HAPPY STOPOVER, Y'ALL: Connect Savannah’s festival genre guide is back by popular demand! Once again, we’ve sat down and listened to every single act playing Stopover ‘16 to help you figure out just what you want to hear this weekend.
Remember, the three-day fest is all about discovery, so get out there and find your new favorite band. Happy hunting!
Indie-pop
The California King-sized blanket under which cheery, textural pop falls. Fans of New Pornographers, The Shins, Merriweather Post Pavilion-era Animal Collective and similar fare will dig.
Pair with: Old Crow & ginger, Tinder date
Yuck | Friday, March 11, 12 a.m., Wild Wing
Lazyeyes | Saturday, March 12, 11 p.m., Ampersand
OxenFree | Saturday, March 12, 3 p.m., The Jinx
Shilpa Ray | Thursday, March 10, 11:30 p.m., Wild Wing
Sun Club | Thursday, March 10, 7 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Hospital Ships | Saturday, March 12, 7 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Rainbow Kitten Surprise | Friday, March 11, 7 p.m., Trinity UMC
What a strange time to exist in when a band can rack up over a million hits on a single via Spotify, have artfully arranged lyrics scattered across countless teenage Tumblr accounts, and birth legions of Beatlemania-level fans, all while unsigned. While the moniker Rainbow Kitten Surprise may, as one YouTube commenter hilariously notes, "sound like a 2005 mall goth's myspace username," vocalist Sam Melo brings to mind the rootsy, gently atmospheric melodies of The Antlers set against slow-swelling acoustic pickings and honest ponderings on complicated love and basic human existence. The Boone, N.C. fellas have the potential to be the next Mumford & Sons in the way they could seamlessly carry indie-pop to radio waves: don't miss 'em on the brink.
Mobley | Thursday, March 10, 11 p.m., Club One
Lucy Dacus | Friday, March 11, 11 p.m., Wild Wing
Big Thief | Friday, March 11, 10 p.m., Wild Wing
Brooklyn-based Big Thief just signed to Conor Oberst's Saddle Creek record label in mid-February. There are certainly shades of Bright Eyes in the four-piece's folk-tinged pop.
Breakers | Thursday, March 10, 6:30 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Miquel Moure | Friday, March 11, 5 p.m., Trinity UMC
Curbdogs | Saturday, March 12, 2 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Garage rock | Fuzz-rock | Noise rock
This is as heavy as Stopover gets: feedback, plenty of distortion and noise.
Pair with: Shot and a beer, shower embargo
White Reaper | Thursday, March 10, 12 a.m., The Jinx
PWR BTTM | Thursday, March 10, 12 a.m., Ampersand
Heaters | Friday, March 11, 10 p.m., The Rail
Big Ups | Friday, March 11, 11:30 p.m., The Jinx
Go!Zilla | Thursday, March 10, 11 p.m., The Jinx
Washer | Friday, March 11, 9:30 p.m., The Jinx
Grand Vapids | Saturday, March 12, 3 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Muuy Biien | Friday, March 11, 10 p.m., Congress Street Social Club
Wild Powwers | Friday, March 11, 10:30 p.m., The Jinx
Capsula | Friday, March 11, 11 p.m., Trinity UMC (David Bowie Tribute Concert) | Sunday, March 12, 12 a.m., The Jinx
Wet Socks | Friday, March 11, 11 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Bruiser Queen | Friday, March 11, 9 p.m., The Rail
The Gotobeds | Thursday, March 10, 11 p.m., Ampersand
The Britanys| Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., Ampersand
Acid Dad | Thursday, March 10, 10 p.m., Ampersand
Sundial Kings | Saturday, March 12, 7 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
"Ya Gotta See 'Em Live"
SAV will be talking about these shows for months: with hypnotic stage presence, visuals, and contagious energy, these acts deliver.
Pair with: Tequila shots, glowsticks
Prince Rama | Friday, March 11, 11:30 p.m., Club One
Terror Pigeon | Thursday, March 10, 12 a.m., Club One
Scotty ATL | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., Club One
Scotty ATL's Savannah ties go deep. Raised in Atlanta, where he created a recording studio in his family's basement as a teen, the rapper spent some time at SSU before issuing his 2011 debut, Summer Dreams. Created in collaboration with DJ/producer DJ Burn One, the release earned widespread praise, including being dubbed "one of [the] year's great unheralded mixtapes" by Stereogum.
Since then, Scotty's résumé has grown impressively: he's celebrated the release of seven mixtapes, including a Scion-sponsored EP in collaboration with the Killer Mike, and, most recently, a mixtape with B.o.B., Live & Direct. With a classic style and substantial lyricism, top-tier media is all over Scotty, with support pouring in from Pitchfork, SPIN, XXL, Fader, and more.
With the national hip-hop eye on the South—particularly Atlanta—now more than ever, don't sleep on the chance to see one of our emerging voices right here at home while you still can. And, hey, Stopover: more of this!
No BS! Brass Band | Friday, March 11, 12:30 a.m., The Jinx
Bedroom pop | Atmospheric pop | Experimental pop
Gossamer approaches to traditional structures meant for reflection and introspection.
Pair with: Vermouth, selective solitude
Porches | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., Trinity UMC
Alex G | Saturday, March 12, 6 p.m., Wild Wing
Jeff Zagers | Saturday, March 12, 7 p.m., Trinity UMC
Your Friend | Saturday, March 12, 5 p.m., Wild Wing
Taryn Miller (Your Friend) crafts beautifully vulnerable, introspective songs carried by her crystal-clear, chill-inducing vocals. Melodic as it is meditative, Gumption (2016, Domino Records) will stick with you for its catchiness and its lyrical resonance.
Ancient Warfare | Saturday, March 12, 5 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Folk | Folk rock | Acoustic | Roots
Harmonies, mountain air, warm strumming, and poignant lyricism.
Pair with: A local pale ale, your best flannel
And The Kids | Friday, March 11, 11 p.m., Ampersand
Mothers | Thursday, March 10, 10:30 p.m., Wild Wing
Perhaps one of the most buzzed-about acts in the Southeast right now, folk-flushed Athens rockers Mothers are on the rise. What began as the solo project of Kristin Leschper has evolved into a full band full of Athens indie talent, featuring Matthew Anderegg on drums, Drew Kirby on guitar, and Patrick Morales on bass. There's a mathy, experimental approach to Leschper's folk rock that make it uniquely modern and fresh, shining bendy obscurities on traditional songwriting. The band released its highly-anticipated debut LP, When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired, on February 26.
Christopher Paul Stelling | Friday, March 11, 5 p.m., The Jinx
Rathborne | Sunday, March 12, 12 a.m., Ampersand
The Ballroom Thieves | Thursday, March 10, 10 p.m., Trinity UMC
Des Ark | Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Hollis Brown | Friday, March 11, 9 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Great Peacock | Friday, March 11, 8 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Quiet Hollers | Thursday, March 10, 9 p.m., Trinity UMC
Family and Friends | Friday, March 11, 8 p.m., Trinity UMC
Daniel Bachman | Friday, March 11, 4 p.m., The Jinx
Dance | Electropop
Synthesizers, tough grooves, and thick beats. Get ready to dance.
Pair with: Vodka Red Bull, freakum dress
Ra Ra Riot | Thursday, March 10, 8 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Mass Gothic | Saturday, March 12, 11 p.m., The Jinx
Mr Little Jeans | Friday, March 11, 12:30 a.m., Club One
French Horn Rebellion | Saturday, March 12, 11 p.m., Club One
Mystery Skulls | Sunday, March 12, 12 a.m., Club One
Wildhoney | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., The Rail
Wolkoff | Friday, March 11, 10:30 p.m., Club One
Twisty Cats | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., The Jinx
Sunglow| Saturday, March 12, 9 p.m., Club One
Ambient Folk
Dreamy swells and warm flushes travel throughout these compositions that fall somewhere between folk and bedroom pop.
Pair with: Hot toddy, fuzzy socks
Twin Limb | Saturday, March 12, 9 p.m., Trinity UMC
Lucette | Friday, March 11, 7 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Guitar-pop | Fuzz-pop | Power-pop | Twee
Catchy hooks with a lot of grit, garage, and vintage influences thrown in.
Pair with: PBR tallboy, denim jacket
Diet Cig | Friday, March 11, 12 a.m., Ampersand
Beverly | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., Wild Wing
Haybaby| Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m., The Rail
Faux Ferocious | Thursday, March 10, 10 p.m., The Jinx
New Madrid | Sunday, March 12, 12 a.m., Wild Wing
Chrome Pony | Thursday, March 10, Congress Street Social Club
Expert Alterations | Saturday, March 12, 9 p.m., The Rail
Honduras| Friday, March 11, 12 a.m., Congress St. Social Club
Tedo Stone | Friday, March 11, 7 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Surf Rock is Dead | Friday, March 11, 6 p.m., Ampersand
COEDS | Friday, March 11, 10 p.m., Ampersand
Garden Giant | Friday, March 11, 9 p.m., Wild Wing
Americana | Alt-country
Southern-steeped songwriting with a kick.
Pair with: Bourbon (neat), well-groomed beard
Blitzen Trapper | Friday, March 11, 10 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Hiss Golden Messenger | Friday, March 11, 6 p.m., The Jinx
Futurebirds | Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Susto | Saturday, March 12, 9 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
T. Hardy Morris | Thursday, March 10, 11:30 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Blank Range | Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m., Ships of the Sea North Garden
Chief Scout | Thursday, March 10, 10:30 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Say Brother | Saturday, March 12, 4 p.m., The Jinx
Ancient Cities | Saturday, March 12, 4 p.m., The Rail
Shot into the indiesphere by a performance at Newport Folk Festival, Ancient Cities stir crunchy, swampy tones in with psychedelic textures, blistering rock 'n' roll vocals and fiery guitar licks. Keep an ear out for their next album, Super Moon Black Out, sometime this summer.
The High Divers | Saturday, March 12, 12 p.m., The Grey (Stopover in the Yard)
Damon & The Shitkickers | Saturday, March 12, 5 p.m., The Jinx
Sunshine pop | Jangle-pop
Summertime is on its way! The melodies are saccharine, the guitars ooze melatonin, and all is right in the world.
Pair with: Captain & Sprite, heart-shaped sunglasses (to be worn indoors)
All Dogs | Thursday, March 10, 9:30 p.m., Wild Wing
Sydney Eloise & the Palms | Friday, March 11, 6 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Motel Radio | Friday, March 11, 5 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
The Fontaines | Saturday, March 12,, 3 p.m., The Rail
Joy Again | Saturday, March 12, 4 p.m., Wild Wing
Mercury Girls | Friday, March 11, 8 p.m., The Rail
Philly-based Mercury Girls, comprised of Northeastern indie scene vets (members of Literature, Little Big League, Pet Milk), deliver all the dreamy summertime jangle you could want. Fans of Dum Dum Girls, Best Coast, and Stopover alums Teen: eat your heart out.
Ambient pop | Shoegaze
Guitar pedals paving the stage, reverb so heavy your skin feels dewy, gauzy textures, and woozy arrangements.
Pair with: Red wine, essential oils
Stargazer Lilies | Saturday, March 12, 6 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
Dear Tracks | Saturday, March 12, 4 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
SALES | Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m., Trinity UMC
Wray | Friday, March 11, 5 p.m., Ampersand
Birmingham, Alabama's Wray blend shoegaze with a little surf, college rock, and dream-pop to create a memorable sound. Their latest, Hypatia, co-produced with Lynn Bridges (Jack Oblivian, Devendra Banhart, Dan Sartain) and mixed by Daniel Farris (Man or Astroman?, St. Vincent, Azure Ray), is deeply inspired by science and philosophy; it's a sublimely intricate listen.
Weekender | Friday, March 11, 4 p.m., Ampersand
Triathalon | Saturday, March 12, 11 p.m., Wild Wing
DEGA | Thursday, March 10, 10 p.m., Club One
Fusion | World
These bands pull from a variety of cultures and stylistic genres to create one-of-a-kind sounds.
Pair with: Long Island Iced Tea, TSA-approved carry-on bag
Culture Vulture | Thursday, March 10, 9 p.m, Ampersand
The Hip Abduction | Saturday, March 12, 11 p.m., Congress St. Social Club
David Wax Museum | Thursday, March 10, 11 p.m., Trinity UMC
Sweet Crude | Friday, March 11, 6 p.m., Trinity UMC
Street Clothes | Saturday, March 12, 2 p.m., The Rail
Dosti Music Project | Saturday, March 12, 3 p.m., Trinity UMC
