10 Must-See Acts at Voodoo Fest
Bummed out that Green Day canceled their headlining set at New Orleans' 14th annual Voodoo Experience Music and Art Festival? Cheer up – dozens of other awesome acts are hitting the Big Easy this weekend. Big names like Metallica, Skrillex, Neil Young and Nas top the bill, but we recommend arriving at City Park early and staking out a good spot for the opening acts. Read on for 10 artists you don't want to miss, from Gary Clark Jr. to AWOLNATION.
By Dan Hyman
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AWOLNATION
In the year and a half since these L.A. electro-rockers released their debut album, Megalithic Symphony, they've become road-tested festival vets, gigging everywhere from Coachella to Austria's Nova Rock Festival. Expect tons of hard-charging riffs and undulating synths as frontman Aaron Bruno leads the crowd in a chant of "blame it on my ADD" from the band's hit single "Sail."
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Justice
Justice don't fit snugly into a particular genre: French DJs Gaspard Auge and Xavier De Rosnay are both a rock band that ignites dance riots and an electronic act that's fond of monster amp blasts. This is one reason why the duo has become a go-to festival act, taking their trademark giant light-up cross to the main stages at both Coachella and Lollaplaooza this year "At our shows, our audience is diverse. We don't just have techno heads – it's very broad," De Rosnay says. "It's amazing for a little band like us."
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Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr. has seen his star rise in a major way this year, thanks to critical praise for his Bright Lights EP and word-of-mouth buzz for his blistering live performances. The 28-year-old Austin guitarist arrives at Voodoo armed with strong new tunes from his full-length debut, Blak and Blu (due out October 22nd). "The foundation is blues, but there were no boundaries," Clark says of the LP.
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Bootsy Collins
What would a New Orleans fest be without some old-fashioned funk? Legendary Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins makes a rare festival appearance at Voodoo. Expect to time-travel with the rhinestone rock star: Collins has been known to bust out oldies from his days backing James Brown, along with cuts from his deep solo catalog, up to last year's The Funk Capital of the World.
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Die Antwoord
Love them or hate them, it's hard to take your eyes off of polarizing South African rap duo Die Antwoord. Members Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er released their provocative 2010 debut, $O$, on Interscope before parting ways from the label before this year's follow-up, TEN$ION. This set promises to be a wild one: Die Antwoord's live shows are somewhere between performance art and sheer insanity.
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Preservation Hall Jazz Band
For decades, nothing has stopped this iconic Crescent City jazz ensemble's commitment to keeping the spirit of New Orleans jazz alive and well. In recent years, the 14-member crew – set for a backyard gig at Voodoo – has joined forces with contemporary acts, from My Morning Jacket to Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), who joined Trombone Shorty and Allen Toussaint on the band's rollicking rendition of "It Ain't My Fault," off their recently-released LP, St. Peter and 57th Street.
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The Gaslamp Killer
This Los Angeles DJ's Voodoo set is sure to be a dizzying throwdown, drawing on hip-hop, world music, jazz, psychedelia and more. The 29-year-old beat artist, born William Bensussen, is signed to Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder record label, and has perfected his chops over the past decade at L.A. clubs like Low End Theory. His scuzzy, dark productions have served in many ways as a precursor to the current dubstep explosion.
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Borgore
Israeli DJ Borgore used to be the drummer in a death metal band called Shabira. Today, he's the man behind the wub-tacular dubstep single "Decisions," featuring Miley Cyrus. "I'm releasing an EP more for my close circle, my hardcore fans, which will be super dubstep-ish," Borgore tells RS. "My first album needs to be special."
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Nervo
Australian DJ duo Mim and Liv Nervo are one of the few female-led forces in EDM, with a serious resume of hits – the twin sisters produced David Guetta and Kelly Rowland's 2009 smash "When Love Takes Over." This summer, they lit up the main stage at Las Vegas' Electric Daisy Carnival. "It's always the biggest buzz!" Mim Nervo says of rocking festival crowds.
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Delta Rae
North Carolina roots-rock crew Delta Rae, led by singer Brittany Hölljes and her two brothers Ian and Eric, arrive at Voodoo with a batch of harmony-heavy tunes from their debut LP, Carry the Fire – including their song "Fire," which Brittany calls "an anthem for ass-kicking." The Durham-based crew should feel right at home in New Orleans. "There's a magical thing about the South," says Brittany. "Fireflies and thunderstorms in the summertime."