With some of indie's favourites and the likes of Bon Iver, Paul Weller and Elbow headlining. This year looks set to be another cracking festival. New comers such as Daughter and Sharon Van Etten in the line-up it will also give artists a chance to expand their fanbase. It is also thrilling to see John Cooper Clarke included at the poetry arena, the punk poet is a cult hero.
Megafaun's story is an unusual one in that it involves one of the most loved indie artists on the planet. Brothers Brad and Phil Cook along with drummer, Joe Westurland, played together in various bands including DeYarmund Edison with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver before the band split up. While Vernon went on to record For Emma, Forever Ago and become indie's darling boy, what happened to Brad, Phil and Joe. Well they want on to form megafaun. However with their latest album released this week Megafaun are proving to everyone that they don't need or miss Justin Vernon. The trio's self-titled record, full of drowsy folk, serene country and everything inbetween is a major milestone in the groups career so far.
Since Justin Vernon wrote Bon Iver's debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, in 2007 he has been very busy with different projects such as the Kanye West album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which went on to become hugely successful and made it onto many end of year best album lists. Vernon also collaborated with Aaron Dessner from (my favourite band) The National on the benefit album Dark Was The Night. However he hasn't written a Bon Iver album since. That's why when i heard that Vernon and co. had released Calgary, the first single from their forthcoming album set to be released in June, I was over the moon however a little hesitant to be honest. Would it live up to their debut? Well it certainly does not disappoint. Take a listen yourself and see what you think.
