Lindsay's picks: A 3-day schedule for Hopscotch

120 bands in three days can be a little overwhelming. Which to choose each night? That's why we created our own Hopscotch schedule that's full of our favorite bands. Choose one, choose all or make your own plan - we won't be offended.

Posted 7:10 a.m. Sep 6, 2016 — Updated 7:00 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

Lindsay A. Underwood

RALEIGH, N.C. — 120 bands in three days can be a little overwhelming. Which to choose each night? That's why we created our own lineup for Hopscotch Music Festival that's full of our favorite bands. Choose one, choose all or make your own plan - we won't be offended.

Thursday

Kick off the festival on Thursday night with Wolf Parade, a band out of Montreal on their reunion tour. The band went on a hiatus in 2011, but released a highly anticipated new album in January. Concert-goers say the five-year break has done nothing to damper their performance or lessen the band’s chemistry. Playing in City Plaza should gather a large audience and create a good energy.

For a smaller venue, check out the last show of the night at Slim’s, A Giant Dog. This band will get you amped up with their energetic harmonies that dominate every single song.

Friday

Start in City Plaza on Friday night and check out Beach House, a pop duo with a keyboard-heavy sound. Then, make the extremely tough decision between 90s fun or pure funk as two local favorites are playing in the same time slot. Check out Kooley High at Kings for a flashback to old school hip-hop. If you want go even further back in time, but stay fresh and modern in the process, check out Boulevards, a local artist bringing back funk. He released a new album a few months back, so his show should pack in a ton of songs, plus lots of fun.

Saturday

Kick off the last night of the festival with Vince Staples in City Plaza. Staples just released a new album, and his new music delivers insane lyrics and beats worthy of a headliner.