Hopscotch announces six canceled performers, eight additions

As we've come expect over since the beginning of the Hopscotch Music Festival, when you're bringing so many bands to one place at one time, there are bound to be a few cancellations and last minute changes.

This year six performers have had to pull out of the festival for reasons ranging from health issues and visa problems. Those six are XXYYXX, Loincloth, Riton, Double Negative, Foot Village and Ex Cops.

On the bright side, eight bands have been added to the festival to fill those spots as well as a couple of other spots. The additions are Mykki Blanco, Gent & Jawns, Vattnet Viskar, Hunters, Sannhet, Moon King, Brett Harris, and Skylar Gudasz.

This week's Local Band Local Beer: Cola Freaks, Fossils & Double Negative

This week's free Local Band Local Beer show on Thursday, May 19 at Tir Nag Nog in Raleigh will be a loud one, featuring Cola Freaks and Fossils, both all the way from Denmark. Rounding out the bill will be local thrashers Double Negative.

Like usual, things get started around 10 p.m. and the show is ages 21 and up.

Check out a video below of Cola Freaks performing the song "Uppers and Downers," which is the opening track from their self-titled album due out digitally in the U.S. on May 31.

The Great 8's class of 2009 goes live

The News & Observer's Great 8 of 2009 has gone live. This year's list is a diverse group featuring everything from retro-pop to screamo to hip-hop to a young film/videogame composer.

I'm happy to see one of my favorite local groups Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies made the list but was a little disappointed that The Love Language didn't make the cut. Maybe next year. Check out Jason Graves feature about his work composing music for videogames and films. He's someone I was aware of but knew little about until checking out his Great 8 feature.

Here's the complete '09 class:

Violet Vecto and the Lovely Lovelies
Jason Graves
Alesana
Hammer No More the Fingers
Inflowential
The Loners
Lonnie Walker
Double Negative

Check out the multimedia extraveganza here which includes video of each artist.

The Great 8 showcase will take place at Local 506 on Friday, February 13 for only $6. The show will feature Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, Hammer No More the Fingers, Double Negative and Lonnie Walker.