Consistently one of the most adventurous and electrifying annual live music events in town, the Heliotrope festival has been officially called off for what would have been its 10th anniversary installment this year. Organizers of the Memorial Day weekend event -- which gathered together experimental musicians of the noise-rock, electronic, psychedelic, none-of-the-above ilk – had trouble finding a suitable venue after recent years saw it bounce from the Ritz Theater to the now-defunct Loring Theater to (last year) the Lab Theater. That delay led to the rest of the planning falling short, said Rich Barlow, whose Flaneur Productions produced the event.
"With this being the 10th year, we had hoped to make it something extra special," Barlow said. "It was starting to look like we might be able to pull something off, [but] it was if anything going to be less special."
The good news is Barlow and his partners seem intent on bringing it back next year. In a press release announcing the postponement over the weekend, the Flaneur crew said, "We will be working from now until the spring of 2014 to bring 'HX' to the fullest fruition."
At least local/underground fans can still look forward to a similarly wild weekend of music this weekend with Art-a-Whirl, which takes over northeast Minneapolis again Friday through Sunday. Here are some of the Art-a-Whirl highlights to plan for:
THE 331 CLUB: The usual indoor/outdoor music mix with Kill the Vultures, Milwaukee's new Sub Pop signees Jaill, the Blind Shake and Carroll on Friday (6 p.m.-1 a.m.), Marijuana Deathsquads, Prissy Clerks, Story of the Sea and the Stnnng with its new spilt-EP partner FT on Saturday (Noon-1 a.m.), and Night Moves, Josh Grier's Ginkgo and the Sunny Era on Sunday (1 p.m.-9 p.m.), with many more each day (331 13th Av. NE, free, click here for more info).
GRUMPY'S NORTHEAST: Dillinger Four and '90s Iowa favorites House of Large Sizes make a great one-two- punch for headliners, plus new Afrobeat act Derobé Dance Band, Seawhores, Germaine Gemberling, Pennyroyal and more. (1-10 p.m. Sat., 2200 4th St. NE, free, click here for more info).
ANCHOR FISH & CHIPS: Romantica, Valet and Black Audience – all featuring Anchor founder Luke Kyle's brothers -- play Sunday, while Saturday features Steve Kaul & the Brass Kings, the F- Knights, Mad Son of Unknown Prophets and more (2-9 p.m. Sat. & Sun., 302 13th Av. NE, free, click here).
STANLEY'S NORTHEAST BAR ROOM: Capitol Sons and Orange Whip will be on tap for music alongside 100 beers at the inaugural Stanley's Craft Beer Festival (2-5 p.m. Sat., with free music till 9 p.m., 2500 University Av NE, $59 for beer ticket, click here).
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