ryan’’s forecast
FloydFest 8 arrives this weekend
It’s an acute blow to the music festival-going experience whenever a member of one’s crew lands on the disabled list, but that only means the rest will just have to rage that much harder. That happened to one of my own recently after a good friend and dedicated festie found herself on the wrong end of a tumbling ATV. Here’s hoping for a speedy and full recovery for Boogs and that, by some miracle, she can make it to what may be the most anticipated regional music festival of the summer. FloydFest 8 will take place this weekend in Floyd, Va. from Thursday to sunday about two hours north of Winston-salem, and for a mid-sized festival, it has a killer lineup. It doesn’t quite stack up music-wise against the big boys, but there’s still plenty to see and do without the ridiculous crowds and death marches to and from camping. Headliner Blues Traveler (www.bluestraveler.com) will play the main stage saturday night, but the biggest draw for me is the amazing Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (www.gracepotter.com), who play a two-hour set Friday night. soul legend Charles Walker with his 10-piece funk band the Dynamites (www. myspace.com/thedynamitesband) might have one of the best late-night sets, though electronic string Cheese Incident offshoot eOTO (www.eotomusic.com) may challenge. speaking of sCI, Thursday also features every other member in their own bands, save keyboardist kyle Hollingsworth, who has other obligations at the time. even if there won’t be the potential for a full-blown sCI reunion, I’m definitely glad I was talked into coming Thursday night. For the full lineup and ticket information, visit www.floydfest.com.
Get hiGh on Meth (and red and GhostFace)
There’s a special place in my heart for Redman and I’m not referring to the chaw. I inquired about freelance work with YES! Weekly and next thing I knew, I was on my way to the Cat’s Cradle as a part of a trial-by-fire concert review for the recently vacated music writer’s job. It just so happened that Redman (www.myspace.com/redman) was putting on a free show there with the incredible Connie Price & the keystones as his backing band and I was all over it. Twelve hundred words for that piece, and over nine months on the job later here I am, writing about Redman once again. This time around, he’s doing a show at Raleigh’s lincoln Theatre with his brothers-from-other-mothers Method Man (www. myspace.com/methodman) and Ghostface killah (www.myspace.com/ghostface); yeah, sounds hot, doesn’t it? If it’s anything like his last few visits to Cakalak, it will be blazing (heh). Meth and Red together just put out a decent album, while Ghostface has one forthcoming, but there’s just way too much in their catalogs to draw from to even think about the new stuff. Duo live (www.myspace.com/duolive) and legacy (www.hallofjustus.com/legacy) of the Hall of Justus open the show. Tickets for this are $32.50 in advance and $36 the day of the shows. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the craziness starts at 9:30 p.m.
When (hip-hop) worlds collide
Underground hip hop is alive and well in Greensboro and two of the best are getting together with a little help from their friends this Friday at Greene street Club. Many might know them collectively with DJ Phillie Phresh (www.myspace.com/philliephresh) as Brown Bag special, but ed e. Ruger (www.myspace.com/ederuger) and Ty Bru (www. myspace.com/tybru) are putting together a nice little shindig to announce the release of their own solo efforts, Ruger with Lights Out and Bru with HCHH. even though they represent two different labels, Iconoclast studios and Mightier Than the sword Records respectively, they’ve never been shy about throwing down together, on stage or on record. Here comes the inevitable onslaught of Myspace links that are a natural part of any Ruger/Bru show mention. With Phillie Phresh on the tables all night, other performances include William Zaybiane (www.myspace.com/williamzaybiane), stitchy C (www.myspace.com/stitchyc), kotix (www.myspace.com/mrfettucine), ethemadassassin (www.myspace. com/ethemadassassin), scottie Flippen (www.myspace.com/sleezeslickclick) and DJ l in Japanese (www.myspace.com/linjapanesemusic). J. Timber (www.myspace.com/ jtimbermusic) and Derek Chase (www.myspace.com/derekchasemusic) perform with Bru. Tickets for the event are $8 and doors open at 9:30 p.m.
