In the first iteration of Wonderbus, promoter Elevation Festivals delivered on a crowd-pleasing lineup. Even the brutal heat couldn’t hold back some excellent performances and great summer vibes. Check out the photos from several of the bands.
Gallery – Weathers
Gallery – X Ambassadors
Gallery – Trombone Shorty
Gallery – The Revivalists
Gallery – Various Pt 2
The Coca-Cola Roxy hosted Radio 105.7’s holiday spectacular show December 1, featuring Portugal. The Man and X Ambassadors, with support from Welshly Arms.
Portugal. The Man has recently made the leap from indie underground to mainstream radio with the hit song “Feel It Still,” a one of a kind song that defies genre. With a trippy backdrop behind them, the band took the stage to an unexpected cover of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” revving up the crowd before going into another cover, this time Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.” Portugal. The Man delivered songs from latest album Woodstock with a suave, laid-back performance that boiled down to just guys on stage playing songs and having fun. “Feel It Still” had the entire venue dancing before the band got into some older material, such as “Purple Yellow Red and Blue,” “Evil Friends,” and “Modern Jesus.” The band closed out the set with a reprise of “Feel It Still,” and yet another cover, this time Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”
X Ambassadors is another band that has experienced seemingly overnight fame, after the release of the song “Renegades” in 2015 and the following album VHS. The album was a huge hit for the band, spawning several hits, including the incredible “Unsteady,” and the hand-clapping, foot-stomping “Jungle,” which started off the set. Frontman Sam Harris did a fantastic job keeping the crowd engaged throughout the night, giving his attention to those on the floor as well as the higher seats, making it seem like one big family all enjoying the music together. Sam’s brother Casey was inspiring to watch on the keys, his passion radiating throughout the entire room. VHS got a lot of love, with “Hang On,” “Loveless,” and “Low Life.”
The band also performed several new songs, including “Don’t Stay,” featuring Sam’s amazing vocal range on the chorus, and a truly heart-wrenching song called “Joyful.” “Unsteady” had the entire venue singing along with their hands in the air before Sam introduced the final song. “This song is for everyone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, LGBTQIA, Christian, Muslim. You do not have to be afraid. This song is for you.” The band then launched into “Renegades” to close out an incredible night of music.
Portugal. the Man
X Ambassadors
Photos and Review by Danielle Boise
Friday, September 18 kicked off the 5th invocation of Music Midtown in Midtown Atlanta at the luscious Piedmont Park. Since Music Midtown’s rebirth in 2011, after a lengthy reprieve, it had come back stronger and better each year, with varying lineups and additional stages for the 2-day fall festival to truly bloom into something special. And this year was no different, with a brilliant crossed section of music that had a little something for everyone with a great exposure to not only established acts, like Van Halen, Sir Elton John and Lenny Kravtiz to newcomers to the music scene, like Elle King, Vinyl Theatre and Alessia Cara. From the “Renegades” to “Bad Habits” to “American Woman” and “The Bitch is Back,” you couldn’t have come up with a more clever lineup, even Foy Vance did a cover of Fleetwood Mac to perfection.
Festival goers enjoying bathing in the sun to the sounds of Darryl Hall & John Oats
Music Midtown was also an interactive experience, it had the Coor Light Lounge where a DJ would spin tunes while festival goers created their own vinyl art that they could take home. At the Jack Daniel’s booth you could take your chance with a wheel, circa The Price is Right style, and win prizes, including hats, lip balm and sunglasses. Around each corner there were giveaways vying for attention.
As always, the weekend was about the love and expression of music, while being surrounded by friends, and of course determining a plan of action. Figuring out which artist was playing at what time and stage. Devising a blueprint to the day, one that consisted of either being in constant motion by running to catch half of this band to the next or staking out the perfect location at the front of the stage, even if it meant spending the entire day in one spot, to have the chance to be as close as possible to your favorite artist. Regardless of the scheme, running or staying, it was a truly magical time; with the absolute perfect weather in the lower 80s, the aroma of delicious food from the food truck alley to drinks pouring all day long, and of course the memories shared with new and old friends alike. Music is what stitches us together in our lives into one moment to the next; it’s at the center of who we are and I for one cannot wait for next year’s Music Midtown for more memories, music and fun.
Getting lost in the moment.
Lenny Kravitz walking out on stage, he’s performance was utterly fluid and totally sexy and it’s Lenny Kravtiz – nothing else needs to be said.
All the deliciousness of Lenny Kravitz making an appearance on the Music Midtown stage, as Kravitz’s last stop of his STRUT Tour.
Elle King, attitude, sass and all the ‘Love Stuff,’ ‘nough said.
Loved Elle King’s sass and a mouth like a sailor. What a perfect combo.
Billy Idol, no one can sneer like the king of “Flesh For Fantasy.”
Nothing is better than Billy Idol’s ’80s rock’n’roll in all his glory.
Emily Haines of Metric and all her hair blowing around.
Adored Metric’s, Emily Haines hair’s movement as it floated about – it was pure bliss.
Finally, David Lee Roth and all those tattoos with a cowboy hat, what a wonderful surprise.
Never in a million years would I have imagined Roth moving from his long hair days of the ’80s to short hair, tatted up with a cowboy hat. What a delight.
