Culture
Nelsonville Music Festival Must See: Part I
By: Lily Aey and Tiffanie Fogel
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With the Nelsonville Music Festival only days away, it’s important to know who to make sure to check out during the four-day music extravaganza. Check out WOUB’s “Must See” guides this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the scoop on some of the hottest acts making their way to Robbins Crossing this year.
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Set time: Thursday, June 2, 8:30 p.m.
This year’s festival starts out strong on Thursday with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. After their appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the release of their self-titled debut album in 2015, this band has earned themselves quite a bit of popularity. Rateliff’s tenor, gospel-esque voice backed by the vivacious and energetic band makes moving and singing to the band’s tunes practically unavoidable.
Aoife O’Donovan
Set Time: Thursday, June 2, 7 p.m.
For the past decade, Aoife O’Donovan has carved quite the niche for herself within the progressive Americana and bluegrass scene, making her a must-see vocalist. O’Donovan spent most of her career as part of the string band Crooked Still and has collaborated with a number of other artists including Jerry Douglas, Sarah Jarosz, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Chris Thile and many others. Her second solo album In the Magic Hour was released earlier this year and is rich with O’Donovan’s smooth, airy vocals backed by mellow instruments. Appalachia is known for americana, so come see O’Donovan represent this evolving style.
Saintseneca
Set time: Thursday, June 2, 5:30 p.m.
An indie-folk band hailing from Columbus, Saintseneca kicks off this year’s festival on the main stage. festival’s main stage. Before moving to Columbus to attend school, lead singer Zac Little played in various bands in his hometown in rural Appalachia. Little draws from these roots in his songs, and mixes touches of folk with an indie-rock vibe. Their newest release, Such Things, shows their talent and growth, with a full, upbeat, energizing sound that you can’t stop moving to.
Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons
Set time: Thursday, June 2, 6:30 p.m.
Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons are a powerhouse rock ‘n roll, psychedelia group that flaunt powerful vocals and equally impressive instrumentals. The band first received acclaim with the opening track of their 2014 album entitled Athens, which earned Perley an International Songwriting Award. In January of this year, the band released their second album, Homemade Vision, an upbeat collection of songs that makes you want to drive around with the windows down.
Courtney Barnett
Set Time: Thursday, June 2, 10 p.m.
Coming to the main stage Thursday, guitar playing singer-songwriter and Australian Courtney Barnett will take the night by storm. Rolling Stone and The New York Times have labeled Barnett as a “standout performer,” and you won’t want to miss your opportunity to see her live. Barnett’s Nelsonville Music Festival performance falls towards the beginning of her international tour that will take her talents to over 15 countries. In 2015 she released her critically acclaimed studio album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, which received accolades from the likes of Pitchfork, NME, and Stereogum.