Hopscotch Music Festival is just around the corner so I’m gearing up. This is only the second annually Hopscotch and yet the festival already has some real prominence. Headliners this year include The Flaming Lips, The Dodos, Guided By Voices, Superchunk, and Drive-By Truckers and they are accompanied by over a hundred bands performing at 12 venues throughout the weekend. Here’s a playlist to get you in the mood (if you’re going) or (if you’re not) a reason to go next year. I’ll keep adding to playlist as I discover more gems in the line-up. For more information on the festival head HERE.

Breaking the news in an interview with BrightestYoungThings, Surfer Blood front man J.P. Pitts spoke of having nicer equipment and more resources.  Cue ominous music, enter Warner Bros.  Next year, SB will release one last EP on current label Kanine Records before moving on to a full length joint release between Warner and Kanine. They’ll be joining the ranks of other indie-gone-Warner bands such as the Artic Monkeys, Built to Spill, the Flaming Lips, and the White Stripes.  We’ve enjoyed all Surfer Blood has offered us in the past year and wish them the best of luck, but we can’t help but think that some of the fun might be over.  But hey, at least Janet Jackson might be joining the indie parade. Right?

From the mouth of J.P.:
"I think we’re going to have more resources for the next record, I think it would be a shame to overlook that, or turn your nose up at that. I’m not opposed to work with nicer equipment and having more resources, it’s just a matter of being in a comfortable environment and working with people that we like and trust. I think that’s the most important thing for any project."