Gambino, Pilots, Simon Lead Outside Lands

Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | April 20, 2019

Childish Gambino and Twenty One Pilots will headline the 2019 Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco (taking place in the city’s Golden Gate Park Aug. 9–11.) But it’s a three-day fest, so who’s the third featured performer? None other than Paul Simon, who “retired” last year. Simon stated in a press release that he’ll donate the entire net proceeds from his performance to local environmental nonprofits. Also scheduled to perform are Kygo, The Lumineers, Mavis Staples, Flume, Hozier, Anderson .Paak, and more …
 
Khalid has unveiled the first segment of his two-part Apple Music Beats 1 Radio show, “Free Spirit Radio,” on which he discusses his work on his sophomore album, Free Spirit, in stores as of last week. Free Spirit, which features collaborations with Father John Misty (who wrote the tune “Heaven”) and John Mayer, also presents Khalid’s latest single, “Don’t Pretend (featuring Safe),” on which he sings a falsetto-riddled love tune to an unknown romantic partner …

The psychological thriller movie Stockholm (starring Ethan Hawke, Noomi Rapace, and Mark Strong) hits theaters this month after its debut at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, with an accompanying soundtrack full of original music composed by Steve London.The soundtrack, released by Milan Music, will feature tracks “Gunnar Arrives at the Bank,” “Lars and Bianca’s Stolen Moment,” “Elov Discovered,” and “A Tearful Goodbye” …

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards were recently handed out in an unrelated ceremony presided over by the aforementioned Khalid. For Favorite Music Group, Maroon 5 took the honors. Shawn Mendes won Favorite Male Artist. Ariana Grande was awarded Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Song for her “Thank U, Next” track. Favorite Breakout Artist was Billie Eilish, and the tune “No Brainer” (DJ Khaled, Chance the Rapper, Quavo, and Justin Bieber) was dubbed Favorite Collaboration …
 
LINK OF THE WEEK
The Tallest Man on Earth (aka Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson) has just released a new tune from his upcoming album, I Love You It’s a Fever Dream. The single, “I’m a Stranger Now,” showcases Matsson’s pensive lyrical and vocal stylings, and you can get an early listen at https://youtu.be/NLyrHu2703Y. TTMOE will also be touring for the new album this summer in both the U.S. and Europe …
 
THE BUZZ
Pop siblings AJR are kicking off a U.S. tour this fall to promote their new album, NeoTheater. They’ll make a stop Oct. 16 at Detroit’s The Fillmore, and on Oct. 20 at Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live. 

’80s punker Adam Ant will perform in Michigan this fall too, with a show at the Royal Oak Music Theater on Sept. 13 …

The first three shows have been announced for Grand Rapids’ Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park’s Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series: look for concert dates from Nahko and Medicine for the People, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and The Gipsy Kings … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
 
Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.