ACL 2015: Nero

Sunday at 7:30pm.  Last preview of the year.  This is a trio out of London.  EDM.  They're playing opposite Dwight Yoakam and Hozier.  I would be all over this in my youth.

Satisfy

ACL 2015: GRiZ

Sunday at 6:30pm.  This is a DJ/producer out of Michigan.  He's playing in the tent and is opposite Alt-J and Of Monsters and Men so I doubt we'll see him.

Wikipedia says: "He is known for playing the saxophone along with producing funk, electro-soul, and self-described future-funk."  A good description of this song.


Hard Times

ACL 2015: Steelism

Sunday at 5pm.  This may be the dinner-time slot.  It's got The Decemberists and Ben Howard on the big stages and this instrumental band from Nashville on the old BMI stage.  It's a duo of session and touring musicians that started this band on the side.  They've worked with Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes and have recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals.  I wouldn't mind chilling out and watching a little of this.

Marfa Lights

ACL 2015: Strand of Oaks

Sunday at 3:30pm.  This is my first choice.  It's the moniker of Indiana-born and current Philly resident Tim Showalter.  His old stuff was folk/Americana but his last album, "Heal", went a different direction.  It was a critical success. More rocking.  He has opened for the likes of Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, and Iron and Wine.

This is the show to see.

This song features J Mascis on guitar.

Goshen '97

ACL 2015: Sylvan Esso

Sunday at 3:30.  Here is a duo from North Carolina that was at SXSW in 2014 (previewed here).  Indie pop.  I like their song Coffee so click to hear it.  This song was named as #1 Song of the Year in 2014 by Paste magazine.

Hey Mami

ACL 2015: Lord Huron

Sunday at 2:30.  This is my first choice.  I saved the best for last.  All 5 bands playing at this time are good but this is more in our wheelhouse.  It's the moniker of Ben Schneider who is originally from Michigan but now resides in L.A.  His band now comprises friends from Michigan that moved out to L.A. as well.

We saw these guys at SXSW in 2011 at the East Side Drive-In for the Pitchfork day party.  It was early and there was nobody there but they put on a good show as I recall.  They were just in town playing at Stubb's with Leon Bridges opening.  Now they're back.

Fool for Love

ACL 2015: Spirit Family Reunion

Sunday at 2:30 on the BMI stage.  This is a bluegrass/folk band so of course they're from Brooklyn.  They've been around for a few years but have never played Old Settlers.  They would fit right in there.  They supposedly put on a great live show.  I'm surprised we haven't seen them yet.

I Want to Be Relieved

ACL 2015: Kali Uchis

Sunday at 2:45 in the tent.  This is a Columbian-born, Virginia-raised singer now residing in NYC.  She's got backing from names like Diplo and Rick Rubin so expect big things.

Her style is considered 60s soul/R&B and she has been compared to Amy Winehouse.

I like this song.

Lottery

ACL 2015: Sheppard

Sunday at 2:30pm.  This is the Austin Ventures stage band.  It's a band from Brisbane, Australia composed of three siblings.  They have blown up there and in Europe.  This song made the Top-40 here and they've played Ellen, the Today show, and Fallon.

Pure pop.  The good thing about seeing them is that since the audience will be tween girls we'll be the tallest people there.

Geronimo

ACL 2015: BØRNS

Sunday at 2:30pm.  This is the crazy timeslot.  There are five bands playing.  All are pretty good.  I'll start from the Western-most stage and move East.

This first guy was at SXSW based on the strength of the single "10,000 Emerald Pools" which is still on regular rotation on KUTX.  His first album doesn't come out until October 16th yet he's already played Lollapalooza and has made the late-night talk show rounds.

This is one of the songs on his new album.

The Emotion

ACL 2015: Amason

Sunday at 1:30pm.  This is the 3rd option during this timeslot.  They played SXSW and are now back for ACL.  I like them.  I shared Duvan before so here's another one.

Went to War

ACL 2015: Kaleo

Sunday at 1:30pm.  I figure you'll want to see them as you missed their SXSW show at the San Jose.  This is the song getting the airplay.  As I recall this song is quite different from their other stuff.  Live they play a lot more Led Zeppelin style blues-rock.  He likes to scream like Robert Plant.

All the Pretty Girls

ACL 2015: Daughter

Sunday at 1:30pm.  There are three really good choices at this time so it's going to be a tough decision.  Probably my first choice is this trio out of North London.  We saw them at Mohawk and I loved it.  Just a wonderful sound.  Even the notoriously chatty Mohawk crowd was on their best behavior when they played.

This would be a great early afternoon set but hard-rocking Kaleo is playing next to them on the Austin Ventures stage.  Hopefully their sound won't bleed too much into this show.

Youth

ACL 2015: Mandolin Orange

Sunday at 12:45pm.  Yes, another good choice at 12:45.  This folk/Americana duo has been around for awhile but we've never seen them.  They're quite loved by the NPR listeners and the folk community in general.  This is one of the few old-school ACL bands on the new youth-focused lineup.

Old Ties and Companions

ACL 2015: Lion Babe

Sunday at 12:45.  This is a duo out of NYC that rose to prominence with the first song, "Treat Me Like Fire", a couple years ago.  They then released an EP on Interscope Records with the help of Childish Gambino, who joins in on the second song, "Jump Hi".  Their first album is coming out soon and includes collaborations with Pharrell Williams and Dave Sitek of TVOTR.  That's some serious backing.

Fun fact: the female singer, Jillian Hervey, is the daughter of Vanessa Williams.

Their sound is neo-soul and it reminds me a little of Eryka Badu.

Treat Me Like Fire


Jump Hi

ACL 2015: Jidenna

Sunday at 12:45pm.  Halsey was supposed to play at this time but she has been moved to later at 3:30pm and Jidenna has been moved earlier to this slot.  He's the son of Nigerian immigrants who was raised in Wisconsin, went to high school in Boston and attended college at Stanford.  He is on Janelle Monaé's record label and has collaborated with her since before she broke out.  Now it's his turn... This SPIN article has a good background on him.

Here are two songs:

Yoga

ACL 2015: Halsey

Sunday at 12:45pm. This is the moniker of Ashley Frangipane. The ACL site says she's 19 but Wikipedia says she's 20.  Kind of old for ACL.  One Wikipedia fact: "She describes herself as "tri-bi": biracial, bisexual, and bipolar."

Alt-pop sound in the vein of Lykke Li or Alanis Morissette.

Hurricane

ACL 2015: The Hunts

Sunday at 12:30pm.  I'm just noticing how many teen bands are playing this year.  I'll have to add them up at some point.  I'm about to post 3 all playing at the same time.  First up is a family of 7 siblings ranging in age from 16 to 24.  Alt-folk.  This song sounds like Mumford and Sons but I heard another that reminded me of Mother Falcon.

Make this Leap

ACL 2015: Beat Connection

Sunday at noon.  Another light easy sound to start the day.  This is disco/pop from a band out of Seattle.  Nothing groundbreaking but probably good hangover recovery music.

So Good

ACL 2015: Marion Hill

Sunday at noon.  This band was here for SXSW and are now back at ACL.  In my preview I compared the sound to Kirsty MaColl but this song is more like Bittersweet.  If we get there early this is a nice way to start the day.

One Time