With summer here things are really beginning to kick off in the indie music scene. From Virgin Music festivals to summer releases, Suite101 is prepared for the onslaught.
Time To Get Busy
So, first things first. It's been a little quiet lately here at the indie section, and for that I apologise. I won't bore you with the details, except to say it was a mix of vacation and having to sort out some official paperwork (I'm in the process of getting dual citizenship for both the UK and Canada). Ha, and I said I wouldn't bore you... sorry!
Anyhoo, now that all that's out the way (kind of) and I'm free again - as in free time, and not that I was ever in jail! - there's a whole host of goodies coming this way as the summer months approach us. With the ever-present festival scene mixing all that's great with both the major and minor label indie bands, there will be reports on all the best ones going, staring with this weekend's North by North East (NxNE) festival right here in Toronto. A mix of 450 bands split over 30 stages in three days of crazy schedules, there are some really cracking bands lined up, and I'll be there to report on it all for you.
Festivals, Features And Beyond
As well as the NxNE festival, there will also be reports on the inaugural Canadian leg of the famed Virgin Festival, which has entrenched itself in the UK as a strong bedfellow to the likes of Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds festival and T in the Park. Add to that a trip out to Montreal to cover the Osheaga Festival in September, where the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Damien Rice, Interpol and Arctic Monkeys will be performing, and I hope you agree there's a lot to look forward to!
I'm also going to be taking a sidewards look at what affects indie music in these days of non-traditional avenues. I'm hoping to secure an interview with Zach Braff to discuss his friendship with the likes of Cary Brothers and Joshua Radin, and his knowledge of the indie scene. Then there's the small matter of Grey's Anatomy and how it's becoming as big as The O.C. for breaking some of indie's finest, including Brandi Carlile and The 88.
All Aboard The Skylark
Of course, I won't be forgetting about the usual CD reviews, interviews and live reports - after all, that's one of the main reasons we're here in the first place! And trust me, there are some brilliant CD's on the way, as well as maybe some not so good...
So, thanks for the patience, and I hope you'll join me as the indie section continues to grow into the music-loving monkey beast that it is! I thank you for your support so far, and look forward to having you along for the ride!
