Soundcheck Smackdown: Summer Festival Blues

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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

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Summer festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza are billed as critical cultural events wrapped up in the greatest party on the planet. But with soaring ticket prices, searing heat, tired line-ups, and defective port-o-potties, are they really such fun? Today: debating whether multi-day festivals are holy or hype. Also: Before his performance tonight with the New York Philharmonic in Central Park, pianist Lang Lang joins us to talk about his two (yes, two) new autobiographies.

Guests:

Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Lang Lang

The (Not So) Great Music Festival

Summer festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza are billed as critical cultural events wrapped up in the greatest party on the planet. But with soaring ticket prices, searing heat, tired line-ups, and defective port-o-potties, are they really such fun? Today, Annie Holub, contributor for Pop Matters, and Mark Guarino, music writer ...

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Lang Lang

25-year-old pianist Lang Lang is one of the most talked-about classical musicians of our day. He joins us to share his new memoir "Journey of a Thousand Miles," which chronicles his journey from an industrial city in northern China to his difficult years in Beijing to his success today.

Lang ...

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The Music Festival: Friend or Foe?

By John Schaefer

I love music. I love live music. I love lots of live music. I just don't love it all at once. To me, that's one of the problems with the big summer music festivals - when the music is coming at you all day and into the evening, it doesn't ...

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