As we’ve noted over the past few weeks among our 3 Landmark Music Festival ticket giveaways, it’s often said that Washington, DC lacks for very little. It’s literally ground zero and the epicenter of national and international politics, there’s nightlife from the urbane to the DIY, and a thriving cultural and arts community—yet there’s a discernible absence of a festival scene in DC proper along the lines of say a Lollapalooza or Austin City Limits. Sure, there are any number of smaller enclaves self-promoting shows and specific scenes that are thriving—just nothing to the scale of “America’s Front Yard.”
Enter the Landmark Music Festival, content to not just throw a huge party for DC but to aid in the restoration and preservation of its host, the National Mall. As the organizers C3 Presents—who actually produce the aforementioned Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits (among others)—explain on the festival’s website, “The National Mall is more than just our country’s premier national park. It’s America’s Front Yard, the world’s window into the American story, and home to some of our nation’s most recognizable monuments, memorials and historic moments. It represents our country’s collective voice, its heroes, and its timeless values. But today, the National Mall—and all that it stands for—are at risk.
The Trust for the National Mall—an official partner of the National Park Service—is leading the charge to restore and improve the National Mall and honor its ideals for future generations through the new Landmark Campaign. Landmark Music Festival kicks off this monumental national campaign to bring awareness and funds to America’s Front Yard—all in a single Festival weekend unlike any other.”
We have two pairs of tickets left to give away leading up to the inaugural shindig on the Mall, and for the last of our giveaways we’re touching on the international acts that will rival the Pope for your attention this weekend,
Hailing from North Wales, The Joy Formidable takes the stage Sunday afternoon. The trio’s latest release is Wolf’s Law (2013), an album the band juggled writing while on tour. The release nicely marries alt rock with clean pop and front woman Ritzy Bryan’s angular vocals perfectly mesh with the band’s rock-n-roll kicks thumping in the background. The band has a way of tying together carefully composed melodies with a bit of reverb and chaos. Their energetic show will certainly excite fans at Landmark.
Second on the list of international acts is Chromeo, a duo from Montreal who go by the monikers P-Thugg and Dave 1. Famous for layering a fresh twist on top of music from the past, the duo has four albums to their name and worked on a collab with Daryl Hall on his Live from Daryl’s House series. Chromeo’s music is intelligent, pulling musical licks across generations and blending them in harmonious fashion. Retro to the core, they use computers from 1994 to sequence their tracks. Their style is steeped in ’80s funk, with clearly discernable synths and underlying beats native to the time period. Their songs are distinct in their smoothness.
Making the trip from England is alt-J, the now three-piece group from Leeds who has recently taken over the indie scene. Their 2014 album This is All Yours blends clean prog rock with a mysterious overlying aura, leaving much to audience interpretation. Their tones are lo-fi and almost chant-like—meeting in the middle of energetic spirit and regimented mystique. However just when you think you understand their style, alt-J’s music will take an interesting twist. For example, their song “Hunger of The Pine” features a Miley Cyrus vocal sample they placed nicely within their tightly knit music.
Also from England is Ben Howard, a solo act known for his acoustic melodies and low key demeanor. As a child, he grew up telling stories and practicing guitar. These childhood hobbies have nicely transitioned into a successful career as a musician. His songs use folk styled acoustic guitar work as an agent to tell a range of stories—from light hearted and lovely, to much murkier and darker. His live show is energetic, genuine, and unique. For example, Howard is famed for placing his guitar on his lap, dropping down the tuning and playing like some of his folk predecessors. His recordings are great, but can’t compare to the brilliance that are his live shows.
Finishing up the list of international acts is Drake, the Canadian based hip-hop superstar who’s headlining Landmark on Saturday night. Drake released his latest album, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, earlier this year without any publicity beforehand. He has certainly fashioned both a distinct sound and style in modern rap. Lyrically driven, many of Drake’s hits have become a staple with free flowing vocals sitting atop some of the most recognizable beats in modern music. His show is certain to end the first night of festival on a strong note.
Enter to win a pair of 2-Day General Admission tickets by citing in the comments below why YOU should be awarded one of our last pair of tickets. (You’re special, right?) We’ll choose TWO winners on Friday, September 25, 2015 for a pair of tickets each. Winners will be notified directly via email.
