Hopscotch’s tradition of day parties is arguably as popular and as fun as the festival itself, and this year is no exception. Keep your plans flexible as acts and times are subject to change; seek out Facebook events to stay updated.
Action starts off relatively slow on Thursday, though there are still plenty of reasons to skip out of work early. Berkeley Cafe features an excellent local roots slate of Anne-Claire, Rachel Kiel, Hardworker, and Chatham Rabbitsthe first of three daytime Guitartown eventswhile Slim’s and The Pour House offer more eclectic bills. The former hosts The Dirty Little Heaters‘ menacing blues rock along with Horizontal Hold and Shelles. The latter’s packed lineup includes Pie Face Girls‘ in-your-face punk and Lonnie Walker‘s jittery rock.
Decisions are tougher on Friday: The reigning champ of day parties, ¡Que Viva! At Slim’s, pairs Bojangles biscuits with garage rock kingpins Spider Bagsis it really Hopscotch without them? At Kings, Three Lobed and WXDU offer experimental acoustic sets that you can’t find elsewhere from the likes of Grouper and Daniel Bachman, while The Pinhook’s party at Ruby Deluxe is stacked with Moses Sumney, ZenSoFly, Skylar Gudasz, and House & Land. Outside of downtown, seek out Camp Howard at The Night Rider or Youth League at Schoolkids.
Saturday is even busier, including an official outdoor stage starring Wild Child and Israel Nash. Person Street Bar’s twangy benefit for refugees and immigrants features Dylan Earl, Blue Cactus, and John Howie, while Slim’s alternates alt-country icons 6 String Drag and The Backsliders with Jack The Radio‘s alt-rock and Grandchildren‘s orchestral pop. Find house show favorites Fitness Womxn, Essex Muro, and Indigo de Souza at Wicked Witch or local indie rockers Ghostt Bllonde and Lacy Jags at Crank Arm Brewing.
Wrap the weekend up on Sunday, where your options are largely limited to Slim’s and The Pour House. The latter skews heavy with bands like Bedowyn, Datura, and GROHG, while the former mixes touring acts with local favorites The Vibekillers, S.E. Ward, and Naked Naps. Or, you know, just nap.