A lot has changed since FYF started back in 2004. It’s safe to say that FYF now directly competes with some the country’s most popular festivals, and yet its carefully-picked lineups are second to none in terms of quality and fan appreciation. I can’t think of another festival that dares to put Grace Jones as one of the top headliners, and also manages to get Saves the Day to jam out to Stay What You Are so we can relive our teen years.
It also never fails to feature some of LA’s most sought-after artists. So even if there’s a shortage of lesser-known independent artists this time around (a need that’s more than satiated with festivals like Echo Park Rising and Eagle Rock Music Festival), the festival will still feature a good number of stellar artists who we’ve seen flourish from local favorites to notable international acts.
Below are some of our top local undercard picks for FYF 2016:
1. Chelsea Wolfe: Performing at an appropriately-timed 11pm slot on Saturday night, the darkly seductive singer-songwriter will provide her doom-laden folk anthems to anyone who likes that perfect symmetry of pitch-black ambiance and intense, feral passion. Having seen her evolution throughout the years has been a delight, especially last year’s Abyss, a breakthrough effort that is testament to her tireless work ethic and unrelenting talent.
2. Julia Holter: Julia Holter is a fiercely independent artist who continues to surprise with every new project. Last year’s Have you in a Wilderness was vastly celebrated, both in the States and abroad, another eye-opening creation that showcases her compositional prowess and nuanced intimacy.
3. Boogie: The Compton-based rapper has released two mixtapes, one of which included last year’s sleeper hit “Oh My”, and yet he still remains an enigmatic character. Having recently signed to Interscope Records, it’s safe to say that Anthony Dixsom’s last days as an under appreciated artist are numbered. Expect a rousing set at the newly-minted Club tent, which will serve as an appropriate training ground to test some of his new material.
4. Kelela: This is the second FYF appearance from the experimental singer-songwriter, who’s soulfully-tinged R&B remains unfairly overlooked behind artists like FKA Twigs and Banks. The fact that she’ll be performing in between artists like Ty Segall and Wolf Parade on Saturday night demonstrates her crossover appeal, coming from an artist who’s really come into her own performing her alluringly provocative songs on stage.
5. Ty Segall & the Muggers: We’ve seen Ty before, (many, many times, actually), but this year he’s bringing The Muggers along to perform this year’s wildly idiosyncratic release, Emotional Mugger. At FYF, some things will never change.