In its 5th year, LOCKN’ Festival will take place this weekend (August 24-27) at the newly named Infinity Downs Farms at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Arrington, Virginia. The festival will begin Thursday afternoon with the annual Welcoming Ceremony, followed by 4 days of legendary performances from some of the most recognizable names in jam and rock. Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, The Avett Brothers, The String Cheese Incident, Jim James, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, and The Revivalists will all be taking LOCKN’s single rotating stage this year, just to name a few.
From top to bottom this year’s lineup is stacked with incredible talent. We’re taking a look at 10 artists you should absolutely be adding to your personal LOCKN’ schedules.
THE RECORD COMPANY, Sunday Performance
Love it big, and lay it out there. That’s The Record Company’s motto. From their Grammy Nominated music to their captivating live shows, it’s easy to hear and see that this power trio (Chris Vos, Alex Stiff, & Marc Cazorla) love what they do…big. The Record Company is one hard hitting Americana band you do not want to miss.
MARGO PRICE, Sunday Performance
You may recognize Margo Price from that time you raised up your whiskey bottle up and sang along to her hit “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)” from her first solo album, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter in 2016. This year she caps an incredible summer of touring with the release of Weakness, a surprise new four-song EP (Third Man Records).
PHIL LESH, BOB WEIR & THE TERRAPIN FAMILY BAND, Saturday Performance
Performing 40th Anniversary of Terrapin Station
Phil Lesh with special guest Bob Weir & The Terrapin Family Band will perform the 1977 classic Terrapin Station in its entirety. This will be the first time Lesh and Weir have played together since 2015’s Fare Thee Well concerts, other than a surprise set at Terrapin Crossroads in May 2016.
JIM JAMES, Saturday Performance
Jim James is a mesmerizing showman. With every word he sings and every move he makes across the stage he captivates and draws the audience into his world. He is fresh off of a summer tour with My Morning Jacket.
THE REVIVALISTS, Sunday Performance
It seems that The Revivalists have exploded in popularity ever since the release of their single “Wish I Knew You,” originally from their 2015 release Men Amongst Mountain. It was this album that had ultimately turned both fans and critics into believers as Men Amongst Mountains debuted at #2 on the Billboard Alternative Albums Chart and Top 10 on the iTunes Alternative Albums Chart. While the band we will see Sunday at LOCKN is (slightly) different today than the New Orleans roots-driven rock seven-piece we were first introduced to in 2007, at their core The Revivalists are still just as passionate and will awaken feelings you didn’t even know you had.
THE SUFFERS, Saturday Performance
A fresh approach to what they have coined ‘Gulf Coast Soul,’ the 8-piece Houston ensemble take their sound on soaring new heights. The Suffers are set to tour alongside Turkuaz this fall in the US, kicking off in November.
PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG, Saturday Performance
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong brings end-of-the-world enthusiasm to their high-energy psychedelic funk. Their infectious electro-funk grooves, undeniable live energy and contagious smiles have their rabid fanbase “the Flock” growing exponentially. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be hitting the road this fall in support of their upcoming studio album Pizazz.
ROCKN’ TO LOCKN’
Now in its fourth year, Rockn’ To LOCKN’ gives local Virginia bands an opportunity to compete for coveted performance slots at the LOCKN’ Festival held August 24-27 in Arrington, Virginia. Check out this year’s three finalists:
Kendall Street Company, Thursday Performance
Kendall Street Company’s music is influenced by a variety of musicians and styles, the group has been described as “psychedelic,” “alternative,” “jammy,” “rock,” “indie,” and “ska.” It is not uncommon for guest performers to join the group on stage for extended jams.
Sun-dried Opossum, Friday Performance
SDO has been a staple on the local and regional scene since the 90s. Originally formed in 1992, the current line-up has been together since 1997. Since the beginning SDO has performed their brand of original guitar driven rock-n-roll. With three studio records and over 1000 live shows under their belt, SDO is a seasoned music machine. SDO is live, SDO is rock. Alex Arbaugh & Steve Sutton both on guitar and vocals, Torrey Patterson on drums, Eric Clinedinst on bass and Mike “Frick” Martin on percussion.
Mighty Joshua, Saturday Performance
Independent Reggae Artist Mighty Joshua engages audiences by opening minds and activating bodies through song. Conscious lyrics flow freely to create distinctive refrains that pulse with pride against rhythms rooted in percussion. His soulful exploration in the evolution of sound creates an expression of reggae for the modern day. Mighty Joshua plays in a multitude of arrangements including high energy live performances with support of his back-up band the Zion #5 and as an acoustic configuration known as Roots Covenant. From mountain top festivals, to intimate club gigs, he invites listeners of all ages to experience the spirit of reggae.
