Little Arcs’ latest release, First One, is a trio of songs with beautiful harmonies and surprising key shifts that work bright and true, every moment of it. It’s clear these folks have an understanding of creative composition and some jazz backgrounds. Little Arcs is for diggers of Whitney, appreciators of Radiohead and lovers of juxtopositions. It’s like if Grizzly Bear was even more chill and included a female vocalist in the mix to lighten the harmonic balance. The band just put out their first cassette, which you can snag at their last show before summer break--July 13th and 14th at their own abode. You can find out the location of these semi-secret shows on their Facebook. It's all high praise, we know. But these folks are a gem and we recommend catching them while they're around. - Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Looking for something fun to do this 4th of July weekend? Do you love you some great mountains majesty, music of all shapes and genres, and food? Beverages? Trees? Camping? We recommend the High Sierra Music Festival for some good ol’ fashioned American purity. From Dispatch to Jim James, Del & Dawg to The New Mastersounds, the festival has something for most musical tastes. It’s like Burning Man but peaceful. Local favorites include Midnight North, Royal Jelly Live, Rainbow Girls, More Fatter and Eric Long. The festival runs from July 4th thru 7th in the lovely Quincy, Ca. We hope to see you there and tell us post-fest: which acts were your highlights? Land of the free, home of some killer music. May music bless America! - Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

 

On July 20th the Temescal Block Party is back with some killer Oakland and Bay Area-based bands. The punk rock Paper Dolls will be bustin a move, alongside rock n roll group Destroy Boys and dream pop duo Billie Gale. Come out to this (free!) festival. - Lucille Faulker

 

China the Band is geared up for some local shows this summer, starting with their June 27th show at the Minnesota Street Project. Band members have been involved numerous musical collaborations throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including San Francisco favorite Sonny & the Sunsets, Sugar Candy Mountain, Odawas and Papercuts. China takes influences from Neil Young, The Band, and The Byrds with a little more twang here and there and some modern twists. If you can’t see them at Minnesota, they’ll be playing at The Makeout Room on July 14. -Lucille Faulkner

China the Band is geared up for some local shows this summer, starting with their June 27th show at the Minnesota Street Project. Band members have been involved numerous musical collaborations throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including San Francisco favorite Sonny & the Sunsets, Sugar Candy Mountain, Odawas and Papercuts. China takes influences from Neil Young, The Band, and The Byrds with a little more twang here and there and some modern twists. If you can’t see them at Minnesota, they’ll be playing at The Makeout Room on July 14. -Lucille Faulkner