Electric Forest Festival announces lineup


Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | Dec. 1, 2016

The Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury announced the first set of performers for its 2017 edition, which will take place over two weekends, the first being June 22-25 and the second June 29 to July 2. As expected, the fest will welcome back The String Cheese Incident and Bassnectar, and has added the likes of Big Gigantic, Banks, Vince Staples, DJ Snake, RL Grime, My Morning Jacket and Odesza. Tickets go on sale at noon Thursday and can be snagged at electricforestfestival.com.

iHeartMedia is celebrating the holidays with its annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, a trek that started as a local event in New York and has expanded over 20 years to become a national tour and telecast. Different musicians will be appearing at each of the tour’s stops in 11 cities; the closest to Michigan this year is Chicago on Dec. 14, with performances from Backstreet Boys, Ellie Goulding, Hailee Steinfeld, Ariana Grande, Lukas Graham and Niall Horan. You’ll be able to watch from the comfort of your own home via The CW (online at CWTV.com) at 8 p.m. Dec. 15.

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins hasn’t been idle during the Foo’s hiatus and just released his first album as a solo artist, a set that’s much in keeping with the same brand of rawk the Foo Fighters deliver. The album, titled “KOTA,” features six tracks in all. Hawkins called the project “a meditation on life as a rock star stranded in the suburbs.” The mini-album includes the tracks “Tokyo No No,” “Southern Belles” and the Queen-inspired “Rudy.”

Vintage rockers The Rolling Stones released their first album in over a decade (and their 25th album overall) on Dec. 2. “Blue and Lonesome” was recorded by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts along with several guest musicians, and features versions of a dozen cover tunes from classic blues artists.

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK: M.I.A. is taking a unique approach to her merchandising, encouraging fans use her logos on their own T-shirts, bags and other gear. Download M.I.A.’s designs and start making stuff at miauk.com.

MichiBUZZ: She Wants Revenge is hitting the stage at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids on Thursday. … Colt Ford will be in concert at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Thursday. … Also on Thursday, country legend Kenny Rogers will be performing at the Fox Theater in Detroit. … If you’re traveling for the holidays and going through Detroit Metro Airport, don’t miss the new Motown-ified light and music tunnel between the concourses in the McNamara Terminal, which includes hits from The Temptations, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. … Supersuckers will be performing at Small’s in Hamtramck on Friday. … Jeff Gutt, former frontman for Detroit band Dry Cell, is reportedly in the running to be the new lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots.

ROCK TRIP: If you’re looking for a cool holiday concert to attend with your parents, head to the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren for “Dave Koz and Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas” on Wednesday. The saxophonist is bringing along Jonathan Butler and Kenny Lattimore for this year’s jazzy trek.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.