Everyone’s favorite eco-friendly salad/wrap/yogurt spot, sweetgreen, is doing big things to kick off spring fun in the sun. The sweetgreen guys are producing the second installment of Sweetlife, an eco-conscious music festival headlined by The Strokes, plus Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco, Crystal Castles, Cold War Kids, Ra Ra Riot, Theophilus London and Walk the Moon. Local favorites US Royalty and Modern Man will also perform.

I went to the inaugural Sweetlife festival last year, and this year’s edition is a testament to how far sweetgreen has gone in one year’s time. Last year was more block party style near their Dupont Circle location, while this year’s edition puts them on the national festival map. Just look at the lineup, The Strokes are back in action with a new record and “we’re back” performances at SXSW and Coachella. The dance party possibilities with the sets of Girl Talk and Crystal Castles should be epic. Lupe and Theophilus London fill a nice hip-hop party vibe, while the straight up rock sets from Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot should be amazing. I just saw Cold War Kids at Coachella and thought it was one of their best performances I have seen. And all of DC can’t wait to see our good friends US Royalty shine in this major opportunity.

Check out some of the other great facets of this unique festival:
• Food. Natural, organic and local concessions will be provided by sweetgreen, Applegate Farms, Honest Tea, Stonyfield Farm and Keany Produce.
• Social. The Sweetlife Festival will push the boundaries of what is possible when you combine interactive digital + social platforms with a large crowd of fans, by joining with partners – such as Hipstamatic and Fast Society- to create innovative activations at the festival.
• Energy. Through a human-energy activation provided by OPOWER, the Sweetlife Festival will calculate its carbon footprint and offset it to create a carbon neutral event.

See you there! For more information and tickets check http://www.sweetlifefestival.com/.

It’s unfortunate I am going to be out of town tonight but fortunately it’s my Mom’s Bday and we have some good family QT coming up.  Tonight there is potential for a special show at RnR. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of US Royalty as a band and as people, but this night should be special as they are playing with Phil Ade – a local DC rapper that is on the come up. The guys in US Royalty are tuning up for SXSW and I’m sure have new material in store, including this collabo with Phil, called My Trials, which can be previewed here:

U.S. Royalty | Phil.Ade | Rock and Roll Hotel 2.26 from Luke Adams on Vimeo.

In honor of the legendary J Dilla, I’m going to re-post a Dilla tribute one of my most favorite posts (and most popular) from my homey Saj.

Here it is.

A great, passionate piece. Rest in Peace James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006).

Here’s the full lineup and times:

Bluebrain 12pm-1pm
Geologist (Animal Collective) 1pm-2pm
Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, The Gun Club) 2pm-3pm
Eric Hilton (Thievery Corp.) 3pm-4pm
Ian MacKaye (Evens) 4pm-5pm
Rob (Casper Bangs) 5pm-6pm

See you there. Happy Hunting.

I know I’m a little late on this as it was released last week, but the Coachella 2010 lineup is here. I have been to most of the major music festivals, Austin City Limits, SXSW, Lollapalooza, etc but not this one. With a lineup like that, this might be the year.

DC-based label Sockets Records is putting on a showcase show this Friday night, January 22 at the Black Cat. The bands playing are The Cornel West Theory, HUME, Imperial China, Buildings, and Big Gold Belt.

Sockets will be celebrating it’s 5-year anniversary. Big shouts to label head Sean Peoples for his hard work and support of great local music.  Imperial China is celebrating the release of it’s record Phosphenes. The Cornel West Theory is especially unique act, providing artistic hip-hop. DC hip-hop is doing big things with the likes of Wale, but Theory takes an interesting approach that I’m looking forward to seeing live.

Some additional coverage on Sean and Sockets here at Onion AV Club DC and BrightestYoungThings. Much thanks to Ryan Wakeman for the heads up and info.

Washington, DC’s own Thievery Corporation begins another historic run of shows this week at the legendary 930 Club. Although Rob Garza, Eric Hilton and a few of the 15-odd piece accompanying band hail from DC, they also comprise of musicians, singers and dancers from around the world. Their music and their live show, however, is out of this world.

I have seen Thievery here in DC at 930 Club as well as abroad, and their live show is a can’t  miss spectacle. Four out of their five shows are sold out with only this Sunday night remaining. A video of one of my favorite tracks, Shadows of Ourselves, is below.

A few weeks back Ed Droste tweeted about his new favorite band, Bear in Heaven, and of course we all checked it out and fell in love with their track, Lovesick Teenagers.

They just released their new record today, Beast Forth Rest Mouth (listen here), and are playing DC9 tonight, opening for Tigercity. After one listen, the album sounds magical and it should be a great show tonight.