Apache Lake Music Festival has grown leaps and bounds since its launch in 2010. The festival now spans three days and features nearly twice as many bands as last year's installment, Arizona's beloved local music fest has continued to expand in size and scope in no time at all.
See also: Phoenix Music Heads to Tortilla Flat -- The Story of The Apache Lake Music Festival See also: Zero Zero @ Rogue Bar See also: Flashback Friday: An '80s Conversation with Super Stereo See also: decker.'s Van Flips on Tour, Injures Band Member Kelly Cole
The event's roots may lay in the bygone Jeromeatherapy event, but now scores of music lovers will make the short trek to "rough it" in a setting even more Western than that ghost town, Apache Lake's Apache Lake Resort and Marina, where festival goers have the option of booking a room for more "civilized" accommodations, or camping out under the stars as Valley favorites such as The Sugar Thieves, Dry River Yacht Club, Banana Gun, Japhy's Descent, and more, rock out across three different stages from Thursday, October 11, until Saturday, October 13. In all, 50 bands will grace an indoor, outdoor and acoustic stage set up at host site.
If necessity truly is the mother of all invention, this year's stacked lineup and extra day prove that festivals like these are something the music community needs as much as wants. Here are five must-see acts to catch while you're getting your patchouli stink on.
Doctor Bones:
Don't let bassist Jesse Pruitt fool you with his long hair and grizzly beard. These Tempe-natives resonate more like an '80s flashback party than they do a hippie dance circle. The quintet draws on staple new wave and punk rock influences like The Talking Heads, Joy Division, and Dead Kennedys to formulate a mixture that is undeniably catchy. They pride themselves on delivering performances with enough energy to satisfy the most insatiable of appetites.
Doctor Bones performs on Thursday, October 11, on the indoor stage.
The Sedona-based folk ensemble narrowly escaped tragedy in August when their van flipped over while on tour in California. Percussionist/vocalist Kelly Cole was badly injured when she was ejected from the vehicle, but fortunately her bandmates surfaced unscathed, and Cole continues to recover today. With the accident behind them, frontman Brandon Decker and the rest of the band have plenty to celebrate as they move forward with their music. Self-described as, "acoustic-based psychedelic Americana," the group is currently working on a follow up to their stellar third record, Broken Belts, Broken Bones. Fans of Leonard Cohen's lyrical depth and Tom Waits grit should get a kick out of their set.
Decker. performs on Friday, October 20, on the outside stage.
Super Stereo
One of the great things about the ALMF is that you get to sample all sorts of sounds. Electro-pop players Super Stereo received some pretty choice exposure last year after having their music aired on MTV and television shows like The Real L Word thanks in large part to their catchy rhythms and dance grooves. This performance-based quintet will appeal to carefree dancers who can't get enough of bouncy beats and spectacular synths.
Super Stereo performs on Friday, October 11, on the indoor stage.
The Technicolors
Anyone who can cover Chris Isaak and still sound rock 'n' roll has my vote of confidence. This Phoenix foursome is adept at making powerful pop-infused rock anthems behind some nifty riffing and singer Brennan Smiley's high-flying vocals. They've garnered comparisons to '90s Britpop group Oasis, but their penchant for classic rock twang makes it seem like they'd feel right at home at the bottom of a bottle of whiskey.
The Technicolors perform on Saturday, Saturday 20, on the outdoor stage.
If hearing that garage rock favorites the Love Me Nots were taking a break felt like a swift kick to the balls, then learning that Nicole Laurenne and guitar maestro Michael Johnny walker were doing so to create a new project that explores savory synth-laden beats is the rush of endorphins that immediately follows such a blow. Joined by drummer Nick Ramirez, the newly formed trio is taking their cue from other genre-mashers such as Sleigh Bells, Santigold, and the Ting Tings to form all new swathes of dance rhythms. #azmusicwinning
Zero Zero performs on Saturday, October 20 on the indoor stage.
Click on for the full lineup, map, and schedule.
THURSDAY: Outside stage: 10:30pm-Chocolate Fountain, 9:30pm-Jared Kolesar & The Locals, 8:30pm-Goetta, 7:30pm-Wizards of TimeInside stage: 12am-Doctor Bones, 11pm-Sundressed, 10pm-iamwe, 9pm-Playboy Manbaby, 8pm-Danger Paul
FRIDAY: Outside Stage: 10:30pm-Greyhound Soul, 9:15pm-Dry River Yacht Club, 8pm-The Sugar Thieves, 6:45pm-Banana Gun, 5:30pm-Yellow Minute, 4:30pm-The Persuaders, 3:30pm-Decker, 2:30pm-Tramps & Thieves, 1:30pm-The Wiley One, 12:30pm-Saint Maybe
Inside Stage: 1am-Peachcake, 12am-The Corey Gloden Explosion/C-Posse, 11pm-Super Stereo, 10pm-The Animal Right, 9pm-Steppchild, 8pm-Princess, 7pm-Elizabeth Rose, 6pm-Ghetto Cowgirl, 5pm-Sasquanaut, 4pm-Shawn Johnson, 3pm-Palms
SATURDAY: Outside Stage: 10:30pm-Mergence, 9:15pm-Hot Birds & The Chili Sauce, 8pm-Future Loves Past, 6:45pm-Japhys Descent, 5:30pm-Sara Robinson & Midnight Special, 4:30pm-The Technicolors, 3:30pm-Los Guys, 2:30pm-Mojo Farmers, 1:30pm-The Regretting Man, 12:30pm-Silverbell
Inside Stage: 12am-Beat Mass, 11pm-TKLB?, 10pm-Zero Zero, 9pm-2 Tone Lizard Kings, 8pm-Quick Henry, 7pm-Nameless Prophets, 6pm-36 Cents & A Dream, 5pm-The Smith Family Band, 4pm-Sun Ghost, 3pm-Tony Squid, 2pm-Madera Strand
