ACL Music Fest 2014 Sunday Listings – Second Weekend

Emily Wolfe

Emily Wolfe spent the last year transitioning from bedroom-folk balladeer to slicked-up rocker over EPs Night & Day and Mechanical Hands. Now electric, the local singer’s settled into a louder full band heard on 2014 single “Swoon.” Expect blazing, sexy, and little trace of the quiet solace found on Night & Day as youthful pipes blast the over power chords. – Abby Johnston

Wood & Wire

The fevered string rush and high lonesome howl of “Mexico” opening Wood & Wire’s eponymous 2013 debut serves as notice of the local pickers’ blazing bluegrass blending with Lone Star sensibilities. This summer, the trio added Billy Bright’s mandolin to the mix of banjo, guitar, and upright bass as they continued to cut the festival circuit. Tony Kamel’s tender tenor and songs remain the band’s driving force. – Doug Freeman

AFI

Northern California’s AFI have been the heaviest, most gothic of pop-punk outfits since arising from their crypt in 1991. Launched last year, ninth studio LP Burials finds singer Davey Havok, guitarist Jade Puget, drummer Adam Carson, and bassist Hunter Burgan conspiring with producers Joe McGrath and Jackknife Lee to craft the most epic, dramatic bombast of their career, single “17 Crimes” being their best punk anthem yet. – Tim Stegall

Kongos

You heard Kongos’ rock anthem “Come With Me Now” while watching too much TV this summer. From their re-released sophomore effort Lunatic, the song made the rounds on commercials and video game trailers. Behind the glitz and tribal imagery are the South African rocker John Kongos’ four sons – Dylan, Daniel, Jesse, and Johnny – who pitch accordion-tinged rock with their continent’s native rhythms. – Nina Hernandez

Gramatik

The Central European nation of Slovenia isn’t widely considered a bastion of hip-hop, but that’s where producer Gramatik grew up and studied the work of idols RZA, DJ Premier, and J Dilla. The 29-year-old beatsmith now calls NYC home, where he crafts deeply soulful, sample-laden head-nodders. A digital freedom proponent, Gramatik’s made all of his music available online gratis, including this year’s genre-blurring The Age of Reason. – Thomas Fawcett

Phantogram

Phantogram’s mega-single “When I’m Small” seduced listeners into millions of spins of debut album Eyelid Movies in 2010. Four-year-delayed follow-up Voices reintroduced the duo as noir-pop purveyors, still seductive, but this time with a little more edge. Vocalist Sarah Barthel’s demure alto leaves you hanging on every word, with dark production work from Josh Carter creating vaguely unsettling beats. – Abby Johnston

Zedd

There are fewer unlikely pop stars than Zedd. He doesn’t sing, he doesn’t dance, his last name is Zaslavski. The 25-year-old producer was born in Russia and based in Germany, and has unearthed fortune and fame by sewing together the skyrocketing synths of last year’s “Clarity” and this year’s Ariana Grande bombshell “Break Free.” – Luke Winkie

Turnpike Troubadours

Since the release of their breakout third LP, 2012’s Goodbye Normal Street, the Turnpike Troubadours toured relentlessly, which makes sense given the Oklahoma quintet’s high-octane picking live. Though rooted in the Red Dirt tradition of their home turf, the band’s sharp wit, detailed narrative, and ripping strings include a co-write with former Troubadour John Fullbright. – Doug Freeman

This article appears in October 10 • 2014.