Best of 2021 – Last year we missed doing our annual “Best Of.” This year we present it after a year of quarantine albums galore. Tours didn’t start until May but new music was flowing from the start of 2021. 2022 is already aiming to be a busy year. Here are our choices for the Best of 2021.
We’ve evolved from Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion and others of last year to a new crop of artists.
Best Label – Fire Talk Records – Home to Bnny, Mamalarky, Packs and more this boutique label is setting up to be the next Saddle Creek Records.
Secretly Group @secretlygroup, Saddle Creek Records @saddlecreek, Fire Talk Records @firetalkrecs, Don Giovanni Records @DonGiovanniRecs
Nest New Artist – “New” is always relative. Georgia Maq has been part of Camp Cope, and Isabella Manfredi was part of The Preatures. Our winner is Ashe who album Ashlyn was hard to put down this year.
Georgia Maq @goldsoundz_, Allison Russell @allisonrussellmusic, S.G. Goodman @s.g.goodman, Ashe @ashemusic, Jillette Johnson @jillettejohnson, Hawxx @hawxxmusic, Noa Kirel @noakirel, Kill Birds @killbirdsmusic, Killboy @killboy , Sloppy Jane @sloppyjanebandd , Ydegirl @ydegirl, The Linda Lindas @the_linda_lindas, Allison Ponthier @allisonponthier, Isabella Manfredi @isabellamanfredi, Pom Pom Squad @pompomsquad
Best Local (Colorado) Artist – Local artists can often be touring or even national acts. This category was very competitive with the amount of quarantine albums that came out. Our winner is Companion who mesmerized us in the Spring. They will quickly become a national act.
Companion @companiontheband , Wellington Bullings @wellingtonbullings, Jenny Shawhan @jennyshawhan, The Velveteers @thevelveteers , Grand Alliance @LeGrandAlliance, Bunny Blake @bunnyblakemusic, Ellsworth @ellsworththefolksinger, Stop Motion, Lvdy @lvdy, Lolita @lolitaworldwide
Best Dance – Dance is also electronic and electro pop. Magdalena Bay & Sofi Tukker are the 800 lb gorillas in this category. Kito is our winner for surprising collaborations.
Magdalena Bay @magdalenabay, Sofi Tukker @sofitukker, Kito @kito
Best Pop – Pop like Indie is often open to interpretation. It is often what dominates at venues. Our winner is Charlotte Cardin whose Phoenix album was one of the best albums this year.
Hana Vu @hanavuuu, Lucy Dacus @lucydacus, Japanese Breakfast @jbrekkie, Baby Queen @queenofthebabies, Charlotte Cardin @charlottecardin, Jess Chalker @jess_chalker_, May-A @mayacumming, Ashe @ashemusic, Girl In Red @girlinred, Angèle @angele_vl, Sloppy Jane @sloppyjanebandd, Nadia Vaeh @nadiavaeh, Olivia Rox @oliviarox, Number One Popstar @numberonepopstar, Bahari @bahari, Noga Erez @nogaerez, Lola Lennox @lolalennex
Best Rock – Rock is often the guitar driven beat that keeps you going. Kill Birds, who have been touring with Foo Fighters are our winner.
Royal and the Serpent @royalandtheserpent, Amyl and the Sniffers @amylandthesniffers, Mattiel @mattielworldwide , Upsahl @upsahlmusicl, Self Esteem @selfesteemselfesteem, Kill Birds @killbirdsmusic, Nadia Sheikh @nadiasheikhmusic, Red Hook @weareredhook, Pom Pom Squad @pompomsquad
Best Indie – Indie always means both a sound but also a level of development. These are the artists at the small venues touring to survive. We have a diverse selection this year. Bnny is our winner.
Torres @torreslovesyou, The Beths @lizstokedstokes, Bnny @bnnyband, Madi Diaz @madidiaz, Marissa Nadler @marrisa_nadler, Jillette Johnson @jillettejohnson, Siiickbrain @siiickbrain, Sub*t @subtrules, Killboy @killboy, Cumgirl8 @cumgirl8, L’Freaq @lfreaq, Madelline @i.am.madelline, Anna Smyrk @annasmyrk
Best Experimental – There is always a “flinch” moment when you saw experimental. It involves a great deal of risk as personified by our winner Fifi Rong who is working on her dual album set with one album all in English, and one all in Chinese. She is crowdfunding now.
Insect Ark @insectark, Fifi Rong @fifirong, Sasami @sasamiashworth, Irreversible Entanglements @irreversibleentanglements, Haru Nemuri @haru_nemuri
Best Hip Hop – This is the first year that FEMMUSIC has this category. There may be some arguments as to whether all these artists fit it. Coi Leray is the best newcomer in this area. Ray BLK is our winner.
Bia @bia, Tones and I @tonesandi, Doja Cat @dojacat, Sza @sza, Cardi B @iamcardib, Megan Thee Stallion @theestallion, Coi Leray @coileray, Ms Banks @msbanks, Ray BLK @rayblk, Remi Wolf @remiwolf, Tinashe @tinashenow
Best Jazz – We will admit to not hearing as much jazz this year. Laufey is the winner with original interpretations of classics.
Laufey @laufey, Nnenna Freelon @officialnnenna
Best Country – Brandi Carlile is a favorite in this category and will take home more GRAMMYs. Allison Russell wins for being new and original.
Brandi Carlile @brandicarlile, Allison Russell @allisonrussellmusic, Yola @iamyolaofficial, CMAT @cmatbaby, Jackson & Sellers @jacksonsellersmusic, Ingrid Andress @ingridandress
Best Heavy Metal – Infected Rain is a former winner in this category. Jinjer, Halestorm & The Pretty Reckless dominate. The Velveteers are this year’s winner.
Hawxx @hawxxmusic, Edge of Paradise @edgeofparadise, Jinjer @jinjer_official, The Velveteers @thevelveteers, Infected Rain @infectedrain_official, The Pretty Reckless @theprettyreckless, Halestorm @halestormrocks
Best R & B – This category includes powerhouses like Arlo Parks and Dawn Richard. Alewya is our winner for new and original music this year.
Muni Long @munilong, India Shawn @indiashawn, Dawn Richard @dawnrichard, Alewya @alewya11, Arlo Parks @arloparks, Tkay Maidza @tkaymaidza, Danielia Cotton @danieliacotton, Saleka @saleka
Best Surprise – A “surprise” for us is that unexpected performance when it was not expected. It includes some risky performances such as LVXURI and Big Klit. S.G. Goodman is our hands down winner. We caught her as an opener and she garnered as much reaction as the headliner. She is a blunt, and emotive songwriter.
S.G. Goodman @s.g.goodman, Kiesza @kiesza, LVXURI @mx_lvxuri, Big Klit @klitoriusmaximus
Best Comeback – This has been a surprisingly competitive category. Whether it’s the return of ABBA after a long time to Adele’s new album. The big surprise this month is Taylor Swift taking the world with the longest song. She is our winner.
Kylie Minogue @kylieminogue, Avril Lavigne @avrillavigne, Deborah Gibson @debbiegibson, Liz Phair @LizPhairOfficial, Taylor Swift @taylorswift , ABBA @ABBA, Adele @adele, Lorde @lorde
Posted in Previews Tagged with: ABBA, Alewya, Allison Ponthier, Allison Russell, Amyl and the Sniffers, Angele, Anna Smyrk, Arlo Parks, Ashe, Avril Lavigne, Baby Queen, Bahari, Beach Bunny, Best of 2021, Bia, Big Klit, Bnny, Brandi Carlile, Camp Cope, Cardi B, Charlotte Cardin, CMAT, Coi Leray, Companion, Cumgirl8, Danielia Cotton, Dawn Richard, Deborah Gibson, Doja Cat, Don Giovanni Records, Edge of Paradise, Ellsworth, Fifi Rong, Fire Talk Records, GEORGIA MAQ, Girl In Red, Halestorm, Hana Vu, Haru Nemuri, HAWXX, India Shawn, Infected Rain, Ingrid Andress, Insect Ark, Irreversible Entanglements, Isabella Manfredi, Jackson and Sellers, Japanese Breakfast, Jenny Shawhan, Jess Chalker, Jillette Johnson, Jinjer, Kiesza, Kill Birds, Killboy, Kito, L’Freaq, Laufey, Liz Phair, Lola Lennox, lolita, Lorde, Lucy Dacus, LVDY, LVXURI, Madelline, Madi Diaz, Magdalena Bay, Marissa Nadler, Mattiel, May-A, Megan Thee Stallion, Ms Banks, Muni Long, Nadia Sheikh, Nadia Vaeh, Nnenna Freelon, Noa Kirel, Noga Erez, Number One Popstar, Olivia Rox, Phoebe Bridgers, Pom Pom Squad, Ray BLK, Red Hook, Remi Wolf, Royal and the Serpent, S.G. Goodman, Saddle Creek Records, Saleka, Sasami, Secretly Group, Self Esteem, Siiickbrain, Sloppy Jane, Sofi Tukker, Stop Motion, SZA, Taylor Swift, The Beths, The Grand Alliance, The Linda Lindas, The Preatures, The Pretty Reckless, The Velveteers, Tinashe, Tkay Maidza, Tones and I, Torres, UPSAHL, Wellington Bullings, Ydegirl, Yola
All Things Go Music Festival
October 16, 2021
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, Maryland
https://allthingsgofestival.com/
The 2021 All Things Go Music Festival returns on Saturday October 16th and makes a major move to the 20,000 capacity Merriweather Post Pavilion venue. The festival continues their female-forward billing with this year’s headliner and Grammy Album Of The Year nominee, HAIM – in addition to St. Vincent , Charli XCX and LAUV at the top of the bill.
Those artists will be joined by a slew of up-and-coming artists — Girl In Red, Cautious Clay, Beach Bunny, Soccer Mommy, Gus Dapperton, Tkay Maidza, Jelani Aryeh, Role Model, Tai Verdes, Blue DeTiger, Isaac Dunbar and Del Water Gap — all taking over two stages at the iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion, making it one of the largest independent festival on the east coast.
The festival is known for their female-focused billing and equal representation in the music industry in general, for instance the Saturday of All Things Go 2018 spotlighted an all-female lineup specially curated in collaboration with Maggie Rogers and LPX (Lizzy Plapinger), both All Things Go friends, and Plapinger, a previous partner on the All Things Gold club nights in Washington DC.
Posted in Previews Tagged with: All Things Go Music Festival, Beach Bunny, Blue DeTiger, Cautious Clay, Charli XCX, Del Water Gap, Girl In Red, Gus Dapperton, Haim, Isaac Dunbar, Jelani Aryeh, Lauv, Lizzy Plapinger, LPX, Maggie Rogers, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Role Model, Soccer Mommy, St Vincent, Tai Verdes, Tkay Maidza
Bachelor & TBA Present – Doomin’ Sun Fest
June 10, 2021
6pm EST
To Benefit Seeding Sovereignty
https://doominsunfest.bachelor-band.com/
Bachelor—the collaborative project of Jay Som’s Melina Duterte and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner—will release its debut album
Doomin’ Sun on May 28th via Polyvinyl Record Co. (North America), Lucky Number (ROW) and Milk! Records (AUS/NZ). To celebrate the album release they have also announced
Doomin’ Sun Fest, a massive livestream festival / telethon to benefit and uplift
Seeding Sovereignty. The festival will take place on June 10 starting at 6pm ET., and will be followed by a virtual afterparty inside the 3D social game
Hotel Hideaway.
Created as a chance to gather for “Community, Compassion, Climate, and Celebration,”
Doomin’ Sun Fest will be FREE to attend, but donations to
Seeding Sovereignty will be highly encouraged. The organization is an Indigenous-led collective working to radicalize and disrupt colonized spaces through land, body, and food sovereignty work, community building, and cultural preservation.
Melina & Ellen will live-host
Doomin’ Sun Fest, which will culminate in the first ever Bachelor concert, shot and directed by
Haoyan Of America with designer
Richie Brown, powered by
HIFI Labs. “Basically we just wanna have fun celebrating our album release, raise funds for
Seeding Sovereignty, and get people excited about donating and opening their hearts to themes of the fest – the “4 C’s” as we call them – that are driving this endeavor,” note Ellen and Melina.
Featuring:
Adeline
Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief
Alexis from Sleigh Bells w/ Young Women Who Crush
Alynda Segarra (Hurray For The Riff Raff)
Andy Shauf
Anjimile
Bartees Strange
Beach Bunny
Becca Mancari
Benjamin Gibbard
Black Belt Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts
Brijean
Christelle Bofale
Claud
Courtney Barnett
Faye Webster
Fime
Frankie Cosmos
Hand Habits
Japanese Breakfast
Jeff Rosenstock
Jeff Tweedy
Jessi Frick of Father Daughter Records
Jose James + Taali
Julia Jacklin
Julien Baker
Kero Kero Bonito
KR from Decolonize UnConference
Lala Lala
Long Beard
Lucy Dacus
Luna Li
Madeline Kenney
Madison McFerrin
Mannequin Pussy
Manu Grace
MICHELLE
Miloe
Pendant
Quinn Christopherson
Rozzi
Sasami
Sen Morimoto
Shamir
Soccer Mommy
Soft Glas
Sylvan Esso
Tagalikha
Tank & the Bangas
Tasha
Tegan and Sara
Thao
Tune-Yards
Vagabon
Posted in Previews Tagged with: / Young Women Who Crush, Adrianne Lenker, Alynda Segarra, Andy Shauf, Anjimile, Azerion/Hotel Hideaway, Bachelor, Bartees Strange, Beach Bunny, Becca Mancari, Benjamin Gibbard, Big Thief, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts, Brijean, Christelle Bofale, Claud, Courtney Barnett, Decolonize UnConference, Doomin' Sun, Doomin' Sun Fest, Ellen Kempner, Father/Daughter Records, Faye Webster, Fime, Frankie Cosmos, Girlie Action, Hand Habits, HIFI LABS, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Japanese Breakfast, Jay Som, Jeff Rosenstock, Jeff Tweedy, Jessi Frick, Jose James + Taali, Julia Jacklin, Julien Baker, Kero Kero Bonito, KR, Lala Lala, Levi's, Long Beard, Lucky Number, Lucy Dacus, Luna Li, Madeline Kenney, Madison McFerrin, Mannequin Pussy, Manu Grace, Melina Duterte, MICHELLE, Milk! Records, Miloe, Palehound, Pendant, Polyvinyl Record Co, Quinn Christopherson, Rozzi, Salty Artist Management, Sasami, Seeding Sovereignty, Sen Morimoto, Shamir, Soccer Mommy, Soft Glas, Sylvan Esso, Tagalikha, Tank & the Bangas, Tasha, TBA Agency, Tegan and Sara, Thao, Tune Yards, Vagabon
Spin Magazine