Update: Alternative rock band The Neighbourhood [17] has announced a stop on their fall tour at Skytop Field on Sept. 8.
University Union has been busy teasing us with hints about Juice Jam, which will take place on Sept. 8 at Skytop Field. An Aug. 1 Facebook post revealed that the concert is now in festival format with multiple stages:
"Looks like #JuiceJam just got jam-packed with acts. On September 8th, we're bringing something bigger and better to Skytop with a multi-stage music festival! Be on the look out for our list of performers, coming to you on August 11th at 10 pm! Tickets go on sale online on August13th, $10 with SU/ESF ID"
Well, University Union [18], I just couldn't wait until Sunday, so I did a little bit of digging myself to see if I could figure out which acts will be on the bill. None of the following speculation is confirmed, of course, but two acts seem certain.
Nicky Romero's tour poster [19] lists a "To Be Announced" show in Upstate New York on the same day as Juice Jam. There is also a listing for "Block Party" in London, Canada, on that same date, but I'm not convinced it's not just a ruse to throw people like me off. That would be the case if last year's co-headliner Calvin Harris hadn't doubled up Juice Jam 2012 [20] and the Canadian Block Party on the same day.
Romero [21] would not be a totally surprising act for Juice Jam, which usually features at least one EDM/house DJ. Personally, I wouldn't be heartbroken if Romero does end up in Canada all day, because I just don't "get" what he does. I'm sure it would be fun to see him live, though, so I'm really neither here nor there.
Robert DeLong [22], another electronic musician, is also a fairly safe bet. Pollstar [23] has this date listed: "Skytop Athletic Field" in Syracuse on Sept. 8. It doesn't get much easier to predict than that.
DeLong is a bit more intriguing to me, a guitar and saxophone player, because of his history with "real" instruments. I like the way he blends his indie past with modern electronic trends, and I think he'd put on a good show.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Juice Jam without a hip-hop act and some kind of hipster band. Hopsin [24] would be my dream act on the hip-hop end, but unfortunately he's all the way in California [25]on the date of Juice Jam. I think there's a lot of exciting stuff going on with up-and-coming rappers, so I'm sure I'll be happy with whoever ends up on the bill.
As for my dream indie acts, I'd love to see Yuck [26] and/or the Dum Dum Girls [27]. There's absolutely no reason for me to believe they'll actually appear at Juice Jam, but a girl can dream.
I'm anxious to see not only who performs, but how many acts will be here in September for the first Juice Jam in a festival format. No matter what happens, I'll be here Sunday night to tell you about it.
Robert DeLong photo by WFUV/Flickr [28]
