Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Southern Music Festivals

The second weekend wasn't so bad but Weekend One of #Coachella was completely unavoidable on social media. Between the performers, celebrity attendees, promoted parties (that the celebs attend over the actual concerts...) and magazine/blog coverage of all of the above, Coachella ruled my timeline. 

Which really sucks because I would have loved to be there but #Coachella is just too much effort. And then there was the #Stagecoach snapchat story... just proving that a country music festival in California is just odd. 

Then there was the #Jazzfest snapchat story from weekend one. It really made me start thinking about all of the fantastic and underrated music festivals that happen all across the South. (PS- a lot of these are just around the corner/sold out so this is more informational and basically just for you to get a jumpstart on festival planning for next year...) 


1. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana -- April 24 - May 3

One of two veryyyyy well-known and established festivals on this list, #JazzFest is a big deal. I mean, John Legend doesn't even make the first line of headliners. He's ranked a bit below Elton John, The Who, Jimmy Buffett and Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. Other notable performers: Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Pitbull and T.I. #Casual. Except it's not. I've been hearing about this festival my entire life from my cool aunt and uncle who go every year. I will 1,000% make it to #JazzFest someday. And here's hoping it's sooner than later. Weekend One was problematic because of alllllllll the rain but I think weekend two has a bit better forecast.


2. Beale Street Music Festival, Memphis, Tennessee -- May 1 - 3
I'd never heard of this one until someone on twitter sent me the lineup. Now I'm obsessed. With headliners like Lenny Kravitz, The Avett Brothers and Ed Sheeran, how could I not be?? Even with acts like Lenny Kravitz, Wilco, Spin Doctors and George Clinto & Parliament Funkadelic, #BSMF15 seems to be genuinely geared towards a younger crowd. For me, up and coming big names G-Eazy and Elle King, along with Paramore and Hozier and the headliners, would be the Can't Miss Acts. #BSMF15 might be the Southern festival that I'm most upset about having to miss.
3. Shaky Knees Music Festival, Atlanta, Georgia -- May 8 - 10
If you like indie and alternative music, you probably just cried over the #ShakyKneesFest lineup. In just three short years, organizers have managed to get a who's who of the indie scene head to Atlanta for a few days. Headliners include The Strokes, The Avett Brothers and Wilco, along with Ryan Adams, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brand New and The Kooks. This would be such a fun event simply because of all the crunchy granola hippies that would be frolicking about!
4. Shaky Boots Music Festival, Atlanta, Georgia -- May 16 -17
If you're impressed with what the #ShakyKnees folks managed to pull off in three short years, prepare to be completely blown away by the lineup for the FIRST EVER #ShakyBoots festival. Country music SUPER STARS Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts are the headliners. Absolutely casual, right? And what better place for a  H U G E  country music festival than the middle of Atlanta? LOLZ.
5. Hangout Music Fest, Gulf Shores, Alabama -- May 15 -17
You know what's better than a regular music festival? A music festival on the beach. #HangoutFest probably has the most well-rounded lineup and the most exciting up and coming lower billed acts. Obviously, you'll want to catch Foo Fighters, Sam Smith, Zac Brown Band and Beck (if you're over Beyonce's Grammys snub yet) but SERIOUSLY... don't miss Tove Lo, Vance Joy, Iration, Halsey and Elle King. And this seems to be a festival that the artists actually enjoy so look forward to happier and more upbeat and LONG sets from these fab musicians!
6. CounterPoint Music And Arts Festival, Kingston Downs, Georgia -- May 22 - 24
CounterPoint seems to be Atlanta's take on putting together an EDM festival... between Widespread Panic/The Roots and Zedd/Dillon Francis headlining, I'm honestly not sure what to think of this lineup. There is a lot of dance music, some hip hop and a couple in between. No country/acoustic sounding anything. So prepare accordingly.
7. Free Press Summer Fest, Houston, Texas -- June 6 - 7
Another seemingly random lineup, #FPSF doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason to what type of music they'll take... other than quality. The headliners range from R. Kelly to Weezer. I don't know why but I find that highly entertaining. Gary Clark Jr., Charlie XCX, Moon Taxi, Ben Harper and G-Eazy will all be at this weird/random/awesome festival and enduring the Texas heat right there with you.
8. Carolina Country Music Festival, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -- June 5 - 7
Another inaugural country music festival, this one has the added element of sand and the Dirty Myrtle's already redneck reputation. Eric Church, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum headline the three day festival but be sure to head down a day early to catch the kick off party on Thursday. Super hottie, Sam Hunt, is playing and you do  N O T  want to miss that.
9. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee -- 
June 11 - 14
I think it's pretty safe to say that Roo is the most popular and well-known Southern music festival. And for good reason. Something that genuinely impacts pop culture always happens on The Farm. Like when Kanye went onstage like four hours late and then refused to come back because he felt super disrespected. Unlike a lot of festivals that start winding down on Sunday, Bonnaroo puts their biggest headliners at the end of the weekend- namely Billy Joel and Florence + The Machine. Don't get me wrong, DeadMau5, Kendrick Lamar, Mumford & Sons and My Morning Jacket are nothing to turn your nose up to. But Billy Joel is Billy freaking Joel so... Get excited for four days of really great music (AND comedy), no showers, camping and crunchy granola peace and love. Add this to your Bucket List.
10. Forecastle Festival, Louisville, Kentucky -- July 17 -19
Not to ruffle any feathers but Louisville is right at the top of what could be considered "the South." But obviously, it's getting included so pipe down. From the looks of past lineups, Forecastle seems to be a big coming home concert for locals, My Morning Jacket. But why is that a surprise to anyone? Anywayssss... Sam Smith, War On Drugs, Widespread Panic, Modest Mouse and, most importantly (to me), ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES. If you're anywhere near Kentucky in July, go go go go go.  

Y'all. I want to spend all of my time at music festivals. Never mind that they're usually pretty muddy and crowded and the alcohol costs wayyyyy too much money, I love them.

What music festivals are y'all planning on going to this year? Tell me over on the #TwitterMachine.

Enjoy!

-C. xx.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Covetable Pieces: Lilly For Target

No, this blog has not been hijacked. No, I am not sick. No, I am not a traitor. Yes, we're about to talk Lilly For Target.
instagram.com/lillyfortarget

It's no secret that I don't really do Lilly Pulitzer. It goes against the very core of my being- that is black and sans patterns. However, I am genuinely impressed with what Lilly Pulitzer and Target have worked together to achieve. There are over 200 pieces to this collection, ranging from housewares to plus sized women's clothing.

 When the collaboration was first announced, there was plenty of backlack. Particularly on Twitter. Here are some of my favorites. (Thanks Refinery29 for rounding these up. I particularly love how many of these tweets/accounts have been deleted after being called out for being materialistic morons.)


Bet ya $10 you also have 15+ tweets about how you love Target. Like, calm down.

Luxury? Bit of a stretch, no?

I think Lilly Pulitzer would feel more degraded by horrible people wearing her clothes... #justsaying

I'll just say that you already wear Lilly so..........
AND the pièce de résistance:
I. just. can't.

You know what cheapens the brand or would make Lilly Pulitzer turn over in her grave? YOU JERKS ACTING LIKE YOU'RE BETTER THAN SOMEONE BECAUSE YOUR SHIFT DRESS THAT LOOKS LIKE A CURTAIN COST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHIFT DRESS THAT LOOKS LIKE A CURTAIN. So sit down and do less. 

 Moving on. 

 I have combed through the lookbook and rounded up some pieces that I'm actually genuinely excited about. (Admittedly, it's not a lot of the actual clothes, because obviously, but some of this stuff is fabulous.)

 Let's start with the clothing I don't absolutely hate:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129819/
This is fabulous. I have nothing negative to say about it. Perfection for a day at the beach with a big floppy hat and a cocktail in hand.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129812/
This is pretty. And I love a bit of fringe. I'll be interested to actually see it in person/feel the fabric.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129791/
It's official: I don't hate color/patterns when it's a bathing suit. Love his suit/hair thing combo.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129980/
This looks so comfortable and exactly what I'd want to throw on to go grab dinner after a day full of sun and sand. 

 Moving on to luggage-type bags:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129959/
This one is completely self-serving, I need a new/bigger makeup bag. 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129984/
You can never have too many weekender bags. Especially when they are easy to spot. 

 And last but certainly not least, glassware (aka BAR CART):
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129918/
Don't even try to lie to me, you want these fantastic mugs and you ESPECIALLY want the caddy. 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129922/
So Gatsby. So fun. AND a gold rim? I'll take five sets. Please and thank you. 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129901/
Breakfast juice (or mimosas) need pretty accessories too.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129895/
 Bottle openers, stirrers, and stoppers that have a fun, safari theme? Sign. Me. Up. 

 And random but fun:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335301129936/
Yep. I want them. I want a lot of them. I want them everywhere. 

 So, what are you favorite pieces? Will you be lining up at your local Target on April 19th??

 Enjoy!

 -C. xx. 
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