Major changes are in store for this year’s Launch Festival, which will now be known as TBD Fest. The name swap is a reflection of a change in venues, as this year the fest will go down in West Sacramento in The Bridge District. The event grounds will be just over the Tower Bridge along the river (behind Raley Field) and will offer epic, sweeping views of downtown Sacramento’s skyline. Also different this year, the fest is now three days of music, not just two. One other difference from past years is that TBD Fest is now happening the weekend of Oct. 3 to 5, a little later than Launch has been previously. What’s not different, you ask? The fact that the lineup, just announced last week, is mind-blowingly amazing!
A couple months ago Submerge was lucky enough to sit down with one of the festival’s founders, Michael Hargis (also co-owner of LowBrau and Block Butcher Bar along with his partner and fellow OG Clay Nutting), and he allowed us to sneak a peek at the level of talent they were aiming to land for TBD Fest. Let’s just say we walked out of the meeting scratching our heads thinking, “Can they really? Will they really? How in the world can they pull those bands?” Pretty much every act Hargis mentioned to us has now been confirmed and apparently some more announcements are still on the way. Currently announced as headliners are the wildly popular French electronic/dance duo Justice and the influential new wave/punk group Blondie! Also getting top billing is Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun, Los Angeles-based producer Dillon Francis, and Austin, Texas-based post-rock/instrumental powerhouse Explosions in the Sky. It doesn’t stop there. Peep it, you’ve also got: MS MR, The War on Drugs, Gramatik, Kurt Vile and the Violators, RAC (DJ Set), Yacht, Deltron 3030, Blackalicious, Com Truise, Beach Fossils, Sister Crayon and too many other rad artists to list here. Three-day tickets are available now at Tbdfest.com for just $159 and VIP passes are $250. Keep turning to Submerge all summer for more TBD Fest news, announcements and interviews with performing artists.
UPDATE: TBD Fest organizers have also confirmed that Moby (DJ Set) and rapper Danny Brown will be performing!
The same guys that brought us Midtown’s most popular beer hall, LowBrau, are finally opening their new joint, Block Butcher Bar, located directly next to LB in the MARRS Building. Block is set to open to the public on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. According to an email from the owners, “Block is a boutique salumi and cocktail bar, with an exhibition butcher kitchen and micro-deli.” Submerge was lucky enough to attend a soft opening last weekend and we must say, although very small, the space is absolutely gorgeous. The perfect blend of masculinity and sexiness. A whiskey lover’s dream come true (seriously, there are so many different kinds on the menu it’s mind-blowing), Block also features an array of wines, beers, cheeses and of course, meats. We ordered a couple cocktails, both delicious and extremely fresh tasting, as well as a “slab” (cheese plate) which featured three delicious cheeses (one cow, one goat and one sheep) accompanied by Marcona almonds, local honeycomb, membrilla and potter’s crackers. The cheese slabs come in assortments of three, five or seven cheeses. If you’re indecisive like us, or know little about cheese varieties, ask your bartender or server for some tips, they were very helpful. Their “boards” (charcuterie) come in assortments of three, six or twelve different meats and are accompanied with house mustards, pickles and olives. Again, there were a lot of meats to choose from; don’t be afraid to ask questions, they’ll take you to charcuterie school! We’ll definitely be back to try their deviled duck eggs with crisp prosciutto and smoked paprika (they came highly recommended by three different people) as well as their sando’s, like the “AB & BJ” (grilled almond butter and bacon jam!). Learn more at Facebook.com/blockbutcherbar
Popular recurring Tuesday night party Le Twist has moved from its former downtown home at Dive Bar to the newly opened Midtown hot-spot LowBrau. Hosted by local DJs Sam I Jam, Adam J, Taylor Cho and Roderick Carpio, Le Twist features special guest performers week in and week out, as well as drink specials and free admission.
“Le Twist has always encapsulated an open format that allows our guests to share and perform the music they personally find to be ‘eclectic,’” Sam I Jam recently told Submerge. “Both Clay [Nutting, LowBrau] and Michael [Hargis, LowBrau] have always been advocates of our concept and the space/location has been a big hit with our guests and friends. I’m very happy and privileged to be a part of this.”
On Feb. 26, 2013 dance-punk greats !!! (Chk Chk Chk) will “hijack” Le Twist! The first two weeks in March will see 8th Grader (March 5) and Litanic Mask (March 12) as special guests. Le Twist gets going at 9 p.m. every Tuesday at LowBrau (1050 20th Street), admission is free, 21-and-over.
