Album Review: Future Islands "Singles"

Rating: **** out of 5

Thanks largely to old man Letterman’s enthusiastic response to frontman’s Samuel T. Herring’s sweet, sweet dance moves during the above performance of “Seasons (Waiting on You)”, Future Islands are on the verge of household name status. And the recognition is well-deserved. The band’s latest, Singles, offers fresh, infectious, and well-crafted dance numbers all galvanized by Herring’s deceptively cool and frequently surprising vocals. Listen how quickly his casual delivery devolves into a guttural growl as best evinced on “Fall from Grace.” This record will have even the shyest of wallflowers tripping the light fantastic.

-Mykael Sopher

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Atmosphere to play the Garrick

Just a quick note today: Minneapolis-based indie-rap pairing Atmosphere will be at the Garrick on Tuesday, May 20th. Look for the duo's new album, Southsiders, on Tuesday, May 6th.

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Afternoon Headlines: The WECC books Evan Dando, Library Voices

First up, 90s Flashback alert: Evan Dando (of Lemonheads) is at the WECC on Sunday, May 18th w/ Sara Johnston (of Bran Van 3000).

Library Voices returns to town for a show at the WECC on Friday, June 13th.

On Thursday, May 1st local up-and-comers Naysa is releasing its latest EP, Troubled Heart, at the Windsor Hotel w/ The Unbelievable Bargains, Paincave, and Palm Trees.

The Dead South is playing Times Changed on Friday, March 28th at part of Juno Fest.

And finally...Poemss (featuring Aaron Funk of Venetian Snares) is at the Purple Room (318 Ross Avenue) on Friday, April 25th w/ Ghost Twin and Glass Random (thanks to Dave for the heads up).

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The 2014 Winnipeg Folk Festival Lineup

The 2014 Winnipeg Folk Festival lineup dropped today (by now you've likely seen it), but just in case here is the full list of artists partaking in the province's biggest music festival / picnic party of the year.

What say you, Dear Readers, of the lineup? Who are you excited to see?

Going for the full weekend? Just a day or two?

The event runs from July 9th to 13th this year.

Aaron Burnett
Amy Helm & the Handsome Strangers
Ani DiFranco
Baskery
Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite
Bonnie Raitt
The Both (feat. Aimee Mann & Ted Leo)
Boy & Bear
The Bros. Landreth
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Calypso Rose
Cara Luft
Chic Gamine
Como Mamas
Corb Lund
Daniel Bachman
Daniel Romano
Danny Barnes
David Myles
The Deep Dark Woods
Della Mae
Elephant Revival
Fox & Branch
Geomungo Factory
Grace & Tony
Gustavo with the Green Fools
Guy Forsyth
Hiss Golden Messenger
Hurray For the Riff Raff
Jake Shimabukuro
James Hill
James McMurtry
Jaron Freeman-Fox & the Opposite of Everything
Joan Baez
John Hammond
JP Hoe
Kacy & Clayton
Koo Koo Kanga Roo
Langhorne Slim & the Law
Left Lane Cruiser
Les Poules Colin
Little Miss Higgins & the Winnipeg Five
Marie-Claude McDonald
Martha Redbone Roots Project
Mexican Institute of Sound
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
Mr. Mark
Namgar
Noura Mint Seymali
Oliver Swain's Big Machine
Palenke Soultribe
The Relatives
Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Hendersen
Ruth Moody
Samantha Martin & The Haggard
Sand Skyscraper
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Scarlett Jane
Shakey Graves
Sharon Van Etten
The Sheepdogs
Shinyribs Shovels & Rope
Spirit Family Reunion
Sweet Alibi
The Strumbellas
The Wilderness of Manitoba
The Wood Brothers
The Wooden Sky

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Afternoon Headlines: Folk Festival Lineup Coming; Mac DeMarco @ The Park Theatre

First up, as per its Twitter feed, the Winnipeg Folk Festival lineup will be revealed on Saturday, March 15th. C'mon, Kings of Convenience! (I know, I know. About as likely at the Jets making the playoffs this year.)

Harlan Pepper is at the Folk Exchange on Saturday, May 3rd.

Mac DeMarco returns to Peg City for a gig at the Park Theatre on Tuesday, June 24th.

Kim Churchill is at the WECC on Sunday, April 6th.

Speaking of the WECC...Jimmy Rankin is there on Saturday, April 19th.

Double bill going down at the Burt on Thursday, March 20th: Phillip Phillips is there with Twin Forks.

Speaking of double bills going down in Winnipeg: Indicator Indicator and Lost Weekend is at the Park Theatre on Saturday, March 22nd.

Escondido is at the Pyramid on Friday, March 21st.

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Contest: Enter to win tickets to see Carsick Cars @ The WECC

Courtesy of our good ol' pals over at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for the China's Carsick Cars show going down on Wednesday, March 26th. Also on the bill is White+ and Cannon Bros.

If you're interested in checking out the indie-rockers, fire me off an email (on the right hand side, below the concert listings) by noon CST on Thursday, March 20th with the subject line "Carsick Cars Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter, with the first name and last initial published on my Twitter account.

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Noon Headlines: Skydiggers @ The WECC; Aidan Knight @ The Garrick

Just a few shows to pass along this noon hour:

Toronto songwriter Jerry Leger is at Times Changed on Friday, April 11th.

The Skydiggers play the WECC on both Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd.

Vance Joy is at the Garrick on Thursday, March 27th.

Speaking of the Garrick...Aidan Knight is there on Tuesday, March 25th.

Jay Malinkowski & the Deadcoast is at the Park Theatre on Friday, March 28th.

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