It’s a far cry from Halloween celebrations a few years ago, which sometimes ended with vandalism, and police bringing out the pepper spray. The mix of live entertainment with a more controlled environment and an admission charge seems to have done the trick in making for a party that’s fun without getting too crazy.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the gates, which open up at 7pm.

There’s a big costume contest as well, with judging next to the North Frances Street stage between 11pm and midnight. A word of warning from police..all dangerous props will be confiscated. So that means leave the swords and Ninja throwing stars at home.

The music lineup this year includes Neon Trees, Locksley and All Time Low. Here’s a preview.

Chances are, Ray Davies will sing it for you Sunday November 6th when he plays the Barrymore Theatre.

I’ve never been lucky enough to see the Kinks, but I have had the opportunity to see Ray Davies live three times, and he does not disappoint. The guy can still sing and entertain..demonstrating that he’s still got what it takes to be a fantastic frontman.

The first time I saw him was probably more than a decade ago when he was on his Storyteller tour. That show was also at the Barrymore. The small but devoted audience got to hear all the great Kinks songs..and the stories that went with them. How did his brother Dave Davies get that signature tone on “You Really Got Me?” He stuck a knife in his amplifier. And all the stories were told with wit and passion.

I got to see Ray again  when he played the Barrymore to start off a 2006 U.S. tour, and then later in the tour at Summerfest. Mike and I sat right next to the soundboard at the Barrymore show, so we could see the setlist..and it was a great one! He included lots of hits, some chestnuts for hardcore fans, as well as songs from his new album…and those were great too!

He’s funny, he’s a talented songwriter and performer..and he has more charisma than the average Well Respected Man. If you’re a Kinks fan and have never seen him before..make sure you see this show. If you have seen him before, chances are you’ve already bought your tickets.

–Previewed by Kitty Dunn

Queenie & The Blue Cats

What are you doing on Sunday afternoon? Head to the High Noon Saloon to catch some great live music, and support the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Dane County.

Here’s an interesting twist–each of the bands performing at the Rock ‘n Blues concert has one member who works in the Meriter Hospital Adults Psychiatry Unit.

Here’s the lineup:

1pm Mud Room, a rock band featuring Dr. Tyler Rickers singing and playing lead guitar

1:30pm Queenie & The Blue Cats, blues and funk featuring Bill Cheadle, a Meriter Adult Psychiatry Clinical Specialist on drums.

4pm Bonobo Secret Handshake, socially motivated rock funk and blues, with Meriter Adult Psychiatry Mental Health Specialist Teresa Nyholt as singer. Two doctors add to the mix as well, David Melnick and Scott Meskin.

5:30pm:  Jam session!

It’s just $7 for tickets if you buy them in advance, or $10 at the door.

More info here.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness, and was founded right here in Dane County. NAMI Dane County provides free support meetings, educational meetings, a resource library and more.

Although the album was recorded in a makeshift studio carved out of the gymnasium of a local church…according to Rolling Stone, the new record features “trippy keyboards, twisted pop hooks and fuzzed-out guitar attacks,” and “feels like the culmination of the sonic adventures the band began with 2005’s ‘Z’ — while also capturing the power and dynamics that have made MMJ one of the greatest live bands of their generation.”

Check out this video of the band performing on Conan – the enjoyably daft Holding on to Black Metal suggests Evil Urges lurks in the band’s DNA – but the addition of a teen choir and the horns creates an almost transcendental sound.

Wed. June 29:
The Nod 3pm at the Cascio Music Stage. Garage rock from Madison. Find out why Rob Thomas of 77 Square says their music is smart and jangly pop reminiscent of Cake or Spoon.

Thurs. June 30
Mighty Short Bus noon at the Briggs & Stratton Stage. See Project M champ Frank Busch in his natural element..on stage with his band.

The Jimmy’s, 2pm at the Briggs & Stratton Stage. A great blues band featuring our favorite rock n roll farmer, Jimmy Voegeli

Bascom Hill, 5pm at the Miller Oasis. More great Madison music!

Friday July 1:
Big Bob & the Ballroom Blitz with Greg Koch, 4pm at the Harley Davidson Stage. Greg Koch just might be the best guitar player in  WI.             Check this show out and experience real gristle!

Saturday July 2
M & I Employee Party, Noon at the Classic Rock Stage. What? That’s not a band name?

Sunday July 3
De La Buena 6pm at the Harley Davidson Stage.  Danceable Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz. Say hi to Jeremy, the drummer. He used to work at Triple M!

Monday July 4
Summerfest is closed. What’s up with that?

Tuesday July 5
Elusive Parallelograms 6pm at the Cascio Music Stage. That just might be the coolest band name ever! They play alternative experimental pop rock.

Wednesday July 6
Mike Droho & The Compass Rose, 6pm at the Cascio Music Stage. Hey  it’s Season One Project M winner Mike Droho! Woo hoo!

Thursday July 7
Locksley, 3pm at the Rock Stage. Little Steven loves ‘em, they’re on tons of commercials..and they’re from Madison!

Friday July 8
Sue DeBaco & The Double Down 6pm at the Potawatomi Stage. How about a little blues for your evening listening pleasure?

Saturday July 9
Pat McCurdy 5pm at the Briggs and Stratton Stage. How about a little Sex & Beer everybody?

Sunday July 10
Daniel & The Lion, 4:30 at the Cascio Music Stage.  Featuring another Project M winner, Jimmie Linville. It’s a Summerfest Trifecta!

The Avett Brothers sold-out show at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 9th will be broadcast live via satellite to the band’s hometown of Concord, NC on the planets largest HDTV screen.  AEG Network LIVE is responsible for producing and shooting the entire event in HD & delivering it via iClips to Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Charlotte Motor Speedway, home to the massive 80′ x 200′ Panasonic HDTV, will host Avett Brothers fans from near and far for a chance to be part of this exciting show as it happens live.  Fans who can’t make it to Colorado or North Carolina on July 9 will be able to stream the show on iclips.net.

The live simulcast will give the Avett Brothers’ rabid local fan base the opportunity to view their historical show from Red Rocks on the speedway’s massive HD video board.  Tickets for this one-of-a-kind concert venue experience are on sale now and can be purchased at the speedway ticket office or by calling 1-800-455-FANS(3276).  Tickets are only $10 until July 1, when they will increase to $15 until July 8.  If purchased the day of the event, they will cost $20.

If you’re a fan, you don’t want to miss the energetic performance that the Avett Brothers will surely deliver with no less than a true fan would expect.

Warren Haynes Int

Justin Townes Earle INT

Walkmen Int

Decemberists Int

Freelance Whales Int

*Photo provided by Music Allies*

15 minutes before they took the stage, faces turned up to the sky as around 7 parachutists trailed what looked like pounds of glitter on top of the audience.  Shouts of awe rang across the field as what we all thought was glitter started raining down in a random pattern across the sky.  As it began to get closer, the mystery of the falling objects progressed into further confusion.  It wasn’t glitter – it was something else.  As I managed to jump up and grab a package, I realized that it was a packet of several bands with different colored blinking lights on them.  After people connected to lights to either their bodies or a piece of clothing, a gargantuan sea of flashing lights surrounded the main stage. 

Better yet, Arcade Fire’s energized performance catered to the stereotypical Roo attendee by having a movie screen playing clips/short films behind them that coordinated with the theme of each individual song.  There were repeating images of people dressed in strange, almost doll-like outfits, a short film of people riding bicycles that looked as if it had been produced in the 70s, & colorful or colorless patterns that was designed to induce a particular feeling as you listened to each individual song’s lyrics.  You couldn’t have walked away if you wanted to.  It was absolutely magic.  If you haven’t seen Arcade Fire perform live – I would strongly suggest finding out where they’re touring this summer and buying a ticket, today if not sooner.

*Photo by MusicAllies*

Ben Sollee 1-2pm

Belafleck & the Flecktones: The Original Line-Up 2-3:15pm

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 3:15-4:30

Warren Haynes Band 4-5:30pm

The Decemberists 5:30-7

Ray LaMontagne 6:15-7:45pm

Florence + the Machine 6:45-8:15

Bobby Long 8-8:50

Arcade Fire 11-12:30

+ MORE!

I had a hard time making decisions – who to see, how long to stay at which performances, & when to eat/sit.  Straight from Vermont, Grace Potter proved that her music was “rock” label worthy as thousands of people watched – her voice captured a tone that most singers could not pull off in a controlled manner as she masterfully does herself.  She also impressed with her guitar skills & simultaneous head banging/luring electric piano playing.   And the Nocturnals entertained with solos from their guitarists + the happiest face that you will ever see from any drummer out there. 

Ray LaMontagne also mesmerized the crowd with his shy/humble demeanor and calming voice.  His song choices included several songs off of his recently released album, “God willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise.”  And believe me when I say they are as good live as they are recorded.  You wouldn’t have even been able to point out a discrepancy had he not sang as freely as he did. 

The highlight of Friday night – the headliner. Arcade Fire, captured the attention of the entire mass of 100,000 people attending Bonnaroo.  About 15 minutes before they took the stage, something that no one will forget happened…read on to the next post for the details…

Listen to the Ray LaMontagne interview below!

Ray Lamontagne Int

*Pictures taken by MusicAllies and Bonnaroo 2011 Cams*

It’s the 10^th Anniversary of Bonnaroo and you can feel the excitement in the air as people are lining up at the main entrance from the campground.  The vendors have fully prepped everything and await the arrival of those who forgot to bring the essentials with them – food, beer, sandals  (yes, that happened).  They know that since the fest itself sold out, they’re bound to make a killing.  And they will! 

I took an hour or so to check out the various stands that were set up – handmade nomadic shoes, hammocks that you can fold into a pouch, hand-crafted jewelry and clothes, it’s all there, and it’s all unique in some fashion.  It’s basically the most amazing assortment of gift shops that you’ve ever seen. 

And the food – oh the food! You can find anything and everything there – as long as it’s fried or it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.  So, ya know, almost anything.  The food ranges from corn dogs to Thai food and your taste buds can be satisfied in under 5 minutes if you so choose.  Heaven in your mouth? The answer to that question is Yes, YES!

There are 5 large stages – THAT tent, THIS tent, WHAT stage, WHICH stage, & the OTHER tent.  Last night, the Band of Skulls was the highlight of the 1^st day of Bonnaroo.  They pulled the crowd in with music that made you want to move along with the beat – even if you’re not the dancing kind.  The crowd was up for anything and everything – they couldn’t get enough of it.  So much so that crowd surfing to the front of the stage became the “IT” thing to do because it was the easiest way to make it through the crowd, which fanned out far beyond the reach of the tent.  Never having listened to them much myself, I found myself making a note to buy their CD once I left.

That’s the best part of this festival – there are so many bands that you’ve never heard of but when you make an effort to go watch them perform you could find your new music love! What will today have in store? 

The line-up is stacked with Triple M artists and I’ll have an update for everyone tomorrow morning – Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Ray LaMontagne, Florence + the Machine – they’re all here! Check in tomorrow for your ROO update!