5 Bands I’m Looking Forward to Seeing at Sloss Fest
Sloss Music and Arts Festival is just a few days away, July 14th & 15th and I couldn't be more excited about being involved this year!
I've seen a good many of the bands playing this year including Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Chris Stapleton, St. Paul & the Broken Bones and more but there are tons that I haven't seen. Alt 101.7 will be at Sloss Furnaces all weekend so this mean I will be too and here are a few of the bands I'm looking most forward to checking out during our stay.
It's no secret that I like all things Jack White and if he endorses a band, chances are I'm in. That is 100% true of Margo Price. When he signed her to his Third Man Records label, I immediately followed her on social media and went searching for music. When her debut came out I pre-ordered it and have been a fan since.
I had the opportunity to see Margo perform with Loretta Lynn at the Ryman Auditorium a few years back but she only sang one song with the country princess and one of hers acoustic. Sloss Fest will be my chance to see her in her environment with a full band!
I'll admit to not knowing much about these guys prior to making the move over to Alt 101.7 where we play Two High. I know they've played Tuscaloosa a few times but I just never made the effort to go to the show. I honestly think I wrote them off as a jam band because one of my "jam band friends" was into them. Not that I have a thing in the world against bands who jam on one song for extended periods of time, just not my thing.
I've since become a nice sized Moon Taxi fan! I love the mix of horns and dance beats coupled with the incredibly catchy sing-song choruses. They kinda remind me of a mix of Kings of Leon and Lord Huron. Let that one marinate.
How I have not heard of Will Stewart until now is a mystery. Maybe we missed each other when he left Alabama for Nashville but he's back and I'm into it. He actually popped onto my radar when he followed me on Twitter a few months ago and since then, his latest record County Seat has been one of my favorites!
Will Stewart's music has everything I love about a southern artist. It's harmonious, free spirited, well-written and comforting. Check out his song Sipsy below as well as his Sunday set on the Seasick Records stage at the festival.
My first thought was, "Damn they're running out of band names," but once the music started I thought, "Dammit man, this band is fantastic!" All I really know about them is that they're from Boone, North Carolina, are known for an amazing live show and have millions of digital streams on their music. With that said, I'm looking forward to getting to know them more. Join me in front for these guys on Sunday!
Heath Green & The Makeshifters
Heath Green has been a staple on the Birmingham music scene for fifteen plus years and he's just released a record with his latest incarnation, Heath Green & the Makeshifters. When a video came across my Instagram of favorites like Lee Bains, Mastodon's Brent Hinds and Drive-By Truckers' Matt Patton just saying the name of Heath's new band, my curiosity was struck. What followed was a total aural engulfment of any and all Heath Green music.
It's Birmingham soul-blues-rock. More of that please!
Just because I made this list, don't think I'm not looking forward to seeing everyone I can that weekend. Other honorable mentions include Waxahatchie, Lady Legs, Vance Joy, The War on Drugs, Jai Wolf, Dead Fingers, and my girl Nikki Lane!