Raleigh Plays Host to Hopscotch’s Infectious Sound & Energy; ‘Post-Pandemic’ Festival is a Success
posted by Ford Bowles | October 5, 2021 | In Arts and Culture, NewsCOVID-19 couldn’t stop the party this year as Hopscotch Music Festival once again hit the “Oak City” over the September 11 weekend for the first time since 2019.
Hopscotch is one of the premier music festivals in the Carolina region, acting as a monetary and cultural boon specifically to the local economy of Raleigh, but also for the state.
Featuring a reduced line-up (from the usual 120+ acts to 28), only 2 fully outdoor venues (vs. the many bars and clubs which typically host acts alongside major outdoor venues downtown), limited crowd size (including proof of vaccination/testing for entry and 75% capacity at both venues), and numerous other safety precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, Hopscotch looked a little different this year than in years past.
That change in appearance, however, didn’t affect fans or musicians, as both parties brought a raucous energy to the festival grounds.
While a myriad of health precautions and guidelines caused this year’s festival to visually look different, the sound of Hopscotch was true to its roots.
Hopscotch, first held in 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is known regionally and nationally as a festival which showcases music from the farthest corners of the industry, including all sorts of genre-bending and eclectic sounds which excite a wide variety of listeners from all walks of life. From prog rock and electro-R&B, to free-form jazz and bluesy Americana, Hopscotch truly has it all.
It is because of this commitment to adventurous lineups that Hopscotch seems to be a unique character in the music festival world, not catering to any specific demographic or sub-culture, but rather priding itself on the diversity of both musician and festival-goer alike who attend Hopscotch.
Key headliners of this year’s show included former member of indie pop trio Chairlift and art pop sensation, Caroline Polachek; electronic jazz and IDM icon, Flying Lotus; and Baltimore-based, experimental pop/psychedelic rock outfit Animal Collective, who closed out the 3-day festival.
Each headliner ended the evenings’ festivities at The City Plaza venue, in the heart of downtown.
Flying Lotus appeared with an unconventional stage setup, employing a massive projector screen in front of him which played colorful animations while he acted as a puppeteer pulling strings in the background as the audience moved and danced along to his sensory and auditory feast.
Another noteworthy performance which both raised eyebrows and wowed spectators was experimental electronic act, Body Meat. The Philadelphia native’s chaotic sound was translated into his sporadic and unpredictable body movements on the stage. The flurry of body parts swinging around the stage with ferocity seemed to poetically embody the artists’ name.
Hopscotch seemed to tailor each stage to a certain grouping of sounds, with the City Plaza’s palette more based in the electronic, pop, and jazz scenes, while the newly renovated Moore Square included mostly rock, indie, and alternative bands/performers.
At Moore Square, NYC’s post-punk quartet Parquet Courts showed out and then some, giving the packed crowd a show to remember. Bassist Sean Yeaton provided plenty of theatrics to entertain the crowd, whether it was him popping a beer and throwing it back as fans cheered him on, or his decision to continue to wear his sunglasses despite one of the lenses accidentally popping out.
Additionally, both local newcomers and legends appeared at Moore Square. Rising folk-americana act Kate Rhudy, a Raleigh native, opened day 2 with a collection of songs, old and new, even some unreleased. We were able to catch up with her after her set.
Commenting on the experience of getting to play at one of the biggest festivals in the Triangle region, Rhudy said: “It is very special to me, as this was my first time getting to play outdoors on a major stage for Hopscotch. This is my third appearance here, but my first time getting to perform on a traditional stage. I am just very appreciative and honored for this opportunity.”
Check out some of the best songs from the Hopscotch 2021 lineup below!
Browse some more Hopscotch 2021 photos here:
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