The Cave Singers

Friday at 4:30 has Ray LaMontagne, Big Boi, and The Cave Singers. If you don't know the first two musicians you need more help than this blog can provide. I'll focus on the last band: we saw them play a couple songs when they opened for Fleet Foxes and I liked them. Folk but with energy. They are playing the tent stage. Since we're talking about moving base camp each day I think Friday's base camp should be under the trees next to the tent stage. Lots of good acts there all day.

Dancing on our Graves

Kurt Vile

The 3:30 slot on Friday has James Blake (downtempo dub) and Smith Westerns (indie pop). I'm not a fan of either of them. But at 3:45 is Kurt Vile. As I said on the SXSW preview, he reminds me a little of Freedy Johnston. His latest album is pretty mellow but really good. I assume the show on the Austin Ventures stage is going to be laid back.

In My Time

Francisca Valenzuela

Friday at 2:30 has two good bands playing that need no introduction so pick which you like. We saw Old Crow Medicine Show recently and they put on a great show. Bluegrass, punk-folk, mountain music, whatever you want to call it.

Delta Spirit is well-known. The other band playing is an LA group called Fool's Gold. Very jam-band oriented, they kind of remind me of Talking Heads during their Remain in Light years. But not as good. KCRW likes them so maybe I'm wrong.

My choice at 3:00 at the small tent stage is Francisca Valenzuela from Santiago, Chile. Born in San Francisco to Chilean parents, she moved back at age 12. She was at SXSW but we didn't get to see her. Luckily for us, she's back. I'll be there.

Quiero Verte Mas

The Secret Sisters

The other 1:30 slot on Friday I want to see is The Secret Sisters. They play traditional country with a modern feel. Their debut album was produced by T-Bone Burnett. Not bad to get a legend to produce your FIRST album. I'm leaning towards seeing them.

Tennessee Me

Wild Beasts

I'm not sure which band I want to see at 1:30 on Friday: Wild Beasts or Secret Sisters. Both are good, mellow, laid-back mid-afternoon shows. I'll start with Wild Beasts from the UK. Despite the name, they're very relaxing. They remind me of The National if Jimmy Somerville was the lead singer. I like the falsetto voice.

Loop the Loop

Ha Ha Tonka

12:45 at the BMI stage on Friday is a Bloodshot Records band from Missouri. According to Wikipedia: Their music has been described as a mixing of bluegrass and southern rock and a "marrying of influences as diverse as The Replacements, The Band, and Kings of Leon."

That's quite a mix. Definitely worth checking out.

Usual Suspects

An Horse

Another buzz band from SXSW that gets to play early on Friday. I guess ACL decided to change their typical format of booking the buzz bands for early Sunday and moved them to Friday. Probably a good idea since there's nobody there on Sunday mornings.

This is a duo originally from Brisbane but now they live in Vancouver and other parts in-between. Remind me of Teagan and Sarah. Leana didn't like this song but I'd still like to check them out.

Camp Out

Cults

The schedule is out so here we go: Friday's first act to see is a buzz band from SXSW. We missed them so hopefully we can get out there at 11:45 on Friday.

Go Outside

Asleep at the Wheel

Slowly starting up the ACL previews so I might as well start with the ACL tradition. They've opened up every one of them. Good old Texas swing. This song covers a few bases as it was written by Allen Toussaint, who we saw at an ACL taping. Great show. Sweet lyrics, too.

Nothing Takes the Place of You