance music song.

How do you like being on tour?

Pete: It’s the best time ever.

Chris: It kinda feels like we’re either at home and we’re chilling and writing and it’s very laid back, or we’re on tour and we’re at a hundred. So when you’re at 0, you’re like “Ah, man, I miss a hundred and being busy” and when you’re at a hundred you’re like “I miss chillin’ out”, so the answer to “how do we like being on tour” is whether we’re on tour or not because when we’re on tour we want a break and when we’re off tour we just can’t wait to get back on.

Neil: It’s fun. It’s like you literally are throwing a party every single night, and everyone there is stoked, and you make them stoked. It’s pretty fun.

Mikey: I love the party.

Neil: And Mikey loves the party.

You guys are from Canada, so how do you like being in America?

Neil: Oh, I love America. The States are the best. There’s just so much good food and it’s so cheap to buy stuff here—it’s way more expensive at home.

Peter: I mean, kinda.

Neil: People are so nice.

Peter: Not really these days.

Neil: People from Canada are polite.

Peter: Different nice.

Chris: Yeah, there is a big difference.

Neil: People in the states are really friendly—not in every state, but definitely in The South.

Chris: People in Utah are so nice.

Peter: A guy from Massachusetts gave Chris a guitar.

If I were to go to Canada, what should I do?

Neil: Well, if you came to Vancouver—

Chris: The first thing you should do is buy a joint, it’s legal there.

Neil: When we’re back home, Vancouver is really known for the outdoors so we really like playing Disc Golf. It’s like golf except instead of hitting a ball into a hole, you’re throwing a frisbee into a basket. Play some disc golf, have a couple beers, go down to the beach and have a bonfire at the beach.

What’s coming up next for you guys?

Chris: We’re going to go in and record next month—

Neil: This month.

Chris: Yeah, and we got a pretty chill summer ahead of us. We’re playing some festivals, but mostly just working on this record and trying to write more in the midst of all of it. Just really excited to put some new music out and get some new recordings done.

What inspires your music?

Neil: Who’re we listening to right now?

Chris: I really like this guy, Sam Evian.

Neil: I’m just on a major classic music train right now. Listening to a lot of Neil Young.

Pete: I am a big fan of Bon Iver. I feel like his music is inspiring to me. I love how creative and weird and original his music is. I think he’s one of the most creative artists of our generation.

Let’s talk about some favorite artists—of all time.

Neil: ACDC. Beatles.

Chris: We just watched a George Harrison Documentary. The Beatles are just too classic to really appreciate until you really dive into them.

Neil: Frank Ocean.

Chris: A lot of very local stuff. A band called Schwey. They’re like indie-funk.

The post Shaky Knees- Interview With Peach Pit, a Canadian Band Loaded With Teen Angst appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Shaky Knees Festival was a crazy weekend full of great music, awesome food, and just enough rain to keep everyone cool. In case it wasn’t obvious, the highlight of my weekend was Cage the Elephant. Who can take their eyes off Matt Shultz, in any situation? Other headliners like Beck and Tame Impala killed it as well. And Tears for Fears was just the nostalgic come-together moment we all needed. During the festival, SCAD Radio also made time for artists Peach Pit, Taylor Janzen, Liily, and Caamp’s sets before getting the awesome chance to interview them!

A big highlight for many festival-goers was the food. We’ve been used to “carnie-food” at festivals for years, and while there were definitely moments when I was craving a funnel cake, I can’t say I was anything less than thrilled about the fantastic food trucks that could be found all over the festival grounds. The Patty Wagon? Best fries I had in Atlanta, hands down. There were also plenty of water tents to keep everyone hydrated all weekend long.

Overall, Shaky Knees Festival was a blast, and if you missed Deerhunter and Tash Sultana, I’m sorry to hear it. The loud music, delicious food, and buzz of excitement did indeed keep us shaking our knees, but one thing’s for sure: all of the intoxicated dance moves kept us shaking our heads.

The post A Look Back at 2019 Shaky Knees Music Festival appeared first on SCAD Radio.

For those attending the following 3 full days of music and fun, I’m going to do my best to familiarize you with some headliners and some up-and-comers playing at Atlanta’s 7^th Shaky Knees Festival! The list may be on the longer side, but if you’re not sure exactly where to go when you’re not seeing the 4 bands you came for, keep reading.

The Big Names:

Beck

            Since the early 1990s, Beck has been combining diverse genres to create his own unique independent style. He’s got 2 albums listed on Rolling Stone’s “500 greatest albums of all time”,  2015’s Grammy for Album of the Year, and a new single, “Saw Lightning”, co-produced with Pharrell Williams. Look out for his performance this Friday and new album Hyperspace this summer!

Incubus

            Originally from California, this band has been traveling the world since 1991! Famous for their alternative rock music, Incubus is going to be so much fun to see live at Shaky Knees. Their last album, 8, saw a world tour in 2017, and we can’t wait to see them Friday, right here in Georgia.

Cage the Elephant

            There’s just isn’t an alt. rock fan or former emo middle schooler who doesn’t know all the words to Cage the Elephant’s song “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”. Although they’ve only been around since 2006, Cage the Elephant have made a huge name for themselves. Their latest album Social Cues dropped on April 19^th of this year, and I don’t know about you, but they’re one of the bands I’m most excited to see on Saturday!

Tame Impala

            All the way from Australia and first conceived in 2007, Tame Impala is the youngest headlining band on the Shaky Knees lineup! In 2012, their album Lonerism was nominated for the Grammy’s Best Alternative Music Album, and more recently they’re currently teasing their 4^th album with featured songs “Patience” and “Borderline”. Catch them with us, Sunday Night!

Familiar Artists You’ve Heard Here on SCAD Radio:

We’ve been playing these artists throughout the past few years, so you know they’ve got a special place in our hearts!

Tash Sultana

            This Australian “one-person band” has been active on Bandcamp since 2013 and in 2017, headlined a sold-out world tour! Be sure to check out the 2019 song “Can’t Buy Happiness” this Friday!

Foxing

            In my household, we love a band formed in my Mom’s hometown of St. Louis, Missouri! Foxing gives us plenty to love with their indie rock style and most recent album Nearer My God. Catch them Friday at Shaky Knees Festival!

Interpol

            At SCAD Radio, we’re very excited to see Interpol because their 2019 song “Fine Mess” is playing on our current rotation! You can see them this Saturday, and don’t miss their upcoming EP A Fine Mess, comprised of some songs written and recorded for their previous album, on May 17^th!

Soccer Mommy

            Soccer Mommy, or Sophie Allison, is definitely a recurring artist on SCAD Radio. We love when she releases new music almost as much as we love when she comes to town! You can listen to her newest song “Be Seeing You” when she performs on Saturday, or right here on SCAD Radio.

Maggie Rogers

            I personally love a great pop song and if you do too, Maggie Rogers is your girl. Her latest album Heard It In a Past Life is fantastic and she’s a must-see for me this Sunday!

Phosphorescent

            Matthew Houck has been performing under this name since 2001 and we can’t get enough of him—it’s only partially because he started in Athens, GA. See him back in the area in Atlanta this Sunday!

Deerhunter

            Speaking of locals, Deerhunter formed IN Atlanta and they’re back for Shaky Knees Festival 2019! You can hear quite a few songs from their latest (eighth) album Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? on SCAD Radio. We’ll be kickin’ it at their Sunday performance, so you should be, too!

Calpurnia

            Known to many people as Finn Wolfhard (of Stranger Things)’s band, Calpurnia is an awesome up-and-coming alt. rock band. They formed recently in 2017, but their 2018 album Scout makes us hope they’ll be around for much longer. Although we can’t wait for new music, we’ll settle for seeing them this Sunday!

The Nude Party

            Perhaps the least well-known of this list, The Nude Party is a North Carolina band with a 60’s vibe and a cheeky, fun rock sound. Don’t miss them this Sunday!

Our must-sees:

I know this list is getting long, so let me wrap it up with a few artists that I personally wouldn’t miss for the world, and you shouldn’t either.

Tears for Fears

            You know them for their Billboard Hot 100  #1 hits “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, and the nostalgia is still strong with this one. They’ve got almost 4 decades of experience and are playing Friday night at Shaky Knees Festival.

Dashboard Confessional

            Okay, I was emo. I still consider myself emo, on the inside. Dashboard Confessional? Emo. But if you’re at art school with me, you probably had an emo phase yourself so you know Dashboard Confessional is a must-see band. I’ll be there on Friday and let’s face it, so will you.

Peach Pit

            One of the two lesser-known artists on my must-see list, but on here for a reason: their sound and image are unique, and even though they aren’t from around here, y’all know we love peaches in the peach state. Don’t miss them this Friday.

Slothrust

            Although they’re from Boston, a city I admittedly have personal beef with, Slothrust’s grungy alt. rock style is undeniably appealing. Their late-2018 album The Pact is a personal favorite. If you’ve got some spare time on Sunday, head on over to listen to some great alt. rock from this amazingly-named band.

            To conclude our 2019 Shaky Knees Festival Pre-Show Guide, here’s some basic information for your festival adventure:

The festival will be held Friday, May 3^rd to Sunday, May 5^th, at Central Park 400 Merritts Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, with gates opening at 11:30AM each day.

You CAN bring: a small purse, drawstring bag, binoculars, blankets, nonprofessional cameras, empty reusable water bottles/hydration packs.

You CANNOT bring: backpacks, aerosol containers, coolers, professional recording equipment/cameras, drones, glass/metal containers, umbrellas, pets, selfie sticks.

For the FULL list of things you can and can’t bring, as well as answers to questions you didn’t even know you had, head on over to shakykneesfestival.com/information!

The post Shaky Knees Festival 2019 Preview appeared first on SCAD Radio.

TheHate U Give gets its source material from the book of the same name written by Angie Thomas.She based the content of the young adult novel off rapper Tupac Shakur’s philosophy T.H.U.G L.I.F.E., that stands for The Hate U Give Little Infants F*cks Everybody. T.H.U.G. tells the story of Starr, played by SCAD Rising Star Award honoree Amanda Stenberg, and the actions she must take after witnessing her childhood friend being shot by a police officer.After attending the film myself, I can tell you there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience. This film, along with many other SCAD Film Festival films such as Monsters and Men and BlacKkKlansman touched upon race. It gives people the opportunity to have conversations like the ones presented in the movie, despite their racial or social views.

After the screening, movie-goers were able to attend the Q and A with Amandla Stenberg as she informed the crowd about her process of getting ready for the film, getting in touch with her character, and what it meant to be a person of color in society. The 20-year-old actress even discussed the term “code-switching” and how she felt about the audience response to the movie.

“We wanted you to cry”, said Stenberg. “It means you were listening”.

As someone who read the book before seeing the film, I am so glad that the movie stayed true with its original content, all while still providing new material for its story and characters.

You don’t need to be white to see this movie, you don’t need to be black to understand this movie, you don’t even have to agree with this film. What you need to do is open your mind and look at the world around you and decide whether you’re fine with living in a one-sided society or are ready for a change to start happening.

If the answer is yes to either of those questions, then go to the nearest movie theater and pick up a ticket for The Hate U Give.

You won’t regret it.

The post Film Fest- The Hate U Give: The Film Everyone Loves appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Since the Halloween of 1999, Voodoo Fest has brought a large onslaught of acts to the Mardi Gras City. The historically colorful and bright culture of New Orleans is the perfect atmosphere for the world of Voodoo. And what better time to host the ceremony than the weekend leading up to the spookiest day of the year?

When entering the gates of New Orleans City Park, there is already a sense that the concept of judgement is replaced by a sense of exuberance. Attendees are decked out in their finest festival outfits and costumes, ranging from the typical festival attire to outrageous Halloween makeup. People know they are in a safe place. Art tents and kiosks sell unique jewelry and accessories for purchase, brightening up every buyer’s look and establishing community. The themes of individual expression were aggressively prominent in the overall vibe of the event.

Artists like Janelle Monáe (side) and Lizzo promote the female form, self-love, and body positivity openly in songs such as “Pynk” and“Good as Hell”. Other acts including Marilyn Manson and Arctic Monkeys used their platforms to address viewpoints freely on the current political climate. Societal taboos and statements are openly discussed from the artist’s concern to a hungry audience of ears, eager for leaders and trail blazers.

One of the most controversial announcements of the weekend was Childish Gambino’s replacement by Travis Scott after a reportedly serious leg injury. Scott’s performance of high energy and accompanied beats converted any disappointed Gambino fan’s heavy heart into instant relapse, enjoying every lyric of his recent #1 album, ASTROWORLD.

Voodoo truly allowed inspiration to take over the body of all-comers, just as powerful as the supernatural doll it’s named after. An experience for all who look for an escape from the controlled world, Voodoo Fest was a breath of fresh air.

The post Travis Scott, Arctic Monkeys, and More Rock Voodoo Fest 2018 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

In its two-hour runtime, the film covers the extraordinary life of Quincy Jones–one of the most highly accomplished and celebrated musicians, producers, and humanitarians of his generation. Archival clips and audio that explain his childhood and earlier career are interwoven with footage of the Quincy of today–a still vibrant and genuinely funny man who takes on massive projects despite his age and struggles with health.

That only scratches the surface of this beautiful portrait, though: Quincy is a deeply personal and unexpectedly moving work of art. It’s absolutely painful to watch him almost fade away into addiction, and we relate to him on such a human level by the end despite the fact that he’s such a star. Rashida Jones, Quincy’s daughter, co-directed the film, which allowed for an intimate peak into his daily life and the issues that plague him. Hearing that Rashida Jones was a director on the project did spur some questions of bias, but she ultimately succeeds wonderfully in using that closeness as an avenue to create an honest portrayal of her father rather than a superficial feature-length congratulation. The Q & A session with Rashida immediately following the film further solidified the desire to create a picture that not only told the facts of Quincy’s life, but also captured his soul and how he existed and still exists in this world. 

After watching Quincy, you’re in complete awe of the breadth of work this man has completed and the effect that he has had on the world–he not only became successful as a musician in his own right, but he scored and later produced films, elevated the careers of many-a-musician (including Michael Jackson), and did an astounding amount of humanitarian work within and outside of the music industry. The legendary status bestowed upon Quincy is by no means unearned. He is a man who lives up to the tall tales, and lucky enough for us, he has graciously accepted the role and filled it well. Quincy Jones recognizes his faults and flaws, and most importantly, he realizes that he’s human. Countless times across the runtime of the film, we see him dispense his knowledge to his children, students, and comrades, and we’re so lucky to have him today.

Quincy is the lovingly made, entertaining, and all-encompassing tribute that Quincy Jones deserves to have. Hopefully this documentary along with the truly wonderful works of art he has produced will cement Quincy’s legacy as a musical god among men.

SCAD Radio gives Quincy a strong 9 out of 10.

The post Film Fest: Quincy Does Justice to Music Icon appeared first on SCAD Radio.

The bands that filled out the lineup were a consistent mix of newer bands that have been defining the Warped Tour style for the past few years, like Real Friends and State Champs; the bands that define many of our nostalgic emo middle school experiences, such as Mayday Parade and Falling in Reverse; and classic groups that defined the Warped Tour sound from the beginning, like Simple Plan and Less Than Jake. As usual, Warped Tour had a very diverse lineup with something for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s my Top 5 performances:

1. Mayday Parade

It goes without saying that I am biased, as Mayday Parade is one of my favorite bands of all time. But Mayday Parade brought the same enthusiasm this year as they have been for so many. Mayday Parade is one of the bands, along with Falling In Reverse, that performed at the very first Warped Tour that I went to when I was 13, so there couldn’t have been a better way to end a festival so close to my heart.

2. Simple Plan

One of the defining artists for the brand of emo punk music that continues to unite multiple generations of festival-goers, Simple Plan’s set was fantastic. Highlights include: Pierre bringing out a giant water gun to cool off the crowd and jumping off stage to get right up against the barricade and really sing to his fans.

3. Issues

Issues is one of those bands that never seems to stop touring, and I mean that as a good thing. The beginning of 2018 started out on a rough note for the Atlanta, GA based band due to their separation from long-time co-vocalist Michael Bohn, but their performance this past week highlighted their passion to keep making the music that they want to make. Did I mention that Skyler’s hair is still the best hair on Warped Tour? Because it is.

4. Real Friends

Although their set was cut short because of the rain, Real Friends is one of those bands that’s newer to the scene but still killing it. This band is so fun-loving on stage, in contrast to a lot of their music. It’s always a treasure to see them perform. I also want to mention that frontman Dan Lambton comes into close second for best hair on Warped Tour.

5. Movements

Movements was one of the very first sets to perform on Thursday and even though they were performing at one of the hottest times of the day and before the rain clouds started to block the sun, they still brought it. Of this list, Movements is one of the bands I haven’t seen live before, but definitely hope to see again.

I’m very sad to see the end coming to Warped Tour’s 24-year run. Since 1995, Warped Tour has been providing an inexpensive, safe environment for teenagers to see their favorite bands every summer, all over the country. Whether this was the first year you were able to go, or you’ve been with it since your parents let you and remember the brief Warped Tour Roadies show on TV, it’s without question that Warped Tour is going to be missed. I’m not alone in hoping that one day Warped Tour will resume their cross-country lineup for another year, but until that day comes, thanks for all the best memories and for creating an environment that launched careers and inspired new festivals.

Make sure you check out our last post with our photo gallery of the tour.

The post Vans Warped Tour 2018 Review appeared first on SCAD Radio.

The Maine

Simple Plan

Mayday Parade

Knuckle Puck

Issues

Falling In Reverse

3OH!3

The post Warped Tour 2018 Photo Gallery appeared first on SCAD Radio.