Few spaces in the musical landscape today can claim that they are as supportive of underground and experimental music as the Hudson, New York based festival Basilica Soundscape. And in its seventh year, it has revealed one of its strongest lineups yet.
Following the earlier announcement that beloved ambient/experimental singer-songwriter Grouper would be headlining the event, a more extensive lineup for the festival has been unveiled, including both newcomers and legends.
On the more venerated side, we have Efrim Menuck of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the legendary post-rock outfit that defined the genre for years to come, and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra as well as respected record producer and engineer. Dark ambient producer Haxan Cloak has also teamed up with the beloved Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner to form a “collaborative project.” Stephen O’Malley, one half of experimental drone metal legend Sunn O))), will also be premiering an orchestral piece titled “Un Vide Dans Le Ciel.” Also belonging on this list is revered noise/math rock trio Lightning Bolt.
Some of the smaller names in the lineup still perfectly fit in line with the theme of the festival, and have a collection of fantastic underground music to share as well. These artists include psych rock duo Insect Ark, neo-soul art pop pioneer L’Rain, garage post-punk outfit Wax Idols, another art pop singer Spellling and death/doom/sludge (many more descriptors) metal outfit Usnea.
That being said, the festival maintains that it has many more artists to be announced.This year’s festival will take place on September 14-16, and, as always, at the Basilica Hudson, a performance space in a renovated 19th-century factory. Tickets can be found here.