Levitation Vancouver is back for its second annual installment this weekend, with dozens of acts set to hit stages citywide from June 16-19. While the main event has been moved from the green grass of the Malkin Bowl to the bouncing dancefloor of the Commodore Ballroom, the lineups for Friday and Saturday are no less epic, as are the many club shows associated with the festival. Chances are you're going to get your mind melted.
For its sophomore offering, curators have expanded the sonic possibilities of Levitation, with a more diverse lineup opting to explore the realms of stoner metal, interstellar hip-hop, and classic, sweat-dripping garage rock. These are just a few of the many must-see artists you should catch this year.
Of Montreal - June 17 at Commodore Ballroom
Over the last 20 years, Athens, GA songwriting genius Kevin Barnes has flirted with anything from bumble bee-celebrating twee pop to sex-charged disco. He'll likely bust out a mix of older gems and songs from the act's forthcoming Innocence Reaches LP for their set at the Commodore. Going by recent reports, Of Montreal's current stage show has him doing all this beside dog-masked pugilists, elegantly-gowned dancers, and other assorted weirdos. It's going to be a gloriously funky freakshow.
Culture Abuse - June 18 at the Cobalt
While a self-described "kinda grunge, kinda punk, kinda hardcore" band from the Bay might seem a bit too straight forward for Levitation Vancouver, an offshoot of an event formerly titled the Austin Psych Fest, the raw and ragged sing-alongs of the band's recent Peach album will have locals rallying behind their underdog anthems all the same.
Thundercat - June 18 at the Imperial
Crafty jazz-funk experimentalist Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner has collaborated with anyone from Erykah Badu, to thrash squad Suicidal Tendencies, to mighty beat twister--and Levitation headliner-- Flying Lotus. While it's possible the L.A. artist will show up at the Commodore on Saturday to sling rhythms for FlyLo, Thundercat's solo club show at the Imperial later that evening will have him taking centre stage to pop off complexly-arranged, though still sublimely head-bobbing bass blasts.
Hinds - June 18 at Commodore Ballroom
While Saturday's afternoon concert at the Commodore brings out veteran standouts like Flying Lotus and insanely prolific San Fran garage freaks Thee Oh Sees, it also gives listeners a chance to see rising acts like Spain's Hinds. This year's poppy but lo-fi Leave Me Alone has the Madrilenian quartet offering silly-but-sweet musings like "you're the rice of my bowl" ("Walking Home").
