Don’t know how I missed this—-actually, I know exactly how I missed this—-but the HFStival is back. Again. Back when alt-rock station WHFS was still on the air, it hosted an annual concert that became increasingly commercial and unlistenable as the station did roughly the same. The station went off the air in 2005 (it still exists at 94.7 HD2), and the festival continued for two more summers. The HFStival returned last year with a nostalgia-minded bill that included Third Eye Blind, Everclear, and other relics from the dustbin of the 1990s. Perhaps that choice made sense.The organizer of the revived festival, CBS Radio’s Sam Rogers, told me that the audience was “people who remember WHFS.” Fair enough.
Looks like that strategy didn’t pan out, and this year’s HFStival—-Sept. 17 at Merriweather Post Pavillion—-is going a bit of a different way. The bill includes bluegrassy alt-country outfit The Avett Brothers, celtic punkers Flogging Molly, folk-rock bros Dr. Dog, ’90s survivors The Gin Blossoms, and more, all of which is below. Sigh. Just let this brand die.
Tickets are $35-$50, and there’s a pre-sale this weekend. Deets here.
Main Stage
The Avett Brothers
Flogging Molly
Dr. Dog
Clutch
Gin Blossoms
Minus the Bear
Diane Birch
Local Stage
Lionize
Pasadena
The Five One
Justin Trawick
GroupFunkmnkyz (winner of the 2010 Battle to Break Out)
Middle Distance Runner
Lloyd Dobler Effect
Tennis System
Vessel
Acoustic Tent
Roadhouse Clams
Harp & Eagle