Festival Favorites: The Best of Changeville’s 2019 Lineup

If there is one thing I have learned from my few years here in Gainesville, it is that this community likes to come together to celebrate positive social change. Perhaps one of the most dynamic ways we do that here is with the annual Changeville music and arts festival.

This two-day festival attracts people in flocks to the downtown area for concerts, comedic performances, panels, poetry and just about every other format you can think of for spreading forward-thinking creative expression.

This year’s festival will take place From Feb. 7-8. All the event locations, times and ticket information can be found on here.

Rooted in my true love of music, I am always interested in reading the stories behind the bands on the festival lineup. Changeville specifically highlights artists who are activists in their own ways

In preparation for the event, the artists’ stories are shared and it is truly an exciting way to learn about them on a deeper level. This deeper understanding then leads to a larger appreciation of the music they create.

After taking a look at the 2019 lineup, here are some of our picks for the artists we are most excited to catch at Changeville 2019:

Japanese Breakfast

Well, it only makes sense to kick things off with the festival headliner. The dreamy indie-rock queen Michelle Zauner, who performs under the name Japanese Breakfast, has stirred up a lot of buzz in Gainesville over her upcoming appearance. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be the set to catch this year. Her songs like “Boyish” and “Diving Woman” masterfully synthesize the fragile elements of modern indie with the sharper edges of rock.

flipturn

If you are from Gainesville and haven’t seen flipturn yet… what are you doing? The indie five-piece has no problem selling out a venue and overwhelming fans with the total-body sensation of their live show. Going to a flipturn show is like being hypnotized. You find yourself in a sweaty room full of friends and strangers alike, simultaneously experiencing the music alone and collectively with everyone present. There’s something to be said for a group who can make you forget about everything else going on other than the music. It’s magnetic.

King Complex

Yet another Florida band I can’t ever seem to stop talking about. The masked electronic-rock duo, hailing from St. Pete, has built up quite a following in Gainesville. King Complex’s latest release “Dark Disco” marked a bit of a transition for the group, setting them on a more pop-centric trajectory. Fans seem to be eating it up, clearing their plates and coming back for second helpings. King Complex always adds a darkly intriguing element to every show they are a part of.

The Pauses

The Changeville lineup was the first time I had come across Orlando-hailing band The Pauses. I’m a huge fan of a female lead, what can I say? The Pauses straddle the line between indietronica and alt-rock. To wet your senses to what they are about before the festival, check out the song “Digital Detox.”

Natalie Claro

At the recommendation of a friend a few months back, I started listening to Natalie Claro. For her young age, her voice packs a level of maturity that any artist should strive for in their career. Her music carries this confidence that transfers from her mouth to the attitude of the listener. Her song “Baby Bug” drops me right in the center of my own fictitious revenge scene in a movie not yet written.

The rest of the lineup features other familiar favorites like The Forum, Pool Kids and Azazus among many others. Despite your genre of preference, the Changeville 2019 lineup is sure to impress.

The full Changeville 2019 playlist is available here. More information about the festival and tickets can be found here.

Feature photo: Princess Nokia by Lindsy Carrasquillo at Changeville 2018

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