Gather round, Hellions, for the second annual Hell’s Half Mile All-Day Indie Music Showcase is on deck for the tail end of May. Ten Michigan bands spanning an incredible range of diversity are performing from the early afternoon on Saturday, May 30, until the wee hours of Sunday at Bay City’s answer to CBGB’s — BeMo’s Bar at 701 S. Madison Ave.
This year, HHM is partnering with local alt. event planner Patrick Ewing’s Flattop (AKA: Pat Tanner). Together, the two organizations are having six bands play outside during the day and the final four will take the stage inside post-sunset.
Last year’s inaugural daylong showcase featured the likes of Jamaican Queens, Tunde Olaniran, Almost Free, the ILL Itches, the Mud Suns, Tokyo Morose, YUM, the White Oranges, Mercury Cross, the Darling Oranges, the Distorted Waltz, and Paint. The 2015 lineup goes toe-to-toe with its predecessor’s, both in terms of quality and eclecticism.
There’s nocturnal synth rock from Rogue Satellites and the hoof-stomping blues of Drift Lifted; the experimental art rock of Odd Hours and Pink Lightning’s anarchistic gypsy punk; Mistaken For Satellites’ jazzy, lounge-inflected indie rock and King Crabapple’s funky hip-hop. In short, there’s something for everyone. Come for the style you’re drawn to and discover a new genre you never knew you loved.
To whet your appetite, check out each group’s Bandcamp page and familiarize with their work.
Lightnin’ Licks Vinyl Preservation Society, featuring the entirety of their roster, will be on hand to keep the music flowing and the dancing grooving between each band’s set. Oh, and this marks the debut performance of Ampersand Castles, composed of Trevor Edmonds (from Tokyo Morose) and Cody Marecek (of YUM).
The music kicks off at 2 p.m. and admission is free. Expect food vendors and games to be on deck as well.
LINEUP
2 p.m. — Lightnin’ Licks Vinyl Preservation Society
3 p.m. — Vetting (Bay City)
4 p.m. — Ampersand Castle (Bay City)
5 p.m. — Lawnmower (Ferndale/Ypsilanti/Fenton)
6 p.m. — Dalinian (Fenton)
7 p.m. — Drift Lifted (Bay City/Saginaw)
8 p.m. — Mistaken For Satellites (Flint)
9 p.m. — Pink Lightning (Detroit)
10 p.m. — King Crabapple (Muskegon)
11 p.m. — Rogue Satellites (Detroit)
12 a.m. — Odd Hours (Flint/Lake Orion)
1 a.m. — Lightnin’ Licks Vinyl Preservation Society
Spread the word and RSVP via the event’s Facebook page here.