Titillating questions hover. Will Jack White choose his all-male or his all-female band for his only area appearance? After getting themselves into the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the most concerts within 24 hours and into hot water for a video with Erykah Badu, what stunts might the Flaming Lips pull?
Firefly is not for the music epicurean alone: It will offer a large brewery tent (sponsored by Delaware brewers Dogfish Head, who are brewing a new beer specifically for the festival), a wine tent, and eight pop-up restaurants. To make the experience all the more immersive: hot-air balloon rides, a game arcade, a green initiative, and, for the extravagant "glamorous campers," $1,500 "glamping" tickets.
- Steve Klinge
The Firefly Music Festival runs Friday (starts 2 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m.), and Sunday (11 a.m.) at the Woodlands at Dover International Speedway, 1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, Del. Tickets: Friday $68; Saturday $88; Sunday $88. Information: 312-253-6545 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Standard Time), www.fireflyfestival.com .
XPoNential Music Festival
Happy, cooing child of Penn's new-music powerhouse station WXPN, the XPoNential Music Festival features the crème of fan-approved, listener-supported, indie Americana. On the first night, there's enough good vibes, wounded sensibilities, and country-informed music to last a week. Wilco has become the go-to twang-bar arbiters of rustic rock with eerie ambience. Philly's Dr. Dog has proved equal to any rumble, with its newly percolating rhythm section and hummable melodies. Meanwhile, the Avett Brothers are all those things and more. North Carolina-bred brothers Scott and Seth Avett have been recording their cross between hillbilly bluegrass ballads and hard power pop since 2000. Acoustic at first, with time the Avetts took on greater dynamics, wrenchingly poetic lyrics, a major label, and a big-name producer in Rick Rubin, who presided over the recording of 2009's electrifying
I and Love and You. The Avetts release their new album,
The Carpenter, in September. Here's hoping they play the whole thing; they tend to like debuting new material. XPN audience faves Counting Crows headline Sunday night.
- A.D. Amorosi
The XPoNential Music Festival runs on Saturday with Wilco, the Avett Brothers, and Dr. Dog; and Sunday with Counting Crows, We Are Augustines, Field Report, and Kasey Anderson & the Honkies. Both nights start at 7 at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden. Tickets: $55 and $35. Information: 1-800-745-3000, www.LiveNation.com.
