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Jan 08, 2018 Bryce Dessner By Christopher Roberts

The National released their excellent new album, Sleep Well Beast, last September via 4AD. It was our Album of the Week and #7 on our Top 100 Albums of 2017 list. Last month The National announced the inaugural music festival “Homecoming in Association with MusicNOW,” which is curated by the band and will take place in the band’s hometown of Cincinnati on April 28 and 29, 2018 (but will start the night of April 27). Now they have announced the initial lineup for the festival. The National will perform two unique shows on different nights. Joining them will be Father John Misty, Julien Baker, Future Islands, Feist, The Breeders, Alvvays, Moses Sumney, Big Thief, Lord Huron, Mouse on Mars, and more, with others to still be announced.

The event will be centered at two stages in the city’s Smale Park, but will also encompass venues throughout the city. The National will perform each night, alongside 20 other artists. The festival will also feature “special guests, city-wide exhibitions, surprises and more.” MusicNow was founded by The National’s Bryce Dessner and has been going for 13 years.

A press release describes some of the other artists as such: “Groundbreaking acts such as electronic explorers Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Mouse on Mars and Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (formerly of alt-rock favorite Múm), along with leading new classical pioneers eighth blackbird - with special guest Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - and the Crash Ensemble, will join Bryce and Aaron Dessner and others in an unforgettable weekend of kaleidoscopic performances. Former Westminster Abbey organist James McVinnie will also return to MusicNOW to present a special concert.”

The Cincinnati Ballet will also present a work based on Bryce Dessner’s “Murder Ballads.” The music will be performed by eighth blackbird, with choreography from Justin Peck of the New York City Ballet. There will be various performances during the weekend.

Bryce Dessner had this to say about the festival in a press release: “I look forward to coming home to Cincinnati every spring for the MusicNOW festival, which has become a huge part of my artistic life. I am unbelievably excited to invite my bandmates and fellow Cincinnatians from The National this year to join me in creating a new outdoor event called Homecoming that will feature performances from many of our favorite artists in the world.”

Read our recent interview with The National on Sleep Well Beast.

Previously the band shared videos for various tracks from the album: “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” “Guilty Party,” “Carin at the Liquor Store,” “I’ll Still Destroy You,” “Day I Die,” “Sleep Well Beast,” and “Dark Side of the Gym.”

Read our rave 9/10 review of Sleep Well Beast.

The National Tour Dates:

01/19/18 - The Forum - Los Angeles, California
01/20/18 - The Joint - Las Vegas, Nevada
01/23/18 - CDMX Pepsi Center - Mexico City, Mexico
02/21/18 - Sydney Opera House Forecourt - Sydney, Australia
02/22/18 - Sydney Opera House Forecourt - Sydney, Australia
02/25/18 - Villa Maria Winery - Auckland, New Zealand
02/27/18 - Riverstage - Brisbane, Australia
03/16-03/18/18 - Lollapalooza Argentina - Buenos Aires, Argentina
03/16-03/18/18 - Lollapalooza Chile - Santiago, Chile
03/23-03/25/18 - Festival Estereo Picnic - Bogota, Colombia
03/24/18 - Lollapalooza Brazil - Sao Paulo, Brazil
04/28 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming in Association with MusicNOW at Smale Park & beyond
04/29 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming in Association with MusicNOW at Smale Park & beyond
06/02/18 - ALL Points East Festival - Victoria Park - London, England
06/07/18 - NorthSide Festival - Aarhus, Denmark
06/15/18 - Donnybrook Stadium - Dublin, Ireland
06/16/18 - Donnybrook Stadium - Dublin, Ireland

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