9 Bands You Absolutely Have to Check Out at The Meadows on Saturday

Have you grabbed tickets to the Meadows Music & Arts Festival yet? 

There's gonna be music. There's gonna be FOOD. There's even gonna be some dope afterparties because this party goes on and on. If you're not 100% down at this point, what is wrong with you? Get your tickets here, fool.

Day one of the Meadows, this Saturday, is filled with some amazingly talented artists, some you've definitely heard of and probably some that you should be psyched to discover.

The full two-day schedule just dropped, telling you when and at which of the four stages– Linden, Queens Blvd, Shea, or The Meadows– each artist will be playing. 

It's a little overwhelming, especially when some of the names are unfamiliar.

Here are some peeps you should definitely keep an eye out for:


J. Cole 

themeadowsnyc


If you're thinking, "Wait, I didn't know J. Cole was going to The Meadows," THEN YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION

Kidding. Not really but it's okay, we're telling you now, J. Cole is Saturday's new headliner since The Weeknd had to be bumped up, because he's hosting SNL or whatever.

Find J. Cole at The Meadows stage at 8:45. p.m.


The Weeknd 

themeadowsnyc


ICYMI, like we said, The Weeknd was initially set to be Saturday's headlining act before "unforeseen scheduling conflict." 

That's when you know you've made it, when you forget you're hosting SNL. Or you forget you're headlining a big-ass music festival. We don't know which one his team forgot first, TBH.

Catch The Weeknd before he ducks out to 30 Rock at The Meadows stage at 5:30 p.m.


Lolawolf

themeadowsnyc


Sooo if you haven't been listening to this trio, led by Zoë Kravitz, we're not sure what to tell you except START. NOW. You should recognize their song "Jimmy Franco" from when it was on Broad City (which we are also assuming you watch, because you do, right?).

Also, if you haven't seen the music video for "Bitch" featuring Miley Cyrus, lol go do that. Their second EP is set to drop before the end of the year too, so look out for that.

They'll be opening The Meadows stage at 12:45 p.m.


World's Fair

worldsfair


This Queens-based collective of rappers are an evolution from their side project Children of the Night, and their sound is all about capturing the spirit of NYC.

It's truly difficult to discern a leader from the group and while sometimes, their sound might be a little overwhelming, it's a genuinely unique aesthetic.

Every festival needs a tribute to the hometown crowd, and if World's Fair ain't it, well, DEMAND YOUR MONEY BACK. They're going to open the Queens Blvd stage at 12:30 p.m.


Empire of the Sun

themeadowsnyc

These guys have been absolutely everywhere recently– Governors Ball, Ultra Music Festival, Coachella, and most recently, they even made an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

Their single, Walking on a Dream is also the most Shazamed song in the U.S. Don't miss your chance to see them live because they have an absolutely insane, unprecedented energy during their performances.

They will also be on Queens Blvd at 6:45 p.m.


Grimes

themeadowsnyc

You might remember Grimes, the multimedia project of the Canadian artist Claire Boucher, as the Webby's artist of the year in 2013. Grimes' artistry extends far past singing and songwriting– her work also includes directing, painting, and writing.

Her third record, Visions, also won a Juno for Electronic album of the year. She also had a song called "Medieval Warfare" on the Suicide Squad soundtrack, which was arguably one of the only good things about that movie.

She'll be at The Meadows stage at 6:45 p.m.


Sylvan Esso (ask me about the benefit to take back our state) 

themeadowsnyc

This duo, singer/songwriter Amelia Meath and electronic producer Nick Sanborn, craft evocative, yet elusive electro folk-pop– which is perhaps the most compelling genre we've ever heard.

Next Friday, October 7th, they'll also be performing at Come Out & Show Them: A Benefit To Take Back Our State in Raleigh, North Carolina.

They are going to be joined by other talented artists, community leaders, and business owners with the mission to provide a platform that people who believe that inequality hinders their quality of life can use to express their outlook and desires for a more just future. 

Which, right now, with the bullshit of HB2, it's not so much a simple desire than it is a necessity. At The Meadows, they'll be on Queens Blvd at 3:30 p.m.


Pretty Lights 

Pretty Lights was Derek Vincent Smith's high school brainchild– we seriously wish we did anything close to that cool when we were in high school. His forte is a cross between moody downtempo and upbeat, densely layered material that will keep you dancing all night long. 

He was added to Saturday's line-up after the initial announcement so you might have missed it. He'll be closing Queens Blvd at 8:45 p.m.


Savages

savagesband


Fun fact: this all female post-punk band picked out their name after guitarist Gemma Thompson and singer Camille Berthomier (known as Jehnny Beth) procrastinating over starting the band in the first place, quickly picked Savages, then went straight to work qriting songs. 

Their bassist and drummer, Ayse Hassan and Fay Milton, respectively, completed their quartet soon after. Hailing from the English capital, Savages' sound recalls London's punk heyday.

They're closing the Shea stage at 7:45 p.m.

[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram] 

get spoiled in your inbox

recent

popular