A while back we highlighted some of our concert picks for Halloween, and well, New Years Eve is just as an exciting time to be out and deserves some respect.  Highlighted are some top festival picks for the weekend and a quick preview of the concerts to be at as 2012 rings in.

Festivals:

Snowglobe Music Fest

Lake Tahoe, CA  – 12/29/11 to 12/31/11

Great lineup and beautiful scenery!  The schedule was just released and the weekend lineup includes; Pretty Lights, Bassnecter, Thievery Corporation, Glitch Mob, Tipper, etc..  Just dress warm because some of the shows are outside and Tahoe winters are no joke…wait, I mean dance your ass off and find someone hot to cuddle up too!  Tahoe also offers up gambling, skiing, and a variety of other forms of entertainment to keep the weekend hopping during music downtime.

Lights All Night

Dallas, TX – 12/30/11 & 12/31/11

Start the weekend getting your party on and finish out the year the same way.  Highlights include; Girl Talk, Ghostland Observatory, RJD2, Big Gigantic, and many more…

The Bond-Fire Art and Music Fest

Groveland, FL – 12/29/11 to 1/2/12

If you can’t take the Tahoe winter (or are 3,000 miles away), then this might be the fest for you.  Music, art, fire, camping, and Florida sunshine; what more can you ask for!?  Some of the artists in attendance are:  George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, North Mississippi Allstars, Soulive, Particle, The New Mastersounds, plus many more.  Kids under 15 also get in free with a parent so you don’t have to feel bad about leaving them home this year.

Sea of Dreams

San Francisco, CA – 12/31/11

Amon Tobin, Beats Antique, and Santigold…need I say more?!  This is only a one day fest but the music, art instillation’s, and community in attendance make this a true spectacle and one of my favorites.

Show Runs:

Some of the top touring bands, whom are usually a staple on NYE, will be hosting their own run of shows in various locations.  Most of these NYE shows are already sold out, so either check em on another night or hopefully you got your tix already!

Ween will be at the Fillmore in Denver, CO, 12/29-12/31.

Phish is at Madison Square Garden in NY, NY for a four night run, 12/28-12/31.

Furthur will be headlining the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco from 12/29-12/31.

Pretty Lights will be in Broomfield, CO just outside of Denver, 12/30 & 12/31.

Moe. is at the State Theatre in Portland Maine, 12/30 & 12/31.

Yonder Mountain will be making a 5 night run at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO, 12/27-12/31.

STS9 will also be making a 5 night stand at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA; 12/27-12/31.

Railroad Earth will also be in Denver, CO from 12/29-12/31.

For both the STS9 and the Railroad Earth shows, The Conscious Alliance will be giving away free show posters with the donation of non-perishable goods – details here.

Various Concerts:

Below are some other shows around the nation that weekend that are worth checking out, just be safe and have a happy New Years wherever you might be!

Friday 12/30/11

• Aspen, CO:  Janes Addiction
• Mashantucket, CT:  Aretha Franklin
• Chicago, IL:  The Disco Biscuits
• New Orleans, LA: Galactic / Dr. John / Better then Ezra
• Bethlehem, PA:  Steve Kimok w. Bernie Worrell
• Philadelphia, PA:  Gandolph Murphy & The Slambovian World Cafe
• Norfolk, VA:  Keller Williams
• Austin, TX:  Willie Nelson (also 12/31).  For more New Year’s events in Austin, checkout Do512.

Saturday 12/31/11 – NYE

• Atlanta, GA:  Cake / Perpetual Groove / Zac Brown Band / STS9 / JJ Gray & Mofro
• Chicago, IL:  Disco Biscuits / Black Joe Lewis / Cage the Elephant
• Greenville, SC:  The Avett Brothers
• New Orleans, LA:  Dr.John / Galactic w.Anders Osborne / Papa Grows Funk
• New York, NY:  Assembly of Dust / Gogol Bordello / Gov’t Mule
• Oklahoma City, OK:  Flaming Lips w.Yoko Ono
• Orlando, FL: Slightly Stoopid
• Pittsburgh, PA: Steve Kimok w.Bernie Worrell & Bobby Vega
• Portland, OR:  Jerry Joseph / Left Over Salmon
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA:  Primus / DJ Z-Trip / Tedeschi Trucks Band / Trombone Shorty / Maceo Parker / The Slip (also 12/30) / The Greyboy Allstars and Zigaboo Modeliste / New Monsoon w.Hot Buttered Rum
• Tampa, Florida:  Matisyahu w.TeaLeaf Green

More information on shows can always be found at: jambase.com.

If you don’t see your city of choice, definitely checkout Jambase.com to get your local fix.

South East

**Moog Fest**

(Asheville, NC – 10.28 thru 10.30)

In remembrance of the man that helped bring out the synthesized freak in all of us, Moog Fest combines some of the most innovative talent from around the globe for a citywide festival in beautiful Asheville, NC.  Good ole Southern hospitality and noise distortion at its best makes this one of our top picks.  Just a few of the many acts: The Flaming Lips, Moby, TV on the Radio, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, and Beats Antique.  Get the full lineup here.

**Voodoo Music Experience**

(New Orleans, LA – 10.28 thru 10.30)

Voodoo ‘Fest’ is entering its 11^th year of production and combines an array of artists over the Halloween weekend, and this year is not to disappoint!! New Orleans is one of our favorite cities and this town has enough to keep you scared on a summer’s day in June…Halloween in the city, eeeeek!!!  Lineup includes:  Ani Difranco w/ Ivan Neville, Dr. John, the Original Meters, Snoop Dog, Z-Trip, Social Distortion, Sound Garden, The Raconteurs, Fatboy Slim, and TV on the Radio.   And to top it off you have all of the great late night shows going around town like; The Dead Kenny G’s as well as Galactic with JJ Gray and Mofro.  Get the full lineup and schedule here.

Midwest

**Delloween **

(Madison Theatre – Covington KY – 10.28)

The Cincinnati metro area is in for a real treat as Del McCoury and Keller Williams team up to present a night of ‘boograss’!!!  Expect some rocking bluegrass, acoustic jams, and artist collaborations to last through the night…great way to get your holiday weekend started!  Checkout more details here.

**Pretty Lights – Halloween Extravaganza Illumination**

(Nashville Municipal Auditorium – Nashville, TN – 10.31)

Pretty Lights always puts on a great show and I’m sure this one will exceed all expectations. This “illuminating” experience is sure to be packed with special guests and treats for all.  Check details here.

NorCal

**Hangtown Halloween Ball**

(Placerville, CA – 10.28 thru 10.30)

Featuring Rail Road Earth on all 3 nights along with; 7 Walkers, The Funky Meters, Melvin Seals, Ozomatli, and David Grisman just to name a few.  The west coast festival scene never is a let down and this one I’m sure will get your blood a pumping…just beware, we’re privy to some Vampire lore and we heard they like patchouli.  Get the full lineup here.

SoCal

**HARD Haunted Mansion**

(Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA – 10.28 and 10.29)

Check out the video here and I’m sure you’ll want to go too!!  Find a sexy costume, get your electronic juices flowing, and rage the weekend away.  Get the full lineup and more details here.

Colorado

Our friends in the Rockies also have a lot of choices for the weekend and Denver is packed with great shows!!!  With venues like: The Fillmore, Cervantes’ Ballroom, and the Ogden Theatre…spooktacular times will be bountiful.  Cervantes is featuring a free show on Halloween night and other shows around town range from; Vince Herman to De La Soul, The Motet (Funk is Dead: performing all Grateful Dead tunes), Method Man, Warren Haynes, Particle, and KDTU.  Get a full lineup of shows here.

North East

**Yonder Mountain String Band**

(Best Buy Theatre – NY, NY – 10.29)

Yonder never fails to put on a spectacle and when matched up with your favorite costume and a bottle of bourbon – good times await!! Decisions, decisions though…the Big Apple has too much to offer as always, what will you do!?  Get details here…and here.

**Medeski, Martin, and Wood w/Antibalas**

(Washington DC 10.27 / Philly 10.28 / New York 10.29)

Two all time favorites joining forces for what has to be a great run of shows. Get more details here.  And if you want a chance to meet the bands and get some goodies, don’t forget your pre carved pumpkin!!!

And we’d love to here from you too!  Share your pics, costume ideas, wild stories and show reviews from the weekend…and just all around we want to embrace your inner monster so share what you got and Tweet us @fancentric.

-Jeremy

In honor of their 20th anniversary (August 6-8 2011), our client Lollapalooza launched one of the coolest and creative timecapsules I have ever seen. The Lolla team is great at interactive marketing (and throwing some damn good festivals). They always have compelling content at each of their marketing touchpoints and really push the innovation needle in the music industry.  Check out their interactive timeline and get ready to feel nostalgic (and old). I know we do over in the office. 

Added bonus: this week only, fans have a chance to snag 3-day passes for a mere $60. All they have to do is visit the homepage and wait for a buy button to appear. Have no fear, if you don’t snag these awesome tickets, early bird pricing tickets go on sale April 5th. I know I am going to be stalking the site!

-Lauren ( @lmeanslauren)

Recently, my esteemed colleague, Joshua “Jimmy Jam” York, inspired us all with his list of 7 SXSW Tips You Can Use.  Being a rather contrary and generally sarcastic fellow, I was inspired to produce an anti-article to Josh’s positive advice.  Instead of telling you how to make SXSW the best it possibly can be, I would rather countdown the best ways to absolutely and completely lay waste to your SXSW experience and ruin any chance of forming a single positive memory.  Please, don’t feel obligated to put all of these tips to work, feel free to mix-and-match and see what doesn’t work best for you.

7. Assume its going to be 80 degrees every day. We are talking about Austin, as in Austin, Texas, right?  So don’t worry, the last time it rained was in 1968 and they still believe snow is a myth.  In fact, it is against the law to sell outdoor thermometers that go below 65 degrees there.  Trust me, shorts and a t-shirt/tank-top are really all you need during the day, and at night too for that matter.

6. Go hard or go home! This isn’t your momma’s music conference.  Where ever you are at any given moment something cooler is happening somewhere else.  If you miss anything you fail.  Two bands you want to see are playing at the same time across town from each other?  Big-deal, I bet Fonzie would know how to make it work, and you know you want be cool like Fonzie.  Fonzie wouldn’t pick and choose. Fonzie would see everything and be everywhere.

5. Your shoes should be for style not function. Sneakers and socks? Really? That’s soooo rock’n'roll.  Who cares if you are going to be walking all over town and on your feet for twenty-two to thirty hours a day?  Once you get to the show you won’t be walking around that much.

4.  Dont even bother trying to RSVP for parties early. Nobody knows which parties are going to be cool or lame anyway.  Plus, it’s not like that list at the door really matter, don’t they know who you are?

3.  Earplugs are only for planes and church. Every year I find at least one pair of ear plugs in my grab bag when I pick up my badge.  They must really love filling up landfills or something because nobody in their right mind would use them.  Not only do they dampen the sound and save your ears and your ability to have a conversation without shouting later in the evening, but they look ridiculous (especially those low-profile, flesh colored earplugs that are made for musicians that reduce the volume without distorting the sound).

2. Sleep when you’re dead, grandma! There is only one thing that your hotel bed should be used for and it is not sleeping (somersault contests of course).  Make a pledge to not sleep from the first strumming of a guitar on Wednesday until the final amp is unplugged Sunday.  That’s how the cool kids roll.  (This tip brought to you by RedBull, Monster, and your friendly neighborhood speed freak.)

And the number one, guaranteed tip to ruin SXSW…..

1. Get on an ALL LIQUID DIET! Considering the fact that almost every day party, and every single after party and after-after party have free booze, the only time you need to pay for alcohol is during the evening showcases.  And if you have to spend money, shouldn’t it be on drinks instead of food?  Remember:  you can get all the vitamins and calories you need, without any of that silly nutrient stuff if you only drink smartly.  Bloody Mary/Screwdrivers for breakfast, a nice wheat ale for lunch, and a dark beer for dinner and fill in between times with vodka, bourbon, and tequila and you will be good to go.

Just follow these simple rules and you too can have a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad SXSW.

I am looking forward to seeing you there! Hit me up on twitter @JKaiser28T or become my friend on FourSquare or Facebook and we can ruin our collective SXSWs together!

Andy highlights a program called Rock & Recycle.  The concept is simple.  While you’re attending the festival, you can fill a garbage bag with recyclable materials (cans, paper goods, etc.) and return it to a Rock & Recycle booth for a free t-shirt.  It’s an ingenious idea, and not just because participants get a free t-shirt.

I witnessed this program in action at this past summer’s Lollapalooza festival.  Dozens of sweat soaked, hardly sober, twenty-somethings wandering around a crowded festival with a garbage bag in one hand, and (soon-to-be recycled) half-full Budweiser in the other, is a sight to see.  But what really caught my attention, was the brilliant viral nature of the program.  In the twenty or so minutes I was hanging near the Rock & Recycle booth (while my buddy is taking his sweet time visiting the port-o-potty area), I saw the same thing happen over and over.  The scenario plays out like this; Hipster A is picking up cans with trash bag in tow, Hipster B approaches Hipster A, conversation ensues, Hipster B heads for the Rock & Recycle booth, Hipster B is equipped with trash bag and a new sense of gratification.

I don’t think the motivator for the do-gooders is the t-shirt, I think it is really about helping out, doing their part, pitching in and all that stuff.  It’s the intangible feeling they get from participating.  And the program’s best marketing tool is itself… the actual act of participation is the driving force behind more participation.  The only thing more viral is Ebola.  I would call it word of mouth, but Hipster A didn’t have to say a word to capture Hipster B’s attention.  I think the conversation they had was probably just directions to the booth.  Could we call it word-0f-eyeballs?  Either way, the consumer, in this case the do-gooder, is happy to be seen participating.

We see similar things in music fans.  Any merchandise that can be worn, stitched or stuck on something is a proud proclamation of a fan’s support of the artist.  They pay you to market your brand.  Sure the design on the tour t-shirt is cool, but what I really like about it is declaring my loyalty to the group, the music and the culture.

Andy says the lesson is little things can be big motivators to bring out the good in your customers.  I would change that statement just a bit.  I would say intangible things can be big motivators to bring out the good in your customers.

So I humbly ask, how can an artist or label use intangible things, like feelings, to motivate their fans to execute a call-to-action?