May Day Music Festival Lineup Announced

Headlining this years May Day Music Festival are the indie power-pop super group, the New Pornographers. Fellow Canadians, Chromeo, a synth-pop duo; Elf Power, an indie-pop band; Ris Paul Ric, recently of Q and Not U and DJ Dave Nada complete the lineup.

This is the third annual May Day Music Festival, admittance is free for all, and is held at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York on April 29th. The Festival is sponsored by Hamilton’s Campus Activities Board, The Independent Music Fund, and WHCL 88.7fm.

The New Pornographers have recently finished touring with Scotland’s Belle and Sebastian and comprise a super group of independent talent. Carl Newman, from the band Zumpano, fronts the band with Neko Case, who will be replaced by Kathryn Calder for this show. Calder is herself from Immaculate Machine and is Newman’s niece. From Thee Evaporators is bassist John Collins, while guitarist Dan Bejar is of Destroyer. Kurt Dahle is featured on percussion, along with Todd Fancey on guitar and singer Nora O’Connor. The New Pornographers most recent release Twin Cinema has met much critical acclaim and is an extremely engaging and accessible album.

Chromeo, also hailing from the great land up north, consist of Dave One and Pee Thug. The electronics of Chromeo are the domain of Dave, while Pee handles the processed vocals. Their debut album was released in 2004 and has been compared favorably to LCD Soundsystem and influenced heavily by Daft Punk.

Elf Power, an Athens Georgia based band, emerged from the Apples (in stereo), Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control school of music and their Elephant Six Recording Company. Elf Power consists of founders Andrew Rieger and Laura Carter. Back to the Web, their new album, is scheduled to be released days before the festival on April 25.

Ris Paul Ric is Chis Paul Richards, former lead vocalist of Q and Not U, who disbanded shortly after performing at Hamilton College in February of 2005. His debut album, Purple Blaze was released in 2005.

Past May Day Music Festivals have actually occurred in May, and have included artists such as Sleater-Kinney, The Pharcyde, Ted Leo sans/Pharmacists, Tim Reynolds (solo), The Virginia Coalition, J-Live, The Unicorns, Rainer Maria, Jennifer Gentle, Catch 22, David Dondero, and Dead Meadow.

Hamilton College is located in Central New York, 50 miles east of Syracuse, 80 miles west of Albany.

Further details TBA on the comment thread.