Tomorrow Never Knows Festival: Showcasing the indie world's next big things
The dead of winter isn’t an ideal time to participate in a music festival, but January's annual 5-day Tomorrow Never Knows Festival injects warmth into the dreary doldrums of the season. Held at three venues across Chicago, this year’s fest will be the most ambitious yet.
Premier music institution Schubas Tavern founded the five-day fest six years ago as a means to showcase up-and-coming indie acts and for more established groups to perform in more intimate venues. The past few years have seen small bands break out and find mainstream success, so the fest also acts a means for bands to get discovered.
Despite the cold temps, the fest is highly attended as most shows sell out in advance. Because of the immense popularity, last year the fest expanded to satellite venue Lincoln Hall and for the first time, TNK adds stalwart music venue Metro to the list. Luckily, a free trolley will be available to transport concertgoers warmly from one venue to the next.
With at least 50 local and international bands performing between January 12-16th, there should be something for everybody. Montreal husband and wife duo Handsome Furs will be a huge draw because of the electric energy they exude onstage.
Even though their setup consists of a drum machine and a guitar, their palatable chemistry yields intense electro-pop music. Another husband and wife duo from Montreal, Besnard Lakes, makes their return to the city as do ‘60s throwback pop group Magic Kids hailing from Memphis, TN. Screaming Females contribute a punk element to the fest, Freedie Gibbs from Gary, Ind. brings his Midwest hip-hop act to the stage for one night and Swedish group the Concretes unveil a new lead singer.
Just like the Beatles song TNK was named after, no one knows what the future will bring, but for all of these bands the future will probably be bright.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
