[Preview] Inaugural 2015 SoundHarvest Music Festival!

We’ve been talking about it for weeks and the time has finally come for the inaugural SoundHarvest Music Festival on Saturday in Centennial Park. As you know, the event features headlining sets from The Flaming Lips, Benjamin Booker, The Weeks, and Allen Stone, but it also features a slew of others on the main stage. Lightning 100 will also be hosting a local stage featuring a ton of our favorites including Vinyl Thief, Cardboard Kids, Easy Roscoe, and more.

Head below to get familiar with each of the acts performing at the event, and, if you haven’t already, go ahead and snag your tickets here, because the prices go up at the door.

THE FLAMING LIPS

Main Stage | 9:00 pm

Headlining this inaugural installment of Sound Harvest Music Festival are the illustrious and unstoppable Flaming Lips. Led by frontman and rock and roll icon Wayne Coyne, the band has been making waves and breaking borders ever since their inception in 1983 with their combination of 60’s/70’s psychedelic lore and modern experimental-rock explosion. They are most likely the biggest and greatest band to ever come out of Oklahoma and their resume can definitely back that up. The band has gone everywhere in their quest to ask questions and push boundaries in psychedelic rock. From their magnum opus The Soft Bulletin, to their pop-friendly masterpiece Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots the band has made their presence known as seminal figures of music today. 2015 has been an exciting year for The Flaming Lips, as it finds them in the midst of a couple of thrilling releases. They just reissued their album Clouds Taste Metallic on its 20th anniversary with a boatload of extra goodies that any Lips fan can get behind. The band has also just put out an album with pop icon Miley Cyrus called Miley Cyrus and her Dead Petz and will soon be embarking on a tour with Cyrus to support it. Check out “Fight Test” from Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots and a live video of “Do You Realize” below. [JC]

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ALLEN STONE

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 7:20 pm

Soulful, pop-inspired singer-songwriter Allen Stone is currently touring in support of his third album, Radius, which dropped earlier this year. The self-described “hippie with soul” is equal parts Stevie Wonder and Al Green, and has been wowing crowds with his achingly beautiful neo-soul compositions. His spot in the lineup, bridging Benjamin Booker and The Flaming Lips, will provide a good bit of swaying and singing along to hits like “Unaware” to soothe you. Have a listen to the hit track “Freedom” from Radius, and the standout single “Unaware” from his self-titled 2011 release below to get you in the mood. [MH]

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BENJAMIN BOOKER

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 5:50pm

Don’t get us wrong, it is great when a band strives to breach genre rules and play something that sounds completely unique and original. But we here at No Country also find great value and worth in an artist that can play some hip-shaking, head-banging, kick ass rock and roll. New Orleans native Benjamin Booker is exactly one of those artists. He released a self-titled album last year that he recorded in East Nashville’s all-analog studio The Bomb Shelter. The record was met with much critical acclaim. Booker presents a nostalgic and simple style with standout tracks such as “Wicked Waters” and “Violent Shiver”. We expect his set on Saturday to be the epitome of a good time. With energetic rhythms and catchy melodies such as his, what could go wrong? [JC]

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THE LAST INTERNATIONALE

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 4:10 pm

New York City-based trio The Last Internationale‘s mixture of grungy, punk-influenced rock with atmospheric folk has been earning a solid fanbase here in the Music City. Over the last year, they’ve opened for both Weezer and Scott Weiland, and even opened for The Who during their spring European tour. Vocalist Delila Paz is a bonafide badass, which is made obvious every time she takes the stage and shows off her show-stopping voice. In a time when acoustic Americana is all the rage, it’s nice to find a band that is completely rooted in old school rock and roll. [LL]

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THE WEEKS

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 2:30 pm

Indie favorites The Weeks have been holding onto the vintage southern rock sound that has become hard to find within the industry these days. Sometimes reminiscent of early Kings of Leon, the Mississippi natives know how to gain listeners’ attention with their blend of sleek, modern electric guitar riffs with slamming percussion, smoking pedal steel and true Delta soul. Their 2014 release Dear Bo Jackson showcases a polished sound that still sounds gritty and raw, which can appeal to alt-rockers and edgy country fans alike. Take a listen to their fan favorite “Buttons” below before you check out their set on the main stage. [LL]

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GOODBYE JUNE

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 1:15 pm

Hometown rockers, Goodbye June, are essentially battle tested festival veterans at this point in their young career. You’ve surely heard tracks like “Daisy” spinning on Lightning 100, and have likely seen them on stages from Live On The Green to Forecastle. The band got its start on a somber note as the members used music to cope with the loss of a loved one, but their straight ahead blues-inspired rock leaves most who hear it worn out from the thrill. Head below to check out “Daisy” and “Out Of Your Mind” from their debut Nor The Wild Music Flow, and keep your ears peeled for a follow up to be announced any day now. [MH]

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SCOTTY BRATCHER

SoundHarvest Main Stage | 12:00 pm

Scotty Bratcher has been playing the guitar since he was two years old. Citing Stevie Ray Vaughn as his biggest influence, the guitarist has played with a multitude of notable acts over the years such as Ted Nugent, Buddy Guy, and Blue Oyster Cult. Bratcher presents a traditional yet rocking style of blues that evokes the likes of Gov’t Mule and The Allman Brothers. In 2013, Scotty Bratcher released an album called All and Nothing More that featured legendary musician Jimmy Hall on a number of covers. His set on Saturday will most definitely be an impressive presentation of guitar craftsmanship and traditional blues structure. Take a listen to “Shame, Shame, Shame” below. [JC]

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VINYL THIEF

Lightning 100’s 615 Stage | 5:20 pm

Alt-pop outfit Vinyl Thief have been consistently supplying well-crafted music that draws influences from mainstream pop, R&B and everything in between. Since making their debut with 2012’s well-received Rebel Hill EP, they’ve been releasing a stream of fantastically synth-filled beats. Their two newest tracks, “Longer” and “Bad Decisions,” combine clever songwriting with hypnotic percussion beats that draw you in and don’t let go. If you love fun and sexy synth pop, their set is one you cannot miss. [LL]

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THEM VIBES

Lightning 100’s 615 Stage | 3:40pm

Nashville locals Them Vibes are on a roll. The band just released their new record entitled TV, and had a very successful record release show at The Basement East to support it. Now they find themselves playing at the same festival as The Flaming Lips. The band is known for their straight-no-chaser style of heavy hitting rock and roll, however, their latest release finds them adding hints of a psychedelic touch that blends in just perfectly. Check out TV below and be sure to catch Them Vibes on the 615 Stage. [JC]

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CARDBOARD KIDS

Lightning 100’s 615 Stage | 12:45 pm

Rising Nashville indie rock outfit, Cardboard Kids, have been riding high off their 2014 debut, Echo Boomer, and are set to release their follow up EP High next week. Their blend of contemporary indie rock with a poppy R&B feel is pretty much feel good music at it’s best, and the Texas transplants are a welcome addition to the local scene. Though, if they keep making records like this, they’ll deservingly be in same national conversation with bands like Kings Of Leon and Foo Fighters. Have a listen to the new single “Vibe” from the upcoming EP, and check out the video for the title track of their debut below to get familiar. [MH]

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DERIK HULTQUIST

Lightning 100’s 615 Stage | 11:30 am

Derik Hultquist is a Tennessee native who has paid his dues to become a songwriter’s songwriter. He attended Kentucky Wesleyan College and spent his time playing soccer for the school. After an injury sidelined him, he turned back to music, and ultimately made his way to Nashville. Now a part of Carnival Music, Hultquist lends his talents to their roster, while continuing to hone his solo career. To date, Hultquist has released five albums (3 EPs with Carnival and two self released albums), and his most recent is the 2014 Mockingbird’s Mouth. In a bill of familiar names and music, Hultquist is a refreshing taste of how songwriting should be done. [MH]

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EASY ROSCOE

Lightning 100’s 615 Stage | 2:00 pm

Over the past year, Nashville party rockers Easy Roscoe have gained fans across the country, thanks to their energetic live performances and infectious tracks. Their debut album, Keep The Dancin’ Dancin’, honestly takes on situations every modern 20-something encounters. Even when their lyrics are at their darkest, there’s a carefree and hopeful feeling weaved into each track that just makes you feel good. If you check out their mid-afternoon set, get ready to throw caution to the wind and dance like nobody’s watching. [LL]

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