2008 Woodie Awards
Experience music and art in Baltimore this summer
Issue date: 5/1/08
Last year there was one performer who had strapped himself to an acrobatic contraption that swung him above the street like an inverted pendulum. So cool. The year before a spontaneous breakdancing circle broke out during one of the DJ sets, and by the end of the hour there was a bigger crowd around the dancers than there was around the DJ.
If you plan on visiting Baltimore at any point this summer you should aim to attend this one, because it is outstandingly well organized.
Whartscape (July 18-20)
Whartscape is Wham City's freaky alternative to Artscape. It isn't free, but it sure isn't much (something like $5 per night, a steal for the amount of talent you get to see). Whartscape, usually held at the Floristree space, goes long into the night after the crowds have cleared out of Artscape.
Last year's Whartscape hosted a Who's Who of Baltimore music, and it's a list of people who you probably wouldn't be able to see for $5 this year. Dirty Philly rapper Spank Rock was there, as was local punk rock group the Death Set, Dan Deacon, Double Dagger, Video Hippos, xBxRx and plenty more.
You never really know what to expect with this crowd, but brace yourself because whatever does happen will probably be awesome. And sweaty.
Virgin Music Festival
Two years ago we wet our proverbial pants when we heard that our future husband, Richard Branson, was bringing his famed Virgin Fest to our very own Pimlico Race Course. Last year when we saw the Police and the Beastie Boys as their headliners we counted the days until we could buy our own tickets.
This year's round of V-Festers needs little introduction: Bob Dylan, Iggy and the Stooges, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, Chuck Berry, Gogol Bordello, the Go! Team, Lil Wayne, Stone Temple Pilots, the Offspring, Paramore, Cat Power and Bloc Party, to name a few.
For some reason the second day seems to be weighted a little heavier this year than it was last year (perhaps there were poor ticket sales on the second day last year) which is both good and bad. It's good because it's a greater incentive for us to try and tolerate the unbearable heat that kept us away from the second day last year.
But it also means that if any of these musicians are booked on different stages at the same time, we'd be forced to choose. And we're really not sure we want to deal with the moral warfare of having to pick Kanye over Dylan.
No matter why you are in Baltimore there is no reason to complain that there is nothing to do because these are only four events of many scheduled for the approaching summer months.
If you plan on visiting Baltimore at any point this summer you should aim to attend this one, because it is outstandingly well organized.
Whartscape (July 18-20)
Whartscape is Wham City's freaky alternative to Artscape. It isn't free, but it sure isn't much (something like $5 per night, a steal for the amount of talent you get to see). Whartscape, usually held at the Floristree space, goes long into the night after the crowds have cleared out of Artscape.
Last year's Whartscape hosted a Who's Who of Baltimore music, and it's a list of people who you probably wouldn't be able to see for $5 this year. Dirty Philly rapper Spank Rock was there, as was local punk rock group the Death Set, Dan Deacon, Double Dagger, Video Hippos, xBxRx and plenty more.
You never really know what to expect with this crowd, but brace yourself because whatever does happen will probably be awesome. And sweaty.
Virgin Music Festival
Two years ago we wet our proverbial pants when we heard that our future husband, Richard Branson, was bringing his famed Virgin Fest to our very own Pimlico Race Course. Last year when we saw the Police and the Beastie Boys as their headliners we counted the days until we could buy our own tickets.
This year's round of V-Festers needs little introduction: Bob Dylan, Iggy and the Stooges, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, Chuck Berry, Gogol Bordello, the Go! Team, Lil Wayne, Stone Temple Pilots, the Offspring, Paramore, Cat Power and Bloc Party, to name a few.
For some reason the second day seems to be weighted a little heavier this year than it was last year (perhaps there were poor ticket sales on the second day last year) which is both good and bad. It's good because it's a greater incentive for us to try and tolerate the unbearable heat that kept us away from the second day last year.
But it also means that if any of these musicians are booked on different stages at the same time, we'd be forced to choose. And we're really not sure we want to deal with the moral warfare of having to pick Kanye over Dylan.
No matter why you are in Baltimore there is no reason to complain that there is nothing to do because these are only four events of many scheduled for the approaching summer months.
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