OK, so I've been a busy little Baltimore hermit.  Mainly toiling in my own self-made purgatory.  But dammit, it's for a good cause.  

I have desperately wanted to start coalescing the musical elements of 2 cities separated only by a few imaginary lines and some really dangerous interstates.  I wanted to have a music festival that is recession-proof, and packed with the highest quality and diversity of music that one could stand without one's head imploding from considering the juxtapositions.  Something where it's a life-or-death choice of which stage to go to at any given moment.  And I want a festival where people who love music can experience it in all its aural splendor.

And with all those wants in mind, I think I've achieved a little of those goals, at least within the parameters of my palette and my current operating budget.  So contrary to cultural mores, I am throwing my own website a 1 year anniversary party.  We'll be featuring a few new collaborations and tons of new music culled from upcoming releases by Wye Oak, Arbouretum, Lo Moda, Sri Aurobindo and more!

Here are the vitals:

Aural States Fest

(Click through for some MP3 samples from many of the artists.) 

Fri January 30th (Performance Night) @ Sonar Club Room/Talking Head Club

$10 // 2 stages // Doors 630PM // Music 730PM // Tickets

Performers:

• Arbouretum (Thrill Jockey)
• Wye Oak (Merge)
• Lo Moda (Creative Capitalism)
• Pleasant Livers
• HOLLYWOOD
• Sri Aurobindo
• Small Sur
• Andy Abelow feat. Caleb Stine, Austin Stahl, Brendan Sullivan, Bethany Dinsick, maybe more
• Title Tracks (John Davis, ex Q and Not U/Georgie James)
• Imperial China
• Caverns
• CANNOT BE STOPPED

Free grab-bags at doors (while supplies last) including CDs, vinyl, MP3s & merch from participating artists and the following sponsors:

• Soundgarden
• Atomic Books
• Unruly Records
• Ehse Records
• Megaphone Records
• High Zero Festival
• West Main Development
• Video Americain

January 31st (Dance Night) @ Whole Gallery (H&H Building)

Donations//Dance til you drop DJ sets//Doors 9PM

DJs:

• CEX (Tigerbeat6 co-founder, electronic music pioneer)
• Craig Sopo
• Garret McIndoe

Positive Press:

• Baltimore City Paper Critic's Pick
• My interview on WYPR 88.1's the SIgnal with Aaron Henkin
• Arts agenda on WYPR 88.1's Maryland Morning with Tom Hall
• Baltimore Metromix Pick
• Urbanite Events Pick
• Filter Magazine DC Region Event Pick
• You, intrepid music fans.

Hope to see you.

Previously in Tangents:

• 12/28: Terrible Boyfriend/ Girlfriend Generator.
• 11/2: PHOTOS: TAXLO Halloween (feat. Chain Gang of 1974)
• 10/10: #OccupyWallStreet
• 8/10: PHOTOS: Lawn Mover Racing, Eastern Seaboard Regionals @ Bowles Farm
• 7/26: Special List: Things the BYGays Want Now That We Can Marry In DC (and NY!)
• 7/20: PHOTOS: Artscape
• 7/19: Miho Hatori's Guide to New York City
• 4/11: Cirque Du Soleil: Totem (A Review)
• 12/29: War, Reenacted
• 12/29: What in Hell is Slaughterama?!?