After more than a year of cancellations, postponements, and virtual events, live music festivals are now back on track. In Texas, the Austin City Limits Music Festival was able to make a successful return last November as they featured some of today’s top artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Tyler The Creator over two consecutive three-day weekends of fun and entertainment. Meanwhile, in California, the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is set to bring the biggest music acts to the desert after a two-year hiatus.
As we look forward to having a good time at music festivals this year, it’s key that we’re mindful of the experience of other festival-goers. These days, music festivals are not as friendly for smokers as they were before. Some festival venues straight-up ban smoking, and choosing to light up at festivals that allow it may get you more than a few sideways glances. If you want to satisfy your nicotine cravings while at a music festival, we list some smoke-free alternatives below.
Snus
One great alternative to cigarettes is snus. Essentially, snus is a moist, finely ground tobacco product that can give you the nicotine kick that you need. Unlike chewing tobacco, which causes extreme saliva production, snus is significantly more discreet and doesn’t require you to spit as often as you would with spit tobacco. All you need to do is hold the snus pouch in your upper lip until the flavor is gone. If you enjoy the flavor of tobacco, but want to discreetly get your nicotine fix at a music festival, you should get your hands on snus.
Nicotine pouches
Another nicotine product that you put under your lip are nicotine pouches. While they may be similar to snus when it comes to function, nicotine pouches are tobacco-free and come in a variety of flavors, strengths, and sizes. Prilla also highlights that because nicotine pouches are not made from tobacco, they won’t stain your teeth or gums. Nicotine pouches have a more diverse and pleasant flavor experience compared to snus, with available flavors such as mint, citrus, and coffee. This means that you’ll have an enjoyable nicotine experience without causing others inconvenience at a music festival.
Dissolvable Tobacco
The popularity of dissolvable tobacco products may have waned, but you can still find these smoke-free alternatives in stores around the country. Dissolvable tobacco products come in a variety of forms, from thin films that look like breath strips to pellets that look like regular mints. Reynolds American is the second-largest tobacco company in the US, and has dissolvable tobacco products that resemble lozenges and come in fun flavors like dark mint, crema, and berry. To use dissolvable tobacco products, you simply put them in your mouth and keep them there until they dissolve. These deliver the same amount of nicotine cigarettes have, so it’s safe to say that this will satisfy your cravings at a music festival.
Nicotine patches
If you would rather not think of your nicotine consumption during the music festival, it may be best to opt for a nicotine patch. VeryWell Mind notes that nicotine patches provide a controlled and steady dose of nicotine throughout the day, keeping you satisfied as you enjoy the festival while pushing back on the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine patches resemble a clear or beige square bandage and come in three dosage strengths: 21 mg, 14 mg, and 7 mg. Keep in mind, though, that you should avoid smoking while using the patch as this can cause you to overdose on nicotine and experience symptoms such as headaches, confusion, and dizziness.
To discreetly satisfy your nicotine cravings at your next music festival, be sure to consider the options we’ve listed above.
Austin City Limits Music Festival Returns Strong In 2021
Austin City Limits Music Festival made its triumphant return after sitting out a year due to the (still) ongoing pandemic. The 20th anniversary raised eyebrows as they decided to continue with the festival this year considering the high rates of COVID rates in the Austin area. Using the same blueprint that Lollapalooza used this year the festival implemented a mandatory vaccination proof to enter (or negative test within the past 72 hours). While the crowd did seem smaller the entertainment didn’t skip a beat as this years lineup boasted an array of some of musics best. The festival prides itself on the amazing music lineup year after year but it’s also the amazing amenities the fest offers such as world class food, amazing drink options and a plus this year that offered Bonus Tracks with q and a sessions with some amazing guests. We broke down our highlights from each day with some amazing photo galleries.
Friday Day One:
Highlights: Durand Jones and The Indications, Machine Gun Kelly, Leann Rimes, Remi Wolf, Megan Thee Stallion, Erykah Badu.
Day one started with a set from Durand Jones and The Indications, his performance was a perfect warm up for an amazing weekend, reaching into his bag of tricks, he pulled out all the soulful feels that reminded us why we fell in love with him a few years ago at SXSW. One of the most anticipated acts of the festival this year was Machine Gun Kelly who has gained recent fame for his transition to a more mellow emo punk sound. That topped with his tabloid worthy relationship with girlfriend Megan Fox has garnered attention on a daily basis. He even climbed the soundboard tower tangling only by his feet while singing and inducing the crowd into a frenzy. We took a trip down memory lane as we had a chance to catch the always charming LeAnn Rimes during her mid-day set as she seemed in high spirits as she tore through her chart topping catalog, one of the more underrated sets of the festival for us.
Durand Jones and The Indications
Machine Gun Kelly
Leann Rimes
Megan Thee Stallion
Erykah Badu
Saturday Day Two
Highlights: Gracie Abrams, Jade Bird, Remi Wolf, Phoebe Bridgers, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Rüfüs Du Sol, Bille Eilish
Day two got us up and early to catch some of the smaller acts that we can only imagine playing later slots in the near future. One of our favorites we discovered at SXSW a few years ago was Jade Bird and she continues to impress with a more pop-country style that is infectious and charming. Remi Wolf was a surprise as her high energy set was perfect for the mid-day crowd, we saw her last month here in Denver for The UMS and were excited to see her slay her set for a bigger audience. One of the acts we were most excited to see was Phoebe Bridgers, we did get a sneak peak of her set on Thursday at her ACL Live taping. The often outspoken artist delivers amazing live sets and carefully crafted lyrics that stir emotions. One of the festivals biggest draws was for the hit-worthy Doja Cat who managed to live to the hype with her well produced set. One of hip-hops rising stars Jack Harlow also delivered as his status as one of the best live acts continues to grow, it was at one point in which you could hear the whole crowd singing to his hit “WHATS POPPIN” that made for an amazing festival memory. The night wrapped up with Rüfüs Du Sol and Billie Eilish on the main stages.
Remi Wolf
Phoebe Bridgers
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Rüfüs Du Sol
Sunday Day Three
Highlights: Serena Isioma, Amber Mark, Jessie Murph, Tate McRae, Cautious Clay, Marc Rebillet, Karol G, Tyler The Creator
Our last day of the festival was filled with what we have coined he Tik Tok generation, social influencers who have harassed the power of social media to create a mass following. The weather remained amazing as we got a chance to check out more of the amazing amenities this festival has to offer, Austin Eats gave us a chance to sample some of the city’s best delicacies while the Beer Hall let us cool down with some amazing brews and needed shade. Some of the days best acts included Jessie Murph, Tate McRae, and Cautious Clay rounded up the early sets with noteworthy performances. The late afternoon/evening sets got kicked off by the “Loop Daddy” himself Marc Rebilet whose over the top performances did not disappoint. The Honda Stage welcomed Colombian artist Karol G who gave fans a bit of latin flavor with her dance infusing Reggaeton hits. Original headliner Da Baby was replaced over some controversial remarks about the LGBTQ community and rtaking his place was Tyler The Creator. Tyler put on one of the best sets of the festival with his customary quirky performances and flare for the dramatic. Many thanks to all who helped put this festival together this year considering the circumstances of an on-going pandemic, It gave us hope for three days that music is making a comeback and bringing people together once agin.
Serena Isioma
Amber Mark
Tate Mcrae
Cautious Clay
Marc Rebillet
Karol G
Tyler The Creator
Austin City Limits Announce Day Lineups For Both Weekends
Austin City Limits Music Festival has announced their day lineups for both weekends. With a few minor changes between weekend one and two the festival looks all set to bring back another year of amazing music spread out among the beautiful Zilker Park once again. This year heavy hitters such as Guns and Roses, Tame Impala, Childish Gambino, The Cure and Mumford and Sons are set to close out one of the better lineups in recent history. Stay tuned as day scheduled get announced in the near future. Ticket information can be found here.
2019 Underground Music Showcase Lineup Revealed
The 2019 Underground Music Showcase has revealed their lineup today. The festival takes place in a multitude of venues along Broadway, in Denver, Colorado. More details on specific stages and locations will be announced closer to the festival.. Supporting artists include Empress Of, Yves Tumor, DRAMA, Sophie Meiers, LEIKELI47, Y La Bamba, Gardens & Villa, William Elliott Whitmore, Miya Folick, Tessa Violet, Haviah Mighty, Liza Anne, Spooky Mansion, Greyhounds, Dressy Bessy, DBUK, SWSH, Kainalu, Jackie Mendoza, Clavvs, Rapperchicks, Rich Jones, Divino Niño, Parallelephants, Deezie Brown, Garrett T Capps and more and more than 200 acts from across Colorado. Three-day weekend tickets are now available for $50. The three-day weekend tickets include general admission access to all musical performances and all stages, all weekend long.
“UMS is a strong representation of all types of music. This year’s lineup of national and local bands was strategically designed to showcase the volume of musically talented individuals Denver has grown while also inviting some national acts to crash the party” said Tobias Krause, Event Director of Underground Music Showcase. “Denver’s music scene is growing and shaping into something special, something worth putting Denver on the map as a nationally recognized ‘music city.’ We have put our heart and soul into ensuring UMS helps grow that positive image for all Denver artists while keeping the soul of this underground music community alive.”
We are very much looking to cover the amazing lineup once again and stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the festival.
8 Bands You Must Absolutely See at The Underground Music Showcase
It's UMS week and we hope you have nailed your schedules down at this point, if you haven't it's ok as one of the best ways to experience the festival is by randomly hopping from venue to venue during the weekend and discovering for yourself something new. As we do every year we have scoured the list of 300+ bands to pick the 8 bands you must absolutely see (Trust us we want to see every band). These are bands that have been on our radar since the announcement and bands we feel are worth catching live. (In no particular order)
Walker Lukens (Sunday 3:20-4:00 PM Sesh Stage)
Walker Lukens has been called ‘one of the best songwriters in Texas’. The Austin-based, Houston-bred singer, multi-instrumentalist has been called ‘wonderfully inventive’, a ‘non-sexually intimidating version of Prince’, and a ‘veteran balladeer with sudden indie rock ambitions’. Walker thinks it’s important that you realize his name is not Walter.
In 2013, he released his first full length record, Devoted. It received praise from outlets like NPR’s All Songs Considered, American Songwriter, Austin American Statesman, Austin Chronicle, and Billboard and took Lukens and his backing band, The Side Arms, all over the US.
After meeting Spoon drummer Jim Eno in a bar, Walker & The Side Arms started recording new music at with him at his studio, Public Hi-Fi. Their first collaboration, ‘Every Night,’ has been streamed almost a million times now. Their second collaboration, ‘Lifted’ from Never Understood EP spent 8 weeks on the specialty commercial radio charts. Another EP, Ain't Got A Reason, soon followed in April of 2017 and garnered Walker spots at festivals across the country like Bonnaroo, Firefly, Austin City Limits Festival, Free Press Summerfest, Middle of the Map, Underground Music Showcase. His second full length, Tell It To The Judge, will be released on September 22, 2017 on Modern Outsider.
Tyto Alba (Friday 12:00-1:00 AM Irish Rover)
Tyto Alba, based out of Denver, CO, formed in the fall of 2014 and features the talents of singer/songwriter Melanie Steinway, guitarist Matt Rossi, bassist/synth player Daniel DiMarchi and drummer Andrew Bair. The songs are dreamy, spacious and lush. Tyto Alba is the scientific name for barn owls.
Described as four friends making music together. Tyto Alba is fronted by singer/songwriter Melanie Steinway, a tattooist and illustrator by day. Her folk background melds with indie, shoegaze and post-punk influences of her three bandmates for a distinctly lush and dreamy sound. Tyto Alba has self-released two EPs and a handful of singles.
If you recall we premiered their last single "Somnambulist" here on Ultra5280 a few months ago and have been swooning ever since. Their live sound will capture you and make you a fan upon first listen. A must see on Friday night to get your festival in high gear!
Pink Fuzz (Sunday 1:00-2:00 AM Gary Lee's Motor Club)
Pink Fuzz (formerly BANDITS) are a red-hot bowling ball, shot out of a homemade cannon into the side panel of mid 80’s Ford Bronco.
Led by the unmatched chemistry of brother/sister John and LuLu Demitro, Pink Fuzz have “managed to enter a higher society of artistry by discharging a brand unlike any others in the provincial industry.”
Straddling the line between psychedelic and downright explosive, Pink Fuzz find themselves drawing in dazed listeners to a focal point of sound, just before pushing back with enough power and energy to knock the asbestos out of the ceiling of your towns grimy rock club.
Nasty Nachos (Saturday 12:00-1:00 AM Irish Rover)
From the ashes of many musical endeavors, Nasty Nachos comes as a culmination of influences, instruments, and experiences of it's creator, Alex Anderson.
Anderson spends his days at modular synthesizer company called WMD, developing and demoing new pieces of modular gear. His nights are consumed with composing, testing, and putting this gear through it's paces. Nasty Nachos is the result of these tests.
Joined live by fellow modular synthesist and drummer Matt Tanner, Nasty Nachos' live set is always changing and evolving. The energy and vibes are high. The sound is reminiscent of Todd Terje, Daft punk, with a little bit of 70's funk in there.
Nasty Nachos is focused on the moment. Playing new songs and grooves at each show. An album may come from all of this but for now, the live show is where it's at.
Nightlove (Sunday 10:00-11:00 PM Hi-Dive)
Although brand new(ish) on the music scene, artist Nightlove instantly sparked our interest when we first laid ears on him. Taylor MacNicholas is the hairy, tattooed genius behind the emerging 80's synth pop project. With just a sprinkle of emo flare in his vocal belting and breaks, Taylor takes the popular techniques of the sequined jumpsuits, colossal glam hair, and parachute pants era and transforms it into current, mainstream pop. In our recent interview Taylor discusses the conception, inspiration and development behind Nightlove. We feel this is going to been of the most hyped performances of the festival, we hope you have enough energy left Sunday night!
Los Mocochetes (Saturday 1:20-2:00 PM Sesh Stage)
Los Mocochetes are a 7-piece Chicano Funk band from Denver, CO. This colorful cast of characters fuses thoughtfully brazen, socio/politically charged song lyrics, groovilicious melodies and high-energy stage antics to create an immersive experience unlike anything you've ever seen before. Much like a machete, which can be used either as a tool to build or a weapon to kill, they have chosen to use their music to inspire and encourage positive social change, and they have a ton of fun along the way. Every show is different, but it’s always a dance party!
Los Mocochetes were the recipients of Westword Music Showcase award to Best Latin Band of 2017. They also were featured in the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase and have played numerous iconic Denver venues such as the Bluebird Theater, Oriental Theater, Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Larimer Lounge, Syntax Physic Opera, Aztlan Theatre, Lost Lake, Hi Dive, 3 Kings Tavern, Herman’s Hideaway, Lion’s Lair, and recently sold out Ophelia’s Electric Soap Box. The band has a strong connection to New Mexico, and often tours the state, having played as far south as Acapulco, MX.
The current lineup features artists with a wide variety of influences. They are poets, singers, painters, rappers, actors, musicians, dancers, producers, composers, dreamers, doers, thinkers. They are gente who make music together and enjoy all forms of creativity. The Mocochetes are here to ignite a fire in every audience member to enjoy the moment and then go out and make a difference!
Reyna (Saturday 2:20-3:00 PM Imagination Stage)
Milwaukee-by-way-of-Texas sisters Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela take the sweet indy pop they perfected as Vic and Gab and hone it to a razor edge. Immediately engaging and shimmering with infectious melodic sheen, sparking declaration that REYNA has arrived.
Back in 2011 when Victoriah and Hannah recorded a song called “So Long So Tried” on a whim in their basement using Garageband. The song found its way to the music supervisors at MTV and wound up being used in the program Skins. The sisters released their debut EP Bridges and Guns under the name Vic and Gab in 2011 to adulation by both the mainstream press and blogs. Their 2013 follow up LP Love of Mine (which Spin lauded for its “bubblegum janglers with pliable melodies and soft-edged vocals”) They went on the road in support of Love of Mine, opening for the likes of BLEACHERS and Death Cab for Cutie, among others. After showcasing at SXSW they caught the attention of Saiko Management (known for developing Lorde and Parson James), who signed them to a deal.
Ready to write new songs in what felt like a new era, the sisters traveled to L.A. and NYC to collaborate with producers for the first time in their career. This in turn changed their approach to songwriting and gave them a new set of creative tools with which to work. After recording a number of songs the sisters decided to give their new sound a new moniker, REYNA. - Ever Kipp
Mothers (Saturday 5:20-6:00 PM Main Stage)
Mothers began in 2013 as self-taught songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kristine Leschper’s solo project as she studied printmaking in Athens, Georgia. Leschper's earliest musical influences span a great swath of early aughts rock and folk including Interpol, Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, The Microphones, and Athens legends Neutral Milk Hotel; she later developed a love for experimental music, math rock, and noise artists as well. Over time, Leschper began collaborating with fellow Athenian Matthew Anderegg and a fully flushed out band soon fell into place. In 2016, Mothers released their debut album “When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired” to great critical acclaim. Named a Stereogum ‘Band To Watch’, Pitchfork’s review of the album compared Leschper to Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten while Noisey exclaimed that the record “is singer-songwriter prog rock for grown up emo kids.” Now based in Philadelphia, Mothers will spend 2018 working on their sophomore follow-up.
Velorama Festival Set To Invade Denver Next Month
In a little less than a month the Velorama Festival will be taking over RiNo with their finalized lineup. Modest Mouse will close out the first evening of Velorama on Friday, August 17 after performances by Slow Caves, Hop Along, and The Kills! Modest Mouse replaces Glass Animals, Glass Animals had to cancel their performance at the festival due to a serious accident their drummer was in. The seriousness of his injuries and long road of recovery ahead caused them to cancel all shows through the end of the year including ours.
The final lineup will have Modest Mouse, The Kills, Hop Along, and Slow Caves on Friday night. Saturday will have headliner The Growlers, Cold War Kids, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Lo Moon and Brent Cowles. Rounding out the weekend will be Sunday headliner Matt and Kim, Cults, Wildermiss, Tracksuit Wedding and The Shacks.
As a loyal reader we are offering you a special discount code:
Ultra5 for the single day Friday & Saturday passes
Ultra10 for 3 day & premium passes.
Sunday is only $10 so we aren't offing discounts on that day.