As we reported in the Feb. 4 issue, SnowBall Music Festival is coming to Denver from April 4-6, and last Friday its three daily schedules were released. If you are a music lover, the task of picking which shows to see can be a tough one—which is why the Clarion has done it for you. It is almost impossible to see every act, so we have done our homework to find out the best acts of SnowBall, concocting a game plan that will allow you to get the most out of your experience.
FRIDAY
4:30 P.M.
The day begins in the Groove Tent for a taste of some of Henry Fong’s house jams. He is an electro/progressive house producer out of Orlando, Fla., and his big room house vibes are bound to get your feet moving. Just be sure to conserve your energy, as you have a big weekend ahead of you.
5:00 P.M.
Chill out a little bit and head over to the Heat Hut to catch Tropicool. He is an LA-based artist who produces some funky, feel-good disco tunes. It is a great opportunity to get groovy. Plus, you will have plenty of room to dance because it will still be early in the evening.
6:00 P.M.
Get your daily dose of dubstep back in the Groove Tent. HeRobust has skyrocketed in popularity in the last couple years, for good reason. His dirty dubstep drops mixed with a dash of trap will make for a very unique live show.
6:30 P.M.
Try to pry yourself away from heRobust and make your way to the SnowBall Stage to catch the second half of The Floozies’ set. Matt and Mark Hill, brothers out of Lawrence, Kan., have a funky vibe and some crowd-moving electronic hits. Their live sets feature guitar and drums along with some killer production. You will not regret it.
7:15 P.M.
Take this opportunity to walk around the festival and fill up your water bottle. While you are walking around, go check out the Ballroom Stage where the Brooklyn-based group, Escort, will be firing up some disco house.
7:30 P.M.
Find a good spot at the main-stage for Earl Sweatshirt. This 20-year-old LA rapper has made a name for himself by teaming up with artists such as Mac Miller, Flying Lotus and Pharrell Williams. Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt are among the premier members of OFWGKTA (Odd Future), a popular rap collective formed in 2006. His set is one of the most anticipated of the festival and will certainly be one to remember.
8:30 P.M.
Work your way out of the crowd and head back to the Groove Tent once more for Mimosa’s set. This Global Dance Festival 2013 headliner will undoubtedly have the whole tent moving to his one-of-a-kind glitch-hop tracks.
9:00 P.M.
Leave the Groove Tent a bit early and get your bearings back in preparation for Knife Party. Then, find a good spot at the SnowBall Stage. Knife Party is a headliner for good reason; they go hard. Their in-your-face dubstep and electro-house drops are on the intense end of the electronic music spectrum, so their live show is packed full of energy. Their hour-and-a-half long set will surely take it out of you, so make sure you are well hydrated and do your best to keep your group of friends together.
SATURDAY
2:00 P.M.
Start your day off by checking out the indie-rock group, The Knew, at the Ballroom Stage. Support this local group and get the blood flowing with their exciting take on rock-and-roll.
3:00 P.M.
Go check out Technicolor Tone Factory at the main stage. While their music incorporates the sound of many genres, they are hard-rock group at heart, with influences of soul, electronica and jazz. No matter how you label them, their live show will be a party. Stick around the SnowBall Stage afterwards for the beginning of the indie electronica group, STRFKR.
4:30 P.M.
Head back to the Ballroom Stage to see SunSquabi’s second set of the day. They are described as “electronic hydro-funk,” and are comprised of a guitarist/producer, a bassist and a drummer. They have played sets at several top-tier Colorado venues including Red Rocks Amphitheater, and they have appeared at many music festivals across the country.
5:30 P.M.
Get ready for your hip-hop portion of the day and head back to the Snowball Stage. Rapper and producer Brother Ali has been in the game since 1998 and takes his inspiration from the golden age of hip-hop.
6:20 P.M.
Once more to the Ballroom Stage to catch the end of Afroman’s set. It is rare that you would be able to see this Grammy-nominated rapper perform live. Chances are good he will save his hits, “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap” for the end of his set so hopefully you will catch them.
6:45 P.M.
Lunice is halfway through his set at the Groove Tent. This producer/DJ specializes in bass lines and is often featured on BBC Radio 1 and the Mad Decent Block Party with the popular producer, Diplo. He has toured internationally and forms one half of the electronic duo, TNGHT.
7:15 P.M.
If you have not already, this is a good time to take a walk around the festival. Drink some water and relax a bit because you have almost four hours of insanity ahead of you.
7:45 P.M.
Whenever you are recharged, meander back to the Groove Tent for Kill the Noise. In fact, his name is a complete misnomer because he brings the noise to a new level (in a good way). He is an electronic producer from New York and is signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA label. His intense dubstep/drum-and-bass drops are a must-see.
8:30 P.M.
It is time for Pretty Lights. Get a good spot at the SnowBall Stage and get ready for the electronic artist to which all others are measured. If you have not heard of him, you might be living under a rock. This Colorado native dropped out his freshman year of college to produce music, and his talent has gained him his own record label and a massive following worldwide. His live shows broke new ground after his appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheater last year, which featured a full live band. Additionally, according to an official SnowBall press release, fans can look forward to new live instrumentation and visual production. Strap on your dancing shoes and get ready for two and a half hours of greatness!
SUNDAY
2:00 P.M.
Kickstart the last day by checking out the Boulder-based progressive electronic group, Eminence Ensemble, at the Ballroom Stage. They incorporate sounds from many genres into their songs, and they embrace improvisation in their live shows. Although they have been producing since 2008, this five-man collaboration has remained under the radar.
3:00 P.M.
Head over to the Groove Tent for some TWRK. If the name did not already clue you in, TWRK produces primarily trap music aimed at getting you to shake your rump. Afterwards, stick around for What So Not, an Australian electronica duo that has been turning heads for the past year with their truly unique electronic sound.
5:00 P.M.
Time to head over to the SnowBall Stage for Chali 2na, a founding member of the hip-hop group Jurassic 5. He has also collaborated with artists such as K’naan, Mos Def, Rusko, the Black Eyed Peas and Slightly Stoopid.
5:30 P.M.
Time for a break. While it is still kind of early in the evening, you are going to want to recharge because the rest of the day is jam-packed with great sets.
6:00 P.M.
Head back to the SnowBall Stage for Wild Belle, the indie-rock group out of Chicago. You may have heard their popular single “Keep You” or their debut album “Isles,” which was released under Columbia Records.
6:45 P.M.
Clockwork’s set is starting back at the Groove Tent. After the release of his single “Squad Up,” he got the attention of world-renowned DJ Steve Aoki, who signed him to his label, Dim Mak. Since then, the big-room house producer has been touring internationally and gaining a lot of attention in the electronic dance scene.
7:30 P.M.
Rapper/producer/actor Busta Rhymes is taking the main stage. To date, he has received 11 Grammy nominations and is frequently hailed as one of the best rappers of the ‘90s. Do not miss this one!
8:00 P.M.
No one knows quite what to expect from this last set in the Groove Tent. Pretty Lights is bringing together many of the artists on his label, PLM, to perform on the same stage. This includes Pretty Lights himself, recently announced Michal Menert, Paul Basic, Supervision, Eliot Lipp and more. This electronic collaboration is likely the most anticipated set of the festival, and it will surely be one to remember.
9:45 P.M.
Spend the rest of your night at the SnowBall Stage grooving to the electro-funk vibes of the Griz. Griz got his start producing at the age of 14, and he has since pioneered a new realm of the electronic genre. Old funk samples, chest-thumping bass lines and live sax power his sets, and his collaboration with producer Gramatik brought his music to a new level. He will undoubtedly finish off the weekend right and leave you craving more.
Keep in mind that half the fun of a music festival like SnowBall is exploration. Do not follow this schedule to a tee; check out some artists you have never heard of before and of course, make sure you catch the sets of your favorites. It is going to be quite difficult to steer yourself wrong, so go with the flow.
If you do not have tickets to SnowBall yet, they are available at SnowBall’s website for pre-sale prices of $150 for three days and $350 for three-day VIP. While the festival is accessible by lightrail, SnowBall has also partnered with nearby hotels to offer discounted lodging packages. Discounted Winter Park lift tickets for April are also available.
