Practical recommendations from Blank’s resident soothsayer
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Blank’s Big Ears Guide • Big Ears Creator Ashley Capps Interview • Madame Weezy’s Big Ears Horoscopes • Schedule
It’s once again time for our humble, unassuming city to temporarily transform into a center for snooty sophistication, a symposium for the painfully hip and highbrow thinkers and a bastion for musical elites to fellowship with their own ilk. We locals are treated to the greatest collection of world-class artists right here at home, allowing us to lay in our own beds to replay the days’ events in our minds as we drift off to sleep. Outsiders are always impressed and pleasantly surprised to have their preconceived notions of who we are proven wrong. As there are so many opportunities to be blown away with this year’s lineup, you may be suffering from a bit of decision paralysis. Thankfully, your friend Weezy is here to help you carefully craft the perfect personalized lineup based on your sun sign.
Aquarius: As an especially creative individual, you’re gonna want a show that tickles all your senses. Sun Ra Arkestra has been mesmerizing audiences since the ‘50s and shows no signs of slowing down. This legendary jazz troupe dazzles the eyes with bright and beautiful costumes, the ears with the funkiest of sounds and gets even the stodgiest among us to wiggle joyously. Their shows are smart and full of energy. You’ll appreciate the artistry of the spectacle and the pure talent of the performers. It’s incredibly difficult to leave one of their sets without a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
Pisces: You love experimental sounds but prefer a band that doesn’t take a ton of effort to enjoy. You like to boogie but prefer to groove. You like to learn but would prefer the lessons be brought to you. Larry & Joe are just the ticket for those like you who are seeking an interesting but chill time. With their unique Latingrass, the duo has mashed two forms of traditional folk music into something totally new that is both refreshing and fun.
Taurus: Our more traditional Teds and Tammys may initially think this festival is too on the fringe for their more domestic sensibilities. While there’s a healthy helping of the exploratory on display, there’s still plenty of opportunity to enjoy the profound but familiar acts of our time. Dedicated Men of Zion offers up the chance to be blown away without having to stray too far from the comfort of convention. This gospel quartet out of North Carolina, with its soulfully lush harmonies, brings about joy and celebration everywhere it goes. Songs of hope, love, gratefulness and humility make for a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Aries: You are daring, dynamic and a tinge destructive, so you’re needing a set that’s frenzied, full of energy and also a bit freaky. Thankfully for you, well-known weirdo Les Claypool will be gracing the Mill & Mine with his own wacky take on jazz. The Primus frontman is gonna dazzle as he always does with his unmistakably aggressive bass, but this act – one of his many side projects – ramps up the experimentation and unpredictability that’s a hallmark of the genre. With a healthy helping of percussion, he also brings a sax in tow for a completely different wild ride. Expect the unexpected, which are just the words I know get you going.
Gemini: The last thing you want is to be mistaken as “normal.” You’re full of pizzazz and style, and you relish the unpredictable. Banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck is pairing up with famed Colombian harpist Edmar Castañeda and Mexico City’s Antonio Sánchez on drums to bring sounds that are completely new and unexpected. When three world-class musicians with seemingly different backgrounds come together, they’re at the very least going to make for an interesting spectacle, but the music they are able to create together is completely fresh, fun and downright cool.
Cancer: You’re here for all the artists that infuse bare emotion into every note. Empathetic storytelling will push you over the edge into pure bliss. If they make you ugly cry in public, better still. Luckily for you and your stash of tissues, Rufus Wainwright will have you hanging off the edge of your seat in the Civic Auditorium. From his exquisite version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” to his playful and somewhat self-deprecating “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” his ability to create intimacy with his art will have you swear he’s performing just for you.
Leo: You are a sparkling, joyous soul that craves passion and movement. As such, you will fall head over heels for Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. This decades-old collective based out of Southern Italy brings the energy with its take on Pizzica music, and it even has its very own taranta dancer to dazzle onlookers who try (unsuccessfully) to keep their feet still. With a bevy of percussion, strings and woodwinds to pair with exquisite vocals, members will bring a lively tradition from their home country’s heel to our scruffy little city.
Virgo: You’re a practical thinker that champions rightness in this often-cruel world. You also like to learn but don’t always carve time out of your routine to seek out lessons that aren’t right in front of you in order to grow. Fortunately, this festival presents myriad options to build understanding without taking too many detours. There’s probably no greater chance to learn, be entertained and practice empathy than with Lonnie Holley. Something of a regular at this yearly gathering, he uses his skills and creativity in music, storytelling and visual art to inspire us all to be better. You know there aren’t many opportunities to behold such a living legend, so surely you won’t let this one slip from your grasp.
Libra: As Libras are represented by the scales, balance is naturally what you have in mind. You want something new and experimental but still need enough familiar elements to be able to grab hold of. You want something that draws from different cultures, but not so much so that it’s difficult to personalize. You’re okay with heavy moments but also need fun and livelihood. Tunisian artist EMEL has that perfect mix of new sounds, ideas and themes that are fresh without being unrelatable. She draws from many influences including world, electronic and even pop to create a body of work that is enriching, beautiful and energizing.
Scorpio: The passion you possess that’s always lurking just under the surface is truly in need of release. That intensity will surely be teased out by the evocative lyrics and music of the incomparable Julia Holter. With willful words, carefully crafted and sometimes haunting tones and a beautifully sensual voice, Holter’s brilliance will challenge even the most hearty attempts at stoicism. The Tennessee will be dim, so go ahead and give into the call to unleash.
Sagittarius: You like to groove and move, but even more you like to be challenged. LA’s clipping. is changing the game with its raw brand of industrial-noise hip-hop. The bars are challenging with their lightning-fast delivery, and the production is stellar with addictive beats and raucous mixes that can sound like straight-up metal. It’s hard to hear this group without being charged up to go out and do something. This is what you listen to while getting ready to take over the world.
Capricorn: You are a classic. You value hard work, tenacity and gumption, which is why Alabama’s Kathryn Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee fits you to a T. Her lyrics are honest and straightforward, and she delivers them with a dynamite voice. Crutchfield has been at this music game her entire adult life, and that effort is apparent in the strength of her extensive country-tinged catalog. You’ll appreciate the straightforwardness in her music and will be able to identify with her powerful, independent spirit.
weezy@blanknews.com
