As with all my links pages, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all the stuff I like related to the topic. Rather, I want to publicize lesser-known bands and festivals that you most likely haven't heard of. All of these links include sample tracks; if you like the bands, please support them by buying their CDs or checking them out when they're in your town (or you're in theirs).
Who |
What |
Where |
| Alex Skolnik Trio | Ex-Testament guitarist reinterprets heavy metal classics like Detroit Rock City as jazz pieces. It's an interesting sociological experiment to put this on at a dinner party and watch where the conversation goes. | www.alexskolnick.com |
| Audra Kubot | Sweet folk-rock Detroiter. Reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan, perhaps a little rougher around the edges (in a good way). | www.audrakubat.com |
| Austin City Limits festival | Many acres of music. See photos for some footage of the 2003 version. | www.aclfestival.com |
| Charlie Hunter | I had read about Charlie Hunter in Jazz Times, and at the 2003 ACL fest, I was talking to my pal Basile while Charlie was playing, and Basile said something like "where's the keyboard?" and I looked up to see a trio--guitar (actually Charlie's custom-made 8 string monstrosity), drums, and sax--no keyboards. The keyboard sound was coming from Charlie's guitar playing. | www.charliehunter.com |
| Chicago Blues Festival | Well worth the inflated hotel rates. | Here. |
| Chris Buhalis | Ann Arbor's best kept secret. Chris is an amazing singer/songwriter, and his CD Kenai Dreams (available at the link) is the best folk-rock album I've heard in 10 years. | Here. |
| CMJ | College Music Journal. The best $40/year you'll ever spend on a magazine (btw, it comes with a full-length sampler CD every month). | www.cmj.com |
| Global Rhythm | Need to broaden your world music horizons? This is where I learned about the Festival in the Desert, among other things. | www.globalrhythm.net |
| Jazz Times | America's Jazz Magazine, or so they say. | www.jazztimes.com |
| Festival in the Desert | In 2005, I'm there. | www.wbur.org/special/mali |
| Josh Allen | Brilliant bluesman, playwright, and scenester from Dallas. Check my photos link for some unique shots from his weekly gig at the Winedale tavern...back when it was truly the Swinedale. | www.joshalan.com |
| Montreal Jazz Festival | You must see Montreal; it's the closest thing to Europe you can get in North America. Why not do it during this incredible music festival? | www.montrealjazzfest.com |
| Reggae on the River | The coolest reggae festival ever, even if it is generally around 100 degrees F. I recommend doing it in an RV. Check my photos link for some footage of my experiences. | www.reggaeontheriver.com |
| Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine | Artful lounge-metal. | www.ideatown.com/rc/index.html |
| Robert Randolph and the Family Band | The Jimmy Hendrix of pedal steel. The albums are so-so, but if you ever get a chance to see these guys, as I did at the last ACL fest, it will change your life. | www.robertrandolph.net |
| Twilight Babies | Detroit-area rock/electronic/folk trio that should be famous, and probably will be one day soon. Lead singer Alison Lewis has one of the most hypnotic and beautiful voices I've ever heard. | www.twilightbabies.com |
| Überzone | Funky and highly technical electronica. Sort of like Crystal Method meets Pfunk. | www.uberzone.net |
Copyright © 2004 Vince Cavasin. All rights reserved.