Music to Know Festival 2011 CANCELLED

...WTH??

Well, things happen. Music to Know was supposed to go on from August 13th to the 14th. There were a few recognizable names in the line-up such as Vampire Weekend and Ellie Goulding. Looked like a great idea...but I guess it was better on paper than in reality.

Another issue was that Music to Know was scheduled just a week after another Hamptons concert (Escape to New York). How many times did you expect people to pay $110 to go all the way into the Hamptons for a concert one week after another? This ain't Dave Matthews Band!! No disrespect...

Hopefully they'll have better luck next year.

Ellie Goulding @ Union Square 7/2011

This past Saturday, Ellie Goulding performed at Best Buy at Union Square in NYC. And I got there 1.5 hours early to see her! I would've been there earlier if it wasn't for the infamous MTA verse, "We are delayed because of train traffic. Please be patient," blaring into my ears for over an hour. I find it hard to believe that no one has gone nuts on one of these subways by now. #$*&^%!@*.

Anywho, I picked my spot, got my CD and a nice wristband to meet Ellie after the show. Ah, living the moment as a groupie. I totally went head over heels a while ago when I first heard her dance song, Lights, and her beautiful ballad, The Writer. Her heavy British accent shines so brightly through every one of her words. You and I know we love it! Finally the moment has come.

Ellie first sang her hit dance song, "Lights." Acoustic. Girl can sing her lungs out! The CD does her no justice in displaying the power, strength and rawness of her voice. I was very surprised. Seeing her live changed everything.

Most of her songs are electropop and dance. She has the appeal of Kylie Minogue, the humbleness of girl-next-door Cheryl Cole, and the powerful lungs of Natasha Bedingfield. But Ellie is an absolute original. Just listen. I must also add that you should not trust the pictures. Ellie is even more stunningly beautiful in person.

This UK powerhouse has been touring in the States and will be one of the headliners at the concert, Music to Know in the Hamptons in August. Ellie started her career in 2009 with her debut single, "Under the Sheets." It hit the top of the UK charts. Her debut album, Lights, came out in March of last year. One of my favorite songs is "Salt Skin." She sang it on Saturday as well. But after taking a load of pictures for the first 10 minutes, I had to put away all my shenanigans and ENJOY the performance.

Summer concerts in the Hamptons

A pair of weekend festivals will be playing in the Hamptons in early August! One will be in East Hampton and the other in South Hampton. Cute.
Both festivals are featuring indie bands with no overlap. But PLEASE check out the music before you buy. There are all day and single passes still avaliable. Don't drive. Take mass transit.

Escape to New York (August 5-7)
www.escape2ny.com
South Hampton
On the Shinnecock Reservation

Music to Know (August 13 - 14)
www.musictoknow.com
East Hampton
Runway 4

I'm excited to see that Mates of State is a part of the line up for Escape to New York! Hopefully, Kori will have time to update her blog, Band on the Diaper on the Run, with this experience.

Another name that made me go "Ooooo" is Ellie Goulding. This succesful young British electropop star is just that. A star!! Ellie has been recieving awards and nominations in her native UK since 2010. Her debut album, Lights, pretty much smashed the UK charts last year. And I love it! Ellie will be performing at Music to Know on Saturday's line up. She'll also be touring the rest of the U.S. until the end of the summer. Check the schedule!

FYI: Ellie will be performing at Best Buy on Saturday, July 30, in Union Square (NYC) at 2 PM!