Every summer in DC’s Tenleytown, Fort Reno is home to a free
summerlong festival showcasing hometown indie bands.  And after
decades of this tradition, it has seen a vast array of bands and
genres including Fugazi, the Dismemberment Plan, Ted Leo, and our own
NextWavers the Chance.  And unlike other festivals sprouting up around
the globe- this one’s free (aside from Virgin Music Festival), it's all ages, 
and you can bring your pets!

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Ian MacKaye, The Evens. 2007 by Phijomo
Last year was a scare, as the park, which was once a battleground in
the Civil War, was temporarily closed due to a slight detection of
arsenic in the soil.  As quick as the fence went up blocking out
visitors, it came down due to a mistake in the reading.  Festival on!
The stage went up, attendees laid out their blankets, and the music
went on as scheduled.

Fort Reno 2009 is already in effect with several acts performing every
Monday and Thursday night, including Mary Timony’s new group Soft
Power, Batala (the giant all-girl drum brigade {see previous blog}),
Noon:30 (these girls are gonna skyrocket!) and many more so check out
the roster of upcoming shows at Fort Reno’s site.
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So, you just stepped off the DC Metro and are exiting into Farragut Square, where across the street in the patch of a park comes the rising wall of sound pounded out in rhythmic form from a group of about 50 or so ladies armed with drumsticks.  You wonder, “Is today a Brazilian holiday I forgot about?” or “Wow, whatever is going on here, I’m sure my boss won’t mind if I show up an hour late.”  You are witnessing the rehearsal of DC’s all-female percussion group Batala,  and yeah, I’m sure those papers you need to push can wait a while longer, so plop a seat on the grass amigão . 

DC’s Batala began in 2007 through an international wave started in Paris by Giba Goncalves in 1997.  The Batala family as a whole has gone global with members residing in France, Belgium, Spain, UK, and of course Brazil- the musical culture of which Batala is founded on.  And the instruments on which the Afro-beat meets Samba are played on, are actually made in Salvador, where the band has a program set up, providing jobs for mucho families.

Speaking of drums, if you are a Batala lady hopeful of at least 21 years of age, you got your pick from a variety of 4: the surdo, the dobra, the repique, or the snare.  Dobras are great for dancers who like to be in front, (just so you know!)  And when the ladies are clad in matching uniforms (another Salvador made attribute) they’ve been known to grace every corner of DC including halftime at RFK for DC United, the Cherry Blossom Festival, an Obama Inaugural Ball, the Black Cat (holler!), the Brazil Embassy, and more.

And don’t forget, Batala is a volunteer based band. So, femmes, next time you step off the train platform, and you happen to be wielding a snare drum, cross that road and join the drum brigade.  It’s almost that easy.  Find out more on their website.

Batala will performing at Fort Reno on Monday June 29, a summer festival in itself worth checking out!

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Three summer favorites: roller coasters, waves, live music outdoors.  The best of all three of course show up every summer in one spot- Brooklyn's Coney Island!  It's the Siren Music Festival, created by the weekly newspaper Village Voice back in 2001.  July 18 will be it's 9th year, going strong- rain or shine, with 2 stages set up next to the world famous Cyclone rollercoaster.  So yeah, what beats watching bands like Built to Spill, the Raveonettes, and Spank Rock from a rickety seat on a ride deemed the fastest from 1927 to 1972?  It's free, that's what!

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In past years, indie rock fans have gathered to see such acts as M.I.A., Scissor Sisters, Blonde Redhead, Peaches, and TV on the Radio, all while waiting in line for a Nathan's hot dog, or chilling on the beach.  Word.  This year, fans can lather up in sunscreen and check out Strictly Global regulars Frightened Rabbit, Japandroids, and the gleeful insanity that is Monotonix...
Oh yeah, Monotonix.  These dudes from Tel Aviv Israel have scored a rightful reputation as a band that isn't just watched, but experienced- cause they are gonna get you involved in the show whether you want to or not.  In past performances, they have set their instruments on fire, poured kegs of whatever over the audience, climb scaffolding to perform on ceilings, and of course the inevitable audience participation of holding the drum kit over head in crowdsurf style as drummer Haggai Fershtman pounds on.  What can we expect for their performance at Siren Fest? My money is on singer Ami Shalev climbing the Cyclone planks and/or running full speed into the Atlantic to ride a shark.  Good times.

More bands will be announced for this year's roster, so keep up to date at the Village Voice's official Siren Fest website.
 
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