It’s baaaaaaack. DEEP HEAVEN NOW returns for a fourth installment this summer, taking over Union Square August 5 and 6 for two days across two stages at PAs Lounge and Precinct. Because hey, that’s what it does.
But get in on this now, because word on the street is this will be the last Deep Heaven for 2011. Helping organizer Jinsen Liu and his house band, 28 DEGREES TAURUS, close the year out with a bang are THE DECEMBER SOUND, THE VANDELLES, ENDLESS WAVE, GOSPEL GOSSIP, MAJOR STARS, STATIC OF THE GODS, FUTURE CARNIVORES, MIND YETI, GHOSTBOX ORCHESTRA, and a fairly new band we’ve been feeling the fuck out of this morning, Haverhill’s own THE NEW HIGHWAY HYMNAL.
The best part about Deep Heaven, and Liu's efforts in rounding up a few dozen band for each of his bi-annual fest, is checking out new bands (well, that and giving NYC's The Vandelles a reason to come up to Boston). Back in November 2010 at the second Deep Heaven, it was the groove-psych sounds of Minnesota’s Gospel Gossip that stole the show and had Precinct spinning (they return this year). In April, the buzz surrounded Alabama’s The Sunshine Factory, who despite a faulty fog machine, some technical difficulties, and a bit of old fashioned down-south attitude, soldiered on with a deafening set of modern shoegaze that suggests a huge future.
At first glance, it appears the “new,” or “unknown,” or whatever, band to check out this time around is The New Highway Hymnal. Apparently you can get a nice, smooth garage rock cocktail from those dusty old Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream, and Jesus & Mary Chain records out on the mean streets of Haverhill. We admit we were sleeping on these dudes, as they quietly put out the Songs (From The New Highway Hymnal) EP way back in April 2010, but this morning we’ve been rocking hard on-repeat to “Hey Kid (Gotta Run),” a new single that dropped in May.
In addition to their appearance at Deep Heaven in August, we already have their upcoming gigs (July 1 @ Middle East, July 17 @ T.T. The Bear’s and July 23 @ Allston DIY Fest) circled on the calendar. “Hey Kid” is some sinister shit and we can't wait to hear more.
Anyway, here’s the full lineup for Deep Heaven Now IV. Sources tell On The Download that Liu had offers to move the fest to others clubs around town, but decided to stay in Union Square when the overhead costs became prohibitive elsewhere.
Liu has maintained the Deep Heaven Now shows retain their $10 cover, which allows all-day access into both venues, and kept it locked at PAs and Precinct when he realized he couldn’t sustain the low admission cost elsewhere. Props to him.
Peep the lineup, and Liu’s sales pitch after the jump:
Day 1: Friday, August 5
Stage 1: Precinct --- Stage 2: PA's Lounge
12:30am: The December Sound --- 12am: Mind Yeti
11:30pm: The Stargazer Lilies (NY) --- 11pm: Of the Sun
10:30pm: Drifterswift --- 10pm: Major Stars
9:30pm: Amber Spyglass --- 9pm: The Suicide Dolls (CT)
8:30pm: Whir --- 8pm: Sun Ram
Day 2: Saturday, August 6
Stage 1: Precinct --- Stage 2: PA's Lounge
12:30am: 28 Degrees Taurus --- 11:45pm: Future Carnivores
11:10pm: Gospel Gossip (MN) --- 10:30pm: Hi Tiger (ME)
10pm: Static of the Gods --- 9:30pm: The Vandelles (NY)
9pm: Telenovelas (NY) --- 8:30pm: Ghost Box Orchestra
8pm: Endless Wave --- 7:30pm: Sand Reckoner
7pm: Brief Candles (WI)--- 6:30pm - Clouder (NY)
6pm: Kohoutek (PA) --- 5:30pm: The New Highway Hymnal
5pm: Kris, Rob & Mitchelka
4pm: Herbcraft
3pm: TBA
From word from Liu:
“Hi Lites from Night 1 include The Stargazer Lilies featuring members of Soundpool, original 90s Deep Heaven alumni Major Stars, Boston psych royalty The December Sound is headlining on stage 1 and Mind Yeti on stage 2, the always hypnotic and trance inducing Herbcraft from Portland, ME make another return and local up and comers Of the Sun will electrify you with their tribal brand of psych/noise as well.
Hi Lites from Night 2 include Gospel Gossip from Minneapolis! They will blow you away or your money back! The New Highway Hymnal, a young new local Boston's answer to BRMC starts off the afternoon on stage 2, Hi Tiger coming from Portland brings the sexy back in a serious way, and local collective of Boston scene veterans Future Carnivores brings it back with their ambient/kraut influenced pop/psych...(28dt is the official DHN "house band".. not headliner)
This event is sponsored by Narragansett beer and WZBC 90.3 Flyweight. Video projections by Joe Turner & Joe Beaton.
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