Coachella Festival expands to two weekends

My best friend in San Diego (who happens to be a former Observer employee) sent me a post from www.coachella.com this morning that states the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California is expanding its schedule from one three-day weekend in April to two next year.

Identical line-ups will perform April 13-15 and April 20-22, 2012 to accommodate more concert goers.

"COACHELLA 2012 will be two separate events, held over two consecutive weekends. We will attempt to produce two identical festival weekends. That means same lineup, same art, same place, different people.

We know many of you were unable to attend this year's festival because passes sold out much sooner than anticipated...We also know some of you purchased through non legitimate sources and were inconvenienced, gouged or totally scammed."

I can completely understand the reasons behind expanding the successful festival and the change could possibly make traffic and the logistics of finding accommodations, camping, or even just a spot to stand while watching a band in a tent much easier. But it also removes a bit of the magic of attending a "one time event" assuming the organizers can get acts to commit to two weekends in a row.

My husband and I attended Coachella in 2004, 2005, and 2007. It holds a special place for us because we were married en route to the festival in 2005 and named our second son after the town where the event is held. I can't imagine duplicating the first time the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne sailed across the crowd in his giant plastic bubble (though he now does it every night) or the sight of Peter Murphy dangling by his feet as Bauhaus opened with "Bela Lugosi's Dead," or the Arcade Fire's phenomenal second stage performance in 2005 (pictured above) before graduating to headliner status. At Coachella I often feel like I'm witnessing rock n' roll history (while I enjoy Bonnaroo too, I don't feel the same way. Maybe because Coachella is one of the first festivals of the year). We haven't attended since crowds swelled, but I worry that with two festivals some of that may be lost. That's not to say we wouldn't try to attend if we had the money for another cross country trip.

Advance passes for 2012 (the only way to use the discounted monthly payment plan) will be on sale Friday, June 3rd, 2011, at 10am PST until the following Friday June 10th, 2011, at 10pm PST. According to http://www.coachella.com/ the price of three-day passes remains at $269 plus fees for the sixth consecutive year.

Mark McGrath and Sugar Ray to play Epicenter

Sugar Ray, the pop machine fronted by "Don't Forget the Lyrics" host and "Celebrity Apprentice 4" contestant Mark McGrath, is set to play the Bud Light Summer Concert Series at the Epicenter's (210 E. Trade St.) outdoor Pavilion June 25. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. 1-800-594-TIXX.

Sugar Ray burst on to the charts with 1997's inescapable "Fly." It released a string of hits up until the early`00s when McGrath began a second career hosting TV's "Extra" in 2004. The band's hits include "Every Morning," "Falls Apart," "Someday," "When It's Over," and "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)."

Local musician part of opening act Tuesday at Fillmore

Second generation Charlotte musician Emily Moore returns home Tuesday as part of indie pop group fun.'s touring band. Fun. (yes, that period looks funny, but it's part of the name) will open for Panic at the Disco Tuesday, May 31, at the Fillmore along with Foxy Shazam.

Local music fans may remember Moore from Seahorses, the Verdict, and the Emily Moore Band. She's the daughter of Les Moore who was sound engineer at The Double Door for a couple of decades and headed up the original Monday Night All Stars. He now lives in Spokane, Washington.

The core of fun. is Nate Ruess (formerly of the Format), Andrew Dost (Anathallo) and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. Moore joined on as a touring musician two years ago since fun.'s debut album happened to feature a lot of female vocals. She plays piano, guitar, and sings backup.

Moore knew Antonoff through her boyfriend Justin Huey (also of Charlotte, pictured with Moore in the duo Seahorses above). Huey, who like Moore started out as a hired musician, is now a member of Antonoff's New Jersey-based Steel Train. (For those wondering about Steel Train and fun.'s overlapping schedules, Moore says Antonoff is not always on the road with fun.).

Moore, 24, recently spent five months back in Charlotte while fun.'s core trio worked on its next album. It was the most time she's had off the road since starting this adventure.

"I always joke that I feel like I have two different realities. I typically eat better on the road. When I’m at home it feels like I’m on vacation - I don’t need to work out today," she says calling Saturday from a poolside hammock on an off-day in Florida. The Panic at the Disco tour is fun.'s first on a bus which makes it "easier than anything else I've done."

Moore is the only female in the band, but one of two girls on the tour. Fortunately she's got no complaints about sharing such close quarters with a bunch of sweaty dudes. "I got so lucky with this group of guys. Everybody takes care of themselves. They enjoy a hot shower as much as I do."

This week's hot concerts

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

6 p.m. Friday, May 27, NC Music Factory, 935 N. Graham St. $5. www.ncmusicfactory.com

Probably the biggest thing to come out of the `90s swing revival, BBVD returns to Charlotte to perform at the weekly Friday Live concert series. Performance follows a fashion show at 7:30 p.m.

Super Ape/Cement Stars

8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $7-$10. 704-358-9200.

This hip line-up features simultaneously futuristic electronic rock, funk, and cutting edge dance music paired with soundtrack-ready retro synth-rock with DJs the Dirty Drummer, Miami Dice, and George Brazil. Super Ape celebrates its limited edition 7” single release as well.

Ellis Paul

8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $14-$16. 704-376-3737.

Before heading out with buds Sugarland on tour this summer, this veteran singer-songwriter (who’s become a go-to guy for Farrelly Brothers’ soundtracks and co-wrote a third of his latest album with Sugarland’s Kristian Bush) returns for an intimate set.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies

10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $12-$14. 704-376-3737.

The live favorite taps its inner “Magical Mystery Tour” on the fittingly titled eclectic new disc, “Wild Goosechase Expedition,” which finds the hard working Brit-born New York-based band leader at his heady best.

Panic at the Disco

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, Fillmore, 1000 Seaboard St. $35.25. www.livenation.com

Having lost half its founding members, the theatrical rock act returns as a duo without changing directions. Openers Foxy Shazam (a Queen-like force in concert) and fun. (members of the Format, Steel Train, and Anathallo) fill out the bill.

Orange Goblin

8 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $10. www.etix.com

This UK export’s been called the best metal band in England as demonstrated on its five-disc back catalog, which Metal Blade just reissued for its 15^th anniversary. Its blues has teeth while it’s metal boasts melody, texture and depth.

Primus

8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, Fillmore, 1000 Seaboard St. $46.70. www.livenation.com

One of the most original, hardest to imitate `90s alt-rock acts reunites for its first album of new music since 1999 (due this summer). Les Claypool and the band behind gems like “My Name is Mud” and the “South Park” theme warm fans up with this pre-release tour.

Opening night of Speed Street cut short by threat of storm

The Food Lion Speed Street Festival closed at 9:45 p.m. Thursday due to expected inclement weather. The three day NASCAR festival, which leads up to the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, will resume regularly scheduled activities at noon on Friday.

Cancelled events include headlining sets by Pat Green and Midnight Star. Friday's headliners are Josh Turner and Everclear. Eddie Money, Starship, and Clay Walker will close out the festival Saturday.

US National Whitewater Center reveals free festival lineup

The US National Whitewater Center will celebrate July 4 in a big way - with a free three day concert. Songwriter Jason Isbell (formerly of Drive-By Truckers) and his band the 400 Unit (pictured above) open the Americana-leaning festival Saturday, July 2. Riley Etheridge, Jr. and Do it to Julia will support. Sunday, July 3 Langhorne Slim, who many local music fans may remember him from his lively performances opening for the Avett Brothers, headlines. Overmountain Men and Holy Ghost Tent Revival open.

For the actual summer holiday on Monday USNWC welcomes blues guitarist Anders Osborne. The New Familiars and Sol Driven Train open the show. Music begins at 4 p.m. each day with fireworks scheduled around nightfall. http://usnwc.org/2011/05/coca-cola-4th-of-july-festival/ for more information.

Lancaster native celebrates NASCAR with new single

Country singer Julie Roberts debuted her new single "NASCAR Party" this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the All-Star Race. Roberts, who grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina shot the video at the Charlotte track and at Texas Motor Speedway.

The single hopefully marks the beginning of a comeback for Roberts who had a handful of moderate country hits in 2004 and 2005 ("Break Down Here," "Wake Up Older"). Roberts is now an independent artist with a new album that should be available online (both digitally and for physical sale) June 7. She talked recently to ESPN about the new single and getting back on stage. Click here to read more.