STARS + STRIPES FESTIVAL 2011

Yes, you read the header correctly: a festival. Having spent the summers of our youth growing up on Martha's Vineyard, we've always dreamed of bringing a music festival to the island and next month we take one step closer to making that dream a reality. Enter Stars + Stripes Fest, a new annual "festival" we're bringing to Martha's Vineyard this July 4th weekend together with our friends at NUE Agency, featuring an all-star lineup of Neon Gold favorites in Savoir Adore, French Horn Rebellion, The Knocks and Chiddy Bang headlining. Sure, it's more of a mini-festival right now, but it's a jumping off point for what we hope to grow annually into a summer staple for New Englanders and - let's be real - that lineup is kind of insane.

Furthermore, it's all for a great cause, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the newly completed Martha's Vineyard YMCA, dedicated to providing a community center for the Island population and fostering the youth of Martha's Vineyard through social programs for all ages. The YMCA is an important year-round presence on an island that - despite it's reputation as an affluent vacation destination and tourist hotspot - remains one of the poorest counties in Massachusetts and much of the Atlantic Northeast, and with the proceeds raised by Stars + Stripes we hope to finally be able to give back to the community that gave us so much in our formative years.

It's all happening Saturday, July 2nd at Nectar's MV from 9pm until late, with advance tickets available now from EventBrite for $30 at the dedicated Stars + Stripes page HERE. Basically, it's going to be the best party we've ever thrown (need we remind you of the line up?), and those of you still looking for the perfect way to spend your July 4th weekend just had your weekend sorted in a big way. Set times and mp3s below, time to go large for America y'all.

09:15pm: Savoir Adore // DOWNLOAD: "Bodies"

10:00pm: French Horn Rebellion // DOWNLOAD: "This Moment"

10:45pm: The Knocks // DOWNLOAD: "Dancing With The DJ"

11:30pm: Chiddy Bang // DOWNLOAD: "All Over" (ft. Gordon Voidwell)

CAN'T GET YOU FAR ENOUGH AWAY.

Savoir Adore are kind of the most adorable band in the game and they prove their eternally endearing qualities once again with new track "Sparrow," yet another promising step towards a potentially brilliant second album after the unveiling of "Loveliest Creature" earlier this year. While the Brooklyn dreampop crusaders have always reminded us of Stars, under the light of "Sparrow" (which they've been so kind to give us the exclusive premier for below) they seem cut from a more classic americana cloth - sweet without being saccharin and catchy as fuck.

Spastic drums and fuzzed out guitars ground the song's ethereal levity, while understated synths sparkle in the distance and round out the track's breezy melancholy. Exceedingly infectious - as is usually the name of the game with Savoir - the track puts them in line with some of America's great pop duos. Could Deidre and Paul (not that they're "together" per se) be 2011 indie pop's answer to Sonny and Cher? Or maybe Tammy Terrell and Marvin Gaye? But you know, less dramatic... and white? Come on out to Popshop next Thursday and judge for yourself, tickets still on sale here but going fassst.

MP3: "Sparrow" - Savoir Adore [exclusive]

POPSHOP004: WALK THE MOON + SAVOIR + ANR

With the dust settled on SXSW and everyone finally beginning to feel human again, it's time to get back in the New York groove with another round of amazing live music at Popshop, coming at you hard and fast on April 7th. We've got the hottest new band in the game and the toast of SXSW 2011 headlining in Walk The Moon, with support from starry eyed Brooklyn dreamweavers Savoir Adore and Miami's finest ANR. Then as per usual we've got Absolut bringing the drink specials early with 2-for-1 drinks from 8pm-9pm, plus Lightwaves lighting up the decks all night long.

You should have the hang of this by now, but as always it's going down the first Thursday of the month at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard between Stanton and Rivington) in the LES, and tickets are available HERE. We're also making the show FREE after midnight (space permitting), for those of you who hate live instruments but still want to get your dance on with Lightwaves until the early hours. And just a reminder - the first three Popshops all sold out in advance, so GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY. It breaks our heart to see people turned away at the door, so please save everyone the emotional anguish and don't sleep on this one. Set times and downloads/streams below, see you next Thursday.

09:00pm: ANR // DOWNLOAD: "Endless Fields of Mercury"

10:00pm: Savoir Adore // STREAM: "Bodies"

11:00pm: Walk The Moon // DOWNLOAD: "Anna Sun"

12:00am: Lightwaves // DOWNLOAD: "Loveliest Creature" (Lightwaves Remix)

UNDER THE BLUE.

There's a new thing. Lightwaves is the name, and the sound is some of the freshest electronic pop coming out of NYC at the moment. Our introduction comes by way of his debut remix, for Brooklyn darlings Savoir Adore's brilliant new single "Loveliest Creature" (cop the beautiful original here), in which Lightwaves and Savoir come together under the trees, lost amidst an enchanted forest of sprightly synths and neon fairy lights. Catch Lightwaves on the decks at Popshop next week in his NYC debut.

MP3: "Loveliest Creature" (Lightwaves Remix) - Savoir Adore [exclusive]

WE CAME TOGETHER.

Savoir Adore are quietly becoming one of our favorite bands in New York City, as they continue to rise to prominence as one of this town's best up and coming live acts and purveyors of the highest standard of boy-girl fronted indie pop. Having first hooked us with 2009's In The Wooded Forest LP and it's triumphant single "Bodies", the Brooklyn four-piece continue to shine on new single "Loveliest Creature". Standing out as the sterling highlight of their recent set at our CMJ showcase last month (complete with its own choreographed routine), they've since made the track available for free download as their new single. Recalling the best moment of Stars' cherished catalog, it's a much-welcomed addition to our fall playlist at Neon Gold HQ, its understated natural beauty complimenting the change of seasons perfectly.

MP3: "Loveliest Creature" - Savoir Adore

NEON GOLD PRESENTS: THE NAKED & FAMOUS.

After storming through London last week, our Kiwi heroes The Naked & Famous make their way to New York for their debut US shows this week, lighting up an already sold out show at the Mercury Lounge on Friday before taking it across the bridge to Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday. We're thrilled to announce we'll be putting on the latter (in affiliation with Filter and GBH), complete with Savoir Adore supporting live and our bros for life Yes Giantess on the decks all night long. It's a late show (just the way we like it) starting at 11:30 with bands on at 12 and 1, and with tickets only $5 on the door (or FREE WITH RSVP) it just might be the best night that money can buy next weekend. To ring in the occasion, we've got an exclusive remix of the band's triumphant Neon Gold anthem "Young Blood", courtesy of Australia's Thieves of Aon. It's 6 minutes of unadulterated hands-in-the-lasers dancefloor fury, the sonic equivalent of Lindsay Lohan on a three day coke-and-ecstasy bender. You've been warned.

MP3: "Young Blood" (Thieves of Aon Remix) - The Naked & Famous [exclusive]