In just a few short weeks, Lawrence’s hottest Summer festival kicks off. From July 13th – 15th, Field Day Fest will feature dozens of local and regional bands sprawled across endless venues throughout Downtown Lawrence. Only a small portion of the lineup has been announced so far, but it’s still a pretty hefty list. We posted the list of bands released so far earlier last month, you can read about it here.
This year I Heart Local Music joins the growing list of showcases at the festival. On Saturday, July 15th, from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., we’ll be hosting a stage at the Jackpot with performers our readers have been particularly attracted to. Here’s who’s set to rock the I Heart Local Music showcase:
8:30 p.m. – Drugs & Attics
Drugs and Attics sound like a cross between Shannon and the Clams and Nobunny– and if Beavis and Butthead were to throw a party today, this is what would be on the stereo. Songs about drugs and partying tend to always and at the same time never go out of style, but Drugs and Attics make the party worth staying up for.
Where did they even come from? Nobody knows. They just one day showed up and crashed the party. They may as well have descended form an alien party bus, their style is that unworldly.
9:30 p.m. – Wendy Moira
This Lawrence trio is one of the most unapologetically punk as fuck bands in the region, and certainly one of the more feral acts in Lawrence. Wendy Moira were likely raised by a family of possums outside the Church of Malt Liquor, nursed on cheap beer until they were ready to hunt and feast on the decaying songs of garage rockers past.
Their on-and-off-stage antics are almost alway present, with screechy guitars and squealing vocals that work audiences into a frenzy. But half the fun of a Wendy Moira set is watching all the little punks exert their femme fury alongside the vocalist, who embeds herself into the crowd for the duration of the performance.
10:30 p.m. – Stitch81Classic
If you like “good music, sex, and marijuana,” then you’ll probably love Stitch81Classic. When this rapper plays Lawrence, no one is safe. This is a woman who is completely fearless, positively bold, and wonderfully intimidating. She gets up in everybody’s face (as in literally, walks right up to everyone’s faces and performed there).
Stitch81Classic is likely one of the most confident performers out there, and she made sure you knew it. If you were within the vicinity, you were forced to come face to face with her incredible skill and the emotions that come with confronting such a force. It’s hard not to, when someone is actually in your face asking if you like good music, sex, and marijuana. Her sets are ones where you learn right away what you’re getting into, and whether you’re strong enough to face her.
11:30 p.m. – The Vivid Zebra Crew
Right now, Vivid Zebra is a Lawrence treasure and a gift to the local music scene. Under alccalh‘s masterful production, the team of crowd pleasers is perhaps the most precious commodity trend seekers can claim right now. This is where you go when you want to hear hip hop, R&B, and a hoard of squealing fans. But perhaps what’s most relevant is the crew’s ability to stay on top of trends in a time that dangerously caters to nostalgia (blech) and stagnant sounds.
Vivid Zebra is such a well-oiled machine. From Raymond’s smooth vocals loaded with sexual tension to Ricky Roosevelt’s charisma and command of the room, fans are always kept on their toes— forever responsive and devoted to the show.
12:30 p.m. – Nancy Boys
During their short time in Lawrence, Nancy Boys have made their identity very clear. The Nazi-hating, queer-rage, punk band might put on the most outrageous show you’ll see all year. This is where you’ll see bodies flying, fists flailing, and knees kicking from the very first note.
We’ve seen the band rally their audience and peers to take a stand against hate crimes and racially-fueled violence, and this gives a sense of a solidarity to the scene. They play shows that (gasp!) bring KC punks and Lawrence punks together, blending their fans into a turbulent and lawless force. If there was ever a year for a band like Nancy Boys to make their big debut, this was it… and they could be the channel that strengthens an already tightly-bonded scene at a time when punks need solidarity (and protection) the most.
You can expect more band announcements from Field Day Fest soon, as well as exciting improvements to stages and performance areas. We’ll keep you posted on those when they’re announced. In the meantime, you can RSVP to I Heart Local Music’s showcase here.