Every year there are acts that come into 80/35 as question marks and leave as exclamation points. Here are five acts to keep an eye on this year. They could be the next Handsome Furs or NewVillager that you’re buzzing over Sunday morning.
1. Delta Rae (1:45 p.m. Saturday): A dark Americana act that just released its first album, “Carry the Fire.” The six-member (three of them siblings) group utilizes four-part harmonies to create songs that sound like Flannery O’Connor stories set to music.
2. Jaill (4:45 p.m. Saturday): A catchy, three-piece pop act which recently released its third album, “Traps,” through Sub Pop Records. The group has a frenetic live performance, full of upbeat charm. The unusual spelling of the Jaill’s name is to differentiate it from a ’70s band named Jail.
3. Dumptruck Butterlips (5:45 p.m. Friday): Bluegrass soul from Kansas, featuring upright bass, washboard, accordion and the occasional hula hoop. Dumptruck Butterlips is an all female group, aside from frontman Chad Smith, aka Mr. Mustard.
4. K-Holes (6:45 p.m. Saturday): A notoriously rowdy band, formed by Jack Hines of The Black Lips. One of the more rare punk-influenced acts at 80/35, K-Holes performs with a lo-fi, yet over-the-top, sound and style.
5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (5:45 p.m. Saturday): The former guitarist/vocalist for Drive-By Truckers, now performing with his own alt. country band. Isbell released his third album, “Here We Rest,” in 2011 and earlier this year toured Europe with Ryan Adams.
