Another end to a fabulous Forward Music Festival 2009. The past weekend was spent listening to more bands that I can count on my fingers and toes and what great performances! Highlights of the festival included a fabulous set by Low at the High Noon Saloon on Saturday evening, Andrew Bird and his band featuring Martin Dosh at The Overture Hall (also on Saturday), and Cougar at the Capitol Theater on Friday night. I would be remiss not to mention some greeat music by The Antlers (at High Noon), Richard Buckner (at The Majestic on Friday night) and A Night In The Box (also at the Majestic Thursday night). Here are some pictures from the three day festival that try and capture some of these moments from the weekend. Enjoy!

Andrew Bird performing to an almost capacity crowd at the Overture Hall on Saturday evening. A beautiful stage setting with towering gramaphone horn speakers (more on those beauties here - Specimen Products of Chicago have been building custom horn speakers, tube amplifiers and guitars for several years with Andrew Bird using various varieties including the double-ended spinning horn cabinet as part of his stage gear), and with his backing band in full attendance - a wonderful Andrew Bird show. (above, below)





Accompanying Andrew Bird was a full band including Martin Dosh on drums/loops. Note the spinning double horn speakers - The Janus Horn in the background(above)








(Above) A Night In The Box on Thursday night at The Majestic


Collection of Colonies of Bees opening for Cougar at The Capitol Theater on Friday night at the Festival


(above) Cougar merch at the merch table. The exploding flower artwork on the new album features photography by local media expert Peter Streicher. (below) Dave Skogen was a maniac on the drums.






(above) Decibully at The Frequency on Friday night


(above) Gentleman Loser at The Frequency on Thursday night opening of the Reverence showcase.








(above) Low's Alan Sparhawk on guitar and vocals, Mimi Parker on drums and vocals and Steve Garrington on bass. The early Saturday show (6pm) at the High Noon Saloon was a sonic treat with the sound the best I heard at the festival. The room, soundboard and mics were dialed in perfect to deliver the "slow-core" magic that is LOW... beautiful and lush vocal harmonies, unhurried rushes on the guitar, gentle sprinklings of the brushes on the drums...


(above, below) Maps and Atlases at Project Lodge on Saturday night




(above, below) Megafaun on Thursday night at High Noon Saloon






(above) The BLK JKS at The Orpheum Stage Door on Saturday night


(above, below) Richard Buckner opening up the festival at The Majestic on Thursday night


(Below) The Antlers opened for Low at The High Noon Saloon


(Below) Jona Bechtolt and Claire Evans of Yacht at the Orpheum Lobby on Friday night


(Below) Solid Gold wrapping up the festival at High Noon Saloon on Saturday


As always, please feel free to e-mail us with your comments and photo enquiries. See you at the next show - Ankur