Tucked away in the quiet serenity of the Virginia Mountains howls a group of over 100 musicians who gathered in the wilderness to put on a 5-day show across 10 different stages to create something unforgettable. This festival is something of a hidden gem, unlike America’s notorious music festivals full of teens and pre-teens impatiently waiting for their generations pop idols to appear. The music that plays at Floydfest is perhaps something that requires a deeper appreciation, full of folk, reggae, rock, and bluegrass, there’s no question that this festival is something of a unique experience in this day and age.

Continue reading about contributor Rohan Khanna’s experience at Floydfest here. 

Noleac Yahsin’s recently released music video, “Back In Five”, utilizes simplistic yet clever videography directed by Devyn Young and Alvin Daughtrey to complement Noleac Yahson’s incredibly diverse sound. Beautiful vocals compliment the beat as she manages to blend rock, hip hop, R&B, trance and pop into a tightly wound electronica brand package.

You can find Noleac Yahsin on Facebook and YouTube. –Hannah Brady

Night Kitchen’s Thai Iced Tea 7” is a refreshingly original two-song album. Repetitive psychedelic guitar refrains and riffs will put you in a trance, as the percussion carries you throughout the song. The minimalistic vocals, occasional synth mixed into the drums, bass and electric guitar are imaginative and energizing.

You can find Night Kitchen on Facebook and BandCamp.

–Hannah Brady

The Almond Butters‘ debut EP, From The Grave, is my new favorite thing in local music (they’re from Williamsburg, VA). I’m a really big fan of psych-rock, and roots music, and crazy psychedelic rootsy music. Captain Beefheart’s Safe As Milk. I’m trying to think of other good examples, but my mind is busy being blown by this new EP I finally got around to listening to. If you know how amazing Safe As Milk is, then you know why I’m so mesmerized by From The Grave. I’m so happy this exists. I’m so sad that this was released on July 8th and I only got around to it now. I’m truly sorry that I’m a month late sharing this, and that we haven’t all been enjoying it from the second it came out. 

Every track is a different idea. There’s blues, and rock, and jazz but in a super psych-rock kinda way, and rap (yes, rap–Crackbilly, dude. Hell Yes). All kinds of fuzziness and echo and electricity and them changes coming at you from all directions. But it’s not messy. This is not some Trout Mask Replica bullshit. Every song is a tight and forceful statement. It’s a bit lo-fi, which is cool, but I’d love to hear what these guys put together in a serious analog studio. I can’t find any upcoming live dates and this makes me sad. For now we’ll have to settle for these 6 songs streaming below (and a bunch of other worthwhile stuff on their soundcloud). –Natan Press

Alex Lee Ratner of Monacan Hill will be performing an acoustic set at Wing Command, tomorrow, August 7th, in memorial of his father Barry Ratner. Barry passed away yesterday, August 5th, after his battle with cancer. "I always wanted my music to be of service to someone’s rough time," says Alex, "Now I realize that I need music more than ever." Music will begin around 7, and all are welcome. 

 Finally. We’ve been waiting a long time for Young Summer to put out another single. After releasing a series of singles, as well as the "Fever Dream" EP Young Summer became a local star, and received tons of attention from national press. "Leave Your Love"  isn’t just another great single, however. It’s the lead single for Young Summer‘s debut album Siren, out August 26th. A full album of electronic pop gems? Sign me up!

I wish it would come out earlier ’cause I want to hear it all now (and isn’t August, like, "old" Summer?) Thank goodness the season doesn’t end until December around here, so I’ll have plenty of time to pop Siren into my car stereo and cruise around Virginia with the wind in my hair and the Sun on my face. At least we have this track to keep us going.   –Natan Press

French Admirals formed in 2013 when "Robert France" (aka Rob Kuczynski) and "The Admiral" (Mike Lashinsky) started what they call a "gentleman troubador" guitar and bass acoustic project. After writing some songs and playing some shows, they added a drummer ("The General"), and went electric. The end result is Closer Than Brothers. Recorded by Peter Larkin (who recently recorded DC favorites Wanted Man, Paperhaus, and Pree) at Lighthouse Recording and Persona Non Grata Studios, the album is a solid collection of sounds from late 90’s guitar-pop, from college-rock and power-pop to alternative country and folk.

French Admirals are debuting the album this Saturday, August 2nd, at Rock and Roll Hotel. They’ll be joined by local acts Exit Vehicles, Kelly Ann Beavers (of Belles and Hunters), and Patrick Frank. Check out the album preview below.

 It’s finally here! In It Together Fest starts tomorrow, Thursday 7/31. The first night features some of my favorite bands in the city, all on one mindblowing bill. Acme‘s indie-psyche funk, Wanted Man‘s blazing blues-rock, and Paperhaus‘ oh-so-tight indie-rock join together for a night no one who loves local music should miss at Fort Loko. The show will be opened with a comedy show (cause, in this festival, musicians are in it together with all sorts of other creative people, see?), and Vundabar (from MA) brings some of my hometown (Boston) sound to the District.

After that, it’s like 3 more days of crazy. Look at that map! There’s shows everywhere. Which ones do you choose? Which ones do I choose?? How many can we pack in to our memory-holes? I’m getting a bit stressed. I’ll tell you one thing: I am going to know the bus routes in this city so well by the end of the weekend. At the very least, there’ll be a good show near you at some point. Stop by, make a small donation and support local music! –Natan Press

Acme has released a follow up to June’s fantastic "Girlfriend Tonight," this time a double-single video for "California Girls/Numbers Game." The singles are a culmination of everything Acme has done before. 2013’s Synths, Beats & Psychedelia was filled with synth-noise heavy anthems (not to mention the marvelous heartbreak dirge Howl), and channeled indie groups like M83 and TV On The Radio. This year’s "Girlfriend Tonight" was a relatively clean, old-school funk jam, where the synths provided a psychedelic flavor instead of being central to the song (those duties went to the rhythm section and guitars), which proved Acme has the chops to do funk the real way: live, without simply relying on loops to provide the groove.

"California Girls" is definitely a funk number for the dance floor, but with thick, juicy synthetic sounds that could give Prince a run for his money. "Numbers Game" is also based around a groove, but this one is less funk, and more atmospheric, the sounds swirling and growing around the rhythm tracks before the vocals drop delicately in the final minute with a simple request, extending the theme in "Girlfriend Tonight." 

Together these two tracks make for Acme’s most powerful aesthetic statement yet. They are something else, combining the richest and craziest flavors of the old and the new, mixing sunshine happiness and moonlight hope. –Natan Press

Tonight, 7/24, go to Velvet Lounge to see a stellar lineup of bands from Northern Virginia. Fall Seattle from Reston headlines a bill including DC Deli Artist of the Month winner Real Clothes, and A MARC Train Home from Fairfax. Fall Seattle drenches your ears in gorgeous dream-pop: sparkling guitars, and reverbed vocals telling you how much they love you (listen to their new single below). Readers of the Deli will be familiar with Real Clothes‘ surprising and charming combination of sweet melodic vocals backed by a band drawing from a wide variety of influences, combining rootsy appalachia, electronic bedroom pop, and mathy indie-rock. Opening the night, A MARC Train Home is an exciting indie-rock combo, combining everything good about the 90’s, with angular guitars swirling together into crescendos of shoegazy fuzz within dramatic alt-rock songs. Doors at 7:30, $8, 18+.

Martijn Deijkers who goes by the stage name “Martyn” is no newcomer when it comes to the world of dubstep electronica. This Dutch producer and DJ currently resides right here in Washington D.C. Gracing the capitol with his sixteen plus years of experience, he presents his futuristic sets here, a pioneer who creates beats way ahead of their time. Martyn started his career back in 1996 working as a DJ for Drum and Bass. He spent time there gathering experience and confidence as a DJ and eventually broke into the world of dubstep, techno, and house music. He released his first album Great Lengths in 2009, contributing mostly of well-received experimental dubstep tracks. His second album Ghost People was released in 2011 and was comprised of an even more experimental sound.

Martyn’s sound is something that never stops changing, influenced by the melodic presence of the scenes in Chicago and Detroit, he is a true electronic vagabond. His most recent album The Air Between Words was released this summer and has a more of a deep house sound. This album is well worth a listen, as its hypnotic beats will transport you to a dark dance floor where its tracks will echo in your ears full of ambience. There is no telling where Martyn’s sounds will move to next, but for this moment lets enjoy the unique experience that is The Air Between Words. –Rohan Khanna