(Attn: Triple G) Merge XX 20th Annvrsry Festival

[BH]

From Paste....

Merge Records' 20th Anniversary is coming up soon and the festivities just keep rolling in. No doubt you've heard about the box set that continues to grow. But today the label announced plans to host XX MERGE, a five-day festival of live music from Merge artists both old and new. The shows will be held in Merge's native state of North Carolina July 22-26. And that's all we know...for now.

A press release says the "lineup and ticket information will be announced shortly." Well, shortly ain't short enough to keep us from salivating over the possibilities. Now we don't want to get ahead of ourselves because there is always a chance our favorites won't show up, but when a great label announces a huge gig of past and present acts, it's hard not to get imaginative. Arcade Fire! Caribou! Spoon! M. Ward! (or She & Him), Conor Oberst! The Shins! Camera Obscura! Of course, a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion would surely incite head explosions.

In a statement, the label announced: "XX Merge will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Merge label, which began in 1989 in Chapel Hill NC, with a handful of 4-track recordings, a couple of cassette tapes, and some hand-stuffed 7" vinyl. Literally hundreds of singles, albums, and late nights later, Merge will be celebrating its past, present and future throughout 2009. XX Merge will be the label's party to mark this anniversary: five days of music by Merge artists past and present in the summer heat of sunny North Carolina."

Can't wait! Stay tuned for more news. Shortly.

[ALady]

Wow, that'd be all right.

I hate Arcade Fire, but if they got Destroyer and Wye Oak along with the other bands mentioned above, I'd be into it.

[BH]

Wow, you hate Arcade Fire?

[ALady]

With the heat of a thousand white-hot suns.

[BH]

With the heat of a thousand white-hot suns.

Tell me more, I'm intrigued.  I've never liked them as much as others, but Neon Bible is in my regular rotation.  Did Win Butler mug you back in the late 90s?

[ALady]

I saw them at Sasquatch '07 and was passably familiar with their catalog; unfortunately the band did not do us the courtesy of tuning their instruments.  It was painful.  As were Regine's stage antics.  

I like the records all right, though.   :)

[BH]

My only live experience with them was Austin City Limits which was great but that's not exactly an "everyday" type show.

[ALady]

So true.  That's a very unique environment in which to see a band.  I hope the KLRU gods let me do it again someday.

Man...who did you have to kill to get into that show?   ;)  I heard from my Austin friends that it was a near-impossibility.  Well done!

[primushead]

YES!

I saw that today, but feel very special that a thread was started that included a shoutout to me.  

I'll be there.

(and I LOVE Arcade Fire).