The 3:30 slot on Friday resembles my 2008 analysis of ACL's strategy of booking bands for 4 groups: old "South Austinites", frat-boys, indie hipsters, and NPR listening World Cafe types. Little has changed in the last 4 years other than the addition of more electronic and hip-hop bands to appeal to the younger demographic of the millennials. So now ACL books for 5 groups.
First is jazz Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding for the World Cafe crowd, gospel-funk The Relatives for the South Austinites, rapping/dancing Jovanotti from Italy for the millenials, and singer-songwriter Ben Howard for the frat-boys. No indie choice for this hipster-kitty.
In the same vein of Brett Dennon and Jason Mraz, British acoustic folk singer Ben Howard has released one album that has already gone Gold in England. He's hitting all the big festivals and getting lots of publicity. Signed to Island Records, which includes alumni like Nick Drake, he is riding a wave.
If you want nice mellow music on a Friday afternoon and you don't want to see Esperanza Spalding check him out.
Old Pine
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