Larkin Grimm headlines Ladyfest

Ladyfest Atlanta marks its second annual return May 16-21, taking over the Mammal Gallery, Murmur, Eyedrum, the Plaza Theatre, Broad Street Visitors Center, 368 Ponce, and the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. Larkin Grimm is scheduled to appear as the headlining musical act for the show on Sat., May 21, at the Mammal Gallery. Dozens of other performers including Saira Raza, Jessica Blinkhorn, and others are already scheduled to perform. More acts will be announced soon.

Composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and experimental artist Grimm spent many of her formative years living in Atlanta and Dahlonega. She calls New York City home these days. Her songwriting is steeped in the traditions of folk music, free jazz, noise, rock ‘n’ roll, and the avant-garde. Her 2012 album, Soul Retrieval, was released via her self-run Bad Bitch imprint.

Her most recent recordings, a song titled “I Don’t Believe” and the title track for her forthcoming album Chasing an Illusion, are on Bandcamp now.

Ladyfest Atlanta, according to its website, boasts a mission statement to serve as an “intentional, queer, feminist space for women and gender nonconforming people. The annual festival brings together Atlanta-based artists, innovators and activists to share their work and speak out on local issues. Our mission is to celebrate and encourage community while also precipitating in critical dialogue and education around anti-oppression work and action in Atlanta, especially as it relates to gender-centered oppression.”

Lyonnais rumbled to life with a singular chaotic motion: Throughout the group’s 2011 debut LP, Want for Wish for Nowhere (Hoss Records), elements of post-punk, gothic rock, and minimalism leapt from the album’s grooves, reaching out in every direction at once. Musical textures, guitar tones, and swells of droning resonance reached maximum overdrive, culminating with a dark and brooding ambiance. Anatomy of the Image, Lyonnais’ second album, is set to arrive Fri., April 22, via Geographic North. This time around the label’s co-founders and bandmates Farbod Kokabi (guitar, vocals) and Farzad Moghaddam (bass, synth), along with guitarist Lee Tesche (Algiers) and T.J. Blake (Lotus Plaza), consciously refine their songwriting, production, and overall presence while retaining the murky musical qualities that have garnered the group attention from the beginning.

Songs such as “Vienna Circles,” “Friendly Fires,” and “Hyperblues” give the album an even more evocative, more mysterious pace that takes shape as a celebration of strength drawn from one’s social, sexual, and psychological insecurities.

The SweetWater 420 Fest takes over Centennial Olympic park this weekend (Fri.-Sun., April 22-24). More than 50 acts fill out five stages throughout the three-day fest including performances by Kid Rock, the Roots, Maceo Parker, and long-standing Atlanta hip-hop staple Ludacris, among many other acts. Local psych rockers Midnight Larks were selected by CL readers and Radio 105.7 listeners to land a slot playing the Planet 420 Stage on Fri., April 22, at 4 p.m. Other notable locals playing the fest include Ployd (Fri., April 22, 5 p.m., 420 Disco Stage), Waking Astronomer (Sun., April 24, 2 p.m., 420 Disco Stage), and Manchester Orchestra (Sun., April 24, 2:45 p.m., Main Stage).

In other music news, last week, GOLDYARD rolled out a new video for “Runnin’ Shit” featuring Trinidad James. It’s the latest single from the group’s Fuck Culture 2 project. The video was shoot by Renn Brown, Nathan Bob Jones, and Letsgramdan. “It’s about moving up into the position of power in a humble but in your face — but not giving a fuck — kinda way,” In-Doe of GOLDYARD said via email. “We kept the shoot in the street and we put Trinidad in a bomb shelter that Clinton Callahan from Hello Ocho let us use, because the grind starts from the street up.”

Deer Bear Wolf celebrates two years of facilitating Atlanta music and arts culture on Fri., May 13, at the Downtown Players Club. Visuals curated by Katie Troisi. Music lineup remains TBA, but more news will be announced soon.

Send music news to chad.radford@creativeloafing.com.