The three-day Hopscotch Music Fest in Raleigh, North Carolina (Sept. 7-9) returned to its full glory this year, after several down years due to the pandemic. Nearly 120 bands played, among them Richmond artists including Bio Ritmo, who played to a full house at the Lincoln Theatre, the beguiling power pop of Dazy and the dark and lovely death folk country of Dorthia Cottrell from Windhand, who were included in day party showcases, where labels can spotlight artists.
Located two-and-a-half hours south, Hopscotch provides a model for a diverse, nationally respected, easy-to-navigate music festival that appeals to all ages. The festival is partly owned and run by the founder of Etix and musically, it focuses on mid-Atlantic performers mixed in with touring draws (you can read our preview this year here).
The three-day event takes over the downtown with thousands of attendees walking between mostly smaller venues, checking their Hopscotch phone app, with some enjoying alcoholic drinks thanks to the city’s Sip n’ Stroll program which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Shout out to Young Hearts Distilling, whose fresh cocktails were a delicious treat during one rainstorm). Hotels booked up fast, but there are plenty of small house rentals available within walking distance of the festival.
[slideshow-1]
Rainy weather and flood warnings intruded a little on Saturday morning, but the artists were only slightly delayed. Among the major highlights of this year’s sweat-soaked festival: A Thursday night headlining set by Pavement that “diehard Pavement fans would love,” as Richmond attendee and WDCE deejay Todd Ranson put it; also (my fave) the high-energy, lovable Saturday afternoon party staged by dance punk originals ESG from the South Bronx, who had dancing aliens onstage and a whole lotta cowbell. On Friday night, there was a rousing performance by recent Merge signee and star-in-the-making, Rosali, backed by the David Nance Group at an overflowing Pour House, a set that felt like a career moment; plus we can’t forget a terrific night of innovative salsa by Richmond’s own Bio Ritmo at the packed and dancing Lincoln Theatre. Or the memorable, occasionally disgusting, comedy set by “Saturday Night Live’s” speedy clown, Sarah Sherman, who used overhead videos of gnarly medical procedures and digitally altered shots of herself in a bikini, earning the nickname “Sarah Squirm” while delivering the comedic equivalent of a Butthole Surfers show. For the older folks, there were excellent, dependable sets by hip-hop legends, Digable Planets, and longtime alt. rockers, Dinosaur Jr., who had just played Richmond’s Broadberry a few nights earlier. Also, shout outs to the late-night brilliance of guitarist Jeff Parker (Tortoise) and his band ETA IVtet; and a furiously old school DJ set by Prince Paul that was extended because rapper Kool Keith was late going on (we missed him, sadly). Undoubtedly, there was other great stuff we missed, though concert schedulers did an amazing job of avoiding overlap where it counted.
Another nice thing about Hopscotch: Richmond gets to piggyback book some of the acts traveling to or from there. (We met friendly Durham musician, Tre Charles, by chance in the street, a former Richmonder who Style wrote about in July). We also heard some cool news from the red-bearded bard himself, Herbie Abernathy, known for his beloved Richmond restaurant/venue, Cobra Cabana, and Hot For Pizza in the Carver neighborhood: He said that it was likely he will soon be taking over downtown Raleigh club Kings, adding another sweet jewel to his low-key underground empire. As for Kings, we can appreciate any club where you can catch artists like Pere Ubu or Thurston Moore while above you sit life-sized models of Statler and Waldorf, the grumpy old guys from “The Muppet Show.” Ah, Raleigh. Oh, and Beasley’s Chicken and Honey is a surefire way to start your day.
